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MPR Highlights Growing StepUP Partnerships

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MPR News logoA leader in the collegiate recovery movement for more than 25 years, StepUP庐 at 海角社区 is now poised to reach more students through new partnerships with Twin Cities-area colleges and universities. Minnesota Public Radio recently featured StepUP Director Ericka Otterson, Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator Nell Hurley, and Ethan Laugen 鈥�24 in a story about the need for recovery support in higher education.听

StepUP provides an array of support services for students in recovery, including sober living college experience in Oren Gateway Center, weekly meetings with alcohol and drug counselors, and access to a strong alumni network. With new partnerships forming post-COVID-19, including a formal agreement with the University of St. Thomas, these resources will be available to more students from across the Twin Cities metro.听

鈥淭here鈥檚 no shortage of need, and students time and again will say the community has been the most valuable aspect of participating in this program,鈥� Otterson told MPR. 鈥淪o the larger the community is each year, the more opportunity there is for that.鈥�

鈥淭his is my community,鈥� said Laugen. 鈥淚nstead of a student group or a frat, it鈥檚 StepUP. These are my people who get me, who understand me, who I get along with. And it has given me the college experience in the way that I needed a college experience.鈥�

Augsburg鈥檚 Collegiate Recovery Program Marks 25 Years

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A group of 7 Augsburg StepUP participants stand smiling at the camera with arms linked around each other's shoulders.In 1997, 海角社区 was one of just four colleges and universities with a formal collegiate recovery program. Today, StepUP庐 at 海角社区 is one of the oldest and largest residential collegiate recovery programs in the United States accompanied with sober living. More than 700 students have graduated from the program, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022.

The Phoenix Spirit recently published a piece听by Nell Hurley, recruitment and outreach coordinator for StepUP, tracing the program鈥檚 history and impact.听

鈥淪tepUP is so much more than a sober dorm,鈥� Jon Stentz, one of StepUP鈥檚 Licensed Alcohol and Drug counselors, told Hurley. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the connection and the community that students find here that makes all the difference. It鈥檚 been said that connection is the opposite of addiction. The StepUP connection is where the magic is. Our students support each other and hold each other accountable. They鈥檙e all in this together, both the college journey and the recovery journey.鈥�

StepUP offers a robust program of support and accountability that includes clinical support, random drug testing, weekly meetings, recovery service opportunities, and optional but regular social outings like rock climbing, camping trips, and game nights.

To learn more, or visit the StepUP website.

Recovery Campus magazine interviews StepUP鈥橲 Patrice Salmeri

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Pratice Salmeri on the coverAs 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.”

 

 

 

Acclaimed StepUP Program, staff take on increased national role in reducing stigma

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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�

Continue reading “Acclaimed StepUP Program, staff take on increased national role in reducing stigma” →

Scott Washburn discusses public figures鈥� privacy with MinnPost

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Scott Washburn, assistant director of Augsburg College鈥檚 StepUP庐 program, was one the experts interviewed by MinnPost for an article examining public figures’ right to privacy as well as the rights of the public figures’ significant others. The article examined an听overarching theme that probed, “How much of a candidate鈥檚 own personal life should be made available for public debate?”

In responding to a question on whether it is appropriate for the mental health or addiction history of a political spouse or other family member to be made public, Washburn argued听that sort of political playmaking听goes over the line.

“I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 appropriate at all,” Washburn said. “The candidate is running, not the family member. The electorate is voting for the candidate, not the family member. The family of a presidential candidate is going to be dragged into the public eye, but I think it鈥檚 important to respect some boundaries here. It鈥檚 an issue of respect and privacy. The candidate would be fair game from my perspective, but I don鈥檛 think family members should be. It just reflects how low things have gone in this political race.

All that being said, if the family member chooses to publically disclose his or her personal history, then that is a different conversation.”

Read additional responses from Washburn in “” on the MinnPost site.

Expert: Salmeri available to respond to President Obama鈥檚 address on substance abuse disorders, prescription drug addiction

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MINNEAPOLIS — Patrice Salmeri,听director of Augsburg College鈥檚 for students in recovery and President of the Association of Recovery in Higher Education, is a national听expert available to talk to media about President Barack Obama’s announcement to bolster medial services for persons in recovery from substance abuse disorders.

When: Salmeri is available until 6:30 p.m., beginning听immediately following President Barack Obama鈥檚 announcement. (Watch President Obama on the White House live stream at 2:15 p.m. EST at .)

What: Salmeri can address the importance of eliminating stigma by:

  • Shifting language used to describe these disorders. For instance, rather than using the term 鈥渁ddiction,鈥� shifting to 鈥渟ubstance abuse disorders鈥� to recognize that addiction is a medical issue.
  • Treating substance abuse disorders as medical issues, not unlike society responds to diabetes or other chronic medical illnesses.
  • Ensuring those with substance abuse disorders can access mental health and substance use services as readily as other medical services.

How: Call Stephanie Weiss, director of news and media services, at 612.330.1476.

Full Bio: Patrice Salmeri is the Director of the StepUP庐听Program at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the largest residential collegiate recovery programs in the nation. She also serves as the President of the Association of Recovery in Higher Education.

She is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, holds a Master鈥檚 Degree in Human Development specializing in leadership and spirituality, and also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Augsburg teaching courses related to chemical dependency. During Salmeri鈥檚 tenure as Director of StepUP, the program has experienced a 250 percent increase in the quantity of young people in recovery pursuing a college education.

In 2011, The U.S. Department of Education appointed Salmeri a Fellow for the United States Department of Education鈥檚 Higher Education Center for Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Violence Prevention. In 2013, The Association for Recovery in Higher Education presented Patrice with The Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contribution to Collegiate Recovery.

Scott Washburn is interviewed by MinnPost

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Scott Washburn, assistant director of Augsburg College’s StepUP庐 program and a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, was one of three experts interviewed by MinnPost in an article examining the impact of Minnesota’s legalization of medical marijuana on teens’ views of the drug. Citing multiple studies, the article explains that there is growing concern that recent legalization of the drug will result in a lower perceived risk, which could result in increased听teen use.

In the article, Washburn agrees that there is a correlation between the perceived risks associated with using a substance and actual use of it. He references an ongoing University of Michigan study that tracks high school students’ views and habits regarding a variety of substances. In looking at their data on tobacco and marijuana use, he says, “What鈥檚 noteworthy is that in 2010, those two lines crossed. Tobacco use started to decline in 1998 continuing up to 2014. But marijuana use continued to go up and eventually was higher than tobacco use.” Washburn attributes this reversal to our culture’s “significant shift in attitude about marijuana use.”

Washburn then outlines his approach to unraveling what teens and students sometimes see as mixed messages, that the drug is medically beneficial while being potentially addictive and harmful. 鈥淚 tell my students that just because a drug can harm you doesn鈥檛 also mean that it can’t help you,” he says in the article. He adds that, “Vicodin and Oxycodone are legal drugs, but just because they are prescribed by physicians for valid reasons doesn鈥檛 mean that they can鈥檛 be harmful and dangerous when used incorrectly.”

Read: on the MinnPost site.

Auggies in 2014 nab international, national, state media spotlight

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Top 21 news stories featuring Augsburg faculty, staff, students, alumni

Members of the Augsburg College community were featured in more than 220听international, national, and statewide media stories in 2014. Faculty, students, alumni, friends, and staff shared expertise on scholarship and pedagogy, experience as Auggies, and insight on current and special events.听Here we take a look at a very small fraction of the many times Auggies made the news听during the year. Thanks to all those who shared their time and stories and helped put Augsburg at the table on so many topics.

International Stories

  • John Zobitz spoke with the International Business Times.
    John Zobitz spoke with the International Business Times.

    John Zobitz talks to听International Business Times:听Associate听Professor of Mathematics and environmental science researcher John Zobitz听helped to answer the question posed by many in the wake of a recent record-setting snowfall in the Buffalo, N.Y. area听鈥� Why is it so cold and snowy in November?听The reason is global warming, according to Zobitz and other scientists studying the Earth鈥檚 climate.听听about how changes in the Earth鈥檚 temperature influence weather patterns on the International Business Times website.

  • Auggies in the Augsburger Allegmeine: Three Auggies were featured in a story in the Augsburger Allegmeine鈥檚 series, 鈥淲e are all Augsburger.鈥� Natalya Brown听鈥�14, Kayla Feuchtmann听鈥�14, and Jens Pinther听鈥�14 shared photos of themselves on campus, their areas of study, and comments about Augsburg College鈥檚 namesake with the German newspaper鈥檚听Nicole Prestle. See the story on the .听Click on the photo in the story to go to a gallery of photos of the three students.

National Stories

Katie Clark, nursing faculty, talked with Girls Life for the August/September issue of the magazine which is read by 2 million girls.
  • Katie Clark in Girls’ Life magazine: Nursing instructor and the director of the Health Commons, Katie Clark, spoke in July with Girls鈥� Life magazine to answer questions posed by the magazine鈥檚 readers. The publication, which has a readership听of more than 2 million girls ages 10-15, is sold at many major bookstores throughout the nation. Clark answered a range of questions for the听听August/September issue of the magazine.
  • Stephan Eirik Clark all over the place:听Augsburg Assistant Professor Stephan Eirik Clark听was featured in media across the nation after his听debut novel, Sweetness #9, received the 鈥淐olbert Bump鈥澨齩n The Colbert Report. In many instances, Augsburg College听was听mentioned. See a range of the听coverage on the News and Media blog under the tag “.鈥�
  • Yemi Melka听鈥�15 featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education:听Yemissrach 鈥淵emi鈥� Melka 鈥�15, a chemistry and international relations student, recently spoke with Beckie Supiano of听The Chronicle of Higher Education听about Melka鈥檚 participation in the Model United Nations. Melka, a Peace Scholar, is interested in exploring how scientists can use their expertise to promote international peacemaking. Listen to 鈥�.鈥�
  • Alex Peterson 鈥�16 talks with The Scientist: Augsburg College StepUP student Alex Peterson 鈥�16 was interviewed for the cover story in the February edition听of The Scientist magazine for an article titled 鈥淧ain and Progress: Is it possible to make a nonaddictive opioid painkiller.鈥� Peterson, a student in Augsburg鈥檚 successful StepUP program for students in addiction recovery, shared his story and perspective on opioids. Read the article .
  • Hans Wiersma in Christian Science Monitor:听Hans Wiersma, associate professor of religion, spoke with the听Christian Science Monitor听about whether a Baptist church in Kansas could continue after the passing of its charismatic founder. Read Wiersma鈥檚 comments in the article 鈥�.鈥�

State Stories

Janice Gladden ’14, left, graduated with honors in communications.
  • Janice Gladden听鈥�14 talks with WCCO:听WCCO profiled the graduation from Augsburg College of Janice Gladden 鈥�14, who left college 35 years earlier. Gladden put on hold the education her father urged her to pursue while her husband developed his baseball-playing career, going from an amateur free agent to major league star. Her husband would become a champion left- and center-fielder for the Minnesota Twins and go on to play in two World Series. She shares the story of returning to pursue her college education, of finishing what she started at the urging of her daughter (also an Auggie), and of her early years working to support her husband. Dan Gladden shares his pride in seeing his wife graduate. Watch the WCCO story, 鈥�.鈥�
  • Tenzin Yeshi Paichang 鈥�16 talks with media:听Auggie Tenzin Yeshi Paichang ’16 spoke at length with media in the days before the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize Forum about meeting His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at several junctures throughout Paichang’s life. Read 鈥�,鈥� by Maja Beckstrom, Pioneer Press.听Paichang also shared his story with WCCO. Watch听鈥�,鈥� by Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield, WCCO. Additional coverage of the NPPF — totaling more than 40 stories — is on the News and Media blog by searching for 鈥�.鈥�
  • President Paul Pribbenow talks to MPR:听Minnesota Public Radio鈥檚 higher education reporter,听Alex Friedrich,听visited Augsburg College鈥檚 campus to experience a day in the life of an Auggie. Friedrich blogged throughout the day听about his experiences and found that Augsburg College has a wide variety of traditions and experiences to offer听to its students, faculty, staff and alumni, and听also to its neighboring communities, as well. During the visit, he met with Augsburg College President Paul Pribbenow to discuss Pribbenow’s vision for the College, his commitment to Augsburg students, and his passion for bow ties. Read听鈥�.鈥� More stories from the MPR visit are featured in 鈥�.鈥�
  • Jennifer Simon talks with KSTP 5:听Jennifer Simon, director of Augsburg College鈥檚 American Indian Student Services, talked to KSTP TV about the College鈥檚 6th Traditional Powwow. Simon shared highlights of the powwow, including recognition of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community for a gift of $250,000 for endowed scholarships to support American Indian students.

Stories Featuring Faculty

  • Phil Adamo on set with Diana Pierce at KARE 11.

    Phil Adamo on KARE 11: Associate professor of history and director of Medieval Studies at Augsburg College, Phil Adamo,听was a guest on KARE 11 on Halloween to talk about the origins of the holiday. Adamo shared with Diana Pierce and viewers how Halloween started as a Celtic festival that celebrated the final harvest and eventually was incorporated into Christian traditions to lure non-Christians into the Church. He also discussed the origins of the bonfire, jack-o-lanterns, and Halloween candy. Watch the segment 鈥淗alloween History 101鈥澨齩n KARE.

  • Andy Aoki on听KARE 11:听Political Science Prof. Andy Aoki spoke with KARE 11 about the importance of creating diverse police departments in the cities听of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The story, which took a look at local police departments, was being explored in light of recent clashes between the public and police听in Ferguson, Missouri. Watch the interview on 鈥淔erguson fallout: Looking at local police diversity.鈥�
  • Joseph Erickson in the Pioneer Press:听Professor of education and former member of the Minneapolis school board听Joseph Erickson听spoke with the paper for perspective on contract talks between the St. Paul Public Schools and the St. Paul Federation of Teachers. Erickson told reporter Mila Koumpilova that the agreement, which averted a strike, represents a 鈥渃reative mix of contract changes, addendums to the contract and board resolutions.鈥� 听on the Pioneer Press听website.
  • Jenny Kluznik听鈥�13 in Mpls. St. Paul Magazine: Assistant Professor听Jenny Kluznik 鈥�13 MPA, who teaches in the听physician鈥檚 assistant program, spoke with Mpls. St. Paul Magazine about her decision to return to college so she could join the fast-growing PA field. Kluznik shared听her decision to become a PA, why she picked Augsburg College, and shared advice for those considering going back to school. The profile of Kluznik was part of a longer story that explored education needs behind some of Minnesota鈥檚 fastest-growing careers. Read 鈥�.鈥�
  • Joyce P. Miller in OR Today: Joyce Miller,听an assistant professor of nursing, was profiled in OR Today about her nearly 40-year career as a nurse, transition to the classroom, and work in diverse communities through the Health Commons projects. Miller, DNP, RN, shares in the story her perspective on transcultural nursing, actively listening to the needs of patients, the complexity of healthcare, and the importance of establishing rapport and trust with patients. Read 鈥溾�� in the online edition of OR Today.
  • Michael Wentzel on KSTP 5:听Mike Wentzel, assistant professor of chemistry at Augsburg College, spoke with KSTP TV about a new study that found听marinating meat in dark beer reduces the cancer-causing carcinogens that form when grilling. Wentzel said that a chemical in beer is shown to lessen the formation of harmful molecules during the grilling process and, therefore, can help lower the harm to people who eat grilled meats. Watch the KSTP story 鈥淎ugsburg chemist: Marinating meat in beer reduces cancer-causing chemicals.鈥�

For more faculty听featured in the news, search the category on the News and Media blog.

Stories Featuring Alumni and Friends

  • Edor Nelson 鈥�38 was presented a special jersey in honor of his 100th birthday.
    Edor Nelson 鈥�38 was presented a special jersey in honor of his 100th birthday.

    StepUP supporters speak with MinnPost: Kevin听and Polly Hart, mentors for Augsburg鈥檚 StepUP Program,听were honored听at the annual StepUP Gala for their avid support of the program. The Harts, who have volunteered with StepUP for several years and are in recovery from addiction, were presented the听Toby Piper LaBelle Award for their dedication to serving students in recovery. Kevin Hart spoke about the honor and his work with the recovery community in “.鈥�

  • Edor Nelson 鈥�38 earns statewide attention: Legendary Auggie coach, athlete and instructor Edor Nelson 鈥�38 died August 27 at the age of 100. Nelson, who led the Auggie football and baseball teams for nearly four decades, died only nine days after a centennial birthday celebration at Augsburg where hundreds of friends and Auggies听turned out to听honor听him. Nelson鈥檚 birthday celebration and his death garnered听an outpouring of attention thanks to the hard work of staff in the Athletics Departments. See the coverage in 鈥�.鈥�
  • Kuoth Wiel ’13 played a role in The Good Lie featuring Reese Witherspoon.

    Amineh Safi听鈥�14 in Star Tribune:听Star Tribune columnist Gail Rosenblum featured Augsburg College student听Amineh Safi听鈥�14 in a recent story examining news coverage of Muslims. In the column, Safi described findings from her research on the portrayal of Muslims in the media and her experiences with diversity in college. Safi鈥檚 research opportunity was offered through the McNair Scholars program at Augsburg and conducted under the mentorship of Diane Pike, sociology professor, who also was quoted in the column. Read 鈥淭ime to look at news coverage of Muslims鈥� on the Star Tribune website.

  • Kuoth Wiel 鈥�13 in national media: Social psychology major听Kuoth Wiel 鈥�13, a star in the feature film 鈥淭he Good Lie,鈥� has garnered听a plethora of media coverage. The film, which was released听in Minnesota Oct. 17,听has been well received and is generating听Oscar buzz. Augsburg has received several media mentions thanks to Wiel, both prior to her graduation when the College sought to place her story with media, and since the film’s release. Check out the most recent coverage in 鈥�.鈥�

Recovery Campus magazine interviews StepUP’s Patrice Salmeri

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Recovery-Campus-Issue-4-CoverPatrice Salmeri, director of Augsburg College’s StepUP program, was featured in Recovery Campus magazine to discuss her role as听incoming president of the Association of Recovery in Higher Education.

Salmeri, who has overseen听the StepUP program since 2002, began her tenure as president of ARHE in June 2014. Taking on the new role while continuing as director of StepUP has her exactly where she wants to be in life.

“This work is my calling; I have no doubt about it,” she said. “It has been confirmed over and over again. I am exactly where I need to be right now.”

Read Salmeri’s story on the Recovery Campus website.

MinnPost features StepUP Gala honorees

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KevinKevin and Polly Hart and Polly Hart, mentors for Augsburg’s StepUP Program,听were honored听at the annual StepUP Gala for their avid support of the program.

The Harts, who have volunteered with StepUP for several years and are in recovery from addiction, were presented the听Toby Piper LaBelle Award for their dedication to serving students in recovery.

Kevin, who is also a StepUP advisory board member, said working with the program has been听inspiring. “Being a fellow addict and knowing firsthand what these kids have come through, to hear their stories and see them succeeding in college was very uplifting,” he said.

To , visit the MinnPost news site.