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Augsburg named one of five finalists for national interfaith award

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HigherEdHonorRollAugsburg College was one of five finalists named to the prestigious President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction in the interfaith and community service category.

This is the fifth time that the College has been named to the top tier of recognition—the honor roll with distinction—for this prominent national award. More than 500 schools vied for the 2014 award that celebrates outstanding achievements in and commitment to interfaith and community service work.

In 2010, Augsburg took top honors from among a field of 850 applicants. Read about this campus accomplishment in the story “Augsburg College earns Presidential Award for service learning and community service.”

Dave Conrad says to take criticism with a grain of salt

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PostBulletinDave Conrad, Augsburg College’s assistant director of the Rochester MBA program, wrote in his most recent Rochester Post-Bulletin column about the tendency to be over-defensive and why it’s sometimes hard to accept criticism, positive or negative, from others. “…we must be sensitive to our emotions and realize how our emotions affect our thinking,” Conrad said.

Read “Before you get defensive, take breath” for more tips on how to be more open to feedback.

Board of Regents unanimously renews President Pribbenow’s contract through 2021

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Paul C. PribbenowThe Augsburg College Board of Regents, in its October meeting, unanimously voted to renew the contract of President Paul C. Pribbenow for another six-year term.

“In these volatile times in higher education, we are blessed to have Paul Pribbenow as our president,” said Paul S. Mueller, M.D., ’84 and chair of the Board of Regents. “We agree with the comprehensive review that shows that Paul brings exceptional intelligence, commitment, energy, and integrity to his work, and he continues to grow in effectiveness.”

In a letter to the Augsburg College community, Mueller also said that Pribbenow’s renewal was based upon multiple factors, including a comprehensive review that included input from more than 120 faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, partners, and community leaders, as well as Pribbenow’s response to the review and his accomplishments over the past several years.

Since joining Augsburg in 2006, Pribbenow has enhanced the College’s role as an active community partner in its urban setting. In that time, the College has achieved national recognition for its excellence in service learning, experiential education, and interfaith service. Pribbenow also has become a leader among the 26 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), helping to articulate the gifts shaping and supporting Lutheran higher education in the 21st century. Pribbenow has led Augsburg College in the development of new mission and strategic vision statements that anchor the institution’s priorities and initiatives, shaping the College’s strategic plan, Augsburg 2019. He has advanced the College’s top priority—a state-of-the-art education center housing academic programs in science, business, and religion, among others—and has played key roles in cultivating donor relationships and in attaining the largest philanthropic gift in Augsburg College history.

The contract between the Augsburg College and Pribbenow runs through 2021. Pribbenow is the 10th president of Augsburg College, a private liberal arts college associated with the ELCA and located in Minneapolis, and is recognized as one of the country’s most engaging commentators and teachers on ethics, philanthropy, and American public life. Learn more about his work and presidency.

Augsburg College Media Experts: Halloween, Elections

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Origins of Halloween: Phil Adamo, associate professor of Medieval History

Phil Adamo, an associate professor of Medieval History at Augsburg College, is available to address by phone and/or on camera the:

  • Origins of Halloween as a pagan harvest festival
  • Historic reasons people wore Halloween costumes and had bonfires
  • Myth-busting whether Halloween was/is Satanic, a belief held by some Christian groups at various times throughout history

Elections: Andy Aoki, professor of political science

Andy AokiAndy Aoki regularly provides commentary to members of print and broadcast media on issues related to elections. Aoki is available this election week to offer comment on stories that include perspective on minority politics including:

  • Asian-American politics
  • Inter-racial coalitions
  • Multiculturalism

Learn more about Aoki at http://staging-augsburgwww.kinsta.cloud/faculty/aoki/

Interviews

To arrange interviews with Adamo or Aoki, please contact Stephanie Weiss, director of news and media services, at 612.330.1476 or by email at weisss@augsburg.edu.

About Augsburg College

Augsburg College is set in a vibrant neighborhood at the heart of the Twin Cities, and offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate degrees to nearly 4,000 students of diverse backgrounds. Augsburg College educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. The Augsburg experience is supported by an engaged community committed to intentional diversity in its life and work. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings.

Augsburg’s StepUP program receives media mention

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MinnPostScott Washburn, assistant director for Augsburg College’s StepUP program was mentioned on Minnpost.com.

The StepUP program, which aims to help students with histories of addiction thrive on campus, was mentioned as part of an article about P.E.A.S.E. Academy, which is a similar local program at the high school level.

Washburn, who is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, said that the biggest threat for students dealing with addiction is being around their nearest and dearest on campus. “We know from research as well as experience that the No. 1 relapse trigger is the influence of peers,” Washburn said. 

Visit the MinnPost website to read the article. Learn more about StepUP on its program site.

Star Tribune features Midnimo partnership

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Minneapolis Star TribuneThe Cedar Cultural Center will host a free concert by Taleex Band on October 31 as part of the Midnimo series, a two-year partnership with Augsburg College to build cross-cultural awareness, knowledge, and understanding of Somali culture through music. The Star Tribune recently promoted the show and Midnimo programming in the article, “Twin Cities band Taleex raises voices for Somali pride.” As noted in the article, the Taleex performance also will include sets by non-Somali groups. Bob’s Band, a brass jazz group led by long-time Augsburg College Music Department faculty member Bob Stacke ’71 and comprised of several Augsburg alumni and current students, will augment Taleex Band’s sets.

Augsburg hosts Oct. 28 debate for office of Secretary of State

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WHO and WHAT: A debate between all four candidates for the Minnesota Secretary of State will be held at Augsburg College. Candidates include: Bob Helland (Independence), Bob Odden (Libertarian), Dan Severson (Republican), and State Rep. Steve Simon (DFL). Moderator will be Judy Duffy of the Minnesota League of Women Voters.

WHEN: 7 p.m., Oct. 28

WHERE: Hoversten Chapel, Augsburg College

DIRECTIONS: Hoversten Chapel is located between 22nd Ave. S. and 23rd Ave. S. on Riverside Ave. A map of campus is available here.

LIVESTREAM: Video of the forum will be livestreamed on TheUptake.org during the event. After the event, video will be available on the League of Women Voters Minnesota YouTube page.

BACKGROUND: The debate is a partnership  between Augsburg College’s Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship and the Minnesota League of Women voters.

The event is co-sponsored by the Minnesota League of Women Voters. Minnesota Public Radio’s The Uptake wrote about “17 Debates that Could Determine Minnesota’s Future” in a recent online article. Read more on The UpTake website.

Kuoth Wiel ’13 gains wealth of media coverage

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GoodLie
Courtesy image

Augsburg College alumna Kuoth Wiel ’13, a star in the feature film “The Good Lie,” has garnered a plethora of media coverage. The film, which was released in Minnesota Oct. 17, has been well received and is generating Oscar buzz.  Augsburg has received several media mentions thanks to Wiel since she was a student at the College when she auditioned for the role.

The film brings to life a fictional yet strikingly accurate story of the ‘Lost Boys’ of Sudan. Born in a refugee camp in Ethiopia to Sudanese parents herself, it’s no surprise Wiel found it important to help tell this story. Being a part of the film “…validated all the struggles we had went through,” Wiel said in an MPR news interview.

Wiel has been traveling around the U.S. promoting the film since its September debut at the Toronto Film Festival. The film, along with Wiel and her cast mates, have been featured and covered by media outlets ranging from Minneapolis’ Star Tribune to Rolling Stone magazine.

Below is a list of some of the local and national media coverage on Wiel:

Dave Conrad: Embrace constructive conflict

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PostBulletinAugsburg College’s Dave Conrad, assistant director of the Rochester MBA program, wrote in his most recent column for the Rochester Post-Bulletin about finding the right balance between the need to deal with conflict and the instinct to avoid it. Read “Embrace constructive conflict” for details on how effective debate can spur innovation in the workplace.

Minnesota Secretary of State candidates debate at Augsburg

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One week before the general election, Augsburg College hosts the fall Sabo Symposium, a debate between the four candidates running for the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Bob Helland, Bob Odden, Dan Severson, and State Rep. Steve Simon will square off at 7 p.m., October 28, in Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center. The event is co-sponsored by the Minnesota League of Women Voters.

Several media outlets have mentioned Augsburg’s role as host of the Minnesota Secretary of State debate. Visit the following media websites to learn more:

MPR News

Twin Cities Daily Planet

  • “17 debates that could determine Minnesota’s future