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Alumni Class Notes, Spring 2026

�� — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:23:24 +0000

1980s

1988

Julie Martin ’88 is the author of “Homespun Alchemy,” which will be published by Finishing Line Press later this spring. This debut poetry collection is about noticing the sacred stitched into the every day, the quiet wisdom of the natural world, and the transformative power of seeing deeply.

1989

Devoney Looser ’89 is the author of “Wild for Austen: A Rebellious, Subversive and Untamed Jane,” which was named a USA Today Best-Selling Title in December 2025. She was interviewed by for its December 12 segment on Austen’s 250th birthday.

1990s

1998

In September 2025, Angela Ahlgren ’98 joined the staff at Marshall School as executive assistant to the head of school. Marshall is an independent K-12 institution in Duluth, Minnesota. She is happy to be back in her home state and supporting educators after 13 years as a faculty member in large public universities in Ohio and Texas.

2010s

2012

Christopher Siegried ’12, an outpatient mental therapist, educator, and writer, was recently honored by America’s Best in Medicine as a Distinguished Mental Health Therapist. With extensive experience in clinical settings, he has guided hundreds of adolescents, adults, and families through challenges while striving to improve mental health awareness and access for individuals and families through his work in therapy, writing, and advocacy.

2019

Alyson Astelford ’19 has joined Compass Management Group, a Twin Cities community association management company, as its chief operating officer. In this role, she oversees operations, leads strategic initiatives, and guides company growth. She brings eight years of experience and a Professional Community Association Manager credential to the role.

The post Alumni Class Notes, Spring 2026 appeared first on Augsburg Now.

Alumni Class Notes, Winter 2025

�� — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 20:14:40 +0000

1980s

1984

Anne-Marie Erickson ’84 is the author of a book of essays, “In the Evening, We’ll Dance,” published by Holy Cow! Press in August. Minnesota author Will Weaver describes the book as “startingly good … powered by grief, memory, and married love. Poetic, literary, yet always accessible.” The work explores mythology and fairy tales, scientific research, theology, poetry, music, and art in an effort to wrest meaning out of the experience of dementia.

2000s

2004

Kylie (Grunzke) Rieke ’04 has coauthored a book with her husband. “A More Brilliant Life: Rise Above Expectations. Discover Who You Are. Reclaim Your Future” was released on September 16.

2006

“In Wells’ Time” by David Nash ’06 was a 2025 Minnesota Book Award Finalist.

2009

“Supernatural Parables: Book One—Into Darkness” is the first of a two-part anthology of parables that includes writing by Amanda Symes ’09, MFA ’15. The book includes stories by 11 authors in genres such as horror, crime, noir, science fiction, fantasy, and magical realism. It was released on Halloween by Dead Birds Publishing, which is run and edited by Symes and fellow Augsburg alum Jayne Carlson MFA ’16.

2010s

2012

Katrin Klutho ’12 is the author of “Witch Hunt: Birth by Flame,” published by Beaver’s Pond Press. “Witch Hunt” is her first book.

2013

Tyler Heaps ’13, the youngest sporting director in Major League Soccer, was profiled in the June 13 Star Tribune story “”

2016

Nick Brundy ’16 has been named the head of sport performance and Deno Fitness Center manager at Macalester College. Previously, he worked six years at Augsburg, first as assistant strength and conditioning coach and, for the past three years, as head strength and conditioning coach. He was also an adjunct professor in the Health and Science Department at Augsburg.

Sarah Buckner ’16 will be serving as a linesperson at the 2026 Winter Olympics women’s hockey competition. She has been a referee and linesperson in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, and in other collegiate and women’s professional leagues. She has worked as a linesperson in both national and international events.

2020s

2024

Nathaniel Koch MAT ’24 is working at Enishi International School in Nagoya, Japan.

The post Alumni Class Notes, Winter 2025 appeared first on Augsburg Now.

Alumni Class Notes, Fall 2025

cjohnson — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 19:43:04 +0000

1970s

1970
Ray Hanson ’70 volunteers with the Junior Achievement STEM program in high schools across Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and with both Blessing of Hope and Calvary Care food bank, providing food for those who need it.

2010s

2011
Juventino Meza Rodriguez ’11, who arrived in Minnesota as an undocumented 15-year-old from Mexico, was sworn in as an attorney in May, becoming one of a few undocumented immigrants to practice law in the United States. “My path was neither short nor easy, but it demonstrates what’s possible when we remove barriers rather than build them,” he said. He worked his way through Mitchell Hamline School of Law one semester at a time, taking seven years to complete what is typically a three-year program. “I want to share my story to counter the fear-mongering narratives about immigrants,” he said. “Behind political talking points are real people with dreams, contributions, and potential that benefit our communities. My journey shows that when we invest in people, regardless of immigration status, everyone wins.” He is focusing his legal career on advocacy for undocumented communities, continuing work he began as a student activist at Augsburg.

2013
Amanda (Nagy) Yudell ’13 MS has joined the pediatric team as a physician assistant at Sanford Bemidji.

2019
Arif Baker ’19 MAE has been named a 2025 Bush Fellow by the Bush Foundation. He will use the fellowship to study global educational models, particularly in Japan; pursue doctoral studies; and develop new strategies to improve discipline, experiential learning, and immigrant student achievement. For more information, read the June 23 Augsburg news story, “Arif Baker ’19 MAE named a 2025 Bush Fellow.”

2020s

2020
Eleanor Schwartz ’20 has started her own business in Hawaii called “Of the North,” a creative haus focused on brand strategy, marketing, content creation, and social media. Her connection to Hawaii started while she was at Augsburg. She was awarded an environmental stewardship grant, which gave her the opportunity to live and work on an organic coffee and fruit farm on the Big Island.

The post Alumni Class Notes, Fall 2025 appeared first on Augsburg Now.

In Memoriam, Spring 2025

cjohnson — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 15:37:51 +0000

1940s

Lillian (Schrader) Krumholz ’45, Minneapolis, age 100, on September 10, 2024

Gertrude (Vik) Sundsted ’48, Plentywood, Montana, age 100, on November 26, 2024

1950s

Marjorie (Wilberg) Hauge ’50, Minneapolis, age 96, on July 13, 2024

Dolores (Flaa) Bjerga ’51, Deerfield, Illinois, age 95, on October 5, 2024

Marilyn (Elness) Froiland ’53, Chaska, Minnesota, age 93, on September 1, 2024

Allan Sortland ’53, Minneapolis, age 96, on October 20, 2024

Gerald Hibbard ’54, Rice Lake, Wisconsin, age 92, on July 18, 2024

Mary Jean (Danger) Holmquist ’55, Cambridge, Minnesota, age 90, on August 31, 2024

Hans Dumpys ’56, Oak Park, Illinois, age 91, on July 23, 2024

Robert Lockwood ’56, Plano, Texas, age 94, on December 17, 2024

James Norman ’57, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 88, on August 27, 2024

Hugh Gilmore ’58, Waconia, Minnesota, age 92, on August 4, 2024

1960s

Alfred Engelmann ’60, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 89, on August 19, 2024

Mary Ann (Sorensen) Urban ’62, Apple Valley, Minnesota, age 84, on September 13, 2024

Vernon Almlie ’63, Fargo, North Dakota, age 89, on June 28, 2024

Charles Arndt ’63, Luck, Wisconsin, age 82, on October 10, 2024

Wayne Christiansen ’63, Virginia, Minnesota, age 82, on June 23, 2024

Paul Stromberg ’63, Scottsdale, Arizona, age 86, on November 1, 2024

John Wanner ’63, Beverly Shores, Indiana, age 83, on December 18, 2024

Charles Feig ’65, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 83, on September 28, 2024

Donald Hoseth ’65, New Hope, Minnesota, age 81, on September 23, 2024

Larry Scholla ’65, Willmar, Minnesota, age 80, on September 23, 2024

Gracia (Nydahl) Luoma ’66, Vancouver, Washington, age 79, on November 30, 2024

Douglas Norvold ’66, Northfield, Minnesota, age 81, on November 24, 2024

Carol Ackermann ’67, St. Louis Park, Minnesota, age 79, on November 1, 2024

Joel Bethke ’67, Glendale, Arizona, age 79, on July 29, 2024

Harley Refsal ’67, Decorah, Iowa, age 79, on September 9, 2024

Gregory Garmer ’68, Duluth, Minnesota, age 78, on December 2, 2024

Lois (Peterson) Bollman ’69, Minneapolis, age 77, on September 21, 2024

Richard King ’69, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, age 78, on July 14, 2024

1970s

Gary Carlson ’70, Forest Lake, Minnesota, age 75, on August 1, 2024

Kurt Wilson ’71, Minneapolis, age 79, on October 21, 2024

Linda (Engstrom) Akenson ’72, Alexandria, Minnesota, age 74, on August 20, 2024

Thomas Anderson ’72, Minneapolis, age 72, on October 31, 2024

Dennis Dyrud ’73, Marina, California, age 75, on July 31, 2024

Syl Jones ’73, St. Louis Park, Minnesota, age 72, on November 10, 2024

Leroy Videen ’73, Spring Lake Park, Minnesota, age 72, on July 8, 2024

1980s

Patricia Morgan ’85, Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, age 68, on October 17, 2024

Jean (Wolff) Humphries ’88, Plymouth, Minnesota, age 73, on July 14, 2024

David Youngren ’89, Osseo, Minnesota, age 65, on November 26, 2024

1990s

Dawn O’Donnell ’91, Minneapolis, age 69, on October 9, 2024

Stephen Znameroski ’94, Eagan, Minnesota, age 74, on September 22, 2024

Lee Larson ’96, Cambridge, Minnesota, age 67, on October 21, 2024

2000s

Mark Juaire ’09, Farmington, Minnesota, age 60, on October 5, 2024

2010s

Wendy Preston ’11, Rochester, Minnesota, age 64, on September 2, 2024

Thomas Gouras ’12, Stillwater, Minnesota, age 64, on November 2, 2024

Arnold Herzog ’13, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, age 64, on August 14, 2024

Michael Rivers ’19, Minneapolis, age 27, on November 17, 2024

2020s

Thomas Dammann ’21, Lake City, Minnesota, age 64, on October 19, 2024

Other Losses

Karl Jacobson, former assistant professor of religion, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 54, on August 18, 2024

Jeanne (Kunau) Narum, former vice president for development, Washington, D.C., age 88, on October 23, 2024

The post In Memoriam, Spring 2025 appeared first on Augsburg Now.

Alumni Class Notes, Spring 2025

cjohnson — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 15:07:40 +0000

1950s

1957

Stanley Baker ’57 retired as a professor emeritus of counselor education at North Carolina State University in July 2024. He served as a counselor educator for 50 years at NC State and Penn State universities. He also served as a high school history teacher, school counselor, and athletic coach at high schools in Wisconsin for 12 years.

1960s

1965

Joyce (Anderson) Pfaff ’65 reunited with classmates at the 2024 Advent Vespers (photo right). “We were seniors at Augsburg 60 years ago,” she said. “Now we are simply seniors. Loved seeing so many of my former classmates at Vespers last week.”

1967

Thad Danielson ’67 lost his companion of 54 years in April 2024. As a carpenter, he worked with her to build a house of their own design. After retirement, he taught boat building at WoodenBoat School and wrote a book based on his course, “An Introduction to Wooden Boat Building: Always More to Learn,” which is available on Amazon. In 2023, he gave a talk on his boat-building experience at the Conway Historical Society. He is now painting and working as a personal care assistant.

1970s

1972

Mike Eayrs ’72 was featured on October 30, 2024, in a story in The Athletic,

Tom Fischer ’72, now in his 52nd year as a high school athletic official, received the Minnesota State High School League Officials Distinguished Service Award on March 23, 2024. The award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond in service to their fellow officials. In June 2023, he was awarded the Lifetime Service Award by the Northwest Suburban Conference in recognition of his service to high school student-athletes, parents, and coaches.

1974

Nancy Sandro ’74 composed 22 songs for “Tunes and Texts: Songs for the Liturgical Seasons,” available at . The book includes 18 original songs for the liturgical seasons and four festival songs, many of which have optional instrumental accompaniments and guitar chords.

1980s

1981

John Strommen ’81 is the author of “GPS: Finding Direction on Your Faith and Life Journey—How Luther’s Theology Connects Faith to Life.” Strommen wrote the book to bring the heart of Martin Luther’s theological witness directly into conversation with 21st-century Christians hungering to not only have faith, but to live their faith.

1990s

1992

Sven Erlandson ’92, soul counselor and corporate counselor, is the author of “There’s a Hole in My Love Cup,” which has been in the top five Amazon bestsellers for inner child healing. His podcast, “The Badass Counseling Show,” has over two million downloads. Erlandson has amassed more than 2.1 million followers on TikTok and 500,000 followers on Facebook.

1993

Doris Rubenstein ’93 MA was contracted by VEAP, Minnesota’s largest food shelf, to write the history of the organization for its 50th anniversary, “VEAP at Fifty: Celebrating a Half-Century of Helping the Community.” This is the fourth institutional history book Rubenstein has written.

2000s

2008

Joseph Skogmo ’08 is the lead pastor at First Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Previously, Skogmo served as the pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lowry, Minnesota.

2009

Amanda Symes ’09, ’15 MFA is the author of “Sasquatch Is My Neighbor: A Collection of Hairy Cryptid Lore.” The book contains nine tales and is available on Amazon.

2010s

2013

Melissa Brandenburg ’13 received her Master of Education in Special Education from Northwestern College (Orange City, Iowa) in May. She finished with a 4.0 GPA and was selected as the graduate studies speaker at commencement.

2019

The environmental legal drama “Big Lake Troubles,” by Jeffrey Boldt ’19 MFA, was named “one of the best legal thrillers of the year [2024]” in a . The book is his second novel.

2020s

2024

Claire Jenkins Coffman ’24 was a guest coach for the Minnesota Wild Development Camp this summer and is believed to be the first woman to have held that role. She now works as an assistant and skills coach for the New Hampshire Mountain Kings.

The post Alumni Class Notes, Spring 2025 appeared first on Augsburg Now.

In Memoriam, Fall 2024

cjohnson — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 17:01:08 +0000

1940s

Mary (Kuhn) Schmidt ’48, Spencer, Iowa, age 98, on December 28, 2023

David Felland ’49, Colfax, Wisconsin, age 96, on December 30, 2023

1950s

Paul Konsterlie ’50, Bridgeport, Connecticut, age 95, on January 12

Gehard Vorland ’50, Stillwater, Minnesota, age 101, on May 28

James Christopherson ’51, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, age 94, on May 26

Ronald Guderian ’51, Rochester, Minnesota, age 95, on March 23

Leola (Ekblad) Johnson ’51, Minneapolis, age 94, on April 13

Arthur Solberg ’51, Minneapolis, age 98, on December 12, 2023

Loren Woolson ’51, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, age 94, on June 15

Marlys (Dreyer) Dickhart ’54, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, age 92, on February 4

Richard Johnson ’54, Red Wing, Minnesota, age 91, on June 13

John Jenson ’55, St. Paul Park, Minnesota, age 90, on January 1

Gilbert Smith ’55, Minneapolis, age 98, on May 13

Jerrold Saastad ’56, Dilworth, Minnesota, age 89, on May 31

Daniel Faust ’57, Minneapolis, age 89, on May 3

Raymond Grinde ’57, Wayzata, Minnesota, age 92, on January 27

Doris (Rovick) Hanson ’57, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 88, on January 14

Ralph Johnson ’57, Willmar, Minnesota, age 88, on January 16

Orval Moren ’57, Minneapolis, age 94, on December 28, 2023

Marilyn (Troy) Manley ’58, Rogers, Minnesota, age 87, on March 13

Nadia Christensen ’59, Edina, Minnesota, age 85, on April 21

Merton Johnson ’59, Alexandria, Minnesota, age 85, on February 19

Richard Overby ’59, Austin, Minnesota, age 90, on February 28

David Quanbeck ’59, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 85, on November 18, 2023

1960s

Carolyn Burfield ’60, Edina, Minnesota, age 85, on March 14

George Cruys ’60, Minneapolis, age 89, on February 16

David Nordlie ’60, Bonney Lake, Washington, age 87, on December 18, 2023

Lowell Ziemann ’60, Gilbert, Arizona, age 85, on May 24

Cameron Liebenow ’61, Council Bluffs, Iowa, age 91, on January 30

Arden Norum ’61, Langdon, North Dakota, age 84, on May 3

Sharon (O’Brien) Halliwill ’62, Minnetonka, Minnesota, age 82, on April 7

Kermit Paulson ’62, River Falls, Wisconsin, age 83, on May 21

Linda Carlstedt ’63, Rosemount, Minnesota, age 82, on April 22

Peter Heryla ’63, Minneapolis, age 84, on January 29

David Hughes ’63, Minneapolis, age 83, on November 17, 2023

Jerome Petterson ’63, Katy, Texas, age 85, on February 3

Ruth Sather Sorenson ’63, Conover, North Carolina, age 82, on February 15

John Vaala ’63, Elk River, Minnesota, age 86, on December 29, 2023

Jane (Huseby) Norman ’65, Pennock, Minnesota, age 83, on June 12

Jeffrey Shelstad ’65, Merrifield, Minnesota, age 81, on March 6

Steven Borwick ’67, Greenville, Illinois, age 79, on March 27

John Schwartz ’67, Chicago, age 78, on February 29

Josephine (Reed) Williams-Durnell ’67, Brockton, Massachusetts, age 78, on February 1

Ione Agrimson Hanson ’68, Minneapolis, age 77, on January 11

David Pilgrim ’68, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 77, on November 1, 2023

Jon-Scott Johnson ’69, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, age 76, on April 6

Douglas Olson ’69, Punta Gorda, Florida, age 77, on June 1

1970s

Curtis Johnson ’71, Federal Dam, Minnesota, age 74, on April 23

Charles Neily ’71, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 76, on November 11, 2023

Diane Wells ’71, Minneapolis, age 74, on March 17

James Bodurtha ’73, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 72, on November 20, 2023

Philip Hansen ’74, Minnetonka, Minnesota, age 71, on December 8, 2023

Sylvia (Lee) Ruud ’75, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 79, on February 8

Thomas Olson ’76, Fargo, North Dakota, age 71, on May 24

Connie (Hillman) Scheevel ’76, Spicer, Minnesota, age 70, on January 3

Carolyn Bacon ’77, Minneapolis, age 68, on November 10, 2023

Marlene (Ell) Jorgensen ’77, Minneapolis, age 90, on March 27

Timothy Kuss ’78, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 76, on January 28

1980s

Christopher Ascher ’81, Chaska, Minnesota, age 65, on January 8

Elizabeth Bartz ’82, Minneapolis, age 81, on May 25

Susan (Pulleyn) Lenzen ’83, Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, age 75, on February 27

Johnson Gwaikolo ’84, New Hope, Minnesota, age 68, on February 19

Karen Jensen ’84, Stillwater, Minnesota, age 62, on November 29, 2023

Paul Watters ’84, Kimmell, Indiana, age 88, on January 16

Valerie Brown ’85, Madison, Wisconsin, age 60, on January 4

Helen (Monserud) Line ’85, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 76, on May 7

Duane Nessler ’86, Rochester, Minnesota, age 70, on February 24

Timothy Erickson ’87, Boise, Idaho, age 59, on April 14

Robert Odom ’87, Fernandina Beach, Florida, age 87, on December 24, 2023

Elizabeth (Renikoff) Fairley ’88, Hugo, Minnesota, age 59, on April 30

Linda (Fiegen) Warnest ’89, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 74, on December 9, 2023

1990s

Victoria Alabi ’91, Minneapolis, age 64, on November 30, 2023

Mark Wallinga ’91, Wyoming, Minnesota, age 55, on April 3

Mike Hagen ’92, Minneapolis, age 59, on January 30

Rita Billington ’93, Minneapolis, age 57, on March 9

Mark Classen ’93, Mendota Heights, Minnesota, age 73, on April 10

Wildred Elcan ’94, Fairfax, Virginia, age 82, on April 23

Peter Zarembo ’94, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 77, on December 1, 2023

Pamela (Mero) Wolf ’98, Mahtomedi, Minnesota, age 65, on December 8, 2023

Rebecca (Leininger) Kress ’99, Elk River, Minnesota, age 49, on January 19

2000s

Janice Rathlisberger ’02, Byron, Minnesota, age 68, on February 8

Michael Elasky ’04, Crosslake, Minnesota, age 58, on March 19

Sandra Lallak ’04, Mesa, Arizona, age 75, on January 29

Rukhmin Singh ’09, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 78, on December 25, 2023

Nannette Smith ’09, Minneapolis, age 59, on January 19

2010s

Erik Berger ’13, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 33, on April 12

Lindsay (Krieg) Block ’16 MA, Carver, Minnesota, age 40, on November 16, 2023

2020s

Helen (Derechin) Meilin ’20, Minneapolis, age 27, on January 22

Maya Davies ’22, New Brighton, Minnesota, age 37, on June 12

The post In Memoriam, Fall 2024 appeared first on Augsburg Now.

Alumni Class Notes, Fall 2024

cjohnson — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 17:01:05 +0000

1950s

1956

Richard Thorud ’56 has published his 14th book, a 28-page thesis titled, “Scientific Proof that God Exists.” It is available for $5 (cash or check) from Elliot House Publishing Co.,10030 Elliot Ave. S., Bloomington, MN 55420.

1957

Neal Snider ’57 is the author of “Hints, Hopes, and Promises of Life after Life,” published by Sola Publishing in 2024.

1970s

1970

James Fischer ’70 is the author of “Run, Train, Race,” offering practical distance running advice for runners of all levels, based on 50 years of running, teaching, and coaching. The book was designed by his wife, Christine.

1973

Sheldon Anderson ’73 is the author of “Schools for Scandal: The Dysfunctional Marriage of Division I Sports and Higher Education,” published by the University of Missouri Press in May 2024.

1990s

1996

Nils Dybvig ’96 MSW was featured in the January 26 MPR News story,

1999

Devean George ’99, founder of George Modular Solutions, was featured in the June 20 MPR News story,

2000s

2000

Ross Murray ’00, ’09 MBA was a keynote speaker at the July 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. He spoke about the overlap between youth ministry and advocacy for a better world for youth, with a particular lens on LGBTQIA youth. He also led a roundtable on LGBTQIA decriminalization at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January.

2003

Kristen Opalinski ’03 earned several 2024 DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards for her work on the Thirteenth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation publications, including Best in Class, Specialty Publications; Best in Class, Design; category winner for Posters—Single Work; category winner for Publication Design: Cover or Feature—Series; and an award for Logos and Branding—Single Work, for the assembly logo, “One Body, One Spirit, One Hope.” The DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards honor excellence in religious communications and public relations.

2006

David Nash ’06 published his second novel, “In Wells’ Time,” in February 2024 from Unsolicited Press.

2008

George Lynaugh ’08 is the proud father of seven daughters. He works as a carpenter for the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority.

2009

Tiffany Ramm ’09 gave a in Borrowdale, Zimbabwe, on April 6. She used her personal story of surviving financial and emotional abuse to illustrate how practicing vulnerability can be a strength instead of a weakness.

2010s

2011

Elle Thoni ’11 received an MFA in dramatic writing from Carnegie Mellon University in May. Elle is the recipient of three national awards from the Kennedy Center American College Festival, receiving first place for the Rosa Parks Playwriting Award, second prize for the Mark Twain Comic Playwriting Award, and a Planet Earth Playwriting Award. Elle also received a $25,000 first place award from the CMU-Alfred P. Sloan Script Competition for the pilot of a small-town dramedy series, “Tamarack.”

2015

Ebony (Green) Eromobor ’15 MSW, founder of Village Support Therapy and Consulting, was featured in the February 2 KARE 11 News story,

2016

Matthew Arthur-Gray ’16 MA received an EdD from Vanderbilt University. His doctoral research explored the transformative impact of nonprofits on the educational journeys of transgender youth. Arthur-Gray serves on the board of trustees for Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School and is the founder of Raising Queer Voices, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the LGBTQIA community.

Gabriella (Hooper) Rooker ’16 MS was featured in the February 2 Star Tribune news story,

2020s

2020

Nicole Nightengale ’20 was added to the new Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Minnesota franchise as a reserve defender during the team’s inaugural season.

The post Alumni Class Notes, Fall 2024 appeared first on Augsburg Now.

Alumni Class Notes, Spring 2024

cjohnson — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 12:05:14 +0000

1960s

1965

John Luoma ’65 published “Saddlebag Preacher: The Story of the Rev. John Stough and the Evangelizing of the Ohio Frontier” in September 2023.

1970s

1970

Peter Agre ’70, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2003, gave the inaugural Aston University Distinguished Lecture in Birmingham, England, on May 25, 2023.

1971

After performing her one-woman show, “Sitting on the Flat Side of a Dime, Swinging My Legs,” in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, Betty (McCoy) Anderson ’71 was the subject of a lengthy profile in the Siloam Springs Herald Tribune, on August 2, 2023.

1974

Philip Lundin ’74 was one of six members of the U.S. Track & Field Coaches Association Coaches Hall of Fame Class of 2023. He was the men’s track and field head coach at the University of Minnesota from 1995 to 2008.

1980s

1983 and 1988

Luverne Seifert ’83 and Darcey Engen ’88, professor and chair of Augsburg’s Theater Arts Department, received the Minnesota Educational Theater Association’s Dedicated Lifetime Award in 2023 for their work as co-artistic directors of Sod House Theater.

1985

Richard Magnuson ’85, chief financial officer at Allina Health, was named one of the top 25 CFOs of Minnesota for 2023 by Finance & Investing.

1986

Nicholas Gangestad ’86 joined the Nucor Corporation board of directors in September 2023. He is senior vice president and chief financial officer of Rockwell Automation, Inc.

1989

Vicki Ellingrod ’89 is dean of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Michigan.

1990s

1990

Thomas Peart ’90 is the author of “A Vagabond Life: Stories from a Minnesota Hockey Coach,” published by Friesen Press in July 2023.

1991

William Koschak ’91 was named the new CFO for SynerFuse in August 2023. He also has joined the board of directors for Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, California.

1993

Minnesota Lawyer named Tammera (Ericson) Diehm ’93 one of the 2023 Top Women in Law.

1997

Derrin Lamker ’97, head coach and former record-breaking quarterback for Augsburg’s football team, and a number of student-athletes, including quarterback Cade Sheehan ’24, were featured in the August 19, 2023, Star Tribune story,

Eric Rolland ’97, coach of Augsburg’s men’s and women’s golf, competed in the 2023 3M Open golf tournament. He earned a spot in the tournament after achieving Minnesota PGA Rolex Player of the Year honors in 2022.

2000s

2000, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022

A writing group largely made up of alumni from Augsburg’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program recently published its second book, “What’s in the Body Bag? A Collection of Dark Fiction by the Dead Birds Writing Group.” Authors include Trena Bolden Fields ’00, ’15 MFA; Judy Niemi Johnson ’05 MAL, ’17 MFA; David Nash ’06; Amanda Symes ’09, ’15 MFA; Jayne Carlson ’16 MFA; Jon Dahl ’16 MFA; Andrew Marks ’21; and Michelle Linder ’22 MFA.

2003

Jason Baumgartner ’03 is the campus chaplain at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Sheila Hoehn ’03 MAN was named dean of the Central Lakes College campuses in Staples, Minnesota, in June 2023.

2004

Mary (New) Taris ’04 opened Strive Bookstore in the Young Quinlan building in downtown Minneapolis. She owns a smaller version of the store, which includes many books from underrepresented authors, in the Sistah Co-op, located in the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis.

2006

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz appointed Brent Kelsey ’06 MBA to the Rural Finance Authority, the state’s main agricultural lending arm. Kelsey is a farmer and a principal credit officer at Compeer Financial.

2007

Erik Hinderlie ’07 graduated from the University of Massachusetts Boston School for the Environment with a Master of Science in urban planning and community development in 2023. He received the Urban Planning and Community Development Graduate Program Director’s Award for Public Service.

2008

Cyrus Batheja ’08, ’10 MBA, a member of Augsburg’s Board of Regents, is the national vice president of infusion care services at Optum.

Greg May ’08, most recently head coach of Augsburg’s men’s hockey team, accepted the position of associate head coach of the University of Minnesota women’s hockey team in July 2023.

2010s

2011

Ashley Booker ’11 MAE was named CEO of YWCA St. Paul in 2023.

2012

Ashley Aretz ’12, ’19 MSPAS has joined Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, Minnesota, where she specializes in hospitalist services. Aretz is a certified physician assistant.

2013

Gottleib Uahengo ’13 graduated with his PhD in engineering from the University of Southern California in May 2023.

2015

Parker Hines ’15 is an assistant coach for the Texas Legends, a professional basketball team.

2016

Gabriella (Hooper) Rooker ’16 finished as the fourth American woman and 11th woman overall in the Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2023.

2019

Colin Mustful ’19 MFA is the author of “Reclaiming Mni Sota: An Alternate History of the U.S.–Dakota War of 1862,” which was published by History Through Fiction in October 2023. Mustful is the founder and editor of History Through Fiction. He and his press have created the Reclaiming Mni Sota Indigenous Writers Grant, a literary diversity initiative to raise $10,000 for one Indigenous writer from Minnesota.

2020s

2022

In September 2023, Gavin Holland ’22 re-signed with the Huntsville Havoc, a professional ice hockey team in Huntsville, Alabama, for the 2023–24 season.

2023

Rachel Allen ’23 MAT teaches 10th- and 11th-grade American history and world history at Pine River-Backus School in Pine River, Minnesota.

Hope Manu Kannare ’23 was featured in the October 24, 2023, Star Tribune story,

Brandon Ratzloff ’23 was named an assistant coach with the Rochester Grizzlies junior ice hockey team in 2023.

The post Alumni Class Notes, Spring 2024 appeared first on Augsburg Now.

In Memoriam, Spring 2024

cjohnson — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 12:00:16 +0000

1940s

Catherine (Lovaas) Stulken ’41, Madison, Wisconsin, age 104, on July 7, 2023

Luella (Nelson) Bowman ’44, Bismarck, North Dakota, age 103, on November 6, 2023

Dora (Frojen) Quanbeck ’49, Maple Grove, Minnesota, age 95, on November 8, 2023

1950s

Shirley Dahlen ’50, Minneapolis, age 95, on November 22, 2023

Herbert Strand ’50, Fredericksburg, Texas, age 97, on October 29, 2023

Audrey (Nagel) Sander ’51, Oregon, Wisconsin, age 94, on November 23, 2023

Mary (Valtinson) Vevle ’51, Minneapolis, age 94, on June 23, 2023

David Christensen ’52, Bemidji, Minnesota, age 95, on May 29, 2023

Ivar Holmquist ’52, Rockville, Maryland, age 97, on April 25, 2023

Robert Langseth ’54, Calumet, Michigan, age 90, on October 17, 2023

Wesley Bodin ’55, New Hope, Minnesota, age 90, on November 19, 2023

Darrell Egertson ’55, regent emeritus, Bloomington, Minnesota, age 90, on August 20, 2023

Thomas Holcombe ’55, Omaha, Nebraska, age 90, on October 8, 2023

Lucille (Johnson) Sylvester ’58, Mission, Texas, age 87, on September 25, 2023

Mary (Twiton) Bosben ’59, Madison, Wisconsin, age 85, on December 8, 2023

Hubert Nelson ’59, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, age 88, on November 7, 2023

Willard Olsen ’59, Piedmont, South Dakota, age 91, on August 2, 2023

Richard Robinson ’59, Minneapolis, age 87, on April 26, 2023

1960s

Dorothy (Larson) Henriksen ’60, Hugo, Minnesota, age 85, on May 25, 2023

Phyllis Acker ’61, Crosslake, Minnesota, age 84, on April 27, 2023

Patricia (Hanson) Gjerde ’62, Fairfield, Montana, age 84, on July 20, 2023

Ann (Ring) Odegaard ’62, Austin, Minnesota, age 83, on November 12, 2023

Milo Oppegard ’62, River Falls, Wisconsin, age 85, on October 4, 2023

Eugene Ecklund ’63, Minneapolis, age 90, on November 29, 2023

Richard Hermstad ’63, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, age 82, on November 14, 2023

Wayne Fehlandt ’65, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, age 80, on July 27, 2023

Nancy (Bacon) Hale ’65, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 81, on May 19, 2023

Joy (Wilson) Olson ’65, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 82, on May 23, 2023

Marcia (Thimsen) Noble ’66, Minneapolis, age 79, on June 8, 2023

Lawrence Menzel ’67, Osseo, Minnesota, age 79, on June 12, 2023

John Selstad ’67, Minneapolis, age 78, on August 20, 2023

Cheryl (Peterson) Erickson ’68, Minneapolis, age 77, on April 22, 2023

David Loftness ’68, Prior Lake, Minnesota, age 78, on October 4, 2023

Jeanne (Turner) Shefveland ’68, Buffalo, Minnesota, age 77, on June 9, 2023

Royce Helmbrecht ’69, Austin, Minnesota, age 76, on November 13, 2023

Jacqueline (Kneifel) Lind ’69, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 76, on August 29, 2023

Daylen Peterson ’69, Santa Cruz, California, age 76, on July 29, 2023

1970s

Carmen (Mossing) Rowland ’70, Minneapolis, age 75, on June 6, 2023

Sonya (Hagen) Zieske ’70, Gresham, Oregon, age 75, on June 25, 2023

Arthur Scheunemann ’71, Bakersfield, California, age 74, on September 11, 2023

Robert Stacke ’71, professor emeritus of music, Minneapolis, age 75, on November 30, 2023

Pamela (Anderson) Dahlager ’73, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 72, on October 19, 2023

Neal Nelson ’73, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 72, on September 1, 2023

Susan Bowman ’74, Burnsville, Minnesota, age 71, on November 6, 2023

Marcia Kading ’75, Minneapolis, age 73, on August 7, 2023

Marylee Temple ’76, Minneapolis, age 70, on August 22, 2023

Richard Komorouski ’77, Carol Stream, Illinois, age 68, on August 12, 2023

Pamela (Feigum) Mellema ’77, Apple Valley, Minnesota, age 68, on July 29, 2023

1980s

Margaret (Berg) McChesney ’80, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 86, on November 29, 2023

Louellyn King ’81, Minneapolis, age 83, on April 29, 2023

Paul Amos ’82, Stillwater, Minnesota, age 64, on August 12, 2023

John Pearson ’82, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 63, on July 28, 2023

Mary Krull ’86, Minneapolis, age 81, on May 30, 2023

Joanne Whiterabbit ’86, Hudson, Wisconsin, age 60, on August 27, 2023

Barbara (Davis) Harer ’89, New Richmond, Wisconsin, age 82, on August 5, 2023

William Medcalf ’89, Denver, age 75, on November 12, 2023

1990s

Bruce Holcomb ’90, Stillwater, Minnesota, age 76, on October 5, 2023

Mary Spafford ’92, Eagan, Minnesota, age 76, on April 2, 2023

John Worley ’93, Minneapolis, age 54, on September 20, 2023

Teresa Cook ’97 MAE, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 71, on June 10, 2023

2000s

Matthew Koester ’05, Forest Lake, Minnesota, age 42, on October 27, 2023

Lesli (Hanson) Crowley Hanlin ’08, Andover, Minnesota, age 56, on November 1, 2023

2010s

Bradley Randall ’13, Rockford, Minnesota, age 46, on May 23, 2023

Martin Klees ’15 MBA, Rochester, Minnesota, age 54, on October 7, 2023

Troy Bernardo ’16 MAE, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 35, on September 13, 2023

2020s

Susan Olson ’22, Minneapolis, age 63, on May 25, 2023

Other Losses

Anthony Bibus III, professor emeritus of social work, Richfield, Minnesota, age 77, on December 19, 2023

Kelly Doran, StepUP donor and parent, Minneapolis, age 66, on December 28, 2023

Millicent Orenge, student, St. Louis Park, Minnesota, age 22, in January 2024

The post In Memoriam, Spring 2024 appeared first on Augsburg Now.

Alumni Class Notes, Fall 2023

cjohnson — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 18:50:48 +0000

1970s

1975

Dan Bruss ’75 received the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award from Bethany Lutheran College, where he is president emeritus. Bruss is credited with leading the college’s transition to a four-year, bachelor’s degree–granting institution during his tenure as president.

1976

Larry Morgan ’76 was presented with the Minnesota Society of CPAs’ Friend of the Association Award at their annual meeting for his help to organization members over the past 10 years. Earlier he was presented with the Lifetime Recognition Award by the Twin Cities Compensation Network. He also served on the Carlson School of Management HR/IR Alumni Board of Directors.

1980s

1983

Luverne Seifert ’83 performed the roles of Papa and Warren T. Rat in the world premiere of “An American Tail the Musical” at the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis. The show was covered in the May 21 New York Times article, “.”

1985

In January, Ron Huemoeller ’85 was appointed as chief executive officer for Saras Micro Devices, a provider of advanced power delivery solutions for high-performance semiconductor devices.

1989

Stephen A. Hindle ’89 is regional vice president (Asia) of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Deutsche Bank. His work is based in Singapore.

1990s

1991

Bill Koschak ’91 was appointed to the advisory board of Reborn Coffee Inc., a California-based retailer of specialty coffee. He is chief financial officer of Calyxt, a plant-based synthetic biotechnology company.

1992

Sven Erlandson ’92, founder of Badass Counseling, was the guest on of the Good Athlete Podcast, released on January 31.

Carol Gronner ’92 is co-producer of “Unzipped: An Autopsy of American Inequality.” The documentary focuses on the homelessness epidemic in Los Angeles and the United States and the efforts to enshrine affordable housing as a human right.

1993

Darin Olien ’93, a plant-based exotic superfoods hunter and founder of 121 Tribe, is the TV host on the Netflix docu-series “Down to Earth With Zac Efron.” He also recently co-founded Barukas, offering a super nut from Brazil.

1995

Dave Kerkvliet ’95 was recently named superintendent at Sebeka Public School in Sebeka, Minnesota. He was previously band director at the school for 27 years.

1998

Ryan Aytay ’98 has been named chief executive officer of Tableau Software. He had previously been serving as Tableau’s president and chief revenue officer and retains his role of president along with his new role as CEO.

Matt Osberg ’98 was named chief financial officer and executive vice president of Apogee Enterprises.

1999

Jennifer Grimm ’99 is the new music director of Crooners Supper Club in Fridley, Minnesota.

2000s

Ross Murray ’00, ’09 MBA and Richard Garnett ’07, ’09 MBA received extensive media attention for their hats piled high with flowers at the New York City Easter parade, including on the front page of the . Murray is author of the newly published book, “The Everyday Advocate: Living Out Your Calling to Social Justice.”

Miriam Zien-Edgar ’06, Kou Lee ’11, ’19 MAE, and Tim Binger ’11, ’21 MAL took the St. Louis Park (Minnesota) High School orchestra to San Diego, running into fellow orchestra alum Suzanne Jokela ’08 along the way. Lee is the St. Louis Park middle school and high school orchestra director, a role that Zien-Edgar held from 2010 to 2018. Binger is the St. Louis Park elementary orchestra director.

2006

Brooke Hamann ’06 and her father were the subjects of the April 14 article, in the Perham Focus newspaper.

2007

Rachel Engstrom ’07 earned a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas in 2021. She is co-chair of Minnesota’s Behavioral Health Planning Committee and chair of the Governance Committee for the Pro-Choice Minnesota board. She’s also applying to law school.

Erik Steen Hinderlie ’07 graduated from the University of Massachusetts—Boston with a Master of Science in urban planning and community development. He was the recipient of the Urban Planning and Community Development Graduate Program Director’s Award for Excellence for his public service in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Brad Wise ’07 was recently sworn in as sheriff of Anoka County, Minnesota. Previously he served as the Coon Rapids police chief.

2008

Alyssa (Baumann) Ryder ’08 was promoted to senior police crime and intelligence analyst with the Duluth (Minnesota) Police Department in 2022. She also received her subject matter expert certification in call detail record and geolocation analysis.

2009

On March 19, Kyle Soderberg ’09 was ordained as deacon of outreach and organizational development at Nativity Lutheran Church in St. Anthony, Minnesota.

2010s

2010

Ryan Barnick ’10 MAE was selected as superintendent of the Zumbrota-Mazeppa School District in Minnesota. Previously he served as a principal with Austin Public Schools.

Chad Leonard ’10 is the new mayor of Amery, Wisconsin. He teaches business for the Osceola School District and served on the city council prior to being elected mayor.

Kelly Roselyne ’10 was promoted to executive director of finance and operations of Terrybear Urns and Memorials.

2011

Elle Thoni ’11 received second place in the Kennedy Center’s Paula Vogel Award in Playwriting competition for their play “Monstrous,” which explores the post-Roe v. Wade era. They are completing an MFA in dramatic writing at Carnegie Mellon University.

Jennifer (Daniels) Umberger ’11 MBA was named vice president of marketing and communications for Kettering University in Flint, Michigan. Previously she was associate vice president of marketing and communications and chief marketing and communications officer at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania.

2012

Christine (Brenno) Fenner ’12 MBA is a member of a group bringing the Carver County Public Health’s Communities of Belonging initiative to Waconia, Minnesota. Their goal is to work with area residents to create a community where people are truly connected, know each other, and take care of each other.

Vickie (Hargrave) Spyhalski ’12 was appointed minister of First United Methodist Church in Austin, Minnesota.

2013

Maren Daniels ’13 is author and illustrator of “The Elements of Art: An Elementary Art Teacher’s Guide to Color, Shape, Texture & More.” She is an elementary art teacher in South St. Paul Public Schools.

Aimee (Nguyen) Norasingh ’13 MBA was recently welcomed to United Way’s Women United Global Leadership Council. Women United is committed to advancing gender equity and expanding access to quality, affordable, educational childcare. Norasingh is a senior relationship executive with Optum Financial.

2016

Sagal Ali ’16 was one of 20 global leaders included in Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity’s 2023 cohort. Fellows meet in-person and virtually to explore health equity topics, bolster their leadership skills, build a global community, and work with AFHE staff, faculty, and mentors. This year’s fellows were chosen from a pool of more than 400 applicants.

Muna Mohamed ’16 was featured in the May 27 Star Tribune story, “.” Her modest activewear brand, Kalsoni, is now sold by retailers such as REI.

2017

Alexis Halvorson ’17 is head coach of the girls’ lacrosse team at Northfield High School in Northfield, Minnesota.

2019

The novel, “Blue Lake,” by Jeffrey Boldt ’19 MFA received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and won an award for 2022 Best of Indie Press.

2020s

2020

Jojo (Khadijo) Abdi ’20 MFA is teaching screenwriting at Metro State University. She recently served as guest journalist for The Forum on Workplace Inclusion. She also has studio space in Midtown Global Market for a new project based on interviews in the community.

Jimmy Aguilar ’20 is new co-director of diversity and inclusion for AIGA Minnesota, a professional association for people working in the field of design, including graphic design and web design.

2021

Karina Kafka ’21 has made a film called “A Mother’s Love.” This 26-minute documentary focuses on missing and murdered Indigenous women through the story of one mother’s search for her daughter.

Simon Redstone ’21 recently directed a short film called “Sister Diane” and accepted a position working in the film/marketing/advertising industry.

2022

Alexa (Turcios) Carrera ’22, a student in the Master of Science in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy program at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, was featured in the April 21 University of Minnesota news story, “.”

The post Alumni Class Notes, Fall 2023 appeared first on Augsburg Now.