��߲ݴ�ý, Author at Augsburg Now

Congratulations to Auggies Named to the 2026 Spring Semester Dean’s List

��߲ݴ�ý — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:52:38 +0000

More than 900 ��߲ݴ�ý undergraduate students were named to the 2026 Fall Semester Dean’s List. The ��߲ݴ�ý Dean’s List recognizes those full-time students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and those part-time students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.75 or higher in a given term.

Students who wish to notify their hometown newspapers of their achievement can do so at their discretion using a .

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In the media: Augsburg featured in PBS News Hour’s ‘Rethinking College’ series

��߲ݴ�ý — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:13:42 +0000

PBS News Hour recently visited Augsburg to explore the impacts on college students from the federal administration’s mass deportation campaign. Special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro spoke with President Paul Pribbenow and Eva Skipwith ’26 about what it meant to pursue a college education during Operation Metro Surge.

Watch via PBS News:

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Violins of Hope to visit ��߲ݴ�ý in June

��߲ݴ�ý — Fri, 29 May 2026 18:12:50 +0000

��߲ݴ�ý invites the public to “Voices of Hope and Resilience” on June 23, an afternoon and evening of public events featuring the . Thanks to the generosity of Regent Emerita Diane Jacobson and Paul Jacobson, Augsburg’s Music Department in the Schwartz School of the Arts will host a symposium, chamber concert, community dinner, and orchestra concert centered on Jewish-themed music in remembrance of the millions of Jews murdered during the Holocaust. These events are presented by the Minnesota JCC in partnership with Augsburg, the Minnesota Sinfonia, and the University of Minnesota.

The Violins of Hope touring collection highlights restored string instruments that survived the Holocaust to tell the stories of those who played, hid, carried, and saved them. Today, the instruments serve as powerful symbols of remembrance and resilience. CBS Saturday Morning about the Violins of Hope on May 9, including interviews with renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman and Mark Bergman, professor of music and artist in residence at Augsburg.��

June 23: Voices of Hope and Resilience

2–5 p.m. Symposium and Chamber Music Concert
5–6:30 p.m. Cocktail Hour and Dinner
6:45 p.m. Pre-Concert Lecture
7:30 p.m. Minnesota Sinfonia Concert

Location: Foss Center and Anderson Music Hall, ��߲ݴ�ý

All events are free and open to the public, but space is limited. All are welcome. ��

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Augsburg PA program name change reflects evolving profession

��߲ݴ�ý — Tue, 19 May 2026 19:41:58 +0000

Augsburg has long led Minnesota in what was formerly known as physician assistant studies, having established the first PA program and the first PA doctoral degree in the state. Now, the PA program has a new name and departmental home: the Physician Associate Program, part of a newly created Department of Physician Associate Medicine.��

The name change aligns Augsburg’s programs with the professional title adopted nationally by the PA profession—a shift that aims to more accurately reflect PAs’ scope of practice, credentials, and role in delivering high-quality health care. The change will ensure consistency with professional standards and accreditation, while positioning Augsburg to support broader efforts across the state to modernize PA terminology in legislation and public understanding.

“The transition from “assistant” to “associate” reflects the modern role of PAs as collaborative, highly trained medical professionals who practice medicine as part of health care teams,” said Associate Professor Vanessa Bester, director of Augsburg’s School of Health. “This change reflects Augsburg’s ongoing commitment to leadership and innovation in health professions education.”��

The change also brings together Augsburg’s Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies and Doctor of Medical Science degrees into a combined department. The Doctor of Medical Science program, launched in Fall 2025, advances practicing PAs’ leadership expertise in education, research, and health care administration.

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��߲ݴ�ý is a Gilman 25th Anniversary Top Producing Institution

��߲ݴ�ý — Thu, 14 May 2026 18:23:11 +0000

This spring, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs named ��߲ݴ�ý a top producing institution for supporting many Gilman recipients over the past 25 years in the “small institutions” category. Over 90 Augsburg students have used Gilman awards toward a study abroad experience since 2001.

“The Study Abroad and Away Office is committed to making study abroad as affordable and accessible as possible, and the Gilman Scholarship plays a critical role in that mission,” said Sarah Morgan, study abroad and away advisor for Augsburg’s Center for Global Education and Experience. “We offer information sessions, writing workshops, and advising support to help Auggies submit strong, competitive applications.”

Established in 2001, the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program has made study abroad more accessible and inclusive by providing scholarships to outstanding U.S. undergraduate students who, due to financial constraints, might not otherwise participate. Since the program’s inception, more than 50,000 Gilman Scholars have studied or interned in more than 170 countries.��

“While we’re proud to be named a Top-Producing Institution, the real credit belongs to our students, who dedicate significant time and effort to earning this prestigious scholarship,” Morgan said. “We’re honored by this recognition and look forward to supporting even more Auggies as they pursue study abroad through the Gilman Scholarship Program.”

To learn more about Gilman Scholarships, visit . The Gilman competition is administered at Augsburg through the Center for Global Education and Experience.

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In the media: Sahan Journal highlights Augsburg’s resilience during Operation Metro Surge

��߲ݴ�ý — Tue, 12 May 2026 19:55:22 +0000

This week, Sahan Journal an in-depth look at Augsburg’s experience during and after Operation Metro Surge. Drawing on the voices of students, staff, faculty, and administrators, the article traces the community’s response to a challenging year.��

Reporter Becky Dernbach wrote that President Paul Pribbenow has spent the last few months sharing the story of Augsburg’s response to Operation Metro Surge—supporting both students and the larger community—with university presidents throughout the country.

“I’ve been very careful to say, we’re hoping you don’t have to face this,” Pribbenow said. “But there still are important lessons here about how a community can come together no matter what the challenge is.”

He noted that students came back at a time when it would have been easy to stay away, and the school was able to continue its mission of education.

“It’s not just what we did on campus, but it’s also how we embraced our neighbors,” he said. “It could have gone in very different directions if people had not been supported, or they were too frightened to be here.”

Read the article via Sahan Journal:

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Zair Hashi ’26 receives Fulbright to teach in Uruguay

��߲ݴ�ý — Thu, 07 May 2026 18:01:38 +0000

��߲ݴ�ý is proud to announce that psychology major Zair Hashi ’26 has been selected as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant to Uruguay for 2026–27. The English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Programs place Fulbrighters in classrooms abroad to provide assistance to the local English teachers, while serving as cultural ambassadors for the U.S. “Winning a Fulbright can be life-changing, opening up new experiences, connections, and opportunities,” said Jacqueline deVries, professor of history and Augsburg’s Fulbright program advisor.

While Hashi’s eventual professional goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in pediatric neuropsychology, he’s drawn to teaching and mentoring young people and sees this opportunity in Uruguay to provide invaluable experience in a global environment. “For me, this opportunity connects directly to my long-term interest in understanding how culture and environment shape the brain and behavior, especially in clinical settings,” Hashi said. “I see it as a chance to step outside of a purely academic perspective and actually learn from a different system and community in a real, grounded way.”

Hashi became particularly interested in Uruguay’s program when he first learned about the country’s strong��educational system, varied population, and cultural life during a Spanish class he took three years ago. He appreciates Uruguay’s commitment to providing free, compulsory education and the programs designed to meet students’ technological needs across the country. He’s eager to learn more about the country’s traditions and festivals highlighting different aspects of Uruguayan culture. “Seeing Uruguay create and nurture spaces that celebrate identity and community reflects values I also admire in the United States,” Hashi said.

As a child of immigrant parents, Hashi said he empathizes with students from diverse backgrounds and can adapt his teaching style to create an inclusive learning environment, even in another country. He grew up in the Twin Cities suburbs, playing sports, joining clubs, and volunteering. When his family traveled to Kenya to take care of his ill grandmother, Hashi adapted to a Kenyan classroom with different expectations and cultural norms. As a Muslim student attending a Christian-affiliated university, interfaith understanding has been part of his everyday life. Additionally, English is Hashi’s second language; he remembers what it was like to learn more than one language during childhood and expects to bring aspects of that experience to his time in Uruguay, especially as he learns from the students in his classrooms.

“I aim to be a living example to them that there isn’t just one way to learn a language,” Hashi said. “In return, I hope they can show me their language and their culture. I hope they can share with me the joys of Spanish outside my textbooks and share with me Uruguayan culture so that I can enjoy it with them.”

Hashi made a strong impression on Augsburg’s Campus Committee Evaluation team—a group of academic professionals who recommended him for the ETA program.

“Zair Hashi is one of the most delightful students I have met in my 30 years of teaching,” deVries said. “Every encounter with him reveals a new story and layer of experience, all of which he recounts with joyful enthusiasm. He is an excellent student, but even more, he brings a collaborative spirit. Zair listens to those around him and seeks to understand.” Established in 1946 as an investment in global peace and American prosperity through educational and cultural exchange, the prestigious Fulbright Program has provided nearly 450,000 students, scholars, scientists, professionals, teachers, scientists, and artists with opportunities to study, conduct research, and teach in over 160 countries and territories around the world. ��Learn more about Augsburg’s strong record of Fulbright awardees over the years.

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‘Baby Shark’ contest showcases student innovation

��߲ݴ�ý — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:55:41 +0000

First-place winner Max Milbrandt ’26

Eleven student groups, representing 35 Augsburg students, had a rare opportunity on April 24 to pitch their entrepreneurial ideas to a panel of judges in the spring “Baby Shark” contest.

Modeled after the reality TV series “Shark Tank,” the competition gives students from Augsburg’s School of Business the chance to present business ideas, make the case for investment, and compete for prize money.

“Each of the presentations was very good,” said Kyle Wheaton ’99, one of the judges. “The students are doing a nice job. From an investment standpoint, the ideas were strong opportunities, but investors are also looking for a broader market that can support long-term success.”

The second-place team composed of all seniors—Sena Dangul ’26, Samia Ahmed ’26, Hodan Huran ’26, and Sumeya Mahamed ’26—shared a $2,000 prize for their pitch of K-Mall, a digital app designed for Karmel Mall in Minneapolis. The mall serves diverse communities and includes a wide range of retail businesses, but lacks wayfinding. Dangul said the competition format helped the team to narrow their focus on the business opportunity. In fact, they have already spoken with the mall owner about putting the idea into action. Judges offered advice on pricing, customer acquisition, and how to strengthen the business model.

Like K-Mall, the first-place concept, Pardon Our Produce, aims to solve a community problem. Developed by Max Milbrandt ’26, the idea addresses what happens to misshapen or expired produce that grocery stores can no longer sell.

Milbrandt, who has worked at Aldi for the past few years, said the experience led him to ask what more could be done with food that might otherwise go to landfills. His proposal would use two refrigerated vans to collect unsold produce and deliver it to nearby food shelves in the Seward, Powderhorn, and Riverside communities.

Milbrandt said he was thrilled to receive the first-place prize of $3,000.

Learn more about how the Augsburg School of Business cultivates entrepreneurship.

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Augsburg to celebrate the class of 2026 at commencement on May 7

��߲ݴ�ý — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 21:17:25 +0000

��߲ݴ�ý will celebrate the class of 2026 at an in-person commencement ceremony at US Bank Stadium on Thursday, May 7. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the ceremony begins at 6:00 p.m.

Augsburg’s commencement ceremony includes an address by a student speaker and the presentation of two student awards. The Richard J. Thoni Award is given to one member of the graduating class whose actions, commitments, and future aspirations represent commitments to community, hospitality, and innovation. The Marina Christensen Justice Award is given to one member of the senior class whose actions, commitments, and future aspirations most profoundly exemplify Augsburg’s motto: “Education for Service.”��

The ceremony recognizes candidates in Augsburg’s three doctoral, nine master’s, and three bachelor’s degree programs:

Doctor of Clinical Psychology
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Doctor of Medical Science
Master of Arts in Education��
Master of Arts in Teaching
Master of Arts in Leadership
Master of Arts in Nursing
Master of Business Administration��
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Master of Music Therapy
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Master of Social Work
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Science

Flags displayed at commencement represent sovereign nations of American Indian students and countries of the international students graduating in the ceremony.

Tickets are required to attend in person, but the ceremony will also be livestreamed via and commencement website. Follow the celebration through the hashtag #AuggieGrad on all social media platforms, where students will be sharing images of the celebration.

For more information, including accessibility information, visit the commencement website.

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Augsburg Family Scholars featured on national podcast

��߲ݴ�ý — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:51:50 +0000

Tim Pippert and Savannah Mitchell

Tim Pippert, Augsburg’s Joel Torstenson endowed professor of sociology, and Graduate Assistant Savannah Mitchell recently highlighted Augsburg Family Scholars on the “.” Created by the University of Pennsylvania Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice, and Research—the podcast explores the pathways, resources, and relationships that empower older youth in foster care as they navigate the journey into adulthood.��

Pippert developed Augsburg Family Scholars for young people with foster care backgrounds to find community and support on their education journey. In the podcast, Mitchell highlights the , an initiative in Minnesota that pays for the cost of college tuition for students with foster care experience to reduce disparities faced by this population when pursuing higher education. Augsburg Family Scholars’ holistic approach provides financial resources, academic mentoring, and community building to student participants.

“Augsburg Family Scholars works here because it takes an entire campus to do this really well,” Pippert says in the podcast. “We work with admissions. When admissions sees a student who identifies with having a foster care background, they let us know so we can reach out to them. When students have an issue with financial aid, we send them to WonWon Bjorklund in student financial services, and WonWon answers their questions, not a random person behind the counter. When we have an academic advising issue, Julie Froslan Ferralez takes care of it. Julie advises all of our scholars. Like WonWon, like Stephanie Ruckel and Stacey Severson in Admissions—they’re just wonderful people.”

Listen to of the 2026 Field Center Aging Out Podcasts.

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���߲ݴ�ý, Author at Augsburg Now