The Augustana - Fall 2020

AUGUSTANA FALL 2020 • VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1

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T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R A L U M N I , PA R E N T S A N D F R I E N D S O F A U G U S TA N A U N I V E R S I T Y

AU LAUNCHES NEW SCHOOLS/PROGRAMS $2 MILLION GIFT HELPS CREATE SHARON LUST SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

CWS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS

VIEW THEM ALL AT AUGIE.EDU/VIKINGVIEWS

VIKINGDAYS OCTOBER 9-11, 2020 U

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The health and safety of the Augustana community is our top priority.

With the ever-changing conditions associated with COVID-19, the Viking Days Central Committee is reimagining many Viking Days traditions and creating some new ones in the process.

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VISIT AUGIE.EDU/VIKINGDAYS FOR MORE DETAILS

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t’s our pleasure to share with you this latest edition of The Augustana.

Within these pages are stories of Augustana alumni and faculty who are making an impact through leadership, service, generosity, and innovation. These change-makers of today are, indeed, creating bold futures.

While uncertainty remains, we live in faith and hope — adapting to new ways of living, learning, and interacting. We are especially grateful for the relationships which sustain us and for those renewed and strengthened in these times of great challenge.

With even more joy than usual (and honestly, a bit of anxiety), we welcomed our new and returning students to campus for the fall semester. The Viking Flex Plan is being fully implemented and we proceed with optimism that we can provide our students with a safe and excellent academic and campus life experience in the months ahead. I am incredibly grateful to all members of our academics and operations working groups, our dedicated faculty, and all members of our campus community who have worked diligently throughout the summer to ensure we

could safely deliver the face-to-face experience our students so clearly prefer.

While Augustana students were not physically present for the final weeks of the spring semester, they were fully engaged in learning and committed to academic excellence. I am proud to share that 891 students were named to the Spring 2020 Dean’s List. Among the many additional awards and recognitions, one student has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2020 Truman Scholar Award and two students have been awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships. We also celebrate the 237 student-athletes named Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) All-Academic honorees for the 2019-20 academic year, the highest number in the NSIC. The value of an Augustana degree continues to be affirmed through national recognition. Career site Zippia ranked Augustana University No. 2 in the nation for post-graduate employment. We continue to be blessed by our location in Sioux Falls, a city that receives national recognition for job opportunities and a healthy economy.

As you’ll discover on page 20 in this edition of The Augustana, we

continue to make significant strides in Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030.

The generosity of alumni and friends has helped us achieve important goals identified in Phase I of the plan. On July 29, we announced the Sharon Lust School of Education. The $2 million naming gift was given by John ‘90 and Jeanelle (Robson) Lust ‘91 in honor of John’s mother, Sharon Lust. This fall, we also launched the School of Music and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. Most recently, we announced the School of Business and the School of Health Professions. Two new programs have been added to our undergraduate academic offerings — medical humanities and society, and environmental studies. You’ll also read about initiatives fostered by the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Scholarship (CTS), supported by our generous alumni, along with IT infrastructure improvements, which have proven critically important in delivering our academic programs safely and with excellence in the midst of the health crisis.

Our students enter to learn, and, as alumni, they leave to lead and serve.

On page 8, you’ll read about Aaron Dang ’13, a passionate educational leader. On page 7, Kari Marshall ‘93, shares how she’s living her dream. And, on page 21, see how Kate (Knudson) Wolters ’02, is providing leadership in her role with the U.S. House of Representatives.

This fall, we will all be called to continue to grow through new ways of thinking, doing, and being.

Especially in these times, our enduring commitments and shared core values of Christian faith, liberal arts, excellence, community, and service bind us together in strength for the journey ahead. We are all in this together, for Augustana.

May you and your family have a blessed, healthy, and safe season ahead.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin President THE AUGUSTANA | FALL 2020

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FEATURES

THE AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, president EDITOR Greta Stewart, director of creative services and editorial CONTRIBUTORS Nancy Davidson Joel Gackle Ryan Hilgemann Jill Wilson

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KARI MARSHALL ’93 — LIVING HER DREAM

KNOW PR. ANN ROSENDALE

ALUM FEATURE:

A FAITHFUL FUTURE OF CAMPUS MINISTRY: GET TO

PHOTOGRAPHERS Jackie Adelmann ‘15 Daniel Bergeson ‘19 Hunter Chear ‘23 DESIGNERS Kami Gladis Peg Ustad Sustainability is important to Augustana University. The pages within The Augustana are printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper.

Visit the magazine online at augie.edu/magazine. Find more news about Augustana at augie.edu.

Send correspondence, name changes and address corrections to: The Augustana Magazine 2001 S. Summit Ave. Sioux Falls, SD 57197 or via email at alumni@augie.edu.

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PLUS EXPLORE CWS’ IN-HOUSE PUBLISHING

ALUMS DONATE AND ESTABLISH THE SHARON LUST SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

CWS: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS

CONTENTS

$2 MILLION GIFT:

FALL 2020

3 Viking Flex: Classes Modified Through Unique Plan 4 Viking Athletics: Charging Through COVID-19 6 Ahead of the Game: Technology Investment 8 Alum Feature: Aaron Dang ’13 16 New Schools, Programs Announced 20 Viking Bold: Key Successes & Next Step Highlights 21 Kate (Knudson) Wolters ’02 Named Chief of Protocol

in U.S. House 22 New Faculty 23 Class Notes/In Memoriam WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK!

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augie.edu/readership-survey

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.

OUR VISION

Augustana aspires to become one of America’s premier church-related universities.

OUR VALUES

Central to the Augustana experience are five core values. The community lives them and honors them, and they infuse the academic curriculum as well as student life: Christian, Liberal Arts, Excellence, Community & Service.

CONNECT WITH US augie.edu/connect Augustana is an affirmative action, Title IX, equal opportunity institution.

CLASSES MODIFIED THROUGH

VIKING FLEX PLAN | BY GRETA STEWART & JILL WILSON

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arlier this summer, Augustana University announced its Viking Flex Plan for Fall Semester 2020, and classes started on campus in late August. The university plans to continue with a hybrid/flexible approach, which includes both face-to-face and virtual components to most courses, and reflects a commitment to in-person curricular and co-curricular experiences for the university’s students.

The Viking Flex Plan was developed by an 18-member Scenario Planning Task Force, which was charged with evaluating various scenarios for operating in the fall amid ongoing uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The task force has prioritized the health and well-being of students, faculty and staff while applying careful consideration to how the physical spaces and interactive culture of the campus community can be modified to accommodate the current situation and fulfill the university’s mission of providing an education of enduring worth.

Augustana University President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin said, “In preparing to serve students on campus in the fall, we are focused on how to responsibly adapt learning and living environments and modify operations in ways that clearly adhere to broadly accepted public health guidelines while also creatively nurturing community and affording safe opportunities for face-to-face interactions among faculty and students.”

As part of the Viking Flex Plan, Augustana is holding in-person classes now through Friday, November 20. The university started classes a week early and eliminated a fall break in order to allow students to return home by Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving, the university will transition to a brief period of online instruction that will allow for innovative course engagement, creative projects, as well as a safe and successful finish for course instruction on Friday, December 4.

“Each course offering was carefully evaluated for student needs as well as room availability,” said Joni Krueger, the university’s registrar and associate dean of interdisciplinary programs, who also serves as co-chair of the academics working group.

“All classrooms were outfitted with technology to allow students to participate virtually if necessary. The committee worked diligently to provide the resources faculty needed to prepare for the fall semester and continues to plan for

various scenarios. We are so thankful for the dedication of our faculty to make this the best experience possible.”

Scenario Planning Task Force Chair and Director of International Programs & Enrollment Ben Iverson said, “The plan allows us to retain what is best about an Augustana education, while being prepared to make any adjustments as needed. I’m humbled by the amount of time and effort that really smart people are putting into this plan. The taskforce evaluated nearly 20 scenarios; the Viking Flex Plan is the best path forward for our students and campus community.”

The Viking Flex Plan emphasizes in-person learning while following recommended physical distancing and other guidelines.

Augustana has also asked its students to take responsibility for the health and well-being of the campus community as they live, learn and study on campus, which includes signing a health and safety pledge.

The university also is requiring that masks be worn in all indoor public spaces on campus, including classrooms, study spaces and hallways. Buildings on campus indicate that masks should be worn inside, have had plexiglass installed where appropriate and stickers added to the floors to remind people to distance themselves from others. Scenario planning is in place should health and safety concerns require a quick pivot, the university said in a statement.

Augustana’s success with this plan depends on the cooperation of its entire community. Therefore, the university will implement an enhanced educational program for everyone on campus that promotes health and safety guidelines for managing COVID-19. The Scenario Planning Task Force worked throughout the summer, assisted by our community partner Sanford Health, and as the university also continues to monitor and integrate public health recommendations from the South Dakota Department of Health (SD-DOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Augustana’s Risk Assessment Team also continues to meet daily to discuss, identify and implement precautionary measures so as to prevent the spread of illness and respond effectively to changing local conditions.

For more detailed information and updates related to the Viking Flex Plan, please visit augie.edu/vikingflex. n

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VIKING ATHLETICS

CHARGING THROUGH COVID-19 HOW AUGUSTANA ATHLETICS, ATHLETES PIVOT THROUGH PANDEMIC | BY RYAN HILGEMANN

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arch 12, 2020. The Augustana Athletics Department had a pair of top-25 teams in baseball and softball, the swimming, indoor track & field and wrestling teams were at the sites of the NCAA Division II National Championships, and the department as a whole had gone through months of planning to host the wrestling championships. Then everything came to a screeching halt.

Due to COVID-19, the championships for all three sports were canceled, and the seasons for baseball, softball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis and outdoor track and field were also canceled.

All sports at Augustana were affected including the spring exhibition seasons for football, volleyball and soccer, a portion of training that teams utilize to prepare for the following academic year.

Kelly Kleekamp, a native of Olathe, Kansas, had completed her freshman campaign for the Viking soccer team in the fall and was just getting into spring workouts when the pandemic hit.

“At first, it was — I have another week to get into gear because we were going to come back from Spring Break and run a fitness test,” Kleekamp said. “But then we moved online for the rest of the semester and it turned into, I really don’t want to miss my spring season.”

On top of missing out on key development with her teammates, Kleekamp also had a realization of missing classmates.

“I love walking down the hall to see my friends,”

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she said. “They all live four-to-five hours away from me, so I miss seeing them. I miss the atmosphere. I love school and the cultural aspect of it. I am a little bit of an introvert, but school forces me to go out and meet people and do things that put me out of my comfort zone.”

The soccer team, fresh off its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in six years, found ways to stick together although being miles and hours apart.

“We had weekly team meetings, then we had class meetings, where the seniors would meet, the juniors would meet and so on, and we found ways to stay accountable,” Kleekamp said about the first couple weeks of quarantine.

“Ally Young, Josie Arduser and myself, we came up with a Google Drive folder where we would enter our fitness for that day, our ball work for that day and that led into Fitness Tuesdays, an Augustana Classic. We set up a Zoom call, set our camera outside and we would run fitness together.”

It wasn’t without its hiccups as the entire nation was grasping to learn the technology of virtual meetings on the fly, but by the end of what would have been the spring season, the bugs were worked out and the Vikings were staying connected.

“It was a really good thing,” Kleekamp added. “Fitness is not easy, and it is very difficult to run successfully by yourself. The Zoom calls were a great way to stay motivated and feel more accountable. Having your teammates with you, even though it was online, it was a good feeling. There was good energy.”

As spring turned into summer, Kleekamp took on a job at

HAVING YOUR TEAMMATES WITH YOU, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLINE, WAS A GOOD FEELING. THERE WAS GOOD ENERGY.”

- KELLY KLEEKAMP

a gas station in her hometown while still navigating her way around various restrictions and staying motivated for her team and herself.

“I practiced with my former teammates who were also playing collegiately,” Kleekamp said. “I played bigger sided stuff, so it wasn’t just me getting touches on the ball, but I got touches on the ball on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, then I ran every other day.”

The team used a group chat to continue to stay connected and talk about workouts they had completed, which then motivates one another to

continue on with their own personal workouts.

“Your teammates are checking in and saying I did this today and you’re able to respond with what you did yourself,” Kleekamp added.

When she was in a personal funk, she was able to reach out to teammates who then, in turn, helped her get back on track.

“They’ve been there, they know the pains and struggles,” she said.

“We all go through the same stuff, so they always offer up a lot as a support system.”

When asked specifically about a

leader, Kleekamp brought up rising senior Shannon McKnight.

“She’s definitely been the one that reaches out, checks on things, asks how it is going.”

Kleekamp was also quick to point out the role that head coach Brandon Barkus and assistant coach Aric Spader played throughout the spring.

“They worked through some growing pains,” Kleekamp said in reference to learning how to coach a team through Zoom and distance training. “They made adjustments as they needed to. They were very flexible and adaptable.”

“They handled the pandemic really well.”

The athletics department opened its doors for voluntary workouts beginning June 1 and used a three-phase approach to bring student-athletes back.

“I’m excited to see my friends again, start my preseason and play soccer with my team again,” Kleekamp said.

“It’s been rough not to see them because that really was my boost at the end of the day, to see the people I love and play the sport I love. I am just excited to get back to campus.”

After the interview with Kleekamp, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) announced the cancellation of fall sports championship and the suspension of all athletic competition through Dec. 31. A winter sports schedule will be released at a later date, while NSIC membership is committed to exploring meaningful opportunities for competition in the spring for fall student-athletes.

The Augustana community was kept up-to-date with the changes through various newsletters from Director of Athletics Josh Morton along with a video series which featured guests such as head men’s basketball coach Tom Billeter, head strength and conditioning coach Brett Chambers, head volleyball coach Jen Jacobs and student-athletes such as Vishe’ Rabb and Sydney Capers among others. The Inside Athletics newsletter and the Viking Video Chats can be found on GoAugie.com. n THE AUGUSTANA | FALL 2020

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AHEAD OF THE GAME INVESTMENT IN TECHNOLOGY PREPARED AUGUSTANA FOR

ONLINE INSTRUCTION

BEFORE COVID-19

| BY JILL WILSON

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ith Augustana’s strategic plan — Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030 — the university affirmed its commitment to providing innovative and significant learning experiences for students. To achieve this, faculty members need access to technology that enhances learning and

opportunities to engage their colleagues in meaningful conversations about best practices.

In the fall of 2019, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship (CTS) was established to take advantage of these opportunities — partnering with various components of the university and engaging experts

A screenshot from a video recorded in Explain Everything, which is a program that allows uploading and annotating files while recording voice and annotations. In this picture, Assoc. Professor Lindsay Erickson shows the basics of Graph Theory in a section of Math 320: Discrete Structures.

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across the field of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL).

Before the university even looked at adopting its Viking Flex Plan — which incorporates both face-to-face learning as well as an integrated virtual learning component in many classes this fall — the CTS was already moving forward with plans that would prove to be beneficial in dealing with the challenges that come with a global pandemic.

A new learning management system, known as Canvas, was about to be rolled out to the campus community, as well as a curriculum development program, the Curriculum Design Fellowship (CDF), that would provide a theory and practical foundations for faculty as they created or revised classes for the fall semester.

Director of CTS Jay Kahl, said, “One of the things we are sure of, is that the academy is fantastic at developing teachers who are experts in their specific discipline. In regards to providing them with training or support on how to teach that material, you need broad understanding about cognitive development, teaching, learning, and curriculum development.”

But in light of COVID-19, the CTS had to modify its original plan. Originally intended for a dozen people in an intimate seminar setting, the overwhelming response for the fellowship ballooned to 80-plus faculty members across all divisions and departments. The CDF also had to include discussions about the Viking Flex Plan so faculty could talk through what the HyFlex classes would look like. This included how the course could be structured to make for natural “pivot points.” Lastly, the CDF was moved to a workshop-style of student-centered design, enlisting the help of a renowned expert in the field, L. Dee Fink, guiding faculty members through the process of crafting significant learning experiences, planning with the end of the course in mind.

“We have been able to merge the important work of Dr. Fink with CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

ALUM FEATURE

Living The Dream: ALUMNA’S OPPORTUNITIES EXTEND BEYOND MUSIC HALL | BY JOEL GACKLE

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ari (Sonnichsen) Marshall ‘93 has always been surrounded by music. Both the daughter and granddaughter of music teachers, the question was never if she would play an instrument, but rather what instrument(s) would she choose. Being surrounded by musicians, she also knew from an early age she wanted a career in music that didn’t involve teaching or performing.

She wanted a career that “extended beyond the concert halls.”

Each student travels their own unique journey to Augustana University; some learn about Augustana by chance or have an unexpected encounter. For Marshall, that wasn’t the case. Her Augustana story is woven into the fabric of her family. Her grandfather, parents, and four siblings all graduated from Augustana. In fact, Marshall celebrated her first birthday in Tuve Hall while her parents were working in Residence Life, which has had a profound impact on the woman she is today.

Marshall said, “Augustana was a place that gave me guiding principles, particularly the (core) values that exist today. It laid a foundation for me both personally and professionally.”

When she arrived at Augustana, she met individuals who supported her dreams to chart her own course in music.

“With an Augustana music major in the liberal arts, (Augustana mentors) were supportive of my making a path that would prepare me for a career in music.”

Marshall’s mom studied under Dr. Harry “Doc” Krueger, and years later, he took Marshall under his wing as she twice worked at the International Music Camp alongside him. Being a member of the Augustana band, she has vivid memories of tours, especially those that allowed her to perform at Kennedy Center, and at her current place of employment, Minnesota’s Orchestra Hall. Working as a student employee in the Career Center proved to be priceless as she was afforded the opportunity to discuss and investigate career options.

Finally, when Marshall decided to pursue the field of music administration, Dr. Doris Huseboe created an internship to help prepare her for her graduate work and career.

Since her graduation from Augustana, Marshall has spent her entire career in music. Since 2014, she has served as the director of artistic planning at Minnesota Orchestra, a role that gives her “Wow, I get to do this everyday!” moments.

A tour in May 2015 holds a special place in her heart. Most international tours take nearly 18 months of planning, but this particular tour came together in only three months.

The Minnesota Orchestra had the opportunity to be the first American orchestra to perform in Cuba in nearly two decades. When the charter plane arrived at its destination, and the flight crew was unable to disembark, she knew this

tour would be unique. Reflecting on her career with the Minnesota Orchestra, she says “one of the really special things about the orchestra is that it plays its very best at every performance.”

Following the Cuba tour, the orchestra also viewed its performances as “musical ambassadorship.”

Whether playing in Cuba, or South Africa, or in rural Minnesota communities, the orchestra provides powerful moments that can move and impact communities.

SUCCESS IN MUSIC IS LIKE ANY OTHER CAREER, THE SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT DEVELOPING GOOD RELATIONSHIPS HAS THE GREATEST IMPACT.” - KARI (SONNICHSEN) MARSHALL ‘93

Marshall is excited for the launch of Augustana’s new School of Music. She sees the moment as one that might mirror the transformation that happened to the Minnesota Orchestra following its tour in Cuba.

“What the Cuban trip did for us was to cause a shift in our thinking on touring from a focus on performance to opportunities for exchange. A broadened school of music will allow students to consider music beyond the traditional career paths, to keep growing and exploring opportunities in the musical arts,” said Marshall.

Reflecting on her Augustana journey, she can’t help but be thankful. The foundation of the liberal arts and mentoring relationships at Augustana allowed her to “experience many opportunities that influenced her journey down the road.”

Growing up, she wasn’t sure of the role music would play in her life, but as she looks to the future, she believes music will play a vital role in getting us through this challenging time in our history. Success in music is like any other career, the skills are important, but developing good relationships has the greatest impact. And according to her, the relationships she built at Augustana and in her career have allowed her to live a dream that extends “far beyond the concert halls.” n

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ALUM FEATURE

ELEVATING EDUCATION:

AARON DANG ’13 | BY NANCY DAVIDSON & JOEL GACKLE

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eachers are essential. If it wasn’t clearly understood before COVID-19 arrived, it is now. Teachers are essential to children, parents and society. Teachers are innovators, change-makers, advocates, mentors and passionate leaders in their classrooms every day. Aaron Dang ’13 is a teacher.

Dang’s father is a refugee from Vietnam. He spoke no English when he arrived, so he relied on his Vietnamese to English dictionary for every word.

He later met Dang’s mom, an Iowa native. Their short marriage brought the gift of two sons, who would find themselves navigating childhood in two cultural lifestyles.

As a child, Dang didn’t take school too seriously. He loved time with friends and reading, but that was the extent of it. His social nature and occasional mischief-making didn’t always align with the expectations of his teachers. While attending Horace Mann Elementary in Sioux Falls, Dang and his brother were two of very few Asian students. There was limited diversity of any kind. Experiencing racism and being presented with questions, based on assumptions that no child should encounter, did nothing to encourage a love of school or learning.

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...THEY CHALLENGED ME TO THINK ABOUT WHO I WOULD BE AS A TEACHER.”

In his junior year of high school, Dang - AARON DANG ’13 began thinking more seriously about his future.

After exploring a variety of possibilities during and after high school, he eventually realized he enjoyed working with children and began his pursuit of an elementary education major.

Just as during his secondary years, his post-secondary experiences had been anything but awesome and he felt something was missing — until he found his way to Augustana University.

As often happens, it was a personal connection that brought him here. His girlfriend, Kathy (Haag) Dang ‘10, now his wife, graduated with an elementary education major and was teaching in Sioux Falls. She introduced him to Augustana, and the rest, as they say, is history.

From the moment Dang began to pursue a transfer to Augustana, he felt a sense of welcome and connection. He met Assistant Professor of Elementary Education Dr. Julie Ashworth ‘75 and the wheels began turning rapidly. Ashworth and Becky Fiala ‘83, field placement coordinator, invested themselves in creating a plan for Dang’s timely completion of his

baccalaureate degree. Throughout his experience he met faculty members with whom he developed lasting relationships, including Professor of Special Education Dr. Steve Van Bockern ‘74 and Associate Professor and Teacher Education Program Director Dr. Sharon Andrews.

Dang said, “Everyone in the Augie education department was important to me in ensuring I graduated on time, with passion and they challenged me to think about who I would be as a teacher.”

At the university, Dang says he felt a sense of belonging he hadn’t felt anywhere else. It changed his disposition and how he felt about learning. For the first time he could say “learning is cool. “ “The kind of education and instruction I got from working with someone like Julie, too, gave me new ideas of how to look at education.

Understanding it as a social obligation.

Education is something that all kids should have access to no matter what, period, no matter any kind of label.

She taught me how to be an advocate for people of color, people with disabilities, people who are gifted; she helped me understand that we need to understand our students so much to be able to tap into each one of them and pull out the best in each one of them,” Dang said.

While Ashworth was most influential, the Circle of Courage, the framework for Augustana’s education department, was life-changing.

Serving as the conceptual framework for the Augustana University Sharon Lust School of Education, the Circle of Courage is based on a model of youth empowerment supported by contemporary research, the heritage of early youth work pioneers and Native American philosophies of child care. It was developed by Drs. Steve VanBockern ‘74, Larry Brendtro ‘62 and Rev. Dr. Martin Brokenleg, all now retired Augustana faculty members. The Circle of Courage is encompassed in four core values: belonging, mastery, independence and generosity. The central theme of this model is that a set of shared values must exist in any community of learners, including public education and teacher training institutions, to create environments that ultimately benefit society. The Circle of Courage illustrates a professional who has a sense of self, mastery, knowledge, and sees oneself as an agent of social change but also seeks to foster those same ideals in those they serve.

Through Augustana and Ashworth, Dang found his home at Hawthorne Elementary, a Title I school in the Sioux Falls School District. Practicums and student teaching there led to his full-time position as a fifth grade teacher.

Dang shared, “All the moments with the kids, seeing the kids learn, is so satisfying. We want them to be able to have dialogue, to put their thoughts on paper, to communicate their thoughts in a certain way. When they give you the synthesis of their understanding; when you’ve helped build

that; when you’ve put the stepping stones there; it’s so satisfying.”

Driven to always be learning, Dang began graduate work after his second year of teaching. He now holds a master’s degree in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in teaching. This further enhanced his confidence in the classroom and as an educational leader.

Two years ago, he was asked to assume the role of instructional coach, wherein he provides leadership in professional development, mission, aligning curricular values, goals and standards. New teachers are his first case load. He is their mentor when it comes to curriculum, lessons, engagement, student behavior, and more.

When asked to share his thoughts about Augustana’s new School of Education, he described it as bold and necessary.

He says the school provides the opportunity to elevate an already great program and confirms we are here to make a difference. It further emphasizes that educators are so important.

Dang encourages students who are considering a career in education to look into it in a serious way. If you think you can help students in becoming good people, you should pursue it. He reminds us that patience and teaching are learned skills. If you’re willing to make the effort, to accept some feedback and constructive criticism to get better, and if you’re devoted to it, you will acquire all the skills to stand out and to make a difference.

To read more of Aaron’s story, visit augie.edu/magazine. n

The Circle of Courage model is embraced by all programs within the School of Education, which include the Teacher Education Program, the Sign Language Interpreting Program, the Communication Disorders Program, the Augie Access Program, and the online graduate programs in Education and Special Education.

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Campus Pastor Ann Rosendale

A NEW FUTURE OF CAMPUS MINISTRY: GROWING, LEARNING IN FAITH | BY GRETA STEWART

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hen it comes to describing her work at Augustana University, Campus Pastor Rev. Ann Rosendale ’04, uses the word, ‘collaborative.’ And she lives that philosophy day in and day out.

She loves what she does and anyone who spends any time with her can see it in her eyes. She makes eye contact.

She listens thoughtfully. She leans in when she talks. She truly wants to work with people. “Every pastor loves their people, of course,” she says. “I love students’ openness, honesty, curiosity, and energy. It keeps me going and keeps me young. And then there are

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staff colleagues, who are gifted and brilliant and inspiring and fun.”

Pr. Ann’s experience at Augustana started very early in her career.

Originally from North Mankato, Minn., she says she knew what she didn’t want in her college experience: a big university. She wanted to be in a community and not just a number.

“My mother likes to remind me that we toured a grand total of nine different schools trying to find the right fit for my college experience (thanks, Mom, for making all those visits for me). As I sorted through several options, Lutheran colleges felt like the kind of

place where I could thrive because of their small size, caring faculty, strong community, and focus on shaping my heart and mind for a meaningful life of work and service. Touring Augustana gave me a strong sense that I would find belonging in this community.”

MINISTRY: A NATURAL CHOICE Pr. Ann knew her strengths lay in a broad interest in ministry so her major of religion came easily to her. “It was a natural choice. I also majored in philosophy, in large part because of a professor who saw promise in my academic work and encouraged me to deepen my study of the discipline. I loved all of the classes in my majors (and many not in my majors) and am deeply indebted to faculty members who guided my learning. Not only did they grow me as a scholar, but they nurtured my sense of vocation and helped clarify my convictions. It’s fair to say I would not be a pastor without mentors like Drs. Ann Pederson, Murray Haar, and Richard Swanson. Their teaching continues to inspire my ministry, theology, and preaching today.”

After receiving her undergraduate degree, Pr. Ann attained her Master of Arts in Youth Ministries and Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2008. She served at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa, and Peace Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls prior to becoming campus pastor in 2012, serving alongside Rev. Dr. Paul Rohde until his retirement in January 2020. She was a Thrivent/ LECNA Fellow in 2016 and completed diversity advocacy training and certification at Augustana in 2019.

Some of the best things about her job include the variety she gets each and every day on and off campus. “I love the rhythms of the day, the week, and the year — rituals like worship and Viking Days and Vespers and Commencement that anchor the life of the campus,” she says. “One-on-one conversations with students are sacred moments for me. When a student comes in with big, challenging questions about faith and life, it is a privilege to be able to listen to their story and be a part of that young adult’s journey.

The Sophomore Retreat is one of my favorite weekends of the year,” she adds.

“We take 40 sophomore students to Joy Ranch (a camp just outside of Watertown, S.D.) for a weekend of thinking and talking about vocation.

It’s a treat to see students discover the unique ways in which God is calling them.”

AN ENHANCED JOURNEY FOR CAMPUS MINISTRY She says now is an especially and exciting time for Augustana, as we continue our strategic plan — Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030. “The two pieces of Viking Bold that I am most excited about are, first, the deepening of Augustana’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and, second, growing Augustana’s relationship with the city of Sioux Falls,” she states. “In fact, the two are related goals. Sioux Falls is a fantastic city and, in the 20 years that I have known it, it has only grown more wonderful as it has become a place of greater diversity. I appreciate how Viking Bold talks about growing our campus and our academic offerings

in service to a city who has given our university so much. As we equip students and staff alike to respect, accommodate, and celebrate people who are different from ourselves, we will launch graduates who are better able to meet the growing and diverse needs of the fabulous city of Sioux Falls.

This attitude of humility and learning from our neighbors is so clearly rooted in the way of Jesus and my work in Campus Ministry. It’s thrilling to see all of these pieces come together!”

In this next chapter of her life, she says she doesn’t want to transform Campus Ministry; rather enhance it. “I see us building upon so much that is already strong and good in Campus Ministry,” she says. “Enhancing worship begins with understanding what is at the center of our life together, the good news of Jesus Christ, offering us grace and wide welcome, and calling us to faithful living together as God’s people.

As I plan worship with student and faculty preachers and musicians, I work hard to unpack the ‘why’ of worship, not just the how.”

She continues, “Recently I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the accessibility of worship to groups that may have historically felt less welcome in chapel or in the church in general; LGBTQ+ people, BIPOC, and others.

How might we find more music that reflects the Black experience? Or prayers and poetry that speak to a gender non-binary person? And how is the Gospel expressed through people who are non-Lutheran, or even non-Christian? We want to continue to diversify not only our liturgy but our worship leadership. A mentor of mine from years ago coined the phrase, ‘God loves variety!’ I believe that we hear and know the Gospel more clearly when we can appreciate the myriad ways it is lived out and expressed.”

THE CONTINUATION OF AUGUSTANA’S CORE VALUES Pr. Ann says a goal of hers is continuing to enhance Campus Ministry programming and leaning on a cadre of talented student staff to lead the way. “They have wise imagination for how to engage their peers and faculty

members in growing faith and are always bringing new ideas for bible studies or service projects. This year I have two fabulous young women who are helping to shape interfaith programming at Augustana. One is Muslim and the other is Atheist. While the three of us come from very different perspectives, together we develop innovative programming that invites the Augustana community to grow through learning about religious traditions that are different from their own.”

As she thinks about what kind of impact she’d like to have for future generations of Augustana community members, she says, “I truly stand on the shoulders of giants in this work, a lineage of campus pastors and others who have laid a strong foundation for Campus Ministry. Their work lifts up Augustana as a place where faith and learning intersect.”

“Perhaps what I would want people to understand about Christian faith is that it’s relevant, it matters, and church/faith is often different than you assume it to be. I’ve often said that worship is practice for how we live the rest of our lives. We gather together as a community because we need regular reminders of how to be generous, how to say thank you, how to eat together, how to listen, how to serve and care for each other.”

And that’s something she lives out at home, as well. She says spare time is rare these days; keeping up with two young children: a four-year-old and two-year-old, who keep her and her husband busy. “But if I do have extra time on an afternoon,” she says, “I really enjoy calling friends near and far to catch up. Music is a way I connect with God and disconnect from life’s stressors.” She also has earned a reputation for beating her husband in their fantasy football league, and last fall she joined a curling team. “I think of myself as a lifelong learner and am always eager to try new things.”

The joy and pride in her work and trying new things is evident as she says, “I love all that I get to do — sing, write, pray, think, ask questions, create, worship, read, learn, listen, serve, laugh, play, stretch, grow!” n THE AUGUSTANA | FALL 2020

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BRINGING THE PAST TO PRESENT:

The Center for Western Studies Home To 80 In-House Publications | BY GRETA STEWART

T

he Center for Western Studies (CWS) was simply an idea by English Professor Herbert Krause in 1964. Krause, a poet, essayist, and novelist, was the first writer-in-residence at Augustana University. “He thought about establishing a school of writing but also wanted a collection of materials he could turn to for his research,” says Dr. Harry Thompson, executive director of CWS. “Krause was a historical novelist — and saw the Center as the Google of its day.”

With funding from the Danforth Foundation, which was encouraging private colleges to plan for the future, Augustana’s administration and faculty undertook a formal study in 1969-70, concluding that the future for Augustana lay in the West. “With the CWS concept already in place,” says Thompson, “President Charles Balcer and Vice President Tom Kilian proposed that the Board of Regents (now known as the Board of Trustees) consider officially establishing and expanding CWS in 1970, fifty years ago this year.

At first, it was a library. But it didn’t take

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long before it grew to be an archives and then a publisher.”

In the early 1970s, the Center worked with a commercial publisher to reissue Krause’s three novels. By 1978, however, CWS was ready to publish under its own imprint, an expression of those first library resources and archives. Today, the Center serves as a repository for over 500 substantive collections and maintains a library in excess of 37,000 volumes on the American West. In addition, the Center holds extensive art and artifact collections and sponsors annual events such as the Boe Forum, the Dakota Conference, and the Artists of the Plains Art Show and Sale. But what’s perhaps most unique? It serves as an in-house publishing venue. With 80 publications to its credit, the Center is a major academic publisher in South Dakota. It publishes on topics of all kinds, principally by authors at other universities but also by those who’ve graduated from or teach at Augustana.

Thompson says there are other university in-house publishers, but they tend to be at major research

universities, such as the University of Wisconsin and the University of Nebraska. Book publishing is expensive, so most of these presses are now only affiliated with their universities. “Ours is a direct result of our mission to the region,” he says. “Augustana has the distinction of being the only university in South Dakota to have a continuously operating academic press.” The Center belongs to the university but has its own program and staff funding and board of directors. “We’re largely endowed,” he says. “And we’re extremely grateful for that.”

When Thompson thinks about some of the publishing highlights over the years, he points to Natural History of the Black Hills, by former executive director Dr. Sven Froiland, Memory Songs, a collection of poetry by Lakota author Lydia Whirlwind Soldier, and A Harvest of Words, a collection of contemporary South Dakota poetry, edited by current Writer-in-Residence Patrick Hicks. “For 40 years there had been no new South Dakota history,” he says. “At the turn of the 21st century, we started building a rationale for a state history by leading

50TH ANNIVERSARY TIMELINE:

scholars of the time, including Native American authors. It took four years but in 2005, the Center published A New South Dakota History, written by 16 authors and includes topics unique to a state history, such as: tourism, Indian health, Lakota family life, education, religion, newspapers, radio, and tv, small towns, African-Americans, visual and performing arts, women writers, and more. “This was a huge project for us, but a real contribution to regional history,” Thompson says.

Other highlighted books include The Quartzite Border, the intriguing story behind the surveying and marking of one of the nation’s longest state borders, and Outlaw Dakota, by attorney Wayne Fanebust, an account of how Chief Justice Peter Shannon handled the variety of crimes in Dakota Territory.

Most recently, The Interior Borderlands, edited by historian Jon Lauck, received a Midwest Book Award in history, with essays by Michael Mullin (History), Debbie Hanson (English), and Thompson. As the second volume in the Center’s new Public Affairs Series, it explores questions of geographical OUR BOOKS and cultural identity in the ARE AMBASSADORS Midwest and Great Plains.

The award is sponsored by FOR AUGUSTANA Midwest Independent UNIVERSITY AND CWS.” the Publishers Association, - DR. HARRY THOMPSON representing the 12-state EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CWS region.

According to Thompson, a CWS book takes about a year to 18 months before it appears on bookshelves or Amazon and costs about $25,000 each to produce. Thompson, who has served the Center for 36 years, says the Center operates with a small staff and each performs a range of tasks. “I love the variety of what I do,” he says.

Thompson’s first three years at Augustana were spent working part time in the English department and CWS. He later received his Ph.D. in English, focusing on the writing of history. “It’s served me very well over the years,” he says. Thompson says the best part of his job is the opportunities which the job presents, which often come unforeseen. “For example, I’m working on a publishing project that blossomed during COVID-19 but will take three years to complete.” Thompson continues, “Our books are ambassadors for Augustana University and CWS. Through our books we’re sharing knowledge about this part of the country, which is Augustana’s home. It’s where Augustana settled in the nineteenth century. I like to think of the West as promising a bright future. People move West to start anew or to do something they’ve never done before. To live in the West is to look forward.”

And Thompson and the CWS board of directors are definitely looking forward when it comes to publishing and the Center itself.

1964 1966

1970

1971 1972

1978

Publication program launched with Natural History of the Black Hills and Sundancing at Rosebud and Pine Ridge published

Railroad historian Donovan Hofsommer appointed executive director

1989

Prof. of English Dr. Arthur Huseboe ’53 appointed executive director

2001

First Boe Forum on Public Affairs, featuring Gen. Colin Powell $3.3 million Fantle Building opens A New South Dakota History receives American State & Local History Award

2009

Director of Research Collections & Publications Dr. Harry Thompson; appointed executive director

2013

$1.7 million endowment campaign, with NEH challenge grant, completed New permanent exhibit Voices of the Northern Plains opens Digital collections available on np3 site

2016 2020

First Dakota Conference sponsored by CWS held

2006

2015

First Artists of the Plains Art Show & Sale held

1987

1995

“CWS is a great model for what a center can be,” he says. “This is Dr. Krause’s dream and like him, I want the Center to thrive for another 50 years.” n

Center for Western Studies Board of Directors established Prof. of History Gary Olson becomes executive secretary Prof. of Biology Sven Froiland appointed executive director

1990

• Move from the current $9.5 million endowment to $10 million; • Emphasize public affairs programs, possibly developing a public affairs institute; • Position CWS for the changing cultural scene in the Sioux Falls area; • Develop a partnership with another western studies center farther west.

Augustana Board of Trustees establishes Center for Western Studies as integral part of Augustana. Appoints Herbert Krause as director

1976

1980

The CWS strategic plan calls for the following over the next five years:

Prof. of English Herbert Krause creates Center for Western Studies Center for Western Studies receives Rockefeller Foundation grant

The Interior Borderlands wins 30th Annual Midwest Book Award THE AUGUSTANA | FALL 2020

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$2 MILLION GIFT HELPS CREATE AUGUSTANA’S

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION | BY JILL WILSON

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O

n July 29, Augustana University announced a $2 million gift that helped in the creation of the Sharon Lust School of Education, located in the Madsen Social Science Center on the university’s campus.

This generous donation comes from John Lust ‘90 and Jeanelle (Robson) Lust ‘91, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in honor of John’s mother, Sharon Lust.

“This gift will help empower generations of future educators and lifelong learners,” said John Lust, a former member of the Augustana Board of Trustees. “We didn’t have to think about it very long. It just felt so perfect because of the legacy and passion my mother had for education.”

The Sharon Lust School of Education will help spur Augustana’s strategic plan — Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030 — that was unanimously approved by the Augustana Board of Trustees in December 2019. Phase I of Viking Bold includes establishing new academic structures and centers that sustain excellence, facilitate growth, and cultivate innovative and impactful teaching, learning and research.

“Augustana is enormously grateful to the Lust family for the transformative gift for the Sharon Lust School of Education,” said President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. “Our vision for the School of Education builds on Augustana’s longstanding tradition of providing an education of enduring worth as well as creating new and expanded interactions for research and learning and innovative forms of teaching that will inspire a new generation of teachers and educators.”

The Lusts have also established a scholarship for secondary education majors in honor and memory of Jeanelle’s grandparents, LaVerne and Ava (Davis) Williams. They, too, dedicated their careers to education — LaVerne as a superintendent of schools in several small towns in eastern South Dakota and Ava as a teacher, having earned her teaching certification at Augustana in 1929.

THE WOMAN BEHIND THE NAME Strong. Witty. Great educator.

These are just a few of the words Augustana alumnus John Lust uses to describe his mother, Sharon Lust.

John’s father died when he was just 11 years old and his sister, Julie O’Reilly ‘92, at 8 years old, but their mother never missed a beat.

“For us kids, of course, it was very difficult to lose our dad, but it was seamless in that we never felt we were lacking anything. She just kept everything moving,” said John.

Sharon graduated from the University of South Dakota. The single mother received her teaching certificate from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, as well as a master’s degree in psychology. Sharon was a longtime educator at Simmons Middle School in Aberdeen from 1985-2000, and Aberdeen Central High School from 2000-2006.

It was evident that Sharon had a lasting impact on the students she taught. In June of 2007, a former student, who became a professor in Virginia, left his dissertation on Sharon’s front door. He had commemorated it to her.

The dissertation read, “This dissertation is dedicated to Mrs. Sharon Lust, my junior high reading teacher.

Mrs. Lust is an exemplary teacher. In the classroom she is a brilliant and engaging instructor. Her reading class made a significant impact on me. She demands excellence from her students, but helps them to develop the skills they need to meet her expectations.

Outside the classroom she is her students’ strongest advocate. For years after I finished her class she opened doors for me and other students by recommending us for contests, journals, and other academic opportunities. She is a model of everything I hope to be as a teacher and scholar.”

Sharon retired in 2006, but that did not mean she stopped educating others. John says she would correct spelling and grammar errors in the

THIS GIFT WILL HELP

EMPOWER GENERATIONS OF FUTURE EDUCATORS AND LIFELONG LEARNERS.”

’90

- JOHN LUST Aberdeen American News and mail them to the paper. In July of 2007, her Letter to the Editor was even published in Vanity Fair.

While teaching was her passion, Sharon’s grandchildren meant the world to her. Jeanelle Lust recalls when their eldest son was born and her mother-in-law would come to babysit.

Jeanelle said, “She (Sharon) would not put him down. She just held Joe the whole time and would say, ‘Well, I’m here. I can sleep when I get home.’”

DEEP CONNECTIONS TO AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY Dick Niebuhr ’66, a longtime Aberdeen resident, as well as a member of the Augustana Fellows and the Board of Trustees, was a close friend to the Lust family. Niebuhr made significant impacts in the form of gifts to his alma mater. Before he passed away in 2009, the Huron native donated $100,000 to endow the Vernon and Mildred Niebuhr Faculty Excellence Award, an annual award to recognize excellence in teaching. His second had come in the form of an estate gift of $2.5 million in 2013, to support scholarships for Augustana’s top incoming students.

John Lust said, “He (Niebuhr) was just extremely passionate. He never married and never had kids. Augustana was literally his family and the broader he could make his family the better.”

For Niebuhr, attending Augustana was a natural progression to life.

“It’s just what you did,” according to John. “If you asked him (Niebuhr) about Augustana, you had better have a half hour.”

Niebuhr had been the driving force behind John and his sister, Julie

O’Reilly ‘92, attending the university.

“She (Sharon) was very supportive of us going to Augustana, even though both her and my dad were USD grads.”

And nearly 60 years after Jeanelle’s grandmother attended the university, Augustana is where John would meet his wife, Jeanelle.

At the time, John had been the president of the Augustana College Republicans and Jeanelle says she was under the misimpression that she was a Republican as well. She was also friends with the girl next door to where John was living — across from the Gilbert Science Center known as “The Chicken Coop.”

The two eventually moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where Jeanelle was a lawyer for 25 years and John owned a car dealership for 12, but moved back to Sioux Falls last year after selling the business in 2007.

“There’s too much South Dakota in me. I never lost that feeling that (living in Nebraska) was temporary,” said John.

John joined the Fellows Cabinet in 2002, and the Board of Trustees in 2007, to which he dedicated 12 years. John and Jeanelle also dedicate their time as members of the steering committee on the Viking Bold campaign.

John and Jeanelle say they encouraged their children to look around at other colleges, but they had zero desire to look elsewhere. Joe Lust ‘20, graduated from Augustana in the spring. Their youngest son, Jack Lust ‘23, is a sophomore.

John says before this opportunity to contribute to his mother’s memory came along, nothing felt right. Now, more than a decade after Sharon’s death in 2010, he says the way in which they’re honoring his mother feels perfect. n

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A

| BY GRETA STEWART & JILL WILSON

Dr. Peter Folliard, inaugural Dean of the School of Music (l) and Dr. Laurie Daily, inaugural Dean of the Sharon Lust School of Education (r) 16

THE AUGUSTANA | FALL 2020

s Augustana University begins to implement phases of its Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030 strategic plan, nearly every element of university life could experience energizing change – especially those opportunities related to academics.

Dr. Colin Irvine, Augustana’s provost and executive vice president, is busy navigating everything from a new academic structure to emerging professional programs.

“It’s exciting,” said Irvine. “We’re engaged in an intentional approach to creating our future, integrating and elevating the liberal arts throughout the institution in ways that are original and sustainable.”

Executing the academic elements of the Viking Bold plan begins with restructuring academic programs into colleges and schools, supported by a strategic plan built upon the university’s core values of Christian, liberal arts, excellence, community and service.

A College of Arts and Sciences is being organized, and all students will take courses housed in this college, including those tied to the core curriculum as well as programs in all three current academic divisions, meaning the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

From there, they will be able to take courses and pursue degrees in other schools – such as Augustana’s new School of Education and School of Music – depending on their degree programs and academic interests.

In April, the university announced Dr. Laurie Daily would serve as the inaugural dean of the Sharon Lust School of Education.

Daily joined Augustana in 2015 as chair of the Education Department.

In addition to her position as chair, she has also served as interim associate vice president for Graduate and Continuing Education from 2016-2018. She is continuing her role in supporting Graduate and Continuing Education as the director.

The Sharon Lust School of Education is diverse within itself, with six unique undergraduate majors and two graduate programs. Students can double major within the department for a specialized career or pair up with a major outside of the department to teach secondary education. In addition, the Augie Access program is housed within the School of Education.

“I am honored to be selected as the dean and help launch Phase I of the university’s strategic plan,” says Daily.

“Creating a school that will inspire, teach and connect future educators as well as professionals in sign language interpreting and communication disorders, who are deeply committed to the core values of Augustana is such an honor and privilege.”

Some academic departments have become complex enough – such as education – that it makes sense to organize a school around it.

“We looked at a number of models for doing this, with the goal of developing one specific to Augustana that does not create any barriers for students who wish to explore or change paths,” Irvine said. “So, all will come into the College of Arts and Sciences and from there can take one or many courses in the other colleges and schools.”

WE ANTICIPATE THESE SCHOOLS WILL ELEVATE THE PROFILE OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS IN THE EYES OF THE REGION AND PARTICULARLY THE WAY THEY ARE APPRECIATED AND ACCESSED BY MEMBERS OF THE SIOUX FALLS COMMUNITY.” - DR. COLIN IRVINE PROVOST & EXECUTIVE VP

SCHOOL OF MUSIC ESTABLISHED A School of Music was established in May and is also now fully operational, with Dr. Peter Folliard serving as the inaugural dean.

Folliard, a New Jersey native, joined Augustana in 2017 as the conductor of the Augustana Orchestra. Folliard is also the visionary behind Augustana’s world-class recording studio, Studio 47, which produces a number of podcasts and recordings.

Augustana University has a long tradition of music making, with 2020 marking the 100th anniversary of the Augustana Choir. Augustana’s music ensembles are comprised of students from every major, with approximately 250 students across campus participating in one or more ensembles.

With offerings in band, choir, orchestra, jazz, percussion, opera theatre and chamber music ensembles, Augustana provides its students the opportunity to study with world-class faculty in newly renovated facilities including Hamre Recital Hall, the Lillehaug Instrumental Room and the Winden Choral Room.

“We anticipate these schools will elevate the profile of academic programs in the eyes of the region and particularly the way they are appreciated and accessed by members of the Sioux Falls community,” Irvine explained.

CENTER FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS Irvine is especially energized by Augustana’s new Center for Interdisciplinary Programs, which is being established to coordinate existing and enhance new interdisciplinary offerings.

The center will offer programs such as medical humanities and society, which he said pairs well with programs in healthcare professions such as nursing, biology, business administration, athletic training, philosophy and theology to “complement students’ understanding of health, health care in our culture, THE AUGUSTANA | FALL 2020

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and provide the full range of experiences — from learning about ethics to issues and problems and opportunities associated with health care,” he said.

Another program that’s part of the interdisciplinary offerings is the environmental studies major that offers graduates the training and skills necessary to help them lead the world towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

Dr. David O’Hara, professor of philosophy and environmental studies and Augustana’s director of sustainability, said, “We view environmental studies as a way to help every student use their talents to make a positive difference in our community. This is about loving our neighbors as ourselves, using every tool at our disposal.”

Environmental studies at Augustana will be interdisciplinary as the major will bring together the tools and perspectives of multiple disciplines, ranging from - DR. COLIN IRVINE PROVOST & EXECUTIVE VP environmental chemistry, photography, computer science and anthropology to environmental philosophy, theology, business and nature writing. Students who choose to study environmental studies at the university will choose a disciplinary focus. The major culminates in a senior thesis and in the completion of a community-oriented practical project that aims to make a positive contribution to the relationships between humans and the environment in our community.

“We’re looking at programs that are distinctive, innovative, financially sound and place-based. We want these programs and the faculty and students who drive them to draw on where we are located and to provide meaningful, transformative experiences in and out of the classroom,” says Irvine.

WE BELIEVE THESE PROGRAMS BUILD ON STRENGTHS THAT ALREADY EXIST AT AUGUSTANA...”

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PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS Viking Bold’s academic goals also include establishing new academic programs that will grow enrollment, diversify revenue and address area workforce priorities.

A professional school is planned to prepare students for a specialized field.

Augustana is conducting feasibility studies for optometry and dentistry programs.

“Right now, we’re thinking we will end up settling on one, but both are possible.

We’re really just beginning,” Irvine said.

“We have undertaken initial research studies to identify these two programs as being warranted for further exploration, and in phase one of the strategic plan we’re continuing that investigative process.”

Augustana will be looking at how to partner with area institutions to offer something “decidedly different,” he added.

“We’re not planning to add another professional program. We’re instead trying to add a different and unique program that represents the best fit for the community and the university.”

There also are undergraduate programs in biomechanical engineering and forensics being developed.

“We’re working on those this coming year,” Irvine said. “And we’re looking to partner with area hospitals, medical schools and criminology departments in the case of forensics. We believe these programs build on strengths that already exist at Augustana, and we anticipate rolling them out within the three-year time horizon tied to Phase I of our 2030 strategic plan.”

One new professional program – the MBA – has already launched with solid interest from existing undergraduates and professionals in the area seeking to further their education. The first undergraduates in a four-plus-one program began this fall, and the first cohort of two-year MBA students will start a year later in the summer of 2021.

“Because we have such a strong business program and we’re so well situated to offer it in Sioux Falls, it’s always been a priority to add this opportunity,” Irvine said. “Given Augustana’s outstanding reputation for rigor and academic excellence, the response has been very encouraging, but not surprising.”

DPT PROGRAM MOVING FORWARD A Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program also is moving forward, with a director in place and a clinical coordinator being hired in the coming months.

DPT Program Director Dr. Matt Volansky has spent his career leading and navigating change as a lifelong learner. Not only does he have an MBA in healthcare, he just completed his Ph.D. in biomedical informatics involving the application of machine learning within the physical therapy profession.

“The DPT degree is innovative, collaborative and flexible. It will give students an interdisciplinary approach to developing valuable clinical data analysis skills through coursework delivered using a revolutionary hybrid blend of technology and hands-on learning,” says Volansky.

The experiential components of the DPT degree will expand opportunities for social innovation and entrepreneurship, encourage connections with alumni in related fields, and facilitate partnerships across the campus, in the community, and beyond.

Volansky said, “It will ensure that Augustana will be the first choice for many talented, ambitious and diverse prospective students, and it will produce alumni who are prepared to address the health care challenges of tomorrow and embrace lifelong learning.”

As the program continues to come together, clinical options will be offered to students in Sioux Falls, throughout the Upper Great Plains Region, and beyond.

Augustana also will be adding graduate and doctoral-level nursing programs, with emphasis on education, management, acute care and genomics.

“We’re developing those nursing programs in the next year,” Irvine said.

“And the genomics piece, in particular, will build on the strengths of our genetic counseling program. n

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I ACADEMICS OVERALL GOALS: Establish new academic structures and centers that sustain excellence, facilitate growth, and cultivate innovative and impactful teaching, learning, and research in order to provide an education of enduring worth; establish new academic programs grounded in the liberal arts that challenge the intellect while responding to the needs and interests of students. These programs will grow enrollment, diversify revenue and address workforce priorities of the local community and region.

• Established the Sharon Lust School of Education, with Dr. Laurie Daily announced as the inaugural dean • Established the School of Music, with Dr. Peter Folliard announced as the inaugural dean • Established the Center for Interdisciplinary Programs and approved two new programs: medical humanities and society, and environmental studies • Developed and approved the curriculum for the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program, led by Dr. Matthew Volansky • Approved the MBA program, launching this fall with the hiring of inaugural director, Dr. Anissa Goehring NEXT STEP HIGHLIGHTS: • Establish the School of Business • Establish the School of Health Professions • Establish distinctive academic programs including 4-year, graduate and 2-year certificate or associate pathways

PHYSICAL CAMPUS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT)

OVERALL GOALS: Transform the physical campus

to include new and enhanced facilities that serve the educational, spiritual and holistic needs of Augustana’s students, faculty and staff, and inspire others in the community who utilize our campus; transform Augustana into a dynamic digital campus through emerging technologies, excellent connectivity, and best practices in cyber security that serve student learning, enable innovative teaching and research, and support the university’s business processes and overall mission.

• Developed and approved holistic Campus Master Plan • Established criteria for decision making, setting priorities, and resource allocation to implement the Campus Master Plan • Established sustainability plan, landscape master plan, campus heritage plan and historic preservation management plan • Created redundant connectivity and implemented cybersecurity initiatives NEXT STEP HIGHLIGHTS: • Expand faculty exponential mentoring model to strengthen the focus of instructional technology integration • Implement the Canvas learning management system a comprehensive university app • Adopt 20

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2019-2022 2019-2022

ENROLLMENT & STRATEGIC SCHOLARSHIPS

OVERALL GOALS: Enroll 3,000+ undergraduate

and graduate students and provide a welcoming and inclusive environment as different backgrounds, experiences and ways of thinking encourage learning, acceptance and service; make Augustana’s education more affordable and accessible for more students with innovative scholarship partnerships among alumni and regional organizations while adapting the university business model and operations to ensure financial sustainability.

• Developed a comprehensive student recruitment plan to elevate brand awareness and increase enrollment • Established impact scholarships to provide fully expendable annual scholarship support • Celebrated the first graduates of Augustana’s Diversity Advocate Certification Program NEXT STEP HIGHLIGHTS: • Develop and implement a sustainable pricing model • Launch the Virtual Viking remote learning platform to expand digital and hybrid learning opportunities aligned to academic programs • Enhance the support structures around diversity policies, practices and initiatives to reflect institutional commitment to diversity

ATHLETICS

OVERALL GOALS: Recruit and retain exceptional

student-athletes to maintain academic and athletic

excellence and enhance their collegiate experience

through academic and wellness support, community engagement, and service opportunities; transition to NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics by December 2020 to provide student-athletes the opportunity to compete at a higher level, elevate the profile of the university, and inspire Sioux Falls to enthusiastically embrace Augustana University as the hometown team by serving the community and integrating our mission with its needs.

• Launched student-athlete nutrition program • Created athletic administration internships and programming with an emphasis on identifying female and diverse students • Implemented new A-Club and season ticket structure NEXT STEP HIGHLIGHTS: • Seek and receive invitation to Division I multi-sport conference • Centralize and coordinate student health care and performance training • Define Division I championship culture; integrate into athletics’ policy and procedure statements To learn more about Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030, and to see the latest updates, visit augie.edu/VikingBold.

To learn more about Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030, and to see the latest updates, visit augie.edu/VikingBold.

PELOSI NAMES

KATE (KNUDSON) WOLTERS ’02 AS CHIEF OF PROTOCOL FOR U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

I

n February, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that she has appointed Kate (Knudson) Wolters ‘02, to serve as both Director of the Office of Interparliamentary Affairs and Chief of Protocol for the U.S. House of Representatives.

In her roles, she serves as the primary point of contact for the House of Representatives with the Washington diplomatic corps, overseeing visits of heads of state and other foreign dignitaries to the U.S. Capitol. Further, she is responsible for managing the House of Representatives’ engagement with international groups that connect legislators from around the globe to promote collaboration, understanding and ongoing dialogue on matters of international interest.

“The partnerships between the House of Representatives and foreign leaders are critical to Congress’ work on behalf of the American people,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “I am pleased to name Kate Knudson Chief of Protocol for the House, where she will help foster and strengthen the House’s engagement with heads of state, government and parliamentary leaders and foreign diplomats and dignitaries.

The Congress and Country will be well-served by her outstanding professionalism, experience and skill.”

Wolters has been a member of Speaker Pelosi’s staff for over 14 years, serving in a number of roles, including Director of the Executive Office of the Speaker, Director of Special Events and Special Assistant to the Speaker. In January 2019 Wolters was named Director of the Office of Interparliamentary Affairs.

“I am honored to have been appointed to this role by Speaker Pelosi,” Wolters said. “I am humbled to serve the House of Representatives in this position and look forward to working with all of my colleagues to promote ever-stronger ties between the House and our partners abroad.”

Wolters earned a bachelor’s degree in education summa cum laude from Augustana University and holds a master’s degree with honors in Government from Johns Hopkins University. n

I AM HUMBLED TO SERVE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THIS POSITION AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO PROMOTE EVER-STRONGER TIES BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND OUR PARTNERS ABROAD.” - KATE (KNUDSON) WOLTERS ’02

THE AUGUSTANA | FALL 2020

21

N E W FAC U LT Y ASHLEY CAIN | Assistant Professor, Sign Language Interpreting

Cain, a South Dakota native, returns to the state and Augustana University after teaching all levels of ASL at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She holds her Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in American Sign Language Studies. She later obtained her Master of Science in Adult, Continuing, and Higher Education Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

ANISSA GOEHRING | Assistant Professor, MBA Program Director Dr. Goehring will help launch the Augustana MBA degree program with its integration of a Leadership Academy, while seeking accreditation with the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). She comes to Augustana University after spending time developing undergraduate programming for a community college in Washington state. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Indiana University and four graduate degrees: education from the University of Nebraska; business administration from Strayer University, project management from Keller Graduate School, and strategic leadership from Mountain State University. She soon expects to complete her Doctorate in Education, specializing in leadership in higher education.

VIKKI HENNARD | Assistant Professor, Education Dr. Hennard has been promoted to assistant professor after spending four years as an adjunct professor at Augustana University in the Master of Education program. Before that, she was named as a tenured teacher at East Detroit Public Schools, Kentwood Public Schools, and Charlevoix-Emmet ISD, in K-12. She holds her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Michigan State University and her Master of Arts in Education from Oakland University in Michigan, both with an emphasis in special education. She received her doctoral degree from Eastern Michigan University in Michigan in Educational Leadership.

ANDREA MIERAU | Assistant Professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy/Director, Clinical Education Dr. Mierau graduated from Luther College with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a minor in Psychology. She then went on to attend St. Catherine University, where she earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. She practiced as a physical therapist in multiple settings with an emphasis on neurologic rehabilitation and vestibular rehabilitation. She began her career in education with instructing and managing clinical education in a hybrid physical therapist assistant program at Rasmussen College in Minneapolis, Minn. Andrea is also working toward her Doctor of Education degree with a focus in healthcare professions.

TANYA MILLER | Assistant Professor, Sign Language Interpreting Miller, a California native, received her Bachelor of Arts from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Business Administration.

She later settled in Sioux Falls, and worked in the business sector for more than 10 years. Her master’s studies were through Gallaudet University where she earned a degree in Sign Language Instruction. Tanya, who is deaf, has served Augustana throughout the years by working in the ASL lab, mentoring emerging interpreters, and teaching adjunct courses. Her most recent position has been at Harrisburg High School where she taught American Sign Language.

KEVIN NATUKUNDA | Assistant Professor, Biology/Nursing Dr. Natukunda comes to Augustana University as a continuing track assistant professor from South Dakota State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the 12 month accelerated program. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Makerere University in Uganda, and a Ph.D. in Genetics from Iowa State University.

MARTI SILVIDI | Assistant Professor, Director of Graduate Nursing Program Originally from Sioux Falls, Dr. Silvidi comes to Augustana University from Indiana, where she was most recently teaching at Ball State University. She received her doctorate in nursing practice from Concordia University of Wisconsin and has two post-master’s certificates. The first is from the University of Massachusetts Boston for family nurse practitioner; the second is from Kent State University for an adult/gerontology acute care practitioner. She has her master’s degree in nursing education, which she received from the University of North Dakota.

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THE AUGUSTANA | FALL 2020

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

some contextual understanding of curriculum design and theory, provided by one of our colleagues in the Mikkelsen Library; so it has truly been a shared undertaking by the entire institution to provide the CDF to our faculty,” said Kahl.

But even as far back as last year, the CTS had rolled out an Exponential Mentorship Program — aimed at developing additional faculty members into experts that would also benefit students in the classroom.

Augustana’s Director of Instructional Technology Sharon Gray said, “We determined which technologies faculty were already using and enlisted those faculty to mentor their colleagues.”

Faculty members considered experts in technologies — including tools for screencasting, polling, quizzing and creating content — mentored two colleagues, who each mentored two more faculty members. The first cohort in the fall consisted of 33 faculty members. It worked so well, Augustana

continued the program with more than 20 new faculty members in the spring.

That’s when COVID-19 hit.

Gray said, “The Exponential Mentorship Program was extremely valuable during the coronavirus ramp-up as we were transitioning all of our courses to remote teaching and learning. Some of these tools are ideal for supporting teaching online — and we had a cadre of experts at the ready!”

Augustana Associate Professor of Mathematics Dr. Lindsay Erickson, a lead mentor for Explain Everything, says she had been using the program since 2016 and there hadn’t been much interest from other faculty in the past.

“I would say just being more up on technology, it made the transition to online instruction a lot easier for me.”

Erickson says she learned early on that if you invest a little bit more in technology on the front end, you’re going to see it pay off quickly.

“For example, I have technology that

CLASS NOTES ALUMNI: SHARE YOUR NEWS WITH US

paid for itself within the first semester because I had a student with a learning disability who needed a notetaker, but because I was able to use this iPad and pencil and also record the lectures, it eliminated the need for Augustana to have to pay someone else to do it.”

There are some members of the Augustana community who had foreseen the benefits of this kind of programming long before COVID-19 hit. Before the CTS was established, in 2007, AU alumna and former Board of Trustee Chair Dr. Jane (Hemmel) Zaloudek ’72, and her husband Dr. Charles Zaloudek, established The Zaloudek Faculty Research Fellowship to support research done by members of the Augustana faculty. Most recently, they provided gifts in support of Augustana’s Exponential Mentorship Program. Augustana alumnus Joe Floyd ‘58, former president and COO of Midcontinent Media Inc., is helping fund Canvas in its first year of implementation. n

Visit augie.edu/alumni for updates, news, events and photos.

Visit augie.edu/classnotes and log in to share your news via our online directory.

Listed on the following pages are news and notes about your fellow alumni.

You can also stay in touch with us on social media: Facebook: Augustana (SD) Alumni | Twitter: @AugieAlumni

THE 2020s CLASS OF 2020

CLASS OF 2018

CLASS OF 2016

Hunter Dettler and Brittany Cleveland ’16 were married on June 8, 2019.

Austin Ashbacher graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. He is working as an associate veterinarian at Valley Veterinary Center in Cherokee, Iowa.

Emma Verby is employed as a nurse with Sanford Health in Sioux Falls.

Kira Stiles is a 6th grade teacher employed with Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools in Sioux Falls.

THE 2010s

Stephanie Tuschen and Ryan Benson were married on May 27, 2019.

CLASS OF 2019

Carter Wevik and Sara Byre ’16 were married on May 11, 2019.

Alexa Bruick is employed as the specialty shop manager with Scheels in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Baylie Hilgenkamp is employed as a talent acquisition representative with Sanford Health in Sioux Falls.

Katherine Jacobs is employed as a scheduler/ receptionist with Behavior Care Specialists in Sioux Falls.

Shingo Bessho is attending the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University working toward his Ph.D. in biomedical science.

CLASS OF 2017

Sara Byre ’16 and Carter Wevik ’18 were married on May 11, 2019.

Emma Anderson and Blake Jans ’16 were married on June 15, 2019.

Brittany Cleveland and Hunter Dettler ’18 were married on June 8, 2019.

Anna Myrmoe is simultaneously pursuing her M.B.A. and her M.D. through the USD Beacom School of Business (2023) and the USD Sanford School of Medicine (2024), respectively.

Kaylynn Erlandson and Riley Hosman were married on June 15, 2019.

Tyler Vaughn is the assistant baseball coach at

Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

Blake Jans and Emma Anderson ’17 were married on June 15, 2019.

Justin Greenway and Charissa Etrheim were married on May 30, 2020.

THE AUGUSTANA | FALL 2020

23

CLASS NOTES

Lexy Johnson and Jesse Carson were married on Sept. 14, 2019.

Melissa Soe is working as a business analyst at Brooks Life Sciences.

Martina LaVallie and Jordan Brichacek were married on Sept. 21, 2019.

Emily Wehde and Dallas Harder-Heinz were married on Sept. 7, 2019, in Sioux Falls.

Christopher Mathieu and Heather Wilson were married on June 22, 2019.

CLASS OF 2014

Katherine “Kat” Van Gerpen and William Cedeño Torres were married on Feb. 8, 2020.

CLASS OF 2015

Taylor Allis is working as a math teacher with the San Jose Unified School District.

Haley Berner and Troy Pilkington ’15 were married on Aug. 24, 2019.

Bryce Christopherson is an academic lecturer at the University of Wyoming. He earned his M.S. and his Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Wyoming in 2017 and 2019, respectively.

Elizabeth Bunkers is attending graduate school at the University of Colorado--Colorado Springs. She expects to graduate in 2022.

January (Sickler) Eckstaine and Jace Eckstaine were married on June 8, 2019. January is working as a special education teacher with the Sioux Falls School District. She completed her M.S. in leadership at the University of Sioux Falls in 2019.

Kristin Klarenbeek earned her Pharm.D. at the University of Iowa in 2018 and is currently employed as a clinical pharmacist at Ascension St. Francis in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Carly (Klaassen) Herum is employed as an administrative assistant with Arrow Manufacturing in Rock Rapids, Iowa.

Ye Khaung Oo is a senior program associate at The Renaissance Institute in Myanmar.

Troy Pilkington and Haley Berner ’14 were married on Aug. 24, 2019.

Kelli (Bolton) Hoffer and husband, Craig, welcomed a daughter, Scarlett, in January 2020.

Katelyn Niesen is employed as an elementary school teacher with Chicago Public Schools.

She earned her M.A.Ed. in reading at Augustana University in 2019.

Evan Pierce and wife, Jasmine, welcomed a daughter, Emma, in February 2020.

Alison (Goers) Vogelsang is working as a predoctoral intern at Canvas Health in Oakdale, Minnesota.

Apply Today!

7

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Athletic Training (M.S.) Education (M.Ed.) Genetic Counseling (M.S.) Business Administration (MBA) Professional Accountancy (MPA) Special Education (M.Ed.) Sports Administration & Leadership (M.A.) AUGIE.EDU/GRADUATE 24

THE AUGUSTANA | FALL 2020

CLASS OF 2013 Trevor Carlson is employed with the City of Sioux Falls working as a chemist.

Darin Hochstein is employed as an athletic academic advisor at the University of South Dakota. He earned his M.Ed. at the University of Sioux Falls in 2015.

Evan Livermore and Jamilyn Vavreck ’10 were married on Oct. 12, 2019.

Thad Titze graduated from the University of South Dakota School of Law. Dylan West was promoted to assistant director of academic advising & first-year experience at the University of Colorado Boulder with the program in environmental design.

CLASS OF 2012 Dillon DeBoer joined American Bank & Trust in Sioux Falls as a senior internal auditor.

Meredith Reynolds completed her residency in anatomic pathology at the University of Chicago Medical Center in June, and began a fellowship in pediatric & perinatal pathology at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago in July. She has accepted a second fellowship position in forensic pathology at the Cook County Office of the Medical Examiner, beginning in July 2021. She presented an abstract, “A Tell-Tale

Heart: A Case of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy at Autopsy” at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences annual scientific meeting in February 2020 in Anaheim, California.

Katherine (Anderson) Talbott and husband, Jeremy, welcomed a daughter, Harper Madysen, in February 2020.

CLASS OF 2011 Rick Dykstra is employed as a divisional controller at Raven Industries in Sioux Falls.

Carli (Ellwein) Flemmer and husband, Brett, welcomed a son, Rudyard, in February 2020.

Carli is employed as a master teacher of English with Northern State University Statewide E-Learning Center.

Alex Meger and Kristin Clark ’10 were married in June 2019.

Todd Mulder completed his M.Ed. in education leadership and Graduate Certificate in PK-12 administration from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in April 2020. Todd currently teaches music in Richfield, Minnesota.

THE 2000s CLASS OF 2010 Adam and Joy (Lussenden) Broin welcomed a daughter, Cora Eliza, in March 2019.

Kristin Clark and Alex Meger ’11 were married in June 2019.

Ashley (Feller) Hellstrom is the office manager for the Tony Bachman Group at Keller Williams Realty. Ashley and her husband, Derek Hellstrom, have three children; Kristin, born in May 2014, Lucas, born in July 2016 and Isabel, born in September 2019.

Jenna (Obler) Houser and husband, Nathan, welcomed a daughter, Madeline Rae, in December 2019. Jenna is employed with Anoka-Ramsey Community College as an admissions advisor.

Brianna (Erickson) Koopman and Chris Koopman ’07 welcomed their first child, Owen Samuel, in June 2019.

Nick and Paige (Fossum) Thompson welcomed a son, Garrison Michael, in November 2019.

Jamilyn Vavreck and Evan Livermore ’13 were married on Oct. 12, 2019.

CLASS OF 2009 Alicia (Coggins) Boe and husband, Eric, welcomed a daughter, Amelia Jade, in November 2018. Alicia began working as a marketing and communications manager for Black Hills Energy in April 2018.

Charles Buehler and Justin Hoard were married on Feb. 22, 2020, in Duluth, Minnesota.

They reside in Rosemount, Minnesota.

Jackie (Leach) Glade earned her Master of Education from Northwestern College in the spring of 2020. She teaches first grade in Worthington, Minnesota. Jackie and her husband, Lance, have two sons, Ganyn (6) and Grayson (2).

Alissa (Ver Steeg) Hutchinson and Ryan Hutchinson ’07, welcomed a son, Bodhi Lee, in February 2020. He joins older siblings, Harper Grace (6) and Cooper Ryan (3). Alissa is employed with the South Dakota School for the Deaf as a deaf educator/special educator.

CLASS OF 2007 Emily (Vulcan) Garcia received her Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in Detroit, Michigan.

CLASS OF 2005 Diana (Ringen) Randall and Dustin Randall ’07 welcomed a daughter, Magdalen Marie, in June 2020. She joins siblings, Collin (8), Winston (5), and Elowen (2).

Gina Verdoorn and Michael Burress Jr. were married on June 1, 2019.

CLASS OF 2004 Laura Kunkel has been the director of the Master of Science in athletic training at the University of Texas at Arlington since October 2019.

Christy Lennon and husband, John Larson ’00, started a meal preparation and catering business in Spearfish, South Dakota, called Rosemary’s Kitchen. They cook wholesome, from-scratch dishes for anyone who could use a helping hand in the kitchen!

Ryan Hutchinson and Alissa (Ver Steeg) Hutchinson ’09 welcomed a son, Bodhi Lee, in February 2020. He joins older siblings, Harper Grace (6) and Cooper Ryan (3).

CLASS OF 2003

Chris Koopman and Brianna (Erickson) Koopman ’10 welcomed their first child, Owen Samuel, in June 2019. Chris is a finance manager at Optum360 in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

CLASS OF 2002

Suzanne (Olson) Nelson and husband, Nathaniel, welcomed a daughter, Lucia Leigh, in February 2020. She joins big brother, Augustus, born in November 2017.

Dustin and Diana (Ringen) Randall ’05 welcomed a daughter, Magdalen Marie, in June 2020. She joins siblings, Collin (8), Winston (5), and Elowen (2).

Rachel Wiener and Matt Lista were married on Feb. 15, 2020, in Philadelphia. Rachel received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice in December 2017 from Creighton University.

Jess Winter and Del Goedeken were married on Aug. 31, 2019, in Omaha, Nebraska. Dr. Sandra Looney and Pastor Kara Wiechmann officiated the wedding. Jess is an elementary teacher librarian in North Omaha.

Christa (Gerrietts) Olson and husband, Michael, welcomed a son, Theodore, in March 2020.

Melissa (Roberts) Peterson began working as a product manager with Larson Manufacturing Company in August 2019.

THE 1990s CLASS OF 1999 Angela Woodford and Mike Craighead were married on July 4, 2019. Angela was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve on Aug. 1, 2019. She is stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, near Washington, D.C., and is working at the office of the Chief of the Army Reserve.

CLASS OF 1997 Kyle Seifert is the associate unit head for the Department of Biology at James Madison University. He just completed his 16th year at JMU.

CLASS OF 1995

CLASS OF 2006 Matthew McDougall is currently deployed to Kuwait with the 42nd Infantry Division and serving as the division psychiatrist for Task Force Spartan.

Craig Nyhus is a new partner at Eide Bailly in Sioux Falls.

Teresa (Weiland) Schumacher and Paul Kilen ’83 were married on June 22, 2019. They currently reside in Mitchell, Nebraska.

CLASS OF 1994 Brent Loken has recently taken a new job with WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) and is the global food lead scientist. He was with the EAT Foundation in Stockholm until recently.

THE AUGUSTANA | FALL 2020

25

CLASS NOTES

CLASS OF 1993 Else (Loken) Schillerberg was promoted in January 2020 to Vice President/Sr. Product Manager at U.S. Bank in Minneapolis, responsible for prepaid portfolio planning and oversight.

THE 1980s CLASS OF 1989 Roberta Haar is a professor at Maastricht University in The Netherlands. She continued her education after Augustana, and earned both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in political science at Pennsylvania State University in the 1990’s.

CLASS OF 1986 Holly (Zerse) Luedke will earn her master’s degree in counseling at Crown College in 2020.

CLASS OF 1985 Lori Hoekstra Erni is working full-time as a travel nurse.

Kim (Kuyper) Wadsworth was named the new leader for the South Dakota School for the Deaf by the state Board of Regents.

CLASS OF 1983 Jeff Hayzlett has launched C-Suite Supplies, a marketplace where business owners can purchase quality PPE supplies.

Paul Kilen and Teresa (Weiland) Schumacher ’95 were married on June 22, 2019. They currently reside in Mitchell, Nebraska.

CLASS OF 1980 Tim Ridgway was recently named the Dean of the USD-Sanford School of Medicine.

THE 1970s CLASS OF 1973 Connie (Wombacker) Blanchard is living in the Twin Cities west metro with her husband, Jeff, and operates Blanchard Catering. In 2019, she continued her education with a class in Florence, Italy, and Avignon, France.

Bruce Oksol and wife, May, now live in Grapevine, Texas. Bruce says they are still employed, without monetary reimbursement, as an au pair for their three granddaughters.

In addition, this spring, our younger daughter and husband in Portland, OR, had twin boys.

Bruce retired as a pediatrician and flight 26

THE AUGUSTANA | FALL 2020

surgeon from the U.S. Air Force in 2007 after 30 years and one day. After retirement, other than a few years of substitute teaching (high school, middle school), he was the primary caregiver for his three granddaughters while their parents pursued work and school.

CLASS OF 1971 Arlyn Norris and Pilar Norris were married on Nov. 30, 2019.

THE 1960s CLASS OF 1968 Carter Johnson was one of 22 Fellows elected in 2020 in recognition of their contributions to the science of ecology by the Ecological Society of America (ESA). Carter Johnson, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, South Dakota State University, Department of Natural Resource Management was elected in recognition of a long, often-cited record of accomplishment that has involved novel combinations of natural history, landscape dynamics, paleoecology, and ecosystem restoration; and for elucidating the impacts of climate change on prairie wetlands and the effects of streamflow regulation on the Missouri River.

CLASS OF 1965

CLASS OF 1964 David Lerseth shared the following message: “During the quarantine time, five Kappa brothers from the class of 1964 have been meeting on Zoom every month to talk, just like in the Huddle Days. Included are: Mark Gilbertson (Seguin, TX), Paul Knudson (Hutchinson, MN), David Lerseth (Victoria, MN), Lee Sather (Ogden, UT), Lowell Satre (Youngstown, OH) and Jim Schmidt (Sioux Falls, SD). We have also picked up a Kappa from the class of 1965 to join our group, Tom Froiland (Marquette, MI). The group includes four college professors, two pastors and one community politician/farmer.”

THE 1950s CLASS OF 1955 JD Thompson shared the following message: “Hi, fellow Class of ’55 classmates. I talked with Willis yesterday and we both thought that having our 65th anniversary reunion this Fall would not be a good idea, given the risks of the COVID-19 virus. So, how about each of us contributing an amount like $100 to go toward a class gift to Augie instead? It’s certainly less risky and does not require wearing a mask.

Just a thought. . . . All the best to you from out here in California.” JD Thompson

Mary (Hafnor) Hanson shared that she is celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Mary Hanson Show this year. She said that the focus of the show has been on social and health issues as well as Minnesota leaders. She has interviewed many fascinating people and sees her role as a conduit, bringing the expertise of the guests to the viewers.

IN MEMORIAM

Paul Lundborg published a book in January 2020, titled, “Becoming a Pastor: Stories of the Flock Shaping the Shepherd.” The book is a compilation of stories gathered during his 37 years as a Lutheran pastor serving in multiple congregations from 1969-2006. Ordained at 25 and trained primarily as a theologian he had a lot to learn about the art of pastoral ministry.

Thankfully, the people he served became his teachers by offering patience, kindness, and counsel. In the book he tells their stories to honor how they taught him. While telling their stories the book also became a memoir and provides an insight into the day to day work of a parish pastor. The book is available at Amazon.

Tracy Saboe, 40, of Sioux Falls, died on June 29, 2020.

CLASS OF 2008 Erik Bunger, 37, passed away on March 29, 2020, due to long-term health complications.

CLASS OF 2001

CLASS OF 1996 Patricia “Patty” (Buchholz) Willrett, 45, passed away on Feb. 24, 2020, at the Ruthven Community Care Center, from complications of ALS.

CLASS OF 1990 Scott Johnson, 53, passed away on Nov. 6, 2018, at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, Iowa.

David W. Thompson passed away on April 20, 2020.

CLASS OF 1989 Wesley Byers, 53, of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, passed away on June 4, 2020, after a four-year battle with cancer.

CLASS OF 1986 Mark L. Berg, 77 of Sioux Falls, died on April 19, 2020, at Avera McKennan Hospital.

CLASS OF 1983 Kae (Williams) Bollinger, 59, of Forest Lake, Minnesota, passed away in the presence of family on May 1, 2020, after a courageous battle with cancer.

CLASS OF 1982 Douglas Jensen died suddenly and unexpectedly at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, with his daughter by his side on Feb. 10, 2020.

Donna (Boersma) Ratzlaff passed away on May 3, 2020, due to metastatic breast cancer that returned after 20 years.

CLASS OF 1979 Thomas “Tom” Waggoner, M.A. ’79, passed away at the age of 73 on June 3, 2020, in Cleveland, Ohio.

CLASS OF 1978 LuAnn “Lu” Mosier, 64, of Sioux Falls, died on May 14th, 2020, at Sanford USD Medical Center after a courageous battle with numerous types of cancer and other health-related complications.

CLASS OF 1977 Charles “Chuck” Dunlap, 66, of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, passed away on June 13, 2020, at his home in Scottsbluff.

CLASS OF 1976 Tania Larson Kraus, 66, of Sioux Falls, passed away on June 13, 2020, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis with family at her side.

CLASS OF 1974 Mark Robert Davis, 67, died on May 7, 2020, at the Avera Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls.

CLASS OF 1973 Douglas Jones, of Fargo, North Dakota, passed away at Sanford Hospice House in Fargo on April 25, 2020.

Nancy Rowe passed away unexpectedly at her home in Holmen, Wisconsin, on May 9, 2020.

Arnie Stenseth ’66 died February 7,

2020 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls following a short illness.

Stenseth was 82. Arnie was born in Tyler, Minn., but the family moved to Sioux Falls shortly after that. His mother, Ruth Sorlie, taught German at Augustana. After graduating from Washington High School in 1956, Arnie started college at Augustana and then joined the Marine Corps Reserve. He joined the Army in 1957 and was in Army Intelligence. He returned to Augustana in 1960 and graduated with a B.A. in theatre and acting. He met Connie Herseth ‘66 at Augustana, and they were married in 1963. From that marriage, he has two daughters--Calli Brick and Mari Lingle. In 1990, Arnie re-married, to Rosemary Erickson ’64. They moved to Washington, D.C., where Arnie acted, and Rosemary received her Ph.D. and continued her research and consulting with her company— Athena Research Corporation.

Memorials in Arnie’s honor are suggested to go to his family’s scholarship fund at Augustana: The Stenseth Erickson Lingle Endowed Scholarship.

CLASS OF 1971

CLASS OF 1969

Mela (Pena) Gonzales passed away on Feb. 12, 2020, in Chicago, Illinois.

John Louis Anderson died on March 7, 2020, with his beloved wife and dear friends at his side.

Dennis Jeske, 76, of Rochester, Minnesota, passed away on May 7, 2020, at the Haven Cottagewood Senior Care Community.

CLASS OF 1968

Elaine (Hoard) McCart passed away on May 1, 2020.

Gerald Lotton, 73, of Sioux Falls, died on May 19, 2020, in Sioux Falls.

Donald Rypkema, 84, of Sioux Falls, passed away on March 15, 2020, at Primrose Retirement Community.

Douglas Triggs passed away on May 23, 2020, after battling cancer for two years.

Richard “Dick” Seierstad, 70, passed away peacefully from severe dementia on March 25, 2020, at Episcopal Church Home of Minnesota in Saint Paul.

CLASS OF 1970 Leon Edlund, 76, died on March 2, 2020, at Avera St. Benedict Hospital in Parkston, South Dakota.

Jon Bergquist passed away on June 8, 2020.

CLASS OF 1967 Susan (Sampson) Feely, 73, of Burnsville, Minnesota, passed away on Jan. 16, 2018, surrounded by family and friends.

Robert “Bob” Raker, 75, of Overland Park, Kansas, died at home on May 21, 2020.

Janet (Werner) Shelver, M.A. ’67, a Sioux Falls resident of the past 58 years, passed away at the age of 95 on June 25, 2020.

THE AUGUSTANA | FALL 2020

27

CLASS NOTES

CLASS OF 1966

CLASS OF 1960

Phyllis (Hallanger) LaMothe, 76, of Moorhead, Minnesota, died on Feb. 3, 2020, at Eventide Senior Living Community under the care of Ethos Hospice.

Milton Hanson died on March 8, 2020, in Dougherty Hospice House from the effects of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).

Marjean (Goodroad) Nolan, 75, passed away on Feb. 22, 2020, at her home in Rancho Mirage, California.

CLASS OF 1965 Gary Tighe, 78, died on March 2, 2020, in Eaton, Ohio.

CLASS OF 1964 Ann Douglas passed away on Sept. 10, 2019.

Warner Muns, 89, of Sioux Falls, died on April 20, 2020, at the Primrose Retirement Communities in Sioux Falls.

George Olson, 83, of Sioux Falls, died on May 3, 2020, at Good Samaritan Luther Manor in Sioux Falls.

Grace (Meyer) Van Rennes passed away on Feb. 28, 2020.

CLASS OF 1959

Jon Jordahl, 78, of Iowa Falls, Iowa, passed away on May 10, 2020, at his home.

Lois (Ingemann) Braun, 82, of Aberdeen, South Dakota, passed away on March 10, 2020, at Angelhaus in Aberdeen.

Allene “Ali” (Roeman) Schreuder, 86, of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away on Feb. 28, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Society in Le Mars.

Agnes (Arhart) Ekstrum, 82, of Kimball, South Dakota, passed away on March 7, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Center in Sioux Falls.

CLASS OF 1963 Nadine (Thorson) Lloyd, 78, of Mills River, North Carolina, died on May 6, 2020, at Advent Health Hospital in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Donald Renner, 84, of Sioux Falls, passed away on March 4, 2020, at Good Samaritan Center in Sioux Falls.

Patricia (Digerness) Van Walleghen, 82, of Letcher, South Dakota, died on June 2, 2020, at her home under hospice care.

CLASS OF 1958 Marlys (Hansen) Herwig, 83, of Zimmerman, Minnesota, passed away of natural causes on June 4, 2019.

Donald O. Knutson, USAF retired, passed away on April 23, 2020, at Loma Linda Hospital in California.

Charles “Chuck” Lockhart, of Sioux Falls, died on March 22, 2020, at Ava’s House Hospice in Sioux Falls.

Verlyn Oveson, 88, of Sioux Falls, passed away peacefully at home on Feb. 25, 2020.

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

- Philippians 4:13

Alvin Purrington, 79, passed away peacefully on April 6, 2020, at Good Samaritan SocietySogge Memorial in Windom, Minnesota.

CLASS OF 1962 Emerine (Pederson) Hadley, 98, of Bagley, Minnesota, died on May 16, 2020, at the Cornerstone Nursing and Rehab in Bagley.

Dean Holm passed away on Sept. 7, 2019, in Mesa, Arizona.

Eugene “Gene” Steensma, of Waterford, Michigan, died on March 25, 2020.

CLASS OF 1961 Iola Bakken, 86, of Omaha, Nebraska, and formerly of Northwood, Iowa, passed away on April 7, 2020, at the Hillcrest Cottages in Omaha.

Robert “Bob” Benson, 80, long-time resident of Sioux Falls, died on May 22, 2020, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls.

Carl Haan passed away on April 21, 2020, in Sioux Falls.

Harry K. Johnson passed away on June 19, 2019, in Ft. Pierce, Florida.

Hilda (Marten) Anderson Langley, 99, of Surprise, Arizona, formerly of Sioux Falls, died on March 26, 2020, in Surprise.

THANK YOU FOR BEING

VIKING BOLD Augustana’s strategic goals are guided by our enduring mission and core values. The university will continue to empower our students, and through an unwavering commitment to the liberal arts, enable them to discern their callings, to be generous servant leaders, and to succeed throughout their careers and in life.

Thank you for your encouragement, prayers, and generous financial support. We begin the new academic year strong in faith and filled with optimism for what we can do together, for Augustana.

Verlon Olson passed away in Colorado Springs on Feb. 11, 2020.

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Alice (Van Wyhe) Sea, 85, of Sioux City, Iowa, passed away on May 30, 2020, due to complications from the coronavirus.

Betty (Hembd) Taylor passed away peacefully at home on May 10, 2020, surrounded by her loved ones.

CLASS OF 1957

CLASS OF 1953

Connie (Torgrude) Hansen, 85, of Redfield, South Dakota, passed away on March 28, 2020, at the Eastern Star Home in Redfield.

Erling Severtson, 88, passed away on April 6, 2020, at the Minnesota Veteran’s Home in Luverne, Minnesota.

Gladys (Erickson) Herding passed away on June 15, 2019.

CLASS OF 1952

Raymond Johnson, 84, of Ramsey, Minnesota, formerly of Gilbert, Minnesota, passed away on May 24, 2020, at his home with his family around him.

Richard Dean Sherman, 89, of Howard, South Dakota, died on Feb. 16, 2020, in Howard.

CLASS OF 1956

James Schmidt, 85, died on March 20, 2020, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.

Henry Gene Straatmeyer, 85, died in Galveston, Texas, on Feb. 22, 2020, due to complications after a fall and a broken hip.

CLASS OF 1955 Mary (Veld) Bye, 84, of Mankato, Minnesota, died on March 22, 2018, at New Perspective Senior Living.

Lucille (Larson) Holthus, 88, of Gilbert, Arizona, formerly of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, died on May 26, 2020.

Lois (Sorteberg) Boyce, 90, of Sioux Falls, passed away at Ava’s House on April 8, 2020.

Charles Jarratt, 89, passed away on March 2, 2020, in Sioux Falls.

Alvin Moen, 89, passed away on April 29, 2020.

Huldina (Scherb) Nailor, 92, passed away peacefully on July 18, 2018, in Westerville, Ohio.

Harold Neuberger, 91, died unexpectedly on July 4, 2020, while a resident at Majestic Bluffs, Yankton.

CLASS OF 1951 Carolyn (Caplan) Margulies, 90, passed away on April 27, 2020, in Sioux Falls.

CLASS OF 1950 Charlotte (Scott) Cadwell passed away in Chamberlain, South Dakota, on May 12, 2020.

Jean (Boe) Hill passed away on June 29, 2019.

Ronald Jamtgaard, 87, passed away on May 4, 2020.

Osborne “Ozzie” Liaboe, 93, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died on April 19, 2020, at Hegg Health Center in Rock Valley.

Leora (Graber) Ortman, 95, of Freeman, South Dakota, died on April 30, 2020, at Oakview Terrace.

CLASS OF 1949

Dick Van Wyhe, 86, of Ukiah, California, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2020.

CLASS OF 1954 Phyllis (Christensen) Bergdale, 88, of Alcester, South Dakota, passed away on April 14, 2020, at the Holy Spirit Retirement Home in Sioux City, Iowa.

Raymond Engh, 87, retired minister and formerly of Sioux Falls, died on June 7, 2020, in Minneapolis.

Charles “Chuck” Myers, 88, of Galveston, Texas, passed away on April 16, 2020, at the HCA Houston Healthcare Center in Webster, Texas.

Lucille (Pierson) Nelson, 88, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Society-Sogge Memorial in Windom, Minnesota.

CLASS OF 1948 Gertrude (Erdmann) DeBow, 93, died on March 28, 2020, at Mills Manor in New York Mills, Minnesota.

Marjorie (Kvernes) Erickson, 93, of Bozeman, Montana, passed away on May 31, 2020.

Maxine (Spath) Horning, 95, of Watertown, South Dakota, passed away on Feb. 13, 2020.

Joyce (Haugen) Otterby, 93, passed away peacefully of natural causes at Martha & Mary Nursing Home in Poulsbo, Washington, on March 28, 2020.

CLASS OF 1947 Fayola (Heinrich) Gaspar, 98, passed away on May 23, 2020.

Beverly (Carpenter) Kampf, 92, passed away on Dec. 27, 2018.

CLASS OF 1946 Janet (Lindell) Wolfe, 95, of Vienna, Virginia, died of COVID-19 complications on May 20, 2020.

CLASS OF 1943 Marcia (Henderson) Anderson passed away on April 13, 2020.

Pearl (Elverson) Stoterau passed away on Feb. 23, 2018, at Palisade Healthcare in Garretson, South Dakota.

CLASS OF 1942 Marguerite “Marge” (Swenson) Young passed away on May 16, 2020.

Delmar Claussen, 95, of Rochester, Minnesota, passed away on May 2, 2020.

Helen (Bekke) Dahl, of Texas, passed away on June 14, 2019.

Milton Erickson passed away on April 26, 2020, at Good Samaritan - Sioux Falls Village.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The class notes sent directly to Augustana University come directly from alums and/or family members. The editor does not edit submissions outside of grammar and spelling, which may not reflect the editorial style guide of the university.

Ardelle (Telkamp) Persing, 96, of Sioux Falls, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2020, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls.

Donna (Otteman) Ross, 92, of Sioux Falls, passed away on April 30, 2020, at Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls.

Helen (Cody) Svaren, 97, of Sioux Falls, formerly of Arlington, South Dakota, died on June 5, 2020, in Sioux Falls.

James Rumbolz passed away on June 16, 2020.

THE AUGUSTANA | FALL 2020

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