2020–21 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
G USTIES
Michael Bussey ’69 , (president) senior consultant, Donor by Design Group, LLC J. C. Anderson ’82 , (vice president) partner/ attorney, Lathrop GPM
Looking Forward, Looking Back IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE OUR WORLDS WERE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
That means we’ve navigated this entire academic year in a new reality of Zoom-ing, social distancing, and pivoting. We know all of you have no doubt had to make dramatic changes to your lives—and that many of you have experienced great challenges in the form of job changes, financial struggles, and even the loss of friends and loved ones. This year has been heavy. But we look ahead to a world after COVID. For alumni and parent engagement, this year has given us twists and turns as well. But for all the challenges we’ve seen, we’ve also embraced opportunities and caught glimpses of what a future of keeping you connected to Gustavus and one another might look like. For example, we see the value of more robust virtual programming to ensure that geography and mobility no longer limit our connectivity. We’ve also been able to inspire hundreds of new and long-time donors alike to make direct, tangible impacts on the lives of students through fundraising for the emergency fund, PPE kits, and other rapidly evolving day-today needs. We’ve had plenty of wins during this difficult academic year, despite all the chaos. And we owe those wins to all of you, for sticking with us, for sticking with Gustavus. As we look ahead, we’ll be carefully evaluating which ways of engaging with you will endure
and which require further innovation. But know this: We’re definitely not getting rid of our Reunion Weekend celebration or Homecoming festivities for Gusties of all ages and life stages. We know that coming back to the hill to connect and reminisce is incredibly valuable to you. It means a lot to us too. We miss you—and we can’t wait to see you on campus, hear from you through the mail or catch you on a Zoom. Wherever, whenever— your support allows us to look confidently to the future. We are grateful for you, Gusties!
Dan Michel ’90 , (treasurer) director, digital media, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Esther Mulder Widmalm-Delphonse ’08 , (secretary) attorney, labor law, United States Department of Labor Rick Barbari ’91 , head of enterprise data management, US Bank Mark Bergman ’79 , president and owner, Bercom International, LLC Mary Booker ’91 , executive director, student financial services, University of Delaware, Newark Sarah Schueffner Borgendale ’06 , managerrecruiting, inclusion and diversity, Fredrikson and Byron, P.A. Jen Brandenburg ’02 , pharmacist, Abbott Northwestern Hospital Sara Schnell Elenkiwich ’10 , sourcing manager, Sparboe Farms Bruce Ensrud ’90 , wealth advisor, Thrivent Financial Alissa Fahrenz ’13 , analyst, Excelsior Energy Capital Amy Zenk James ’94 , sales and outreach director, Meadow Woods Assisted Living Peter Kitundu ’92 , vice president, chief compliance and privacy officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield
Last chance to complete the 2021 Alumni Survey! Share your thoughts with us before May 31 by visiting gustavus.edu/alumni/survey. We’ll use your feedback to shape the next five years of the Gustavus Alumni Association as we live into our shared vision: that the GAA and its members play a vital and vocal role in the Gustavus community, are ambassadors of the
Todd Krough ’85 , senior investment officer, Tealwood Asset Management Bill Laumann ’66 , retired schoolteacher/ librarian, Albert Lea ISD #241 Jessica Martinez ’15 , assistant to the principal, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Jason Mischel ’96 , vice president of sales and marketing, Valley Queen Cheese John Moorhead ’68 , retired co-owner, Lindskoog Florist Jace Riggin ’16 , admissions officer, Macalester College
College, and are champions of all Gusties.
Deb Johnson Rosenberg ’79 , director of retirement plan consulting, Stiles Financial Services, Inc.
Then, look for breakdowns of our findings
Mary Anderson Rothfusz ’83 , retired attorney
in upcoming issues of the Quarterly. We’re
Mark Scharmer ’77 , retired executive vice president, insurance operations, Federated Mutual Insurance Company
excited to share what we learn with you.
Daniel Sellers ’06 , executive director, Ciresi Walburn Foundation for Children
Katie Ackert Schroeder ’03 Director of the Gustavus Fund
Angela Erickson ’01 Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement
Vidya Sivan ’02 , digital communications specialist, Harvard Kennedy School Marcia Stephens ’73 , retired financial advisor Matt Swenson ’06, director of CEO communications, Cargill, Inc. Ann McGowan Wasson ’82 , homemaker, volunteer
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Alumni Association
CLASS NEWS and information to be included in the Alumni section of the Quarterly should be sent to: Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement, Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 West College Avenue, Saint Peter, MN 56082-1498 alumni@gustavus.edu | 800-487-8437 | gustavus.edu/alumni
