PILOT Spring 2015 by University of Northwestern

UNIVERSIT Y OF NORTHWESTERN – ST. PAUL

Grace & hope in a world of conflict SPRING FALL 2015 2014

UNIVERSIT Y OF NORTHWES TERN – S T. PAUL

10 DEPARTMENTS 4 FROM THE PRESIDENT

4 NORTHWESTERN NEWS

10 Making the World a Place for Grace We live in a world of deeply disturbing global conflicts and violence. Professor Randy Nelson challenges Christians to stay engaged, extending grace and hope wherever they are needed.

9 FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS

12 Seeing Selma Professor Robin Bell sees parallels between Moses’ biblical turn toward God, the historic march

28 ALUMNI NEWS & FEATURES

from Selma to Montgomery and current events. Can the love of Christ break down systemic injustice?

14 Mutual Partnerships, Global Relationships UNW is expanding international connections and opportunities. Join President Cureton on his recent trips to Malaysia and Cambodia.

16 The Long Journey to Healing: A Writer’s Story Obsessive-compulsive disorder made novelist Jackie Lea Sommers’ life unbearable. A difficult treatment changed everything—and made her a tireless advocate for people dealing with OCD.

20 UNW Faith in Action Northwestern students leap into a hands-on Day of Prayer and Service with spirit. The photos tell the stories.

24 Illuminating Biblical Seals Student Rachel Korhonen and Professor Boyd Seevers are collaborating on a fascinating study and uncovering new details about ancient signatures.

35 Sweet 16, Sweet Success Eagles nailed their first-ever NCAA Tournament win, sealed a slot in the Sweet 16 round and stayed true to their understanding of genuine success.

PILOT SPRING 2015 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN

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PILOT STAFF Managing Editor Marita Meinerts, M.A. Editor Shelly Barsuhn Graphic Design BARSUHN, Inc. Photography Josh Stokes Contributing Writers Amy Elizabeth Awasom, Shelly Barsuhn, Robin Bell, Janelle (Hamre ’11) Higdon, Lauren Schwabe ’15, Jackie Lea Sommers ’03, Doug Trouten, Nancy Zugschwert University Marketing Team Amy Elizabeth Awasom, Joan Ayotte, Drew Elrick ’12, Janelle (Hamre ’11) Higdon, Marita Meinerts, Tess O’Connor, Eric Olson, Amanda Thompson ’15, Tammy Worrell ’04, Nancy Zugschwert

16 20 24

UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION President Alan S. Cureton, Ph.D. Sr. V.P. for Academic Affairs Janet B. Sommers, Ph.D. Sr. V.P. for Media Paul H. Virts, Ph.D. V.P. for Institutional Advancement Amy Bragg Carey, Ed.D. V.P. for Student Life & Athletics Matt Hill ’89, Ed.D. V.P. for Enrollment Management Mike Moroney Chief Information Officer David Richert, MBA V.P. for Business/CFO Douglas R. Schroeder, CPA Associate V.P. of Human Resources Timothy A. Rich, PHR NORTHWESTERN MEDIA FM 98.5/AM 900 KTIS Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN FM 101.9/AM 1090 KNWS Waterloo, IA FM 97.9/AM 1200 KFNW Fargo, ND FM 96.5/AM 1270 KNWC Sioux Falls, SD FM 102.5/AM 1190 WNWC Madison, WI FM 97.3 KDNW/FM 90.5 KDNI Duluth, MN FM 107.1/FM 96.1 KNWI Des Moines, IA FM 88.5 KJNW Kansas City, MO University of Northwestern – St. Paul does not discriminate with regard to national origin, race, color, age, sex or disability.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2015 PILOT

news

from

The President

It’s as ancient as Creation itself, the lament of the human heart in times of trouble. David gave eloquent voice to this pain: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? / Why are you so far from saving me, / so far from my cries of anguish? / My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, / by night, but I find no rest” (Psalm 22:1). Who hasn’t experienced this depth of sorrow and confusion? Scripture reminds us that dire difficulties in our lives and world are not new. Although it’s easy to feel disheartened when the news is full of brutality, we know we have hope. Hope is why I believe that access to a Christ-centered education is as important as ever. We need compassionate people to carry Good News into the world. This issue of Pilot recognizes the reality of severe conflict around us but also the beauty of grace and hope in the midst of it. You’ll see a few examples of ways our students are bringing tangible and practical help to their world (page 20). Robin Bell, Ed.D., assistant professor of Christian Ministries, writes about how people of God can turn a new way—just as Moses did—and align themselves with God’s justice (page 12). Even while countries war, sparks of beautiful cooperation and trust emerge. I recently saw relationships growing at an international event I attended in Malaysia called “Building Strong Mutual Partnerships.” Sponsored by the International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education, the conference theme said it all. From all parts of the globe, presidents and principals connected and began collaborating with other institutions of Christian higher learning (page 14). UNW’s 2015 graduates have a deep understanding of their larger purpose in our fallen world. Whether working here in the U.S. or moving into international business and ministry, they are driven by their desire to serve others. Through them, the love of God is springing up and flowering. It can’t be extinguished. Like David, we dip down into discouragement. We cry out for all people who suffer disease, violence and poverty. But we are not without hope. When I am tempted to close my eyes to the news of another deadly act of evil or feel overwhelmed by violence, I look to Scripture for God’s reassurance. I look for the grace offered by believers at work in our world. May we be people who extend that grace and sow hope in the lives of those around us.

Alan S. Cureton, Ph.D. 4

PILOT SPRINGUniversity 2015 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN President, of Northwestern – St.

Paul

Frozen Tuition: Focus on Affordability With a deep desire to respond to the affordability concerns of families, the Board of Trustees froze student tuition for 2015–16. This freeze extends to early college, traditional undergraduate, adult undergraduate and graduate students. Because of the rising costs of providing a quality education, trustees had anticipated approving a tuition increase. However, with encouragement from the Cabinet, they implemented the freeze instead.

“There are many factors that influence tuition costs, and Northwestern leaders take all of these into consideration,” said President Cureton. “At UNW, we will continue to explore pathways to provide an excellent education as affordably as possible.” Efforts include a continual stewarding of resources to maintain long-term, sustainable financial health for Northwestern. Learn more about the freeze at unwsp.edu/freeze.

Congratulations, KTIS: A Well-Earned Reward Useful content, solid design and excellent technical execution. They all contributed to KTIS winning the Best Website award—part of the 2015 NRB Media Awards—at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) convention in February. According to NRB criteria, myktis.com produces measurable goals and exemplifies the most current best practices based on today’s digital media standards. Carl Bliss, manager of Network Interactive Media, Northwestern Media, said that the redesigned site shifted away from site-as-marketing tool toward content channel. “We wanted to equip our stations to share content with each other and our users to share content with their friends and family,” said Bliss. The PrayerWorks tool allowed KTIS to build content around life issues that weigh on users’ hearts, including marriage and family, health, finances and growing in faith. Local markets are also served with tools such as a Church Finder, Community Calendar and other local content elements. The site works well on any device and was specifically designed for efficient mobile use and easy social media sharing.

A video achieved unexpected Internet celebrity for Matthew Abeler ’17 after he posted his creation to YouTube. Pass the Salt—written, directed and produced by Abeler—took off “almost overnight,” he said. At 10,787,513 views and counting, the 1:42 comedy has been seen by viewers in more than 218 countries since November 2014. Inspiration for the film came as Abeler prepared for a class speech on “Media Obesity: Technology and Relationships.” With a storyboard, script, rented light kit, audio gear borrowed from UNW and a camera he bought in high school, Abeler created a clever scenario about cell phone

UNW Students Excel at National Religious Broadcasters Competition When you’re a creative artist, not much beats the thrill of being recognized for your talent. For UNW students studying broadcasting, journalism or media communications, the Intercollegiate National Religious Broadcasters (iNRB) competition is one place they hope to shine. And they did. At the 2015 awards event in Nashville, Tenn., students walked away with an armload of awards in the student division. Students in the Electronic Media Communication major won 15 iNRB awards including five first-place honors. UNW Audio students captured eight awards including two firstplace honors. The radio students dominated the audio competition by winning twothirds of the available prizes in the four audio categories. Film and TV/Video students took home seven awards including three first-place distinctions. In a 24-hour creative challenge, UNW students collected additional honors for their rapid and outstanding creation of digital videos, digital audio and digital news creations. Applause goes to their professors too: Mark Seignious, M.A., associate professor of communication; Ann Sorenson, MFA, associate professor of communication; and

Brad Johnson, adjunct professor of communication and broadcast studio technician. They released a statement that reflected their pride in their students: “Congratulations to all these young professionals. They pursue Christ faithfully and their craft joyfully. We are thrilled for our students and thank God for His work through them.”

COURTESY OF NATIONAL RELIGIOUS BROADC ASTERS

Pass the Salt Goes Viral

distraction at the dinner table. His parents and two high school friends served as the cast. The video “cost a lot of time,” he said, but “was shot on a $0 budget.” He hit a nerve. The video has been picked up by Vanity Fair Italy, Huffington Post Germany, The San Francisco Globe, Yahoo News Canada, TV shows in Tokyo and a few celebrities including Ashton Kutcher and George Takei. But Abeler’s favorite use came from a Spanish priest living in Rome who used the video for an introduction to one of his catechisms. Pass the Salt earned honors at the Intercollegiate National Religious Broadcasters competition and won Best Comedy at Northwestern’s 2014 Five16 Film Festival. “I love to observe cultural quirks,” said Abeler. “Most of my ideas start there. The film is more about the value of relationships than it is about cell phones.” With a global hit under his belt, Abeler will continue his focus on filmmaking. He is passionate about storytelling and someday hopes to produce fun, value-rich films for children.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2015 PILOT

Come Back to Campus—Homecoming 2015 Remember the thrill of that first fall semester at Northwestern? Experience it again during Homecoming 2015 on October 1–3. Return to campus for a themed weekend celebration, “Every Day an Eagle.” Your nostalgic, action-packed return to UNW will include football, comedy night with Henry Cho, special chapel, 5K campus run, music, food and reminiscing with collegiate sidekicks. Jim Johnson ’94, senior director of Development & Constituent Relations, invites alumni from every decade to gather for the fun. “Whether you attended our historic downtown campus or our beautiful current location, we invite you to come back for this incredible weekend,” he said. “There will be something for all ages so bring your families as we celebrate what it means to be an everyday eagle. Fly home!” Savor the memories. Save the date.

PILOT SPRING 2015 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN

UNW Dorms, Looking Good

A Faster Way to a Better MBA

UNW ranked #16 in affordableschools.net’s list of “30 Most Inviting Yet Affordable College Dorms in America.” The list cited “exceptionally inviting residence halls that cost less than the respective 2012 –13 national average when board is also included.” Northwestern dorms offer some of “the bestvalue college experience that money can buy” based on aesthetic appeal, amenities/facilities and social opportunities.

Northwestern is paving a new path for business students to earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a 4+1 program: the Dual Degree BS/MBA. “The goal of the program is to provide students the opportunity to earn the MBA with less cost and less time, while working to build experience on their resume,” said Dick Elliott, MBA, chair of the School of Business and associate professor of business. Phase 1: Student to professional BS/MBA students will take seven MBA-required courses during four years of undergraduate study—a crucial growth period of mentoring by seasoned faculty who demand rigor and who model passion. Graduates will be “ready to make a contribution to the company on the very first day,” Elliott said. “We want them to be recognized for their strong work ethic, their integrity and sensitivity to personal relationships.” Most recently, 96 percent of graduates have been employed in a desirable position within three months of graduation.

Notice Anything Different? Even an icon deserves a makeover. The Blue Room, which has played host to wedding receptions, fundraisers, meetings and more over its storied history, got an update thanks to UNW’s food service provider, Bon Appétit. New carpeting, paint, window treatments, seating and kitchen configurations will help the university accommodate the thousands of on-campus and off-campus groups served every year. It even has a new name: Nazareth Great Room. Renovations are now complete. Let the events begin!

Phase 2: Employment to leadership After achieving their BS degrees, students enter the workforce full time and integrate with the MBA cohort, meeting one night each week to complete their seven remaining graduate courses. In the dynamic cohort setting, young students will learn alongside older professionals who work at major corporations. No endless PowerPoint or droning lectures—the classroom is alive with case study discussions, debates, peer exchanges and a blended online learning format. In this final year, BS/MBA students will be equipped with work experience and a master’s to begin ascent in leadership at their company of choice. UNW’s business graduates will have influence that can “light” their corporate environments. “With the fifth year MBA we are raising light up higher in the organization,” said Sara Ring, MBA program director. “Graduates of the 4+1 BS/MBA program are able to manage people, lead projects, do crossfunctional work and travel internationally.”

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2015 PILOT

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A Lifetime of Mentorship: Dr. Sally Harris Retires

Rehm, Schwabe, Kelby

UNW Journalists Shine From lighthearted to heart-wrenching, articles written by journalists aim to keep audiences reading. Examiner staffers Rebecca Rehm ’15, Lauren Schwabe ’15 and Annie Kelby ’15 received recognition for their talents in the college division of the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. Rehm, a professional writing major, took second place in the Arts & Entertainment Story category for her article “Over 45 determined ‘tributes’ battle in Northwestern’s ‘Hunger Games.’” Schwabe, a journalism major, received top honors in the same category for her article “Denler Gallery featured ‘Cracked,’ an egg-centered exhibit by Timothy Miller.” Kelby, a journalism major, nabbed a third place award in the Human Interest Story category for her story “Student blogger making a difference, one post at a time.” To read these award-winning works and see what other student journalists are composing, please visit UNW’s student newspaper at unwexaminer.com.

KARE 11 News Reporter Teaches at UNW K ARE 11

Up-and-coming journalism students got an experienced mentor when KARE 11 news reporter Dave Berggren came on board as an advisor for Eagle 7 News. “My goal is to inspire, motivate and give them a picture of what a professional newsroom looks like,” Berggren said. “I want the students to understand the basics of good storytelling, which is a skill used in and out of news organizations.” But he gives credit to his students: “I don’t run Eagle 7 News, the students do,” he said. “They lead editorial meetings, edit scripts, interview students and make these broadcasts look sharp.”

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This spring, Sally Harris, Ph.D., professor of English, will retire after 41 years of teaching. The Northwestern community is thankful for Harris and her invaluable contributions to UNW. Her affinity for Northwestern goes back to her days as a preschooler. She has fond memories of listening to the then-new radio station, KTIS. “In those days before car seats,” she said, “when we went somewhere in the car, I would stand between my parents, singing with the radio, my father driving and my mother holding my baby brother.” She began her career as an adjunct instructor in fall 1974 and became full-time faculty in 1975. Favorite classes to teach were Milton, Chaucer, Literary Theory and Criticism, and Senior Capstone in Literature. During her career, she taught law students in Tanzania as a Fulbright Scholar, published her book Reading and Writing About Legal Texts and finished the American Birkebeiner (a 52 km/31 miles ski race) 30 times. But Harris says that her greatest accomplishment has been touching students’ lives. “Just a few days

ago, a student from the ’70s dropped by my office, reminiscing about what he had learned in Freshman Comp that mattered for the career he pursued. It’s a privilege to be able to impact people at a critical time in their lives. In recent years, I’ve been getting more and more students whose parents were former students of mine.” She estimates that her students have numbered over 5,000. As she leaves UNW, she offers advice to students past and present: “Keep learning. And especially, keep reading.”

Faculty Highlights

Analyzing Lewis: Jacqueline J. Glenny Jacqueline J. Glenny, Ed.D. (Communication), spent spring semester 2015 as a visiting scholar at the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. In February, she presented a paper at the Oxford University C. S. Lewis Society on the topic “C. S. Lewis: Chivalrous Don or Misogynist?” She led a series of walking tours at the Christian Heritage Centre at the Round Church in Cambridge on Lewis’ years as a Cambridge professor. In addition to conducting research at the Pepys Library of Magdalene College, Glenny also gave a series of talks on Lewis at the Tyndale House and other church venues.

Engineering Results: Matthew Hyre Matthew Hyre, Ph.D. (Mathematics and Engineering), presented “Sensitivity of Container Forming Model Accuracy to Boundary Condition, Material Property, and Underlying Physics Modelling” at the European Society of Glass conference in the fall. He will present a study utilizing computational algorithms for evaluating thrombus formation at the 4th International Conference on Computational & Mathematical Biomedical Engineering in Cachan, France. Hyre was awarded a $25,000 research contract by the International Partners for Glass Research (Zurich) for the simulation of an alternative hot-end coating for glass bottles. His most recent research focuses on the fractal structure of music and nature.

Performing and Teaching: Phil Norris Phil Norris, D.M.A. (Music), spent his sabbatical in Southeast Asia, including several cities in mainland China, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore. Over a period of 106 days he taught at eight universities and five international schools. Experiences included group lessons, private instruction, lectures and recitals. At Sias International University in Xinzheng, China, he coached the university orchestra in a rehearsal. At international Christian schools, he taught group and private lessons, presented master classes, spoke to the faculty and staff in devotional times and performed in school assemblies. He also performed a trumpet recital in the newly renovated Victoria Concert Hall in Singapore.

Documenting the Journey: Ann Sorenson Ann Sorenson, MFA (Communication), began her sabbatical teaching a January term intensive filmmaking course at Luther College, her undergraduate alma mater. She then travelled to England to hike The Pilgrims’ Way and shoot footage of the pilgrimage for a documentary. The Pilgrims’ Way is the historic route from Winchester to Canterbury— linking the two saints St. Swithun and St. Augustine—that brought Christianity to Britain. The 14day, 170-mile pilgrimage is the landscape in which she explores the screenwriting principle of character flaw and character arc through her own trek to Canterbury. She is currently in post-production of the project “The Journey From Fear to Faith.”

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2015 PILOT

MAKING THE WORLD A PLACE FOR Grace

In a world of pain, Christians can retain hope and join God’s flow of grace.

By Shelly Barsuhn

PILOT SPRING 2015 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN

Grace & hope The headlines and photos take our breath away. Beheadings. Racism. Earthquakes. Kidnappings. Rapes. “We’re living in a fallen world,” said Randy Nelson, Ph.D., department chair of Biblical & Theological Studies and professor of New Testament Studies. “The world we live in is not the world God created.” As witnesses to atrocities enacted in real time, we can feel our hope fading. How do we retain hope in a world like this? Jesus as our example The Prince of Peace brought a shocking message: not an eye for an eye, but extravagant grace for all. Those labeled lowly were drawn into His circle. He set about to relieve the suffering of everyone He encountered. “Jesus wasn’t an escapist,” said Nelson. “He was very much in the trenches with people, not abdicating social responsibility.” He embodied the truth of 2 Corinthians 1:3–4, showing us that we are children of “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” Prayer is indispensable. “When we see these tragedies,” Nelson said, “we fall to our knees and pray.” Embracing the discomfort Disturbing images clash with and disrupt our comfortable lives, but they can inspire us to act. “The two things that hinder are fear and worry,” said Nelson. “Fear is a natural instinct. Anxiety is triggered in the human brain. But how am I going to respond to it? We can grow in our faith and process our natural fear, saying, ‘I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!’” Believers take comfort in the words of Jesus who said repeatedly, “Don’t be afraid.” He knew there were terrible and frightening things in the world. But faith involves trust and commitment. Faith is relationship. Hope for now and the future The message of apocalyptic literature is to persevere. “The Book of Revelation,” said Nelson, “can be summed up with two words: ‘God wins.’” In the meantime, “bad things are going to happen. But God is gracious. God will be with us. ‘We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair’” (2 Corinthians 4:8). Rather than allowing images and headlines to make us callous or freeze us with fear, they can move us to join God in the movement toward justice, compassion and peace. We have “the hope that God is working now, actively, in this creation,” Nelson said. “God does care about us and is in the process of redeeming the world.”

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2015 PILOT

Seeing Selma By Robin Bell

PILOT SPRING 2015 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN

Grace & hope

know the story of racism, America’s original sin. My parents lived through Jim Crow, discrimination and segregation. So I had no intention of watching the film Selma. After my actor son encouraged me to go see the director’s exceptional work, I reluctantly went to an early matinee. I cried a few times—and then grew angry. Fifty years after the walk from Selma to Montgomery, I saw sad parallels with the current Black Lives Matter movement that started after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. The movement received fresh impetus from the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown. The epic human rights issues of Selma are still being fought. I am tired of talking about race. I am in the season of my life that I would rather not talk about race relations anymore. I want things to be balanced and right without constant struggle. Like Moses and Jonah, I resist the call of God to be a voice of redemption. My excuses are like theirs: a sense of unworthiness to such a huge task—and resentment. But God is always ready to redeem, even those who resist the call to use their voices for the glory of God.

Seeing Selma as a place of suffering for what is right The disturbing events in Selma exposed a sinful belief system and changed America forever. They encouraged some Americans to turn a different way and see with new eyes. Turning toward God and justice is a biblical concept. Moses turned toward a burning bush because he heard God there. By turning, he saw another angle on the reality that was before him. He showed that there is wisdom in making ourselves uncomfortable to take a second look and seek to understand God’s work in the world. Like Moses, we can turn from our racial fatigue and complacency to look again and see injustice. How will we choose to look at recent events, our Selma? The deaths of Walter Scott, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice and Freddie Gray remind us of the evil that results when human beings participate in a racialized—sinful—society. What turn do we need to make to start seeing Selma in 2015? Seeing Selma as a marvelous site of hope and grace I see Selma as a legacy for believers to practice the teachings of Jesus. Selma represents what it means to be a Christian in the face of oppression. The God of redemption created the human family in His image. He hears our cries, sees the oppression in the world and redeems us through Jesus so that we can live out Christ’s teachings. Can racism exist without our belief in and use of the term “race” in our faith practice? If Christians stop believing and using the term in our everyday

Robin R. Bell, Ed.D., Th.M., M.Ed., is an assistant professor in Christian Ministries in the School of Theology at UNW. He is a community leader, teacher and consultant, advocating for healthy youth leadership development and academic leadership programs in Twin Cities colleges and universities. As a faculty liaison he is collaborating with others to implement Act Six, a scholarship program that engages UNW and community affiliates to develop emerging urban and community leaders.

language to understand our complicated sociocultural world, maybe we’ll shed some light on how to relate to one another from a different angle. As redeemed people, our language can create salt and light in our relationships. Let us replace hurtful, judgmental conversations about race with conversations with the mind of Christ. Then we will talk about systemic sin, injustice and oppression. We will see the inequities in our educational systems and lack of employment opportunities for our citizens, especially our young people. Seeing Selma is this kind of call, to take the path of practicing the teachings, life and spirit of Jesus Christ. He lived, died and rose again so that you and I might experience freedom and deliverance from racism. And that call means not veering around the hard and heartbreaking work of justice, righteousness and reconciliation but marching right through it. UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2015 PILOT

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MutualPartnerships, GlobalRelationships By Nancy Zugschwert

Solidly situated in the Midwest, University of Northwestern nevertheless has a vibrant history of global connection. For decades, UNW has been sending graduates around the world to serve in missions, medicine, business and education. Today’s students often study abroad and—with increasing globalization—opportunities to impact the world as citizens of God’s Kingdom seem limitless. With an eye toward expanding connections to Christian institutions around the globe, last November President Alan Cureton, Ph.D., and Garry Morgan, D.Miss., director of Global Initiatives, accepted an invitation to attend the Conference for Presidents and Other Senior Leaders in Melaka, Malaysia. Sponsored by the International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education (IAPCHE), the conference brought together 89 senior leaders and administrators from 17 countries. Attendees had opportunities to network, partner and explore joint ventures together. An exchange of ideas The experience provided a forum for ideas and a foundation for new relationships that will benefit the university. “One of the priorities of Northwestern in recent years is our global initiatives,” Cureton said. “We are trying to connect with universities around the world for opportunities for collaboration with faculty and students.” He is enthusiastic about opening doors for UNW students to go to universities that are Christ-centered but in a different culture. From the work begun at the event, exploration continues. The Global Initiatives office is looking at numerous options: paths for Northwestern students to study internationally; expanding enrollment of international students at UNW; and paving the way for faculty exchanges and collaboration. Increasing Northwestern’s global connections is a natural extension of the mission. “The evidence I see is that there are more Christians out there than we might comprehend,” Cureton observed. “There is more activity happening at Christian universities around the world than we were aware of. We should be encouraged—and bold—in dreaming of what can be and what could be.” Pursuing interaction with international educational institutions goes beyond simply creating opportunities; it’s about Kingdom impact. “We can step out of our regional mindset to have a more global mindset…because it’s what 14

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we’re called to do. It’s an opportunity to broaden and deepen our students’ understanding of the footprint of God’s Kingdom across the earth.” Good news in Cambodia For Cureton, the trip included another footprint-enlarging opportunity: the dedication of Northwestern Media’s new transmitter in Cambodia. After the IAPCHE event concluded, Cureton joined Paul Virts, Ph.D., senior vice president for Media, in Phnom Penh. Each year, a portion of funds raised by Northwestern Media (NWM) stations through Share fundraising campaigns is designated as an offering to expand radio in developing countries. Funds had been set aside to help a Christian station in Cambodia upgrade its studio, but a call in December 2013 confirmed that the transmitter was dying and the greater need was a replacement. “We don’t provide operating dollars,” Virts said. “That way we don’t create dependencies.” But NWM will fund specific projects like the transmitter. Virts is excited about the impact that the new transmitter will have. “The population is 50 million in Cambodia and they are projecting this transmitter will cover half the population. The transmitters will have a 20–25 year lifespan.” Cureton and Virts received a warm welcome from their hosts and were impressed by the health and hope of the Church in the small nation. “There is a layer of Buddhism underneath and radical Marxism layered on top,” Virts said of typical Cambodian social ideology. “You have people looking for hope.” Through music, teaching and community development, the Church provides “a very strong light of the Gospel.” A sobering highlight for Cureton and Virts was meeting people who had survived the Killing Fields of the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s. “The amazing thing is how the Church is growing in a country that 40 years ago tried to kill all Christians,” Cureton reflected. The global outreach of the trip came full circle in April when Pastor Barnabas Mam, a Killing Fields survivor, visited Northwestern. Driving toward an international future There is life and encouragement when believers across the globe meet. UNW continues—with the commitment and drive of UNW leadership—to forge those relationships and initiatives.

Hope After Trauma

President Alan Cureton and Senior Vice President for Media Paul Virts joined in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new radio transmitter in Cambodia.

When the Communist Khmer Rouge regime came to power in Cambodia in 1975, its leaders vowed to rid the country of intellectuals, professionals, minorities and religion. Barnabas Mam survived the Killing Fields and the genocide of two million people. In a concentration camp Mam had the job of burying the dead, often praying, “Lord, who will bury me when I die?” “God answered,” Mam told UNW students in chapel on April 17. “He spoke to me in dreams and visions.” The young man saw himself preaching to the people of Cambodia— in the woods, by a river, in prisons. In his traumatized country, Mam’s ministry has brought hope to tens of thousands. “Since 1996,” Mam shared, “I have preached the Gospel of Christ to the desperate Cambodian people—in all the places He told me I would preach.”

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2015 PILOT

The Long Journey to Healing: By Jackie Lea Sommers There is a little Caribou Coffee in Long Lake, Minnesota, where I sat one morning staring into a steaming hot cocoa and repeating to myself: “You are going to hell. You are going to hell, and there is nothing you can do to change it.” I was damned; joy would be forever inaccessible to me. For twenty years—from the age of seven—I was in bondage to obsessive-compulsive disorder, enslaved to rituals, compulsions, my own intrusive, disturbing thoughts and a need for certainty. I felt overwhelmed, terrified, sad and guilty all the time. Doubt and a lingering wrong feeling were normal for me. I obsessed about ridiculous things—that I might cause someone to kill himself or herself or that I would abuse a child. I wondered if Jesus was really Satan, if people were really demons, if everyone was pretending to be my friend so that it would hurt worse when I found out the “truth.” I woke up in the morning and felt sick to my stomach within a few seconds. OCD is an often misunderstood brain disorder. Most people think of OCD as “that hand-washing issue” but it has many variations. Some people obsess about germs, some worry that they will hurt people they love, some obsessively question their sexual identity. OCD gives sufferers unwanted, disturbing, repetitive thoughts that cause intense anxiety. In an attempt to alleviate the anxiety, sufferers perform rituals—also known as compulsions. Washing, counting, seeking reassurance and ritualistic prayers

Grace & hope

PILOT SPRING 2015 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN

are all examples of compulsions. Initially, compulsions seem to help—but eventually, sufferers can’t control the compulsions either. As for me, I worried about hell, the “unpardonable sin” and whether my prayers could reach God. I even wondered if my passion—writing fiction—was the same as lying and if writing about the hard things in life displeased God. The unease was constant. Sometimes it lingered at the back of my mind, and sometimes it was at the forefront, screaming like a siren. I had to keep asking myself and others: “Do you think this is okay? Do you think this was wrong? Do you think I’m going to heaven? Do you think I should worry about this?” When I came to Northwestern as a student, my OCD worsened—and did so again after graduating. I cried a lot. Sometimes I would weep and keen. My roommates could do nothing to comfort me. It was a cycle of horror: I would obsess and stress about a particular issue for two to three weeks, until I had completely exhausted myself. Then another obsession would attack. After seeing one physician’s assistant, two therapists and three psychiatrists, I learned that OCD is treatable with cognitive-behavioral therapy, a specific kind called exposure response prevention (ERP) therapy. It is recognized as the #1 treatment for OCD, and it is difficult. During twelve excruciating weeks, I had to face my obsessions head-on, drum up anxiety and

A Writer’s Story looking at our manuscript for Truest, my young adult novel, saying, “Look what we’ve made.” It made me cry. I desperately want to honor God with my fiction. The thought of God looking on my work with pride was a reminder to me that no matter how lonely this road seems, I have a faithful companion. A character in Truest speaks words that describe how I feel about my journey: “Sometimes things take a long time to make sense. Could be years and years—or only a weekend. Or they might never make sense. But that doesn’t mean you stop trusting that the world is being rescued.” Please hear what I am saying. There is hope.

Jackie Lea Sommers ’03 is the 2013 winner of the Katherine Paterson Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing. Her first young adult novel, Truest, will be published by HarperCollins in September 2015. She works as a senior admission counselor at UNW and loves her job. To learn more about Jackie’s writing, faith, OCD, and exposure response prevention (ERP) therapy, visit her blog at JackieLeaSommers.com.

W.DABERKOW PHOTOGR APHY

refuse to alleviate it by performing compulsions. I hated every minute of it. ERP is difficult, but it is not more difficult than living with OCD. After twenty years of bondage, God set me free. Through ERP, I learned that I had been a victim and not a monster. God stormed in, tore off my blindfold, wrapped me in His arms and repeated truth to me until I came to believe it. I still have OCD, but I am in charge of it and not the other way around. Between my experience of ERP and my daily medications, I rarely have obsessions, and when I do, I am able to combat them without using compulsions. It is a completely different life. I have stepped from darkness into light, from terror into peace. ERP therapy didn’t work like a Band-Aid, covering up my problems and making me blind to them. It worked like an electrician: it rewired my brain. I am deeply disheartened by the ridiculous stigma attached to therapy and medication for brain disorders. There is nothing shameful about identifying areas where we struggle and seeking solutions. Brain disorders are illnesses like any other. I still have bad days, but I experience them the way others do. I am myself now: joyful, creative, secure in my relationship with Christ and not living behind a mask. My smile is real. I give credit to Jesus Christ for such an incredible rescue. Thank you, Lord, for two years of freedom; I am looking forward to an eternity of it. My therapist once asked me to picture the Holy Spirit sitting beside me,

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2015 PILOT

Chords of Hope offers lessons

“The path to what you want goes through a lot of stuff you don’t want.” That’s a bit of life wisdom that Glen Larson, who teaches a guitar class at Hope Academy in urban Minneapolis, tries to pass on to his students. The class is offered courtesy of Chords of Hope, a program of UNW’s Academy of Music. Wednesday afternoons find Larson meeting with students to teach hand positions, notes and picking patterns. He extols the importance of disciplined practice. “All this stuff I’m teaching you can be a little tedious, but it leads you to where you want to go,” he tells students. “If you want to play the guitar, you’ll have to do the work. That’s the way it is with many things.” 18

Making the invaluable attainable Chords of Hope offers affordable guitar lessons complete with free loaner guitars from the Twin Cities’ leading music company, Schmitt Music. “The students were thrilled to have these beautiful brand new guitars,” recalled Rod Loeffler, former UNW music department chair, who helped establish the program. “Their faces were beaming as they opened the boxes and began playing them.” Julie Johnson, Academy of Music director, noted, “We keep lessons affordable for families. That’s one of the reasons we wanted to move into Chords of Hope. One of our goals is to make music accessible to people of all economic levels. All these

PILOT SPRING 2015 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN

students need to bring to class is a desire to learn and a small startup fee.” Enrichment—and fun Chords of Hope began as a pilot program in the summer of 2014 at Hope Academy—a private Christian K–12 school. The Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis where it is located is among the poorest in the Twin Cities. If successful, Chords of Hope may provide the foundation for an expanded instrumental music program at the school in the future. “Music provides personal

enrichment for anybody,” says Larson. “I think there are kids who are dying for it. If they’re able to produce music, as opposed to just listening to music, then music becomes an integral part of their life.” Ten-year-old Andre happily showed off his growing musical skills, proudly playing “Silent Night” on a guitar that is almost as big as he is. “Every week I learn something new.” Learning to play an instrument pays off in nonmusical ways as well. “It’s been shown that learning an instrument improves the brain’s synapses and can

in music improve thinking ability several notches,” Larson said. “Music teaches kids character and discipline. This kind of program can boost performance in all areas.” Larson acknowledged that his students bring different levels of focus to the class. “But every week I try to give them a joke or a philosophical statement that will stick with them the rest of their lives. I’m not just teaching the guitar.” The UNW Academy of Music’s Chords of Hope is bringing lessons in music—and in life — to children.

and in life

By Doug Trouten

Academy of Music: Where Students Are Teachers Now 20 years old, UNW’s Academy of Music offers university students a chance to teach and community members a chance to learn. In 1994 when it began, the academy served 100 families. Today over 500 families come to campus for private lessons on a wide range of band and orchestra instruments including piano, trumpet, violin, trombone and many more. The academy also offers ensemble and performance opportunities. Director Julie Johnson says the program offers affordable lessons to area families while giving UNW music students a chance to “get experience teaching while they’re under the supervision of the faculty. They have people with expertise to guide them through their first years of teaching while they build their own skills.” Students can advance to more experienced instructors (UNW graduates and faculty) as their skills increase. Murt Seltz, a longtime supporter of the academy, has been sending her grandchildren to lessons for 15 years. “The kids could all take lessons at the same time,” she recalled. “I would arrive like a circus car, the doors would open, and they’d all fan out to their lessons. It’s a very good resource for the community.” Discounts are available for Northwestern employees and alumni. For more information, call 651-631-5108.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2015 PILOT

Grace & hope

unw faith in action

Faith gets real when it becomes action. This year, students, faculty and staff devoted a spring day to serving God’s Kingdom through prayer and service to local communities. There are no classes on the Day of Prayer and Service. Instead, students connect with groups— their academic department, residence hall or even their musical ensemble—to contribute their service. Through organizations such as Feed My Starving Children, Urban Ventures, EagleCrest senior housing, City of Roseville parks and Second Harvest Heartland, Northwestern students make a difference in their world.

1 1

Over 700 students, staff

and faculty gathered on the campus green before heading out into the Twin Cities.

The student

government team gardened with

People Incorporated.

Students

cleaned up the nursery at ICCM Life Center.

Undergrads

put muscle into raking leaves at People Incorporated—Huss

Center for Recovery.

Freshman

women served the community at

Emma’s Place.

Student

Ministries staff and students got into their demolition job at Living Hope Ministries.

Emma’s

Place had a good spring cleaning from residents of UNW’s Hartill Hall.

The student group

FORCE (Fellowship of Reconciling Cultures Everywhere) beautified Payne Avenue.

At Feed My

Starving Children, women’s soccer players teamed up to pack meals.

UNW athletes made meals

(and faces) at FMSC.

Students

planted blueberry bushes, pulled weeds, trimmed hedges and cleaned up trash at People Inc— York.

Staff, faculty and

students showed enthusiasm at FMSC. Admissions staff front and center!

PILOT SPRING 2015 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN

5 7

10 8

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2015 PILOT

Scholars Among Us

University of Northwestern is honored—blessed—by the presence of three on-campus scholars who contribute significantly to the intellectual and spiritual environment of our community. Meet these originators-inventors-experts whose teaching opens students’ minds.

W. Ed Glenny, Ph.D., Th.D., J. Edwin Hartill Endowed Professor, Professor of New Testament Studies and Greek “I have been able to spend two semesters working at the Tyndale House at Cambridge University in England. The fellowship and interaction of this academic community has stimulated growth in my knowledge of Scripture and in my scholarship. The opportunity to study and present papers at conferences (in the U.S., Estonia, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Scotland and Germany) broadened my vision and sharpened my thinking. Most important, I have been able to dedicate more time to research and writing, and as a result I have been able to publish several articles and three books. This impacts every course I teach at UNW. I am able to use things I learn in my academic research in my classes and take the students to new levels of learning. I try to balance my heart devotion for God and my head knowledge of God. I want my students to see that they can know the Lord better through serious study of Scripture.”

PILOT SPRING 2015 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN

Walter Schultz, Ph.D., Scholar-in-Residence, Professor of Philosophy “I connect my research to biblical theology, especially the idea that what gives the world and the Bible their unity is that God is acting progressively according to His plan for His purposes in Christ. I am working on research projects that relate fundamental concepts in science (such as causation and laws of nature) and in mathematics to Divine action. Several chapters of my book-in-progress God Acts: The Dynamic Underlying Reality have already been published as research articles. I have been profoundly influenced by the work of Jonathan Edwards. Five chapters of my other book-in-progress—Concerning the End for Which God Created the World: Essays on Jonathan Edwards’ Philosophical Argument—have been published in scholarly journals. I thoroughly enjoy teaching and discussing things with my students. As I introduce them to this way of thinking in my courses by involving them in what interests me, their level of interest, dedication to learning and careful scholarship increases significantly. They tell me that they’ve seen the deep connections between their vocational aspirations and the truths of the Bible. This, I think, is what it really means to integrate the Bible and learning.”

Michael Wise, Ph.D., Ph.D., Scholar-in-Residence, Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Languages “A scholar-in-residence gets release time from teaching each semester and spends that time researching and writing books and articles and engaging in other scholarly activities such as international conferences. It is a great honor. My most recent book, Language and Literacy in Roman Judaea, will be published by Yale University Press on May 26. I’ve worked on this book for over five years, and it is the first full-scale study of its kind. I have also worked on several articles that will appear in print shortly. Right now I’m writing additional articles on ancient multilingualism, Greek in Jewish Palestine and several of the Dead Sea Scrolls. I think research always impacts teaching because it is the mature expression of the curiosity and interest that drew you to your field in the first place. As my own interest and engagement in biblical studies burn more brightly, I am better able to communicate a passion for studying the Bible to my students. Giving students a passion for what you do and want them to do is even more important than giving them facts, methods and such.”

WEB EXTRA: LEARN MORE. GO TO unwsp.edu/pilot/extra

A New Kind of

MBA Program Northwestern’s new MBA is anything but typical. Launched last fall, the first MBA cohort consists of 30 pioneers taking advantage of a flexible format and biblically grounded courses. “We want to take someone who is already a high-performing business employee and elevate them into a higher level so they can impact the organization and the world in a greater way for Christ,” said Sara Ring, adjunct professor of business and MBA program director. What’s different about the UNW MBA? In a field of many competitive MBA programs, this program meets a specific need. Ring credits Dick Elliott, MBA, associate professor of business, department chair of Business, and David Erickson, Ph.D., professor of marketing, for researching the marketplace and developing UNW’s unique offering. “The result,” Ring said, “is a rigorous MBA program that has Christ at the center, so we create business leaders with excellent business skills, integrity and leadership ability.” This approach resonates with students. “I desire Christcentered, biblical teaching to be

By Nancy Zugschwert

interwoven into business classes,” said Nate Gilkerson, a software implementation engineer and member of UNW’s inaugural MBA cohort. He appreciates the mix of on-site and online learning. “There’s tremendous value in on-premise learning that can’t be gained through online coursework, and the online portion provides the flexibility I need with a family and full-time employment.” For those who need the full flexibility of online learning, the MBA will be offered in an onlineonly format later this year. Ariel Strandquist, a human capital analyst, agrees that the Christian atmosphere and blended learning are important. Having completed one-third of the program, Strandquist observed, “What I have learned in class so far I can directly apply to the work I do. There have been multiple times where I had a direct work example to apply to a class discussion. The MBA program has given me greater knowledge to do my job better.” Meaningful networking and mentorship Mentorship and networking are vital components of the program. In each course there’s a networking component that pushes students

Nate Gilkerson is one of 30 students in UNW's new MBA program. further in that field of study. “For instance,” Ring noted, “in Strategic Technology they interview their CIO [chief information officer] or someone in a comparable role in IT [information technology].” The interviews provide insight about their own organization and offer practical context for the case studies from the classroom. Students may also seek out mentors throughout their course of study. Daniel Zeilermeir, a senior manufacturing engineering support technician, said the mentorship program is a real plus. “I am taking some Bible classes with my mentor who has great business experience” and who interweaves “doing the work of God, everyday life and our work together.” Prepped to lead Ring sees a bright outlook for UNW’s MBA students. “They will earn an MBA degree that has given them all the business knowledge they need as decision makers,” she said. “They’ll have critical business connections in a variety of industries and companies. With all this, they’ll be poised to be in management roles or move into new opportunities for leadership.”

Called to Serve in the Corporate World Simon Hearne, international vice president for 3M’s dental division, earned his Master of Arts in Theological Studies and Master of Divinity from Northwestern. In January Hearne spoke to students in the 5-year dual B.A./M.Div. program about integrating faith and work. Raised in England in what he calls a “church-free, God-free, religion-free” environment, Hearne spent most of his adult life climbing the corporate ladder. His life changed in 2006 when he began following Christ. He encouraged students to remain open to corporate careers when that’s where they are called to work. “There is absolutely enormous need for Christians…. That world is full of people who really need to understand God and to…have some hope in their life.” He has many opportunities to speak one-on-one with people who realize they are on a success-at-all-costs “conveyor belt that’s going nowhere.” Hearne believes that Christians can speak compassionately into the lives of their coworkers.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2015 PILOT

Whether with a “John Hancock” flourish or a preset email signature, we add our stamps of approval and claim of authorship to our creations and documents. It’s a tradition that is thousands of years old. Throughout history, writers, royalty and plain ordinary folk have been signing their names and identities in a myriad of ways. In Bible times, signatures were created by seals: tiny engraved stones sometimes worn as rings that were pressed into clay or wax. A Northwestern undergrad student and a professor of Old Testament studies are applying their intellect and energy to an in-depth study of seals and their significance. An in-depth collaboration In 2014, Rachel Korhonen ’16, studying for a double major in Biblical studies and Art, took a Biblical Customs and Geography class with Boyd Seevers, Ph.D. The course required students to complete a research project. Inspired, Korhonen decided to combine her interests and analyze art on ancient Israelite seals. “The intersection of faith and creativity is my greatest passion,” said Korhonen. “I love seeing how contemporary artists are able to express truths about their faith through the paintings, films and literature they create. It seemed natural to look for this relationship in the faith and culture of the ancient Israelites, and the seals appear to be a vivid representation of this combination of faith and artistry.” When Seevers noticed Korhonen’s high level of work and degree of dedication to the project, he asked if she might be interested in doing a 24

PILOT SPRING 2015 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN

joint project. “We began researching a number of things about ancient seals,” he said, “how they were made and used, how we see seals used in the Bible and what the ancient Israelites used for their artistic symbols and, perhaps, what they meant by using those symbols.” Seevers and Korhonen received a faculty/ student collaboration grant from Northwestern to aid their research. Now a year into the project, Seevers has researched and written about the historical and biblical aspects of ancient seals. Korhonen has traveled to Israel to examine seals at major museums and interact with Israeli scholars. She has even engraved several seals herself. Making discoveries As Seevers and Korhonen studied, they learned a great deal about how the ancients made seals—the materials and tools they used, how they carved their stones and how they set their seals in different kinds of jewelry including rings, necklaces and pendants. Israelite seal carvers used a wide range of materials including stone (carnelian, jasper, chalcedony, agate, quartz, sintered quartz, but most often limestone) as well as bone, glass, clay, bronze, silver and even hippo ivory. Seals were used in a variety of ways: as signatures on letters and legal documents; to authenticate jars, bags and other containers of commercial goods; to express the authority by which something was done; and even to serve as a good luck charm. Seevers and Korhonen began to conclude that the transference of an image from one culture to another did not always mean that the original meaning was transferred too. In one case they saw images of a winged sun disk from Egypt on an Israelite seal. “The Israelites may not have used it to represent the Egyptian sun god Re,” said Korhonen. “It’s likely the Israelites used that Egyptian symbol to stand for the Israelite God YHWH.”

Illum Biblic

Varied references and meanings Understanding seals helps readers understand the Bible. Individuals sealed letters and documents (Jeremiah 32:10 –15), authenticated royal decrees (Esther 3:12) and expressed the authority by which officials sealed up things (the lions’ den in Daniel 6:17 and Jesus’ tomb in Matthew 27:66). Seevers and Korhonen also found figurative references to seals and sealing: people sealed by God to show God’s ownership of them (John 6:27) and prophecies sealed as a way to say they will be validated later as true (Isaiah 8:16). “Studying actual seals,” said Seevers, “illustrates how such acts were done or how some biblical references to seals must be figurative and what the passages then mean. Studying seals also brings to light some things from the biblical world that one wouldn’t expect from the biblical text—such as godly King Hezekiah using seemingly pagan Egyptian symbols on his seals. This is unexpected but apparently not out of line if he could use the symbols without their original meanings.” Sharing their findings Seevers and Korhonen presented their research at Northwestern’s annual Scholarship Symposium in May. The Near Eastern Archaeological Society has also accepted their proposal for a joint presentation in Atlanta in November. Afterward, they plan to submit a formal academic article to the society’s journal in hopes of publication. The collaboration between student and professor is contributing to the academic understanding of these tiny but significant ancient works of art.

minating al Seals By Janelle Higdon

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2015 PILOT

There are

No Enemies By Doug Trouten A connection with a family friend brought Dandan “Emily” Zhu ’15 from Beijing to the Twin Cities where she chose University of Northwestern for her college education. “The students are nice,” she said. She wanted a university where she wasn’t part of a large group of Chinese students and where she would have to speak English each day. “Otherwise, what’s the point of studying abroad?” When asked about her faith on her UNW application, she noted that she was a Christian. But as the school year began, Zhu quickly realized she didn’t know what it truly means to follow Jesus. At Northwestern, she said, “Everything had to do with Christianity. It was overwhelming. But I really liked the Friday worship chapels, and I started thinking about the lyrics of the songs. They talked about a relationship with God. A seed was planted.” She asked questions, attended a Bible study and eventually prayed to receive Christ into her life. “Afterward I felt total peace,” she said. Zhu chose to major in Intercultural Studies because “we need to see the world to learn the truth.” Her program of study included a trip in the fall of 2014 to Albania, Thailand and—most significant for Zhu—Japan. China and Japan have strained relations, and Chinese children are repeatedly taught about Japanese wartime atrocities. “We are taught bad things about Japan,” she said. “The government won’t let us forget.” Putting the past aside to serve the people of Japan seemed impossible to Zhu. “They were my enemies. I kept thinking about the stories I heard, the killings and rapes.” She had a difficult question for herself: “How can I serve them with 100 percent of my heart?” On her second day in Japan, Zhu and some of her trip teammates visited a Japanese family. The father spoke only limited English, but when he learned that Zhu was from China he offered an apology. “He said the government didn’t want to apologize, but Japanese people feel very sorry for what happened during that time,” Zhu said. “It was really touching and amazing.” Apologizing for wrongs committed by one’s ancestors can be a hard concept for individualistic Americans to grasp, but it is deeply meaningful for members of collectivist cultures such as China and Japan. “Historical trauma is passed from one generation to the next,” noted Tim Kowalik, Ed.D., who teaches Intercultural Communication at Northwestern. “For nations to heal, they must face up to what happened and make amends.” Zhu, who has studied with Kowalik, said, “You can’t pay it back, but you can apologize so people can let go of it, not hold on to past wrongs, and find peace.” The trip was a life-changing experience for Zhu. “I learned a lot, and saw how God is at work in different countries,” she concluded. “It was powerful to see people worshipping God in different languages and from different cultural backgrounds. If you want to see the whole nature of God, you need to learn to see God from different cultural perspectives. God showed me that He’s the God of all nations.” 26

PILOT SPRING 2015 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN

Grace & hope

Overcoming Bias,

Opening His Heart By Lauren Schwabe ’15 Executive Editor, The Northwestern Examiner Talk to Dan Dosch ’15, a Global Leadership major, and you’ll quickly sense his passion for the people and culture of the Middle East. After spending four months studying abroad in Amman, Jordan, during fall semester, Dosch has a fresh sense of direction and passion for Muslim and Jewish people and for the work he sees Christ doing in the world. When he left to study abroad in Jordan, he wasn’t without bias. “Going into the trip, I thought Jesus was on the Palestinian side [of the conflict]. I figured, that’s the good side; the Israeli side is the bad side,” said Dosch. While in Jordan, Dosch learned more about the relationship between Israel and Palestine and the politics behind the history. “When I started hearing the stories about people standing in the gap of that terrible conflict and trying to make peace and bring understanding on both sides, that really inspired me,” he said. “It was my driving passion once I got there.” After living with an Israeli host family for a week, Dosch realized Jesus was there with them. He said, “I saw [Jesus] ministering to these people and having a heart for their pain on both sides. [He was] doing things that I was afraid to do, things that I didn’t want to do and things I didn’t understand. I thought, ‘I’m willing to let my heart break for Palestine, but I see Jesus [on the Israeli side of the wall] too.’” That was when he sensed that something was wrong in his own heart. He wanted Jesus’ empathy for all and prayed, “Jesus help me. I want to follow after you but I’m really scared. I’m going to try to enter into their fear and their pain and just be with them.” This signaled a change in his heart and attitude. “Last summer, I was a proPalestinian activist, holding my picket sign in Minneapolis,” he recalled. “And part of that was letting my heart get bitter toward Israeli people. That was wrong; my heart was wrong.” Dosch was drawn into friendships and relationships. He learned to love people regardless of their political stance or religious beliefs. “I see a nonnegotiable love and relationship no matter whose flag is flying, no matter what religious book they hold in their house,” Dan now says. “I owe each person my love, my heartbreak, my empathy, because that’s what Jesus is doing.” Dosch recommends that people who are able go the Middle East to experience this relationship and see firsthand what God is doing in that area of the world. “If you really want to go and get closer to Jesus, you have to take a risk,” Dosch said. “Don’t let fear prevent you from going to the Middle East or anywhere else that God might be calling you. Jesus is in the dangerous places.”

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2015 PILOT

alumni

EAGLE Through the Years

FOR LIFE

’40 Jean and DuWayne Lee ’40

Scott Peterson ’88 (BS), ’07 (MOL)

recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Dr. Lee served pastorates in fellowship with the Baptist General Conference for 38 years and is now in semi-retirement.

Major: Bachelor of Science in Recreation; Master of Organizational Leadership Career: Executive Director, YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities Hometown: Cedar Falls, Iowa Current home: Eagan, Minnesota Family: Wife: Tami (Bender ’89); Children: Erin (Peterson ’13) Rivenburg (22) (and husband Mark), Jenna (19), Stephanie (17)

The Lees

’43 Dr. Melvin Steinbron ’43, pastored six churches in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Hawaii and Ohio before retiring in 1987. He now lives in Apple Valley, MN. He is the founder of Lay Pastors Ministry “now in 11 countries.” Steinbron is the author of two books and is writing a third. 28

Connecting education with career and faith Of his time as a UNW undergrad, Scott Peterson remembers the impact of Spiritual Emphasis Week with Ravi Zacharias…friendships through basketball and intramurals…and meeting his wife Tami. He began working at the YMCA soon after graduation and has since worked at five different locations. Today Peterson serves as an executive director. He also generates blog posts to help support staff and volunteers of the YMCA, connecting “our daily work in the Y to our Christian heritage as the Young Men’s Christian Association. I also try to bring a practical Christian worldview to the table as I work through various issues within my sphere of influence— wherever that might be.” Peterson says his time as a UNW student helped equip him. “Northwestern helped me develop a passion for youth ministry and provided relevant job skills. Returning to UNW for my master’s in Organizational Leadership connected my Christian worldview with effectiveness.” An emphasis on family Peterson likes to keep the important things in perspective: “I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to work on some impactful projects over the years with great teams. However, I think the most meaningful thing for Tami and me is having three daughters and a son-in-law who all love God, are active in ministry and have made good life decisions with friends and activities despite our mistakes and pressures they face on a daily basis.”

PILOT SPRING 2015 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN

’84 Toby Travis ’84 completed the certification process to deliver The Trust Edge Experience, the education suite based on the research and book The Trust Edge. ’89 Robert (’89) and Julia Samuelsen welcomed Henrik in May 2014. Robert was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the fall of 2014.

The Samuelsens

’92 Tara Brueske ’92 enjoys her role as an entertainer doing about 200 gigs a year, both solo and with her girlfriend duo “The BZ Girls.” She is a vocal coach and teacher to adults and children in private lessons and community ed classes. Jodi (Hacquebord ’92) Richert is an asset manager at Target HQ. She writes, “It’s a miracle that I became a businesswoman in addition to being an accompanist. I never would have expected to have a career in business.” She lives in Shoreview, MN.

Rob and Kathy (Green ’92) Toenjes write, “We are the proud and blessed parents of Grace and Hope whom we adopted after they lived with us in foster care.”

’94 Teri (Smith ’94) Norby lives in Maple Grove, MN. After graduating, she worked in youth ministry and then as a stay-athome parent raising five children. She recently took a position in the UNW development office and writes, “I love combining my love for people and my passion for UNW. Being back on campus is such a blessing. It’s even better the second time around.”

’01 David Posch ’01 has been employed by Polaris Industries for over 24 years. “Attending UNW has strengthened and grounded my position and career,” he writes. The Poschs live south of Mora, MN. Sean and Elisa (Kerr ’01) Smith welcomed Joy Anna on August 24, 2014.

’02 Greg ’05 and Lori Johnson welcomed Chase Walker on January 22, 2015. He joins Carter.

Rachel (Campbell ’02) McGill serves as a homestay coordinator for international high school students. Over the past eight years, she and her husband, Jacob, have hosted 18 students from nine countries. In 2003, Rachel completed a certificate in conflict resolution studies from Hamline University and her M.A. in public administration in 2008. Rachel says she “delights in working with American families interested in hosting foreign exchange students in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.”

’97 Camille Oppold ’97 and Randall Tweeten were married on August 12, 2014.

’99 Colleen and Jason Anderson ’99 were married on December 20, 2014. They live in Barnum, MN.

Steven ’02 and Amy Stepec welcomed Lucy Ethel on October 26, 2014.

’03 Jake ’03 and Dena Andrus welcomed Levi David on November 14, 2014. Michael ’98 and Rochelle (Jacobson ’98, ’03 FOCUS) Ness welcomed Emmalin Maralyn on November 12, 2014. She joins big brothers Collin (5) and Evan (3).

’04 Andrew ’04 and Jennifer Bartholomew welcomed Eloise Edith on September 18, 2014. She joins sisters Madelyn and Naomi and brother Asa. In May 2014 Andrew graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, with a Master of Divinity degree. He serves as pastor of Alive In Christ Lutheran Church, Big Spring, TX. Troy ’04 and Cora (Butters ’05) Roberts write, “We were serving as missionary teachers in Bush Alaska, but we have recently switched fields to serve as missionary teachers at Chiang Rai International School in Thailand with SEND International.” They have two children.

Jim Miles ’99 graduated from Augsburg College with an MBA in October 2014 and recently published a Christian superhero novel, Hero, for middle-grade readers. He writes, “I utilized my English Education degree to write the book, and now I am using my MBA to sell it. It’s the best of both worlds!”

The McGills and students

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2015 PILOT

alumni Ted ’02 and Erin (Black ’04) Sibley write, “ We are currently in the process of our fourth international adoption and are waiting to be cleared by the Ethiopian courts to travel and get our next child, Trenton. Our [other] three sons are internationally adopted (Lucas and Sam from Bogota, Colombia, and Benjamin from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia).” Erin is a stay-at-home mother who is involved in Safe Families Kansas City, a program that provides housing for homeless children while parents find housing and learn job skills. Ted is an emergency medicine physician at Truman Medical Center and an associate clinical professor at University of Missouri – Kansas City. He has also been the medical director of Medical Ministries International Amazon Division since 2012.

’05 Peter Goehring ’05 and

’07 Tracy Beseman ’07 and Ross

his wife Katrina have served in several international missions roles. They now work with Village Creek Bible Camp in Lansing, IA. They enjoy investing into the lives of campers and 60–70 summer staff “including some fellow Northwestern folks.” Peter received his master's in Leadership from Denver Seminary in 2008.

Peters were married on May 23, 2014.

’06 Tim ’06 and Annie Ferret

Bethany Borgschatz ’07 was elected to School Board District #256 in the fall 2014 election. Her three-year term starts in 2015. Benjamin Brekke ’07 released his debut music album Be Not Afraid in October.

welcomed Bauer Andrew on December 6, 2014.

Bauer Andrew Ferret

Ryan and Sarah (Kerr ’07) Jacobson welcomed Dane Micah on March 3, 2015. Angie Steinkopf ’07 and Josh Winchell were married on August 23, 2014.

’09 Jonathan ’09 and Suzanne (Rich ’08) Scheil welcomed Livvy on March 10, 2015. She joins Avaree.

’10 Natalie Cromwell ’10 is a worship leader and singer/ songwriter who joined UNW as adjunct instructor of worship teams. She has several years of worship leading experience at conferences, retreats and most recently as worship leader at Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, MN. She has recorded two CDs in Nashville, The Reason (2013) and Up to Something (2015).

Students Earn Undergraduate Degrees Faster Through Early College Program

“I’m going to enter college as a junior with almost 73 credits. It has set an expectation for what’s required of me in college. Christianity was involved in the classes and my faith could be integrated into my studies.” (Caroline D., Early College student) Northwestern offers 75 courses to motivated high school juniors and seniors who want to take college courses online. Before they even graduate from high school, students can earn up to half of their bachelor’s degree. • Early College is flexible, online, year-round learning • Courses are taught from UNW’s distinctive biblical worldview • Students can transition seamlessly into the traditional undergraduate program to finish their bachelor’s degree at Northwestern Early College is a life-changing, cost-effective and convenient option. For more information, visit unwsp.edu/earlycollege. 30

PILOT SPRING 2015 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN

EAGLE Brett ’10 and Jessica Mitchell welcomed Alice Catherine on December 12, 2014. Tiffany (Robinson ’10) Waalen lives in Andover, MN and works at Medtronic. She is part of a Christian Employee Resource Group and also participates in a prayer group with coworkers. She says, “I try to integrate my faith in my profession by my interactions with my coworkers. An extra smile or small encouragement can go a long way!”

’11 Caleb ’11 and Tara (Kubiszewski ’12) Hanson welcomed Brooke on August 4, 2014.

’12 Taylor Filzen ’12 received her master’s in Organizational Leadership at UNW in 2014. She accepted a position at the University of Dayton as the coordinator of Volleyball Operations and says, “I love the fact that I get to be with a specific team but also get to be immersed in the administrative side of the program.” Allyson Jordan ’12 and Thomas Mancuso ’09 were married on August 2, 2014. Allyson graduated with her master's in School Counseling from Lee University in Cleveland, TN in May 2015.

FOR LIFE Jana (Hulbert ’02) Vegge Major: Communication Arts/Literature Education Career: Middle and high school English/literature teacher Current home: Janesville, WI Family: Husband: Justin; Children: Wesley (11) and Ellie (8) Thriving by running for excellence The recipe for thriving in life is somewhat mysterious: part grace, where God moves us into place, and part gusto, when we make our move. It was “by the grace of God,” said Jana (Hulbert) Vegge, that she came to Northwestern, following her brother without much thought. She pursued a business degree, resisting a draw toward teaching. One day she heard a friend talk about education courses and realized it was time to switch majors. “It ended up being one of the best decisions; the education department is stellar,” she said. After fostering literary passion at Dr. Aling’s tea parties, sharpening skill under the kind toughness of Dr. Black and unlocking creativity inspired by Dr. Wendel, Vegge was poised for the classroom. Today, she teaches 7th–12th graders at Rock County Christian School in Beloit, Wisconsin—sometimes dressed in costume if a subject sparks her imagination. “I learned creativity from my professors,” she said. “I don’t know that I would have thought outside the box if they hadn’t encouraged us.” Illumination—and an inspiration to race A few years ago, Vegge felt that there was a pattern of mediocrity in her life. Longing to thrive, she sat down to write new goals and thought in passing about the Ironman Triathlon (a race that includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.2-mile run). Starting small with a half marathon in 2012, she was urged on by husband and training buddies to take on more challenge. She decided it was time to train for an Ironman. Her kids biked with her on runs, carried water and clicked out lap times at the lake. Vegge met God on her long training sessions, finding an indescribable rhythm of meditative prayer. After finishing her first Ironman, she found a new reality: “Thriving is very similar to joy—it’s a place I have to choose every day.”

Sam Lepa ’12 teaches at Centennial High School in Circle Pines, MN. “I honestly thought that I would never teach because I had not found a full-time position in more than two years and had developed a successful career in recruiting. God put some amazing people in my life and I was able to land a full-time position.” He lives in Fridley. Stefan Swanson ’12 joined the Army Band last fall and is at The Army School of Music in Virginia Beach, VA until the end of February. He will then be stationed at Fort Hood, TX with the 1st Cavalry Division Band.

’13 Laura (Danek ’13) Kozamchak accepted the position of Vocal Music Teacher at DaVinci Academy of Arts and Science in Blaine, MN in October. She teaches students in kindergarten through grade 8. Acacia Lundeen ’13 and Tyler Studer ’13 were married on August 2, 2014. Benjamin Osterhouse ’13 is a candidate for his Master of Music degree at University of Minnesota School of Music and a student of Tanya Remenikova. He won the Claire Givens Gift Certificate Prize at the Mary West Solo Competition, College Division, Minnesota Chapter of ASTA. He performed in the winners’ recital on November 16.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2015 PILOT

alumni Courtney Roelandts ’13 graduated in May 2015 with a master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St Louis. She will attend law school at Marquette University in Milwaukee in the fall of 2015.

Paving an honored path Look down as you enter the beautiful Billy Graham Community Life Commons. Under your feet you’ll see bricks engraved with names, messages and Bible verses. These pavers are placed in honor of special people, in memory of loved ones or in thanks for God’s faithfulness. Hundreds of commemorative bricks were installed at the time of the building’s construction, but requests continued to come. The Office of Advancement, in partnership with Facilities Services, found a way for new bricks to be added. Purchase a commemorative paver for a one-time investment of $1,000 or $83.33 per month for one year. Two-year payment plans are also available. Brick orders are placed once or twice per year based on the volume of bricks ordered. Learn more at unwsp.edu/ brick. Or call 800-692-4020 (ext. 5139) or 651-631-5139.

’14 Emily Baltzer ’14 is a parttime collaborative pianist. She also serves as the staff pianist/ accompanist for First Evangelical Free Church in Maplewood. She teaches piano lessons through the Northwestern Academy of Music and maintains a private studio.

In Memory The Northwestern community offers condolences to the families of alumni who have passed away. Charlotte Erickson ’52 on October 27, 2014. Rev. Charles R. Sandum ’57 on August 12, 2014.

Don’t miss out on UNW news or events! Update your alumni profile at unwsp. edu/alumni (choose “Stay Connected” then “Update Your Profile”). If you include your email you’ll receive our monthly Alumni E-news in addition to the Pilot. Connect with us: University of Northwestern – St. Paul @ NorthwesternMN Northwestern Professional Network Group University of Northwestern – St. Paul

Hannah Tebben ’39 is University of Northwestern’s oldest alum. She’ll be 102 in September. Three cheers!

PILOT SPRING 2015 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN

Faculty Authors Jonathan den Hartog, Ph.D. Patriotism and Piety: Federalist Politics and Religious Struggle in the New American Nation (University of Virginia Press; 2nd edition, 2015)

Boyd Seevers, Ph.D., and William H. Marty, Th.D. The Quick-Start Guide to the Whole Bible: Understanding the Big Picture Book-by-Book (Bethany House, 2014)

Alumni Authors Eileen G. Anderson and Vicki J. Anderson ’96 Harps Unhung: Praising God in the Midst of Captivity (WestBow Press, 2014)

Christa J. Kinde ’91 Angels on Guard (Zonderkidz, 2014)

Jim Miles ’99 Hero (Wrobel Street Books, 2014)

Christa J. Kinde ’91 The Garden Gate (Zondervan, 2014)

Staff Authors Rick Roos Dimple Head: A Story About Prayer, Patience and Healing (Xulon Press, 2014) Christa J. Kinde ’91 Rough and Tumble (Amazon Digital Services, 2014)

Christa J. Kinde ’91 Angel on High (Amazon Digital Services, 2014)

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2015 PILOT

Springboard 2015 Meet a few of Northwestern’s 2015 graduates who are excited to take their faith, enthusiasm and compassion into the world.

Kelly (Effinger) Rogers, Nursing

Mason Henderson, Theatre

Amanda Thompson, Marketing

Ryan Carter, Applied Mathematics

Hometown: Brooklyn Park, Minn. Six words that describe you: Trustworthy, attentive, spontaneous, passionate, loyal, compassionate. Most important thing you learned at UNW: The nursing program is intense, and I often found myself at the end of my rope. I learned how to truly and fully rely on God. Dream career/ ministry: As an ASL interpreter in health care, I saw the disparities for deaf individuals and individuals with intellectual disabilities. I hope to one day get my DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) and be a provider who works to lessen these gaps by providing direct communication. Advice to current UNW students: Put God first. Follow your passions. Trust God’s timing.

Hometown: Ham Lake, Minn. Six words that describe you: Passionate, loyal, energetic, creative, determined, visionary. Most important thing you learned at UNW: Theology informs a believer’s understanding of the Bible and vice versa. Dream career/ ministry: I would like to be the theatre director and teacher at a Christian high school or university. What you’d like to accomplish in life: I want to make art that is encouraging, convicting and insightful. Advice to current UNW students: Strive to learn as much as you can in your Bible classes. Make time to build friendships; you will need friends who can support and encourage you.

Hometown: Shoreview, Minn. Six words that describe you: Loyal, discerning, organized, optimistic, flexible, relational. Most important thing you learned at UNW: Through academics, student leadership positions, work opportunities, residence life and relationships, I have started the journey of knowing my identity in Christ. Dream career/ministry: I want to develop experiences and opportunities within a marketing context for others to form connections and create memories. Advice to current UNW students: Build relationships! When I first came to UNW I wanted to prove my self-worth through academics. I quickly learned how incomplete that perspective was. Through relationships I shared some of my sweetest memories and realized the value of life in community.

(Dual Degree Program with a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Minnesota) Hometown: Staples, Minn. Six words that describe you: Achiever, learner, leader, empathetic, positive, competitive. Most important thing you learned at UNW: Servant leadership. Dream career/ministry: I want a vocation in engineering in which I can use my gifts effectively while being able to live out the Gospel in my interactions with people. What you’d like to accomplish in life: I would like to be a light in the workplace so that I am loving others well and also considered a reliable asset.

PILOT SPRING 2015 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN

16 Sweet success

By Amy Awasom WEB EXTRA: LEARN MORE. GO TO unwsp.edu/pilot/extra

Winning like Wooden Coach Grosz embraces the philosophy of John Wooden, ESPN’s “Coach of the 20th Century” who famously defined success as “a peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do your best, to become the best you are capable of becoming.” Grosz said he envisions each player realizing the capacity God has built in him and then pursuing a full expression of that in each moment. In the world of sports, character before competition ideology rings dissonant. But for Grosz, winning is a welcome result of a far greater accomplishment. “Pusht” toward success For the last 15 years, Grosz and his staff have built a transformative culture through recruiting, practicing, bonding, training and competing “for guys who want to be ‘pusht.’” That’s P.U.S.H.T., the Eagle Men’s Basketball core values: Passion, unity, servanthood, humility and thankfulness. Fueling the work of living out these values is motivation from the team verse, Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Every practice is meticulous, every game a championship of its own, and players are constantly held to a standard of giving all they have. The team keeps a consistent 30-minute daily devotional time. Players also bond in weekly one-on-ones with a teammate for goal setting and accountability. This team culture, grown from years of worship as success, causes them to soar in a win-weighted sports universe. Basketball is their vehicle to experience God’s wisdom and express God’s glory. That’s why Eagle players, coaches and alumni were still celebrating after an eventual Sweet 16 loss. Every moment of every season, they had journeyed the road of giving it all. Success.

PHOTO: STEVE FROMMEL

Sweet

Sophomore guard Porter Morrell eyed the arcing basketball, body tense as if to guide his shot—the last of the game. Red—SWISH—buzzer! Eagles sprinted across the court, a burst of purple and gold, breaking into wild shouts. It was their first-ever NCAA Tournament win, 71-70 over St. Thomas, third-seated team in the nation. The Eagles’ Friday night upset on March 6 had commentators saying “Cinderella.” Hoops enthusiasts and fans buzzed with awe. Another hard-won game on Saturday sealed a slot in the Sweet 16 round. Magic happened that fairy-tale weekend—at least that’s how many remember the victories and happy hysteria that followed. Tim Grosz, associate director of Athletics and head men’s basketball coach, will never forget it; but he doesn’t really think in terms of magic—or even winning.

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Joel Light, M.A, professor of biology, conducted class outdoors on a beautiful spring day.

“University of Northwestern – St. Paul exists to provide Christ-centered higher education equipping students to grow intellectually and spiritually, to serve effectively in their professions, and to give God-honoring leadership in the home, church, community and world.” Learn. Lead. Invest. Impact.