2023-24
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, president
Dr. Pam Homan '81, chief strategy officer & executive vice president
Dr. Joel Johnson, provost & executive vice president
Pamela Miller ‘94, chief of staff
Shannan Nelson, chief financial officer & executive vice president
BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 2023-24
Pat McAdaragh '81, chair
Melinda Keith '89, vice chair
Todd Williams '83, secretary
Jill Weber Aanenson '93
Manaal Ali '20
Scott Barth '91
Dr. Maria Bell '84
Dennis Bly '94
Cheryl Collins
Blaine Crissman '84
Greg Daniels '75
Bishop Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl
Dr. Damien Fair '98
Paul Harmel '72
Dale Hoiberg '71
Dr. Gene Hoyme '72
Jillian Klein '01
Dr. Cheryl Leuning '72
Paul Limburg '87
Craig Lloyd
Jeanelle Lust '91
Ronald Moquist
Kevin Nyberg '79
Dr. Mohammad Zeeshan Qamar
Keith Severson '79
Kathy Walsh
To view the gratitude report and full listing of those who supported Augustana University in the 2023-24 fiscal year, visit augie.edu/donors.
DEAR DONORS, ALUMNI AND FRIENDS,
We are pleased to share the 2023-24 Augustana Annual Report with you. Thanks to your generous support, this year has been marked by numerous Viking Bold milestones and successes.
Fueled by your contributions to annual and endowed scholarships, the university welcomed a record-breaking 2,390 undergraduate and graduate students in Fall 2024. Driven by a commitment to enhance the academic and student life experience, with your gifts, we have introduced new majors, expanded club sports and made significant enhancements to Morrison Commons, including the Partridge Grand Staircase shown on the cover.
We hope you take tremendous pride in knowing that your generosity empowers today’s students to prepare for lives of meaning and purpose, while also strengthening Augustana to educate with excellence the generations of Vikings to come. Through their leadership and service, AU alumni make a profound difference in communities around the world.
Our gratitude for you is boundless, and we look forward to all we can achieve together in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Pamela (Pam) J. Homan ’81, Ed.D. Chief Strategy Officer & Executive Vice President
OUR MISSION
Inspired by Lutheran scholarly tradition and the liberal arts, Augustana provides an education of enduring worth that challenges the intellect, fosters integrity and integrates faith with learning and service in a diverse world.
THE PLACE THAT SHAPED THEM
Delmans Turn Passions Into Philanthropy at AU
| BY KEELEY (MEIER) EHRMANTRAUT '20
Danae (Smith) ‘77 and Eric Delman ‘77 didn’t have the traditional Augustana experience. They didn’t go through freshman orientation. They didn’t get to watch “Frosh Varieties” or run for a freshman Augustana Student Association (ASA) Senate seat. They arrived locked into their majors, never marked as “exploring.”
The Delmans both transferred to Augustana, giving them — perhaps out of anyone — the most quintessential Augustana experience: an education of enduring worth, lasting bonds with faculty, a community of lifelong friends and, eventually, each other.
Danae, originally from Galesburg, North Dakota, was drawn to Augustana by its education programs. With a passion for teaching, she double majored in special and elementary education with an emphasis in Deaf education.
Eric was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, but grew up hearing about Augustana from his mother, the late Edith Mortenson Delman ‘41, for whom the Edith Mortenson Center on campus is named.
“We used to vacation out there (Sioux Falls) each summer, and I started college at Virginia Tech for a couple years,” Eric said. “The summer after my sophomore year, there was a catalog laying there from Augustana College, and I started to look at it. They had the aviation administration program, and I thought it was time for a change.”
Augustana’s aviation administration program launched in 1939 in anticipation of World War II, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt called for the additional training of pilots at colleges and universities. After completing the program himself, the late Dr. V. Ronald (V.R.) Nelson ‘44 returned to Augustana as director of the program, which offered a bachelor’s degree in aviation administration and 2-year professional pilot degree.
“I had always wanted to be a pilot,” Eric said. “I received my private, commercial instrument rating, along with the instructor certification — all at Augie during two January Interims (J-Terms). I attended ground school in the morning and flew in the afternoon.
“I became very good friends with Dr. Nelson. He was, in addition to teaching, doing insurance investigation in the 5-state area, and I became his private pilot so to speak — flying him around the states and building up flying time. I got to know him very well, and it was just an excellent opportunity.”
Eric maintained a close relationship with Nelson until his passing in 2012. Nelson and Augustana’s aviation administration program made such an impact on Eric that his parents, Edith Mortenson ‘41 and Ed Delman, established the Eric Delman Aviation Scholarship in his honor. The scholarship was awarded every January to the student who earned the highest score on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) written examination for private pilots.
Following Augustana, Eric earned a master’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, and attempted to get a job with the airlines. When that didn’t go as planned, Eric joined his father in the family electrical wholesale business, Alexandria Lighting & Supply — later becoming president.
Meanwhile, Danae moved to Illinois after Augustana and taught at the Illinois State School for the Deaf in Jacksonville. The Delmans married in 1979 in Danae’s hometown of Galesburg, then moved east to Virginia. Danae earned a master’s degree in multi-handicapped Deaf from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., and taught at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf on Gallaudet’s campus.
Master’s degrees and moves didn’t stop them from holding their alma mater close, though. Eric’s parents established business administration scholarships in honor of Eric, and Deaf education scholarships in honor of Danae, who served on the Augustana Board of Trustees for six years. The Delmans have made significant contributions to the Augie Access Program, the only postsecondary comprehensive transition program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in South Dakota.
“Augie Access became an interest to us because our oldest son is autistic,” Danae said. “We would have loved to have had something like that for our Zachary. We just think it's a great program and want to see it flourish.”
Then, along came hockey. In October 2021, Augustana formally announced the addition of the Viking Men’s Hockey Program, which first took the ice in the fall of 2023 in the new Midco Arena on campus.
The Delmans, who are former hockey parents and longtime season ticket holders for the Washington Capitals, were thrilled to get in on the ground floor of AU Hockey. Because of their support as founding partners, the student section in Midco Arena is the Delman Family Student Section.
“We were there (Midco Arena) for the first home game, and we brought the whole family,” Eric said. “As we sat in those seats, we were in awe of the newly-built ice arena and very proud to be part of it.”
For the Delmans, though, it’s not about getting to see their name above the student section, but the lifelong returns of giving back to a place that shaped them.
The Boston Power Couple
Anderson, Klawiter Offer AU Student Internships, Support Meaningful Projects
| BY KEELEY (MEIER) EHRMANTRAUT '20
In the late ‘90s, social dance class was all the rage at Augustana. Each year, the class filled up quickly with senior women looking to fulfill their physical education requirement — providing the perfect opportunity for junior, sophomore or freshman men to “dance with older women.”
For Erika Anderson ‘99 and Eric Klawiter ‘00, the class was another thing that brought them together at Augustana. Klawiter was a junior when Anderson was a senior, so Anderson was one of those “older women” — a long-standing joke between the couple as their age difference is a mere three months.
The two met the year before through mutual friends, but began to develop a close friendship. They spent time together with friends, were part of a spring break trip to Chicago, Illinois, and danced, of course.
Anderson, originally from Eureka, South Dakota, was a government & international affairs and journalism double major on the pre-law track. To “balance out the studying,” she was in concert band and played piano all four years at Augustana. Anderson’s biggest influence was undoubtedly the late Dr. Peter Schotten, professor emeritus of government & international affairs.
“I took basically every class I could take with him,” Anderson said. “He was such an incredible professor and such an incredible human. His classes were so challenging, but everybody loved them. When I went to law school, I had a whole new appreciation for him because law school was taught almost exactly the way he taught; he prepared me so well.”
Klawiter, who’s from Tyndall, South Dakota, majored in biology. Klawiter grew up going to Augustana athletic events and Viking Varieties during Viking Days, thanks to his mother, Arlene (Fritz) ‘65, an alumna. This early exposure to Augustana made his college decision easier.
“What attracted me to (Augustana) as I was looking at colleges were the liberal arts,” Klawiter said. “As someone who was interested in engineering and science, I was attracted to going to school where I could get a well-rounded education, but if I changed my mind about my major, would have opportunities to move in various directions.”
Klawiter cited the late Dr. Gary Earl, professor emeritus of chemistry, as an influential figure, saying Earl was “generous with his time and met students where they were in their development.” He also noted that Earl taught him “the value of mentoring with enthusiasm as an active listener” — something Klawiter carries with him as he takes on the role of mentor.
Like Anderson, Klawiter dabbled in the performing arts while at Augustana.
“Choir was a little bit of an unexpected experience,” said Klawiter. “I made friends very early on at Augustana who were planning to audition for choir. It was freshman orientation, we were walking by the choir room and they were signing up for auditions. So, basically on a whim, I decided to sign up and somehow made the choir.
“It was really a great experience,” he continued. “It was a great opportunity to, for the first time in my life, travel internationally. We had a tour in Norway, also a tour in England and Ireland. The other highlights were Vespers and the local J-Term (January Interim) tours.”
MAKING IT LEGAL
It wasn’t until Klawiter and Anderson had both graduated from Augustana that they began dating — long-distance dating.
Anderson moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where she earned a juris doctor (J.D.) from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Following her time in Minnesota, she returned to South Dakota and served as a clerk for Judge Karen Schreier, former U.S. attorney for the District of South Dakota.
At the same time, Klawiter was earning a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. Klawiter graduated in 2004 and matched at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, for a neurology residency.
But, before the couple could head south, they had one thing in South Dakota they still wanted to do: get married.
“We got married in Augie’s chapel, actually,” Anderson said. “We had two of our good friends that were both Augustana grads as our pastors at the wedding — Kyle Small (‘99) and Dan Gerrietts (‘00).”
In St. Louis, Anderson worked for the litigation firm, Dowd Bennett, while Klawiter completed his residency, then a fellowship specializing in multiple sclerosis (MS).
“Specializing in multiple sclerosis was, in part, because I had a cousin that was diagnosed with MS when I was in medical school, so that led me to do more reading about and researching the disease,” Klawiter said. “I ultimately thought it was an important disease to specialize in because people are diagnosed in young adulthood, so it offers this continuity of care that you have with your patients.
In 2010, the couple moved east, where Klawiter accepted a position at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). As an associate neurologist at MGH and associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, Klawiter also serves as director of the multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica unit at MGH.
“There was a big need for improving treatments in MS, which we've actually seen in the last 20 years. So, it's been a very satisfying disease to study and treat, just because we've seen such a big change in how we can impact people after they're diagnosed with MS to prevent disability,” said Klawiter.
While Klawiter settled into his roles with MGH and Harvard, Anderson served as an assistant attorney general for the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. She then returned to Dowd Bennett’s Boston office in 2016, where she is a partner.
GIVING BACK: A NO-BRAINER
What Anderson and Klawiter have accomplished is a testament to Augustana and its community.
“I wanted to be a lawyer since I was 12, and what did I know about being a lawyer? Literally nothing. I knew zero lawyers,” Anderson said. “But, I go back to Dr. Schotten, and he really made me think in the way of what it means to be a lawyer and in a socially-conscious way, and all in such a safe place where I could grow and develop.
This opportunity to grow and develop is a major reason the couple has supported Augustana for more than a decade. When Augustana renovated the Gilbert Science Center into the Froiland Science Complex in 2016, the couple gave a substantial gift in honor of the many hours Klawiter spent studying and taking classes in that building. When Augustana renovated the Fryxell Humanities Center in 2019, the couple gave another substantial gift — this time in honor of Anderson’s journalism major and the many hours spent in music practice rooms.
“Updating facilities is an important way we can contribute to the next generation of students,” Klawiter said.
But, before Augustana’s renovations tugged at their heartstrings, Klawiter discovered a unique way he could give back to his alma mater — one that would have a direct impact on current students. In 2011, Klawiter began offering a paid research internship to one Augustana student each summer at MGH — the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.
“The idea came about when Erika and I were back (at Augustana) for my 10-year reunion,” said Klawiter, who was connected with Dr. Mark Larson, professor of biology. “Dr. Larson coordinates summer research for students majoring in the sciences, so each year, he helps me find a few students to interview and I ultimately offer the internship to one.”
The students Larson selects for an initial interview with Klawiter are seeking medical research opportunities and have prior research experience. Since beginning the internship program, Klawiter has hosted nearly a dozen Augustana students in his lab.
“It's been a really great opportunity to work with extremely bright students who are highly motivated and new to Boston — it's fun to orient them to the East Coast,” Klawiter said. “Over time, I’ve had 11 students, and they’re 11 for 11 getting into medical school. It’s great to keep up with the students. Kelly (Wong) Heidepriem (‘13) was the first student, and now she’s an emergency medicine physician. And, Jessica (Johnson) Piché (‘14) is an MS neurologist in Minnesota.
“So, I’m 11 for 11 for medical school, but one for 11 in specializing in MS,” joked Klawiter.
GOTTA RUN
When Klawiter and Anderson aren’t spending time in the lab or courtroom, they can be found with their 15-year-old and twin 12-year-old daughters. The couple, who plans to co-coach their twins’ seventh-grade basketball team this winter, also spends quite a bit of time running.
“I just ran the Chicago Marathon, which was my fifth marathon,” Klawiter said.
“The reason he ran his first one was because two Augie friends were running a marathon, and it seems like he’s done a lot of things just because friends from Augie were like, ‘Hey, I'm going to do this thing,’” Anderson joked, referring to Klawiter’s freshman choir audition.
It’s these enduring friendships — leading to choir auditions and marathons — that keep Klawiter and Anderson championing their alma mater, even when separated by 1,500 miles.
“On the East Coast, there are many Ivy League schools, and people get so hyped up,” Anderson said. “I think about kids like myself, growing up in small, sheltered places, who would never consider moving across the country to a Harvard or even a University of Minnesota. To have a place like Augie that’s financially accessible, that feels like, ‘I will fit in here, and it's a space where I can still be myself, but also grow’ — knowing that exists for students is important.”
