SCIENCE
UNIVERSIT Y of Northwestern – ST. PAUL
Driven Students, Gifted Professors and the Acceleration of
TECHNOLOGY
STEM
MATHEMATICS
ENGINEERING
FALL 2014
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UNIVERSIT Y of Northwestern – S T. PAUL
DEPARTMENTS 4 FROM THE PRESIDENT 4 NORTHWESTERN NEWS
8 What’s New at the University? Dodge, draw, face-off, quick stick, pick & roll. If you don’t know your lacrosse terminology start prepping now. The Women’s Varsity Lacrosse program is slated to begin in fall 2015.
9 FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS
13 Coming to Campus: Act Six Student Scholars Next fall, UNW will welcome freshman urban leaders participating
28 ALUMNI NEWS & FEATURES
in an exciting scholarship program. These students will certainly transform Northwestern and may someday transform their communities.
16 The CURE Dr. Joanna Klein (Biology) involves her students in research of a tiny marine bacterium. Through CourseBased Undergraduate Research Experiences, her students are contributing to an expanding body of important research.
18 Engineers—Unite! From their first hands-on class work creating contraptions that will keep them afloat on Lake Johanna to complex research projects, engineering students form a supportive community to survive and thrive in a challenging program.
22 Stoked for STEM! Students who love science, technology, engineering and math are entering a world hungry for their talents. Get to know a few brainiacs who are looking forward to careers currently in demand.
34 A High-Tech Recipe for Success An alum and her husband invented a food blog of “simple and tasty recipes.” Through inviting writing, magazine-beautiful photography and an intuitive sense of style, they also created a moneymaking venture.
Cover: A graphical remix—representation of a chromosome. From: Genome Analysis of the Anaerobic Thermohalophilic Bacterium Halothermothrix orenii. PLoS ONE 4(1): e4192. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0004192. (Authors: Konstantinos Mavromatis, Natalia Ivanova, Iain Anderson, Athanasios Lykidis, Sean D. Hooper, Hui Sun, Victor Kunin, Alla Lapidus, Philip Hugenholtz, Bharat Patel, Nikos C. Kyrpides) 2
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Pilot is published by the Office of Marketing & Communications University of Northwestern – St. Paul 3003 Snelling Avenue North St. Paul, MN 55113-1598 651-631-5166, unwsp.edu/pilot Letters and comments may be sent to pilot@unwsp.edu. 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, Janelle (Hamre ’11) Higdon, Joanna Klein, Melissa Mork, Nancy Zugschwert University Marketing Team Joan Ayotte, Amy Elizabeth Awasom, Drew Elrick ’12, Janelle (Hamre ’11) Higdon, Haley Hultgren ’14, Marita Meinerts, Tess O’Connor, Eric Olson, Jamie Sewall ’15, Amanda Thompson ’15, Andy Waller ’15, Tammy Worrell ’04, Nancy Zugschwert 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 Business/CFO Douglas R. Schroeder, CPA Chief Information Officer David Richert, MBA 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.
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from
The President
news web extra: Catch more highlights of Homecoming 2014 at unwsp.edu/pilot/extra.
Northwestern students enrolling in STEM disciplines are growing in numbers and experience! Their fields of study—science, technology, engineering, math—have endless possibilities. STEM students can experience everything from the microscopic to the cosmic. They can identify problems, design solutions, calculate outcomes and contribute to progress in our world through innovation and invention. Outstanding! The world is vying for these graduates. As demand for these majors grows, we are expanding our departments and our offerings. It is vitally important that University of Northwestern stay competitive in this fast-flowing river of discovery. In this issue of Pilot you’ll read about biology students working alongside their professor in projects related to microbiology and bacterial genetics (page 16). You’ll see how engineering students are progressing from their first research projects to challenging course work that will prepare them for a demanding career (page 18). You’ll see how science and creativity collide in the classroom! To enhance student development, UNW provides a truly unique learning environment—one that is nurturing and personal. When I walk past a classroom with 12 or 20 students in discussion, I know their professor cares not only about their academic achievements but also about them as individuals. That kind of caring mentorship has long-lasting implications. UNW’s 30-hour Bible credit requirement provides a beautiful foundation to their education. Students’ knowledge is expanded by their faith just as their faith is expanded by their fields of study. How do science/technology/engineering/ math resonate within the systems God created? That is an exciting question. When we investigate God’s creation, we are joining generations of humans in history. Job pondered God in the midst of sorrow. King David observed the natural world around him in joy. Mathematicians assisted in the building of the temple. Solomon utilized his renowned wisdom to contemplate the paradoxes of life. Like them, we will never reach the limits of God’s mysteries. “Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?” (Job 11:7) UNW professors and students will continue to probe questions through scholarship and Scripture. University of Northwestern will continue to graduate competent students who think deeply. We will walk beside them as they receive an education that is intellectual and spiritual. They will make an impact in their careers and for God’s kingdom.
Alan S. Cureton, Ph.D. President, University of Northwestern – St. Paul 4
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During Homecoming, President Cureton officiated at the ribbon-cutting of the new spirit plaza and athletic stadium with honored guests Nancy Johnson and Tom Becken.
Technology Expands Homecoming’s Reach “Living and Leaving a Legacy” was the theme for University of Northwestern’s 2014 Homecoming celebration October 7–11. Events throughout the week brought in more than 4,000 people. The Homecoming football game boasted attendance of nearly 3,000—plus at least one alumnus watching the game from Japan. Students got into the spirit of Homecoming with grocery bingo and a movie on the campus green sponsored by Student Activities, plus a lively fiesta hosted by FORCE (Fellowship of Reconciling Cultures Everywhere). At special chapels, the 2014 alumni and service honorees were announced. This year’s honoree roster included: Distinguished Alumnus: George Wilson ’36, given posthumously to honor Wilson’s service as Northwestern’s business manager and as the executive vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Buckles-Hanna Service Award: Charles “Chuck” Kuivinen, MBA, former UNW chair and professor of Business, for his contributions to the growth of the Business department and ongoing engagement with students and alumni. Music Hall of Recognition: David Osterlund, Ed.D., for his service as chair of the Music department, 1975–1989. Athletic Hall of Fame: Craig Scheithauer ’99, for his records playing Eagles baseball and for his work as a teacher and coach. Holly (Sabelman ’01) Miller, for several intact records as an Eagles soccer goalkeeper, including career shutouts. She remains active in youth soccer and ministry activities. The annual Legacy Luncheon, reunion celebrations, Showcase concert and alumni baseball, football, soccer and tennis matches were all opportunities for renewing acquaintances and sharing Northwestern memories. And the Eagles soared with a commanding 33-0 victory over University of Minnesota – Morris. Watching from Yuzawa, Japan, Kassidy Cook ’13—a former Eagles player (2009–2012)—was thrilled with the shutout. Cook now teaches English in the public school system and this season decided to keep up with his old team online, where each game is live-streamed and accessible anywhere in the world. Of course, the 14-hour time difference required Cook to get up at 3 a.m. Yuzawa time. Cook occasionally bantered with his old teammates during the game via Snapchat, an instant messaging app, and was happy to see the 2014 Eagles play on the new field. “It’s great to see the dream we all had finally be a reality.” He plans to stay tuned next season, although he hopes there are more night games on the schedule and confessed, “I can’t take too many more 3 a.m. games!”
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web extra: For more photos of the Northwestern Choir’s European tour, visit unwsp.edu/pilot/extra.
A Little Vision of Heaven Just three months prior to departure, the Northwestern Choir spring 2014 tour to Ukraine and Hungary hit a snag when political unrest and war with Russia made traveling to Ukraine impossible. The revised itinerary—substituting Prague in the Czech Republic for Ukraine—was complete just a week prior to departure. Staying in one place and venturing out from there turned out to be a rich way to fully immerse the Choir in Czech culture and its sights and flavors. While in Prague, the Choir presented several concerts, including two in Slavic churches, with students from the Christian International School and in the Lobkowicz Palace. The Choir also made a visit to the Nazi concentration camp Terezin. The time in Hungary was full too, including a concert in the famed St. Stephen’s Basilica, another International Christian School and an outreach concert in a small former Soviet village. “The true mission of this tour was to bring the light of Jesus Christ everywhere we went,” said Timothy Sawyer, director of choral activities and conductor of the Northwestern Choir. “One audience member said, ‘Your choir brought back the vision of heaven again for me.’” To hear an excerpt and perhaps catch a breath of that ethereal vision of heaven, visit our web extra.
Twenty Years of Play and Learning This fall, the UNW Child Development Center celebrated the completion of its second decade in operation. Part of the School of Education, the state-ofthe-art licensed and accredited CDC is also a learning venue for UNW early childhood education majors. The center provides care for children ages 16 months to 5 years, serving families in the community as well as UNW staff. To the delight of the kids, a brand new playground made its debut. The fun continues.
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Two Students Excel at Oxford Volleyball veteran and marketing major Cari Miller ’14 stole away from home and team for the spring 2014 semester at the University of Oxford. Studying literature at Oxford had long been a dream. She met the challenge of rigorous study while—through Skype, postcards and letters—finding connection with team members and maintaining fitness for her upcoming volleyball season. Matthew Abeler ’16 crossed the pond in June, one of six students selected to participate in the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) inaugural Oxford Distinguished Scholar’s Program. During two weeks of tutorials and lectures on the Reformation leaders and martyrs, Abeler wrote four essays related to his chosen field, film. A videographer, Abeler hopes to unite film, writing and communication in his career. “Stories from the past can help my generation learn how to live wisely as Christians,” he said. “It’s a paradox where looking backward provides the clearest vision of running forward.”
Skog, Abeler, Miller
Last March, Erica Skog ’14 was named ROTC Air Force Cadet of the Year, a
prestigious achievement for someone with a military legacy of 11 generations. ROTC was Plan B for Skog, who joined to secure financial aid and a job after college, but necessity turned into a blessing. In the Air Force ROTC program, she said, “I had people I cared about and who cared about me, people who love life and each other and push to excel in everything they do.” The Cadet of the Year award is based on military performance, academic achievement and physical fitness. Skog graduated last May with a B.A. in history. Once commissioned as second lieutenant, she will begin her career as a missileer.
Grant Will Fund Internships
UNW Hosted First Summer Teacher Institute
Through a Great Lakes Career Ready Internship Grant, Northwestern received $150,000 to pay 76 students for their internship work in 2014–2015. These dollars will enable students with financial need to participate in internships and receive career experience. Students awarded internship funding will also receive professional development to bolster their transition into a career, according to Linda Ashworth, associate director of experiential education at the Center for Calling & Career. “This grant fosters collaboration between on-campus departments and with local businesses, government agencies and nonprofits,” said Ashworth. “Northwestern is focusing on helping local businesses develop internship programs that could be self-sustaining beyond the grant period.” Ashworth, along with Dayna Taylor, manager of corporate and foundation relations, wrote and pursued the grant.
The Department of Education and Richard Joerger, Ph.D., professor and director of graduate programs in Education, hosted the first annual Summer Teacher Institute. This event on June 18 aimed to help educators complete mandatory categories for relicensure or participate in workshops with a special focus. The event drew teachers from across the Twin Cities. Melody Olson ’10, a middle school and high school social studies educator said, “I received a lot from the Institute—great resources in the sense of instructional behavior in the classroom. It was great to be able to collaborate with other teachers of all age groups and hear their perspective.”
ROTC Air Force Cadet of the Year
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Women’s Varsity Lacrosse is coming to UNW and Coach Taylor Deetjen is ready.
What’s New at the University? Women’s Varsity Lacrosse Northwestern announces the addition of its 19th varsity sport, women’s lacrosse. The team will officially begin playing in the 2015–2016 academic year. Northwestern is only the second postsecondary institution in any of the NCAA’s three divisions in Minnesota to sponsor women’s lacrosse as a varsity sport. Northwestern’s lacrosse team will practice and play in the university’s newly revamped Reynolds Field complex. Taylor Deetjen will coach. “Offering women’s lacrosse as a collegiate varsity sport makes sense as interest in the sport has soared in recent years,” said Matt Hill ’89, Ed.D., vice president for Student Life & Athletics. “It’s a natural fit for Northwestern with our new facility and the institution’s growth plan.” Science and Theology minor Northwestern’s new Science and Theology minor was created in response to student interest in the relationship between science and faith. It was designed after the success of the Metaphysics of Science course taught by Walter Schultz, Ph.D., professor of Philosophy and scholar-in-residence, and Lisanne Winslow, Ph.D., department chair of Biology & Biochemistry and professor of Biology. It is suitable for students with any major. Winslow, who was instrumental in the creation of the minor, said it will 8
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help students become “well-informed citizens in our society as well as deepen their faith.” This minor will engage students in challenging academic study, “a new way of worship and a new way of knowing God through the study of creation.” Engineering Management major Spurred by companies’ need for technical employees who understand the larger business picture, the Engineering Management major launched at the end of the 2013–2014 school year. It seeks to prepare Northwestern students for career opportunities in today’s market. The major captures both the specific technical knowledge typically found in an engineering degree and the market savvy gleaned with a business degree. The Engineering Management major will equip students for broad career possibilities. Richard (Dick) Elliott, MBA, chairman of the Business department and associate professor of Business, is enthusiastic about the quality of the program. “The Engineering Management major is the only undergraduate major of its kind in the upper Midwest. It is academically on par with leading programs in this field.” The first graduates of this program are anticipated in 2016.
Faculty Highlights
web extra: To learn about more faculty achievements, VISIT unwsp.edu/pilot/extra.
Abstractions and Still Lifes: Joe Smith Joe Smith, MFA (Art & Design), is the recent recipient of a 2014– 2015 McKnight Artist Fellowship for Visual Artists, which seeks to support and deepen opportunities for mid-career Minnesota artists. As part of the fellowship, he receives a $25,000 stipend from the McKnight Foundation and access to several national curators and critics over the course of the fellowship period. He will serve on a public panel as part of the McKnight Discussion Series in 2015 and generate an artist’s monograph that documents his current practice and work.
Assessing Communication: Kent Kaiser Kent Kaiser, Ph.D. (Communication), presented “Athletes in the Twittersphere: A Two-Part Exploratory Study Supporting a Postmodern Genderlect” at the annual conference of the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language and Gender held in San Francisco in October. Looking at male and female hockey players’ tweets, his study revealed challenges to traditional gendercommunication expectations. First, readers surveyed were not able to detect author gender. Second, a content analysis of players’ tweets produced results that contradicted past research on several language features such as sarcasm, boasting, expression of gratitude, trash talk, foul language and reference to emotions. Kaiser’s findings showed positive differences from expectations for male hockey players and negative differences from expectations for female players.
Teaching Internationally: Teresa Gonske and Susan Payne Teresa Gonske, Ph.D. (Education), and Susan Payne, Ph.D. (Christian Ministries), facilitated an intensive, two-week graduate course for faculty at Daystar University in Nairobi, Kenya, in July. The course was entitled “Teaching for Critical Thinking” and focused on developing instructional strategies for implementing transformational and active learning experiences in university classes. Intensive planning, collaboration and teaching in a different culture culminated in a productive, exciting and faith-building experience. Gonske and Payne are committed to building this global relationship and look forward to future partnerships with the Daystar leadership and faculty.
Conducting Excellence: Kirk Moss Kirk Moss, Ph.D. (Music), will headline the orchestra division at the Oklahoma, Colorado, and Minnesota Music Educators Association conferences in January and February 2015. Upcoming guest conducting appearances include the Connecticut MEA North Regional Middle School Orchestra in March and the Pennsylvania MEA Junior High District Honor Orchestra in April. He will adjudicate the Music for All: Orchestra America National Festival held in Indianapolis, also in March. Moss is a past national president of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) and has served as a guest conductor, clinician or adjudicator in more than 35 states. Moss serves as chair of the UNW Department of Music.
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A New Academic Structure for an Even Better UNW Two years ago, the Office of Academic Affairs facilitated a review and revision of its organizational structure. That study led to the implementation this fall of a new structure composed of four colleges and four schools. The colleges and departments or schools they include: • • • •
College of Adult & Graduate Studies: FOCUS Adult Undergraduate and Graduate Studies programs College of Arts & Humanities: Departments of Art & Design, Communication, English & Literature, History, Music, and World Languages College of Behavioral & Natural Sciences: Departments of Biology & Biochemistry; Interdisciplinary Studies; Mathematics & Engineering; Physical Education, Health & Kinesiology; and Psychology College of Professional Studies: Schools of Business, Education, Nursing, and Theology & Ministry, which includes the Departments of Biblical & Theological Studies and Christian Ministries
Janet Sommers, Ph.D., senior vice president for Academic Affairs, noted that the new structure will help Northwestern better serve students; provide greater support, communication and collaboration for faculty; offer diverse learning opportunities; and strengthen academic program offerings.
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UNW Ranks High in Respected Lists University of Northwestern recently appeared as #10 in U.S. News & World Report’s Regional Colleges Midwest Rankings. UNW was recognized among regional colleges that focus on undergraduate education and grant fewer than half their degrees in liberal arts disciplines. UNW’s ranking was the result of a formula that “uses quantitative measures that education experts have proposed as reliable indicators of academic quality and…our researched view of what matters in education.” Northwestern was also listed as one of Twin Cities Business magazine’s Top 25 Colleges and Universities and as one of Top 10 Online Christian Colleges & Universities of 2014 by thebestcolleges.org.
Congratulations, KTIS In September, UNW’s radio station, 98.5 KTIS, received a prestigious Radio Station of the Year award (Major Market category) bestowed by Christian Music Broadcasters (CMB). The award signifies outstanding achievement in on-air presentation, community service, ratings, new media and industry leadership. President and CEO of National Religious Broadcasters Dr. Jerry A. Johnson called winners “shining examples of media excellence and deeply committed to advancing biblical truth in their respective communities and beyond.”
A Resource for Military Students and Families For the third year, Northwestern was designated a 2015 Military Friendly School by Victory Media. The designation is awarded to the top 15 percent of U.S. colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace military students, and to dedicate resources to ensure their success in the classroom and after graduation. UNW now serves more than 40 students who are active in a military branch, holding veteran status, or classified as military dependents.
Meet the Board: Dave Venberg ’89 Current home: Denver, Colorado
Education: I have a B.S. in Business Administration and a B.A. in Cross Cultural Communication from Northwestern. How long have you been on the board? Four years. I am an alum of Northwestern and was connected through Cary Humphries (a former chair of the board and dear friend) and Chuck Kuivinen (past chair of the Business department).
Something interesting about your childhood: I grew up on the mission field in Chad, Africa. My parents served as missionaries for 30 years in Bible translation and nursing care. I lived in boarding schools from first grade through high school. I have moved 20 times and visited 30 countries. Family: My wife Sonja and I have been married for 20 years. Our daughter Kaela (19) is a sophomore at University of Northwestern. Our son Kyle (16) is a sophomore at Lutheran High in Parker, Colorado. Career: Twenty-five years with Cargill. Currently, I am senior director of Transportation and Logistics for Ardent Mills, a joint venture
between ConAgra, Cargill and CHS.
What part of your work brings you the most joy and satisfaction? [I enjoy] building a highperforming team and seeing teammates achieve more than they thought possible. Being able to serve the needs of our customers, employees and the community that I’m blessed to live in.
What do you appreciate most about UNW? The mission. It’s a privilege to serve this God-honoring institution and to witness the UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN FALL 2014 PILOT
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Concert Violinist Makes Music After (and During) Brain Surgery By Janelle (Hamre ’11) Higdon When technology and medicine meet, sometimes lives and even careers can be saved. Violinist Roger Frisch, artist-in-residence at Northwestern and associate concertmaster for the Minnesota Orchestra, knows this firsthand. About six years ago, he noticed shaking in his bow arm that threatened to end his musical career. Frisch visited countless physicians around the Twin Cities. Although many of them said he had simply thrown out his arm—like a baseball player— a visit to a neurologist at Mayo Clinic led to the diagnosis of a condition called essential tremor. Frisch tried medication for a few months without success. He then began to explore his other treatment option, a brain surgery called “deep brain stimulation” (DBS), for which he would need to be awake. Frisch was asked to play his violin during surgery so that the doctors could target the appropriate areas of his brain. Days before the procedure, Frisch collaborated with medical engineers to customize the surgical experience for violin playing. The Mayo Clinic purchased a squeaky, inexpensive violin and outfitted it with the accelerometer from one surgeon’s family Wii remote.
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“I must have had 200–300 people praying for me going into the surgery. I wasn’t nervous at all.” In the operating room, Frisch took in the whole experience. “I’m sort of a technology geek,” he said. “There were probably about 20 different machines. It was actually quite a fascinating procedure!” Frisch played. The first implanted electrode reduced the shaking by 80 percent. The second eliminated it. Since the surgery, Frisch has been enjoying life tremor-free. The device is implanted in his chest and has wires that run directly to his brain. Untreated, his tremor is severe, so he leaves the device on all the time but can adjust it with a remote if desired. Frisch was even able to run the Twin Cities Marathon 10-mile this year as one of Medtronic’s Global Heroes. “I am thankful to the Lord every day for this gift that I have been given. If this would have happened 20 years ago, medical technology was such that it wouldn’t have been a possibility. They basically turned me into a version of a bionic man. Every day I am thankful.”
courtesy of mayo clinic
courtesy of MINNESOTA ORCHESTR A
web extra: Link to more articles about Roger Frisch’s experience at unwsp.edu/pilot/extra.
Soaring to the Top Krista (Stoltz ’14) Bellefeuille, one of 455 student athletes nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year in spring of 2014, was named as one of the top nine finalists. The NCAA Woman of the Year award celebrates the achievement of women in intercollegiate athletics, also recognizing community service, academics and leadership. Bellefeuille earned a degree in elementary education, made the dean’s list every semester and graduated with high honors. With a 3.96 GPA, she was named a Capital One Academic All-America First Team honoree and was also awarded the UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award last spring. Bellefeuille sought to inspire and lead her team well: “I learned the incredible benefit of extending unconditional love, authentically investing in lives and building lifelong friendships that will support and encourage. I believe the opportunities I was involved in as a scholar, athlete and leader have shaped me into a woman of character.”
web extra: There’s so much more to say about Act Six. See unwsp.edu/pilot/extra.
Ron Storer
The Act Six scholarship program has been tremendously successful on campuses in the Pacific Northwest.
Coming to Campus: Act Six Student Scholars Can UNW help tear down barriers to college education for students in urban communities? Act Six is one exciting way. An initiative of Urban Ventures, this full-tuition, full-need scholarship and leadership opportunity is for talented young leaders. Eighty-seven percent of Act Six scholars are low-income or first-generation college students. Northwestern is one of three participating institutions in the Twin Cities. The beginning Act Six is already underway. This fall, Act Six selected 25 of the Twin Cities’ most promising seniors from hundreds of applicants who are now participating in college preparation opportunities in their high schools. Soon they will choose the university they wish to attend—UNW, Augsburg College or Bethel University. Those who select Northwestern will arrive in fall 2015. “They will be leaders on campus,” said David Fenrick, Ph.D., director of the Center for Global Reconciliation and Cultural Education and adjunct professor of Intercultural Studies.
As UNW’s Act Six campus coordinator, he anticipates that these women and men will naturally be changed by their college experience, but UNW will be transformed, too. Bringing established success “My hope is that we will have the same kind of success that those in the Northwest have had,” said Amy Bragg Carey, Ed.D., vice president for Institutional Advancement, “—significant graduation rates, additional education if they desire, and the ability to become important influences in their communities. I think we will attract students that would benefit from a biblical education that’s infused with a Christian worldview. We’re really happy to be part of the partnership.” Robin Bell, M.Ed., Th.M., assistant professor of Christian Ministries, will serve as faculty advisor of Act Six. “Jesus reconciled and renovated human culture,” he said. “That is what I would love to see at Northwestern.”
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E T S M
Readiness—and
in the Age of Careers in STEM fields are growing fast, and STEM knowledge and skills will become increasingly important even for people who aren’t scientists, engineers or mathematicians. As the issues involving technology become more complicated, what do humans need besides technical know-how? The disciplines that we organize under the acronym STEM—science, technology, engineering and math—are not new, says Daniel Crane, Ph.D., dean of the College of Behavioral & Natural Sciences and professor of Chemistry. Even technology, often considered a relatively recent phenomenon, can be traced into our long-ago past. (“Too often,” writes Thomas P. Hughes in Human-Built World: How to Think about Technology and Culture, “technology is narrowly equated with computers and the Internet…[but] both the Flying Fortresses of World War II and the flying buttresses of the Middle Ages are technological artifacts.”) What has changed is the pace of its growth—and its pervasiveness. Step by step we have entered a rich terrain of technological brilliance and dependence, a world we could not have imagined. Exploding technology is our future. “The world will not become less technological, nor will good jobs
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require less technological sophistication,” says Crane. “Job creation in STEM fields will almost certainly increase at a much faster pace than other jobs.” In fact, growth in STEM jobs was three times higher than non-STEM jobs. * This world will require deep-thinking students who can measure ethical complexities and questions. “Aristotle classified disciplines as theoretical, productive, and practical,” Crane says, “or we might say science, praxis, and ethics. All three are vital for solving problems in the real world: the implementation of the theoretical without
and Redemption—
f Technology By Shelly Barsuhn
practical wisdom, or ethics, can lead to thorny problems.” Northwestern students, desiring to create positive change in their world, seem hardwired to want to wrestle with those problems. They are likely to see devastating natural disasters and storms as a serious threat to the world’s poor, and invention as a pathway to sustainable food, medicine and shelter. Their liberal arts education combined with the biblical principles of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control will give them a secondary edge.
Northwestern’s job is to give these young inventors, researchers, mathematicians, educators and developers the skills they need to think compassionately in a technological age, with God’s desire for redemption of all creation through Christ’s love. “Technology is full of contradictions,” writes Hughes. It is “laden with human folly, saved by occasional benign deeds, and rich with unintended consequences.” This university is growing the students who can stand inside of that reality with compassion and insight.
* U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics & Statistics Administration (esa.doc.gov/Reports/stem-good-jobs-now-and-future)
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CURE—an acronym for Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience—is currently the buzz in biology education circles. For the past 11 years, biology students at Northwestern have gotten their hands into real, live research projects. The result is a deeper educational experience and a growing understanding of a specific bacterium. Research done early and often in a student’s education is a highly effective pathway to successful learning, as it engages students with the material and equips them with a host of skills. Training students to do research typically follows the apprenticeship model, with a young student entering a research lab under the guidance of an experienced scientist. It is labor and resource intensive, and simply impossible to provide to every biology student. But there is another option: the Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) model. When I implement CURE, courses become a training ground for research. A different way to learn Many lab classes use a published lab manual and carefully designed experiments that demonstrate basic principles with known outcomes. In my genetics class, however, I have replaced these labs with a lab curriculum centered on a current investigative research question. In an approximately 10-week section of the course, students are presented with the question and assigned primary-source research articles that we discuss in class. Week by week, I train students in research techniques as they perform the experiments that answer the question. Working in teams, they collect, organize and analyze data. To culminate the project, they communicate their results by completing an oral presentation, poster presentation or written research report. From start to finish, the experience trains them in the techniques and thought processes of a research scientist. Genetics is a required class for all biology majors, so every single biology student graduating from UNW has an authentic research experience. Meet “eater of cellulose” My genetics students are knee-deep in research designed to help them understand the marine bacterium Cellulophaga lytica. The bacterium is a representative of a group of bacteria that has interesting properties. It has the ability to move across surfaces such as algal mats and mud in the marine environment by a unique mechanism called gliding motility. It also degrades components of plant cell walls. Cellulophaga literally meaning “eater of cellulose.” This property has potential energy applications. A huge amount of the earth’s biomass is bound up in cellulose, so the ability to break down this complex molecule into simpler sugars that can be used to produce fuels such as ethanol is an active area of research. With this application in mind, the Joint Genome Institute of the U.S. Department of Energy sequenced the genome (complete DNA sequence) of C. lytica in 2011. It is predicted to contain over 3,000 genes, segments of DNA that provide the directions for making proteins. Proteins are really the functional players in the cell—providing structure, catalyzing chemical reactions, sending messages, etc. However, we have very little idea of what over one-third of these proteins do because 16
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they have no similarity to proteins in previously studied organisms. They are currently classified as “hypothetical proteins.” Students in the lab This is where my genetics students come in. Using a variety of computer programs, they are analyzing the DNA sequence of Cellulophaga lytica to look for clues. They have studied over 100 genes in four years. This year, after characterizing the genes in the computer lab, students will perform experiments to clone a gene so that the protein can be produced and purified in a test tube. From this work, experiments can be performed to test the function of the protein in the cell. The beauty of this particular project—as well as those incorporated into previous biology courses—is that students can easily continue the research once the course ends. Students are typically enthused and prepared to continue their work. Due to the training they received in the course, they make significantly more progress in their chosen project. I have mentored nearly 30 students who have enrolled in a directed research course. To have this many talented and well-trained students come into my lab has been a huge professional benefit to me, allowing me to maintain an active research program in my field of microbial genetics while balancing a full teaching load. Graduating to real-world positions A host of Northwestern students have gone on to further education and employment in fields where they are directly impacting the health care, research and educational arenas. For example: • Ryan Sivertson, M.D. ’07 – emergency medicine resident, Western Michigan University • David Strandlund ’07 – medical laboratory scientist I, Abbott Northwestern Hospital • Matthew Jorgenson, Ph.D. ’09 – Ph.D. in genetics from the University of Iowa, postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences • Jessica Ellis ’09 – microbiologist at American Medical Systems • Jessica Merchant ’10 – biology teacher, South St. Paul High School • Stephen Erickson ’13 – first year medical student at Washington University • Rachel Blesi ’14 – microbiology technician at Land O’ Lakes, applying to genetic counseling graduate programs In this sampling, most have not gone on to research-based graduate programs. They’ve set their sights elsewhere. So why put an emphasis on CURE? Because research is ultimately what biologists do, and it is the vehicle that leads to everything students learn in their courses and textbooks. CURE provides irreplaceable experience, develops skills and produces attitudes that lead to student success and impact in their endeavors.
The CURE S T EM
By Joanna Klein, Ph.D.
Joanna Klein, Ph.D., professor of Biology, joined the Northwestern faculty in 2003. Her undergraduate and graduate degrees are from the University of Iowa, and she did a three-year postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Minnesota. She teaches genetics, microbiology, and biotechnology, as well as courses for nonmajors, and is excited to be offering a new class this spring called Microbes and Society. Her free time is spent mostly with her husband and three children who enjoy biking, swimming and learning together. UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN FALL 2014 PILOT
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S T EM Engineers— Unite! Engineering starts as scratches on a piece of paper and ends as a three-dimensional solution. In between those two stages there can be a lot of pain. “Engineering students have to be adept at math and science and enjoy it,” said Matt Hyre, Ph.D., the associate professor of mathematics who orchestrates the engineering program at UNW. “Because one hundred times during the semester they’ll ask, ‘Why am I doing this?’” A dual degree program, engineering at UNW is “bursting at the seams.” Students receive an Applied Math degree after three years, then transfer during their senior year for the Engineering degree. Challenged to perform Early in the fall, students jump into the deep end, literally, when they design “water walkers” from pink insulation board and demonstrate their creations at Lake Johanna. “It’s obvious the ones who haven’t tested their design,” said Hyre, amused. From that lighthearted beginning they head down a challenging academic road, but not alone. One of the core attributes of the program is community. Students rapidly form supportive networks for study and encouragement. Freshman Rachel Friesen ’18 said that assigned problems can take “half an hour or 13 hours
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depending on how quickly we grasp [the concept],” but cohorts—and upperclassmen—are always helpful. Hyre is accessible, too. “If you go to the U, students get weeded out right away. Here, you’re never lost. I know all the freshmen’s names and look at all of the homework. They have a fighting chance.”
In Dr. Hyre’s Introduction to Engineering class, the winners of the “water walkers” competition received accolades; the losers got wet. web extra: See UNW sTUDENT internship work at unwsp.edu/pilot/extra.
Positive classroom dynamics Senior Alexis Leisinger ’15, who is finishing up her engineering degree at the University of Minnesota Duluth, said that students learn early to push themselves. “Dr. Hyre doesn’t have any mercy on us! It’s hard. But he shows examples and asks us to apply what we’ve learned.” Hyre enjoys the eureka moments. “In their first year they’re afraid to yell out answers; they just do what I say. But by the second year they are saying, ‘I think your approach is off.’ It gets interesting because it’s a dialogue now. They are actually contributing.” Senior year students are ready. They’ve grown in their faith. They’ve made close friendships and had the one-on-one attention of their MIT-educated professor who is also a practicing engineer. I’ve never heard a student say, ‘I wish I’d gone straight to the U,’” said Hyre. Engineering is a wide-open field. Most of Hyre’s students have received job offers before midterm their senior year. “They get snapped up really fast,” he said. “The unemployment rate is practically nothing.”
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Buckthorn— bad. Because its leaves arrive early spring and leave late fall, it gains the upper hand, shading out good vegetation that prevents erosion. Buckthorn even secretes hormones into the soil that inhibit other plants’ growth. Students help pull buckthorn to give understory plants room to thrive.
Gentry invites students from a variety of science backgrounds (including biology, botany and ecology) to participate in hands-on learning at the lake. Because the project is ongoing, they observe succession, the scientific term for how ecosystems change over time. Every growing season is a chance to evaluate and adjust.
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“To practice stewardship of God’s creation,” says Gentry, “you’ve got to get dirty. You’ve got to do it and not just talk about it. These students learn how to live a life that is respectful.”
Dale Gentry, Ph.D., assistant professor of Biology, leads his Plant Biology students down the scrappy path to Lake Johanna. The sun shines wanly behind fall clouds. His students crouch down to see where he’s pointing along the muddy bank. Lab begins.
S T EM
Students learn that a shoreline buffer of natural vegetation reduces runoff by trapping and filtering water. The denser the growth, the better the filtration. Native plantings stabilize the lakeshore and improve water quality.
Classroom
on the
Lake
A joint project with the Ramsey Conservation District, the Lake Johanna restoration includes nearly 4,000 lineal feet and almost two acres of shoreline. With the assistance of UNW students, restoration of this area may reduce phosphorus entering the water by 10 pounds per year and soil/sediment by over 12 tons per year.
These days, Lake Johanna is more hospitable to wildlife. Herons, ducks and songbirds are using the restored habitat for nesting.
Joel Light, Biology associate, and Joanna Klein, professor of Biology, are guiding students through research that measures for pollutants and E. coli in the water. Working in tandem, they bring together the studies of environmental impacts and microbiology/ public health.
Students have helped install 40 species of native plants, erosion control products and soil lifts to stabilize the shoreline. “It’s still a work in progress,” says Gentry.
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S T EM
STOKED FOR STEM!
They’re young and determined. Meet a few of the gifted students focusing their prodigious brainpower on science, technology, engineering and math at Northwestern.
Lindsay Brandenburg ’15 (Biology)
^
Sam Melin ’15 (Computer Science)
^
“I’m interested in molecular biology, pharmaceutical/pathophysiological research, molecular genetics, protein genetics, biochemistry, the philosophy of science and biochemistry, and biblical theology. During an internship, I worked in an industrial biotechnology lab where I learned to test protein (cytokine) signaling pathways in cells due to inflammation using multiple cell types. I learned so much and got to be a true scientist. I’d like to continue on to graduate school, pursue a program in molecular biology/biochemistry or genetics, obtain a Ph.D. and teach students in a university someday, influencing their lives personally, theologically and academically to work redemption in their scientific research, medical practices and communities.”
“I was the IT analyst during my internship at Goldleaf Partners and helped with day-to-day technology problems. I researched possible technological improvements for the office like video conferencing, better security practices or better tracking for current systems. I have developed several programs on my own—a tracking system for student loans including interest rates and time to zero balance and a database with forms to keep track of students joining a group. I’m working on a genealogy program for a friend’s sheep farm that will track the parentage of their livestock. I’d like to get into application development.”
Morgan Peterson
’16 (Biochemistry and Biology)
^
“During a research internship at the Mayo Clinic in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, I learned laboratory skills and developed relationships with professors, graduate students and other scientists. My project focused on how the endocannabinoid neurotransmitter system affects the stress response on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. I constructed a developmental timeline of gene expression in zebra fish. This research has implications for human neurological disorders. I would love to become a professor at the undergraduate level in biological sciences at a university similar to Northwestern, mentoring students through teaching and research.”
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John Gisler
!
web extra: To meet OTHER talented STEM students, go to unwsp.edu/pilot/extra.
’15 (Dual Degree: Applied Math and Mechanical Engineering)
^ “As a product engineering intern at John Deere, I learned a lot about product design and development and how to create official engineering drawings for new parts. I was a mechanical engineering intern at Allman & Associates and Mayo Clinic. These roles involved HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) for demolitions and remodel projects. As a research assistant I’ve helped Dr. Matt Hyre with his engineering research for Emhart Glass. I aided in modifying geometries and running computational fluid dynamics simulations for equipment. I am really looking forward to applying my skills toward product design and, eventually, a management role.”
Ethan Hunt
’17 (Mathematics ^ Education)
’17 (Mathematics)
^
“My area of interest is actuarial science. I have worked at an accounting firm in Alexandria, Minnesota, for two years, full time during the summers and on Christmas break. I have learned about reconciling bank statements, how to do a company’s payroll, and recording transactions. Over the summer I converted all of the paperwork into an electronic filing system. I would like to become an actuary after my time at UNW—compiling and analyzing statistics and using them to calculate insurance risks and premiums, or helping businesses or organizations plan for the future and protect them from loss.”
“I enjoy calculus and discrete math. Calculus deals with all possible numbers (including decimals); discrete math deals with distinct numbers (or objects) in an applicable way to the real world, especially in regard to graphs. As someone who wants to teach someday, I have really enjoyed being a T.A. I plan to start teaching at the high school level and someday become a college professor. I don’t want kids to be afraid of math. The world needs people who love math as much as I do.” (Ethan was the 2014 Minnesota State U2000 Chess Champion.)
Lauren Silbernick
Isaac Shay
’15 (Dual Degree: Computer Science and Mathematics)^
“Vocational interests? Network/cybersecurity and software development. My work experience has included being a software tester and working for the UNW IT Help Desk. I had a fourmonth computer science internship in China. At present, I’m on the UNW Network and Telecom Team and a sergeant in the army. I have an AA in Chinese and am a cryptologic linguist in the MN Army National Guard. I’m also an Awana Sparks leader and an R.A. In the future I’d like to expand my knowledge of foreign languages (especially Japanese and Italian), become an officer and go into the field of military cybersecurity.”
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Laughing Through Pain
Nineteen years ago, my mother was killed in a car ac Most of her funeral is a blur to me as I sat in stunned something surprising. He paused in the middle of the and share a favorite memory of my mother. First, there were sniffles and whispers, then titters and giggles, then snorts and guffaws. My mother was a funny woman. The walls of that church shook with laughter. Now, all these years later, I study the benefits of humor and laughter in a variety of psychological domains, but I am particularly interested in the therapeutic benefits of humor in bereavement, stress and trauma. Did you know it is impossible to tickle yourself to get a laugh? (You just tried it, didn’t you?) We rarely laugh alone. Laughter requires social involvement, so even when we do laugh alone, we often will have an imaginary community. We imagine someone with whom we share the laugh. In the bereavement work I do as a psychologist, I encourage the mourner to imagine how the deceased would have enjoyed a particular joke or funny encounter. I ask, “How did your loved one 24
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make you laugh? How did you play together? What made you smile?” Despite the physical separation, the person who is grieving can remember his or her loved one with laughter as a way to reestablish the relationship. What we laugh at also indicates our place in a social context. Together, we laugh at that other political party; we share laughter about the follies of parenting; we laugh over shared professional struggles on the job; or share a joke with our neighbors about the rival sports team. Through shared experiences and laughter, we connect with others and find our place in our community. Author and ethologist Konrad Lorenz writes, “Laughter forms a bond and simultaneously draws a line.” Studies of humor among police officers, first responders and other emergency personnel have shown this to be true. For individuals who have to maintain professionalism
by appearing emotionally immune to a traumatic event, humor allows for a different kind of emotional expression. Cops can’t cry at the crime scene, so they laugh. Laughter relieves the tension while forging a bond with the others who also bear witness to the trauma. Having researched the therapeutic functions of humor in order to make presentations on humor, stress management and trauma to local law enforcement and health care organizations, I have found that in some professions humor can become quite dark. Sometimes called gallows humor, this form of humor treats the most serious issues—disease, crime, death and war—with levity or satire. (The origin of the term gallows humor may have come from the public execution of the murderer William Palmer who is said to have looked at the trapdoor on the gallows and asked the hangman, “Are you sure it’s safe?”)
B y M el i ssa B a a r t m a n Mor k , P sy.D.
The benefits of humor during dark times cident. I was a junior in college and I was bereft. disbelief of what was happening. Then the pastor did service and instructed everyone to turn to a neighbor In law enforcement, the armed forces and other professions, gallows humor might be used as an initiation process to see how much the veterans can shock newer personnel. While this first function may feel like a hazing ritual, dark humor is also used to toughen up the newer hires quickly and provide them with a kind of self-protection in the face of inevitable atrocities. Gallows humor provides a way of laughing in the face of evil. Nowhere in recent history is this demonstrated more profoundly than in the Holocaust. For her doctoral thesis at Tel Aviv University, Dr. Chaya Ostrower interviewed survivors of the ghettos, concentration camps and death camps. She asked one question: “Can you describe or tell about humor in the Holocaust?” She defined humor as “anything that made you laugh or smile.” The strongest theme that emerged was
humor as a defense mechanism. As one survivor put it: “Look, without humor we would all have committed suicide. We made fun of everything. What I’m actually saying is that that helped us remain human, even under hard conditions.” Another survivor responded, “When they asked me what I thought was the reason I survived, I said that I thought it was laughter and humor…. Because it was absurd all that time, it was inconceivable, that they could do those things to people.” Humor was used as a means of survival. It was also an act of rebellion. There are myriad benefits of humor and laughter. We see the beneficial use of humor in dating, marriage, parenting, conflict resolution, leadership, teaching and more. When used in bereavement, stress and trauma, however, humor helps us cope with some of life’s most painful events.
Melissa Baartman Mork, Psy.D., is associate professor and chair of the Department of Psychology. She is a member of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH) and is completing her final year of a graduate program through the AATH Humor Academy. She recently presented on the topic of humor and stress management to the Minneapolis Police Department Chaplain Corps and the North Dakota Supreme Court Clerks of Court Convention.
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Beyond
the Books:
Hands-On Internships
in Criminal Justice “The criminal justice system is only as good as the people in it,” says Ghlee Hanson, MSSW, LICSW, instructor and coordinator of Northwestern’s Criminal Justice program. She believes that UNW students are bringing excellence to the field. Whether on Track 1—for careers in general corrections as counselors, correctional or security officers, social workers in a prison or halfway house—or on Track 2 in law enforcement, there are a myriad of career options. Hanson helps students land internships that match their interests and offer experience with professional mentors and clients. Wildly varied opportunities UNW interns have served in varied positions and organizations, including: • Roseville, Plymouth, Forest Lake, Minnetonka, Brooklyn Park and Minneapolis police departments • Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office • Amicus (post-incarceration resources) • Minnesota Correctional Facility – Shakopee • Anoka, Hennepin and Washington County Community Corrections Probation • U.S. Postal Inspection Services • U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement • Lewis House, Alexandra House, Cornerstone (domestic abuse and sexual violence resources) These internships give practical skills to back up theoretical instruction. A career based on relationships Lexi Marklowitz ’13 graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Law Enforcement and Psychology. She spent most of her internship working alongside detectives as a police intern for the Roseville Police Department. “Before my internship,” she said, “I didn’t want to be a cop. I didn’t have any interest in sitting in a car and driving around all day. I learned that police work is the backbone of law enforcement and had so much to offer.” As a relationship-driven person, she was excited to learn that officers can help people in the community. After graduation she completed a six-month law enforcement skills training program and is currently working as a security officer at St. Joseph’s Hospital. 26
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“I like my job a lot,” she said. “We do everything that cops do except we’re restricted to the hospital.” She brings compassion to her environment, even when dealing with aggressive or combative individuals. Prepared for real-life employment Matt Palumbo ’15, who will graduate soon with a degree in Criminal Justice and a Law Enforcement emphasis, spent his internship with the Minnetonka Police Department, working about 15 hours per week in the Investigations Division. He was responsible for helping with tasks related to detective work—data mining, doing inventory in the property room, transferring paper information to an online format. He participated in ride-alongs, getting experience on the street. “I’ve wanted to be a police officer ever since I was little,” he said. With his internship behind him, he now works part time as a community service officer for the Minnetonka Police Department. “I’m getting law enforcement experience, learning the geography of the city and getting to know the other cops.” He hopes to be hired full time when he graduates. “At Northwestern, we learned a lot about integrity,” he said, “and that’s a big thing with law enforcement. Being honest and taking responsibility for your actions transfers really well. I want to make good decisions and be a good example. I want to lead by example.” Emphasis on justice Whether the internships encourage students to stay in the field or move on, Hanson knows they are useful. “If they did a good job, those references are worth their weight in gold. Many of our students are hired by their agency after they graduate.” She asks her students to journal to evaluate their internships and assures them that “it’s okay to be uncomfortable.” She wants them to process their experiences and be aware of their biases so they treat every person according to the law. It is important, she says, to understand why people offend. Because of their faith, Northwestern students also consider how their work in criminal justice can impact social justice. “As Christians we are called to seek justice,” said Hanson. “I tell my students, ‘How you treat people is your witness.’”
Roseville Chief of Police Rick Mathwig is an important liaison for Northwestern’s Criminal Justice program. Senior Matt Palumbo and alum Lexi Marklowitz participated in internships with the Minnetonka and Roseville police departments, respectively.
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alumni Through the Years
2001 Sean and Elisa (Kerr ’01) Smith welcomed Joy Anna on August 24, 2014. Eric and Gretchen (McEvoy ’01) Ulferts welcomed Savannah Joy on May 23, 2014. 2003 Joshua ’03 and Holly (Fagerlie ’04) Carlson welcomed Kaily Grace on April 1, 2014. She joins Seth and Alec.
Kaily Grace Carlson
Peggy (Aasness) Skon 1955 Reverend Bill Fisher ’55 plays the grand piano in the main lobby at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN every Wednesday from 12–2 p.m. He invites Northwestern alumni and students to stop by and say hello, enjoy the gospel music or make a request. 1990 Peggy (Aasness ’90) Skon teaches second grade at St. Michael/ Albertville Big Woods Elementary. She was recently honored with the VFW Smart/Maher National Citizenship Education Teacher Award. It is presented to teachers who strive to instill citizenship and patriotism in their students, who demonstrate innovative teaching and who use unique resource
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development methods. Leading up to this award she was named the Palmer Lake Post 3915 Teacher of the Year and then the VFW State Minnesota K-5 Teacher of the Year. She currently resides in St. Michael, MN with her husband Brian. They have three children: Cameron (20), Allison (16) and Brennan (10). 1997 Greg ’97 and Sarah (Larson ’97) Schwitters welcomed Kailee Marie on May 17, 2014. She joins Kyle, Alyssa and Jaden. 1999 Britt and Chris (Peterka ’99) Moore welcomed Charles Richard on July 15, 2013. He joins Josephine.
The Schroeders Wade ’03 and Lauren (Riley ’02) Schroeder welcomed Haven Ellette and Jack Calloway on July 6, 2013. They join Max.
2004 Nate Young ’04, along with his wife Caroline Kent, received a grant from the Knight Foundation in September for their alternative art gallery, The Bindery Projects, in St. Paul. A program of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the St. Paul Knight Arts Challenge funds the best ideas for engaging and enriching St. Paul through the arts.
Fast Forward: Corey Gordon Years of attendance: 1985–1987 Hometown: South Korea and St. Anthony, Minnesota Current home: Dellwood, Minnesota Family: Wife: Kelly (Call ’93); Children: Natalie (13), Connor (11), Teyla (6) and Kieran (4) Current job title: Chief Marketing Officer, Feed the Children
Seeking a Life of Purpose The Hermans 2006 Greg ’06 and Emily (Heyer ’06) Herman welcomed Brady Samuel on February 14, 2014.
The Lansers Mike ’06 and Amy (Strandquist ’04) Lanser welcomed Kathryn Hope on October 31, 2013. She joins Rebekah and Sofia.
An American GI baby born in South Korea, Corey Gordon was abandoned by his parents. As a small boy, he roamed the streets, starving, cold and riddled with disease and parasites. Life seemed hopeless, filled only with suffering. Some might say he was lucky to be taken from the streets into an orphanage, lucky to be adopted into a Christian family from Minnesota. But Gordon says it wasn’t luck. It was God’s plan for his life. Multiple interests, divine intervention Gordon began his time at Northwestern with the intention of becoming a marine biologist. After moving to California to continue his studies, however, he began to seek success in the business world: “I was just working hard, climbing the corporate ladder.” Gordon did find success, eventually becoming the senior vice president of a banking company that catered exclusively to the wealthy. But a conversation with his wife about his frequent travel led Gordon to question his choices. He felt God asking, “Do you really think I would take you from the streets for this?” He realized, “There was a different purpose for me. I need[ed] to focus on a life of significance, not a life of success.” So he resigned from his job and pursued a new career in the nonprofit world. He now serves as the chief marketing officer for Feed the Children and uses his skills in business to help the organization tackle the root of the hunger problem around the world. His work helps countless children who today stand where he once stood—in poverty. Gordon said his life demonstrates “how God weaves our journeys and stories in ways that we couldn’t imagine. God has given us a life and experiences for a reason. We can choose to squander them or we can use them.” For more on Feed the Children, see feedthechildren.org.
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alumni
Fast Forward: Julie Lundberg ‘87
Nick and Amber (Wilson ’06) Kmoch welcomed Abigail Grace on July 18, 2014. She joins Aaron and Elliana.
2007 Tyler ’07 and Heidi (Stoltz ’10) Anderson welcomed Oscar Tyler on July 18, 2014.
Major: Secretarial Science and Bible Career: Human Resources Business Partner, Medtronic Hometown: Spring Lake Park, Minnesota Current Home: Blaine, Minnesota Family: Husband: Matt; Children: Calli (16), Lindsey (15)
Listening for God’s Voice Remembering her perspective on life in college, Julie Lundberg laughed. The first in her family to pursue a degree, the shy young woman entered Northwestern in 1985 with sights on a two-year degree and a one-track career. “I thought I was going to be a secretary for the rest of my life and be happy as a clam,” she recalled. Almost 30 years later, Lundberg is a human resources business partner at Medtronic, coordinating organizational structure for multiple company areas and helping navigate its recent landmark acquisition of Covidien. Veering a new direction After graduating in 1987, Lundberg started as a secretary at Honeywell and immediately felt underwhelmed. She went back to school and took a position in human resources at a small printing company. “At Northwestern I had a roommate who majored in HR, and somehow it stuck in my head,” she said. “I think it was God giving me a message.” Lundberg found her niche and built fifteen years of experience in the health care industry until she “felt God tap [her] on the shoulder” again, this time to go get her M.A. Life was full of family and working full time at Medtronic and she resisted, but eventually, she couldn’t ignore the nudge. “God and I made a deal. I said, ‘Okay, I’ll go back to school and remain open to where you want me.’” In June, Lundberg finished her master’s degree in human resources. She still relishes focused time with her husband and daughters, including “on deck” duties at Blaine High School swim team meets. They spend hours together poolside. Lundberg wonders what’s next. She is ready for however God wants to use her skills and experience. “I tell my daughters, ‘God talks to you all the time—you just have to stop and listen.’”
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Oscar Tyler Anderson
2010 Rhonda Morgan ’10 received a 2014 Upper Midwest Regional Emmy in September for her work as graphic designer and animator for the WCCO News team.
Benjamin and Andrea (Iverson ’07) Richter welcomed Aaron David on July 5, 2014. 2008 Ian ’08 and Janell (Erickson ’08) McNamara welcomed Tirzah Zoey on April 21, 2013. She joins Keziah.
Collin ’10 and Jessie Novotny welcomed Zachary Louis on May 3, 2014.
2009 Phil ’09 and Katie (Holt ’08) Buckles welcomed Andrew Peter on December 20, 2013. John Guidry ’09 is a middle school choral director at St. Croix Preparatory Academy in Stillwater, MN. His 7th and 8th grade Boys’ Choir was selected to perform at the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota (ACDA-MN) State Conference in November 2014.
2011 Levi Budd ’11 is codirector of the Chicago art gallery Julius Caesar. Caleb ’11 and Tara (Kubiszewski ’12) Hanson welcomed Brooke on August 4, 2014.
The Buckles
Adult and Graduate Studies Expand Lives The College of Adult & Graduate Studies at Northwestern offers programs designed for adults with already full lives. Marita Meinerts, director of Marketing & Communications, said UNW has created programs that are especially sensitive to the hectic lives of adults. “Our students are busy at work and also value being active in church and staying engaged with family and friends. Whether they’re completing an undergraduate degree or pursing a master’s, they need programs that work with their schedules and priorities.” Options include online and blended learning. Classes are academically excellent, biblically
grounded and convenient for adults thinking about their next job or career move. Anyone considering a return to school is invited to make an in-person visit or attend Information Night on December 8 at 6 p.m. More details are available online: unwsp.edu/ focus for FOCUS Adult Undergraduate or unwsp. edu/gradstudies for Graduate Studies. Or call 651-631-5200/888-362-8715
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alumni Alumni—Update Us!
Joshua ’11 and Stephanie Jackson welcomed Elizabeth Ann on December 12, 2013. Joshua graduated from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Kansas City, MO) with a master’s of divinity in May 2014. He began serving as associate pastor of Christian Education at Grace Baptist Church in Waterloo, IA in August 2014.
Let the UNW Alumni department know what’s going on in your world. Did you take a new job, attain a degree, get married or have a baby? Stay in touch with your professors and fellow alumni by sending the details and a photo so we can share your update in Pilot. Submit information to alumni@unwsp.edu.
Jon Meerdink ’11 received a 2nd place Large Market Newscast award from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association in April 2014. 2012 Ryan ’12 and Heidi (Goedeke ’05) Benbo welcomed Gwendolyn on February 26, 2014. James ’12 and Rebekah Coffman welcomed Bellamy on January 20, 2014. 2013 Rachel Tanner ’13 and Matthew Dykstra were married on June 20, 2014. 2014 Mandy (Potts ’14) Daniels welcomed Michael Daniels on July 12, 2014. Jesse Fleming ’14 auditioned for and was accepted into the Minnesota Chorale as a contracted alternate singer.
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Dick and Janice Levering
In Memory
Dick ’50 and Janice ’49 Levering wore the UNW T-shirts they received at the Minnesota State Fair from Greg Johnson ’05, assistant director of athletics for sports information and volunteer at the UNW State Fair booth.
The Northwestern community offers condolences to the families of alumni who have passed away. Harvey Sperry ’43 on April 6, 2014. Robert Banker ’55 on March 30, 2014.
On June 6, 2014—the 70th anniversary of D-Day—Chaplain (Captain) Jon Butler ’01 caught a photo op with First Lieutenant Jacob McLellan ’11 at the Normandy American Cemetery.
Jon Butler and Jacob McLellan
Reverend Charles R. Sandum ’57 on August 12, 2014.
Faculty Authors
Alumni Authors
Daryl N. Aaron, Ph.D., The 40 Most Influential Christians Who Shaped What We Believe Today (Bethany House, 2013).
Charles Gibson ’92, Taking the Cross (Koehler Books, 2014).
Kent Kaiser (ed.), Ph.D., Company Town: An Oral History about Life in Silver Bay, Minnesota, 1950s-1980s (Insight Publishing, 2012).
Douglas S. Huffman ’84, Ph.D., Verbal Aspect Theory and the Prohibitions in the Greek New Testament (Peter Lang International Academic Publishers, 2014).
Boyd V. Seevers, Ph.D., Warfare in the Old Testament: The Organization, Weapons, and Tactics of Ancient Near Eastern Armies (Kregel Academic, 2013).
Larry Siekawitch, Ph.D., The Uniqueness of the Bible: How to Help Jews, Muslims, Mormons, and Catholics Discover God’s Ultimate Source of Truth (CrossBooks, 2013).
George Langelett ’91, Ph.D., How Do I Keep My Employees Motivated? (River Grove Books, 2014).
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web extra: Get recipes and link to the Pinch of Yum blog at unwsp.edu/pilot/extra.
A High-Tech Recipe for Success By Nancy Zugschwert “My grandpa used to say, ‘If you want to make God laugh, tell Him what you’re going to do in five years,’” Lindsay (Mork ’08) Ostrom said, recounting the story of her journey from elementary school teacher to full-time food blogger. Five years ago “blog” was not even in her vocabulary. She graduated from Northwestern with dreams of becoming a teacher and landed a job teaching fourth grade in a Twin Cities school. She married her high school sweetheart, Bjork, and settled into newlywed life. Lindsay was regularly sharing recipes on Facebook when she realized that all of her friends might be getting tired of seeing what she ate every day. The idea of creating a blog was birthed. Bjork encouraged her. “Just start it and see if you like it.” She soon began to create her own recipes and learned photography techniques to make her creations and website (pinchofyum.com) look appealing. Bjork worked on the technical side, and the site began to generate modest revenue. Yearlong detour Two years into life working full time and blogging part time, the couple took a road to the Philippines and the Children’s Shelter of Cebu (CSC) orphanage from which three of Lindsay’s siblings had been adopted. When the CSC president called and asked if they would be willing to teach at the orphanage for one year, a “yes” seemed the right answer. “I was excited and also petrified,” Lindsay recalled. “We sold our cars, quit our jobs, got renters and raised the money for our salary for a year.”
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In the Philippines they balanced teaching, blogging and very different—and sometimes difficult—living conditions. “It was overload,” Lindsay said. “We were conflicted because we liked both of these worlds and were so thankful for that experience, but it’s humbling to be passionate about a cause yet realize that maybe you’re not the best person for that job.” Return and refocus The Ostroms returned to their Minnesota jobs and renewed their commitment to Pinch of Yum, realizing that God could use their passion and gifts to have impact in the blogosphere. The increasing success of the blog allowed both Lindsay and Bjork to leave their “day jobs” last June. In a section of the blog where they share income and traffic stats with readers, Bjork noted that Pinch of Yum had seen more than one million users and upwards of two million page views in September. “Now blogging is my full-time job and we are traveling around the U.S. giving seminars,” Lindsay said. “It is a passion I didn’t know I had, and we are privileged to see how God is working in personal stories and hearts all around the globe.” With her grandfather’s wisdom in mind, Lindsay is cautious about making predictions for what’s next. “Things can happen and change quickly,” she said. “Whatever we are doing, we want to be moving in the direction of purposeful work and a big vision for God’s work in the world.”
No secret ingredients
PHOTOS courtesy of PINCH OF YUM
Pinch of Yum bloggers Lindsay and Bjork Ostrom are sought-after experts to those interested in developing their own food blogs. They readily share the ingredients of their success for anyone starting a blog or new endeavor: • Just start. Keep it open from the beginning and focus on what you enjoy about your topic. You can’t change and make it better until you start. Your writing and business will change and grow as you change and grow. • • Always try to think bigger about what’s next. In five years you could be in a place you couldn’t imagine. • People don’t need three new recipes a week, but they do need personal connections. Develop a mindset that seeks deep connectivity with readers. • In Bjork’s words: “Remember that the goal isn’t to arrive somewhere. We’re there. The destination isn’t the prize, the process is. All of us are currently (and forever will be) in the middle of the process. We’ll never ‘get there’ [so] fall in love with the process, not the allure of the destination, whatever you imagine that to be.”
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Prior to opening night onstage at Maranatha Hall, the cast of Oliver! gathered for final rehearsals. Actors, musicians and practitioners of stagecraft (set design and construction, lighting, sound, costuming, makeup, props) pooled their talents to bring the theatrical production to life.
“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.