The Augsburg Podcast features voices of 含羞草视频 faculty and staff. We hope this is one way you can get to know the people who educate our students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.聽
A few months ago, when Ross Murray 鈥00/M.B.A. 鈥09 received a letter to his office at , he was astonished to discover he was about to be granted an award. He had been selected by Wartburg Theological Seminary to receive the Living Loehe Award, honoring his work on behalf of LGBTQ communities through GLAAD, the Naming Project, and several other LGBTQ programs. Overwhelmed by what he calls a “huge honor,” he traveled to Dubuque to receive the award at Wartburg鈥檚 commencement. The award, established in 1973, honors individuals who have given distinguished service to and through the church, and exemplify Christ鈥檚 call to be disciples in the context of their own daily lives and professional commitments.
Murray has worked with GLAAD for eight years directing a variety of programs, including religion, global, the U.S. South, and news. Currently senior director of education and training at the GLAAD Media Institute, he works with various aspects of the media world鈥攁dvocates and activists (helping them to engage the media as a tool for LGBTQ advocacy); the media industry (advising on how to be fair, accurate, and inclusive in their stories); and corporations (helping them to be effective allies to the LGBTQ community). Each workday is different from the previous one, and Murray鈥檚 tasks range from reviewing a script, to screening a film, to developing curriculum, to providing one-on-one messaging to highly visible individuals, to leading courses and workshops鈥攖o name a few.
In addition to his responsibilities with GLAAD, Murray is the founding director of , a faith-based ministry serving youth of all sexual and gender identities. Similar to a Lutheran Bible camp, the Minnesota-based summer youth camp has attracted over 200 campers from across the country, and continues to provide a safe place for youth to comfortably discuss faith and how they understand themselves in relation to God and the rest of the world. The coffee house talent show is always a highlight, and it gives campers a unique opportunity to express care and support for fellow campers鈥攆ully aware of the importance of feeling included. Murray has been part of The Naming Project since it began 15 years ago, and has been gratified to see many young insecure campers grow into outspoken leaders and advocates.
Prior to his work with GLAAD, Murray worked with the Youth and Family Institute, 含羞草视频, and ReconcilingWorks. Throughout these experiences, faith identity and vocation have been central to his work, and he has often found himself returning to a mantra that he heard over and over from Dr. David Anderson in his Augsburg Youth & Family Ministry classes鈥攖hat 鈥渕inistry is about personal trusted relationships.鈥 The repetition of that phrase must have worked because the mantra has become increasingly meaningful to Murray in his ministry and advocacy, and he sees it as key to building bridges of tolerance and acceptance.
Murray explains the mantra: 鈥淔or people to care about you and want good things to happen for you, they need to know you personally and intimately鈥攏ot a caricature or stereotype or label, but the actual you.鈥 And that means listening to them, sharing your own story, and offering the gift of vulnerability鈥攐f being known. Though time-consuming, the bond that can result from this kind of ministry has greater potential to be deeper and more durable than the connections we make on social media or through our fast-information, media-driven connections. And though a 鈥減ersonal trusted relationship鈥 demands much from each person, the bond is harder to break.
At Augsburg, Murray was a Youth & Family Ministry major, and he feels that his experiences there helped him to be the advocate he is today. He is especially grateful to the Religion Department, and in particular to Janelle Bussert, who encouraged him to create a welcome statement for Augsburg鈥檚 Campus Ministry program鈥攁 statement that resulted in adding the Campus Ministry program to the roster of Reconciling in Christ congregations and ministry settings, which let it be known that people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome to worship and participate. A few years later, Augsburg became the first Reconciling in Christ University.
After earning his B.A. from Augsburg, Murray earned an M.A. in Christian Education from Luther Seminary, as well as an M.B.A. from Augsburg; and in 2016 he was consecrated as a deacon in the ELCA. His synodically authorized Call was to do LGBTQ advocacy through GLAAD鈥攁 reality made possible only 10 years ago by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly when it voted to open the ministry to clergy in same-gender relationships and other professional workers living in committed relationships.
In 2017, Murray celebrated his 40th birthday with a party at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. He chose the Stonewall because of its significance as the site where the modern LGBTQ movement is seen to have begun 50 years ago, when members of the gay community rioted and staged a three-day protest to urge the NYPD to maintain peaceful and quiet conduct on the streets. To Murray, the Stonewall protests and the ELCA policy shift are watershed events鈥攁nd are reminders of what it means to be part of a 鈥渓iving history.鈥 Much has been done, but much remains to be done.
In April 2016, the same month that Murray was consecrated as a deacon at Advent Lutheran Church in New York City, he married Richard Garnett in the same church. Richard is also an Auggie, having received his B.A. in 2007 and his M.B.A. in 2009.
A native of Littlefork, Minnesota, a small town near the Canadian border, Murray is amused that a boy whose home had no telephone until he was a junior in high school now finds himself living and working in a bustling metropolis like New York City, surrounded by a remarkable mix of people. And he loves it.
Murray recently returned from Thailand, a country he first visited 20 years ago with Augsburg Professor Emeritus Brad Holt, who was leading a J-term class entitled, 鈥淏uddhism and Christianity in Thailand: Spirituality and Dialog.鈥 This time around, Murray has been working on sabbatical projects鈥攎ost notably, a book about The Naming Project. Stay tuned for word of its completion.
鈥攂y Cheryl Crockett 鈥89
The Augsburg Podcast features voices of 含羞草视频 faculty and staff. We hope this is one way you can get to know the people who educate our students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.聽
Augsburg currently has 25 employment opportunities posted on our online jobs board.
If you are the type of person who would enjoy working in a mission-driven environment and you are looking for an opportunity to become part of a diverse campus community, please apply!
“It’s incredibly exciting, enriching, and rewarding to be a part of the vibrant Augsburg community. The University is a microcosm of all that’s happening across the globe; the stories I hear from alumni, students, and parents never cease to inspire.”聽鈥 Kevin Vollmers,聽Director of Leadership Gifts
Alumni, parents, and friends of Augsburg are encouraged to consider these openings and to refer candidates who may be a great match.
“Coming back and working for Augsburg is like coming home; it’s a place that is not only familiar but there’s an innate sense of calm and a high comfortableness knowing that you are working for a place that you already believe in, trust in, and feel yourself at.” 鈥 Shonna Fulford ’09, Associate Director, Undergraduate 含羞草视频
“The hype is true. Since I鈥檝e started, I鈥檝e had friends reach out to me and ask if the growth and recognition Augsburg is getting is all real. Sure, the campus has changed, but all the changes feel right and good and in service of our students. The opportunities that our students now have are so exciting and it’s gratifying to see Augsburg thriving. It feels authentically Augsburg. Meeting with students even in the limited way that I do, fills me with immense pride.” 鈥 Katie (Koch) Code ’01, Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations
“As comfortable as I was on campus as a student, I鈥檓 even more comfortable as a staff member because of the progress we’ve made. I鈥檓 very proud to be an alumnus and even more so to be a staff member because of the initiatives we take. I get to see those initiatives in action on a daily basis.” 鈥 Scott Cooper ’13, Alumni Engagement Manager
All available positions are posted online. Applicants must fill out the online application and submit their resume to be considered for a position. Go to Employment Opportunities to view our most current available positions.
含羞草视频 is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, military service, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete our application process, please contact our Human Resources Department at phone number: 612-330-1058 or email: hr@augsburg.edu.
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This might seem odd that a person living in Minneapolis, Minnesota would develop such an interest with a town of a little over 5,000 people located in the Bavarian Alps, but believe me, this place is truly fascinating.
2 years ago, I had the opportunity to travel with Augsburg to Germany/Lutherland and as a pastor’s kid and grandchild of German immigrants, I left Germany with amazing experiences, new friends, and a deeper understanding of myself.
I鈥檓 downright giddy as I look toward traveling again in July 2020 with some of the same friends, to places I’ve never been before and to take advantage of the opportunity to experience the world-famous Oberammergau Passion Play.
I graduated from Augsburg with a Theater degree and all of my work previous to my time at Augsburg has been in theater. I met my husband when we were both on staff at the Guthrie Theater.
To me, the Oberammergau Passion Play is an ultimate theatrical event. It鈥檚 impressive, unique, and moving…its like seeing Ibsen in Norway. Oh wait. That’s another blog post.
Since subscribing to the newsletter, I’ve learned the following about this town-wide production:
This trip to Germany as well as three trips to Norway, are truly uniquely Augsburg experiences. I would love to tell you more about this and all of our Sesquicentennial Heritage trips. Please look for subsequent blogs about the trips, check out the itineraries which can be found on the Alumni Travel Web Page, or feel free to reach out to me directly, I would love to chat with you about any of the trips codek@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1178.
Happy Travels!
Katie (Koch) Code ’01
Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations
Editor鈥檚 note: The All-School Reunion has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (updated October 13, 2020)
We are so thankful for the 155 enthusiastic volunteers who have committed to helping us plan Augsburg鈥檚 first-ever All-School Reunion. Their involvement is crucial to our journey ahead. During our first volunteers meeting on May 20, it was exciting to witness old friendships and developing relationships among Auggies from the Classes of 1955 to 2020 — and that鈥檚 why reunions matter!
Volunteers are the core this upcoming year, and our work is not only more fun but exponentially strengthened by their participation and input. Our volunteers help us with Homecoming 2020鈥檚 schedule, entertainment, venues, marketing and more. We look forward to diving into all of this over the next 15 months to make this Sesquicentennial year the most epic one at Augsburg to date.
If you are interested in joining the following group of volunteers, please contact Katie (Koch) Code 鈥01 at codek@augsburg.edu or call 612-330-1178.
We have plenty of work to do, and we look forward to hearing from you!
Annika Hegrenes 鈥20
Joseph 聽Amrhein 鈥19
Eli Baker 鈥19
Willie Giller 鈥19
Grace Lindgren 鈥19
Brandon Williams 鈥19
Gabriel Bergstrom 鈥18
Abe Johnson 鈥18
Kevin Tran 鈥18
John Boyd 鈥17
Megan Carrell 鈥17
Thomas Kukowski 鈥17
Chau Nguyen 鈥17
Jack Swift 鈥17
Lauren Hurley 鈥16
Jaquan Kline 鈥16
Atlese Robinson 鈥16
Reies Romero 鈥16
Nadine Ashby 鈥15
Kendall Christian 鈥15
Nikolas Linde 鈥15
Hassan Sankoh 鈥15
Felecia Zahner 鈥15
Lia Capaldini 鈥14
Jasmine Grika 鈥14
Gary 聽Mariscal 鈥14
Katie Nelson 鈥14
Zaurean Nickens 鈥14
Jakkee-Patricia Phillips 鈥14
Patrick DuSchane 鈥13
Alyssa Fichter 鈥13
Beau Hansen 鈥13
Kris Vick 鈥13, MAE
Helen Truax 鈥12, MBA
Evan Decker 鈥12
Fardosa Hassan 鈥12
Lauren Lesser 鈥12
Aldo Lopez 鈥12
Shane Pantila 鈥12
Katie Radford 鈥12
Marty Wyatt 鈥12
Alex Beeby 鈥11
Laura Lou DuSchane 鈥11
Lucreshia Grant 鈥11
Van Hong 鈥11
Seth Lienard 鈥11
Ted Nielsen 鈥11
Lani Roldan 鈥11
Quinton Stibbins 鈥11
Kennitra Terrell 鈥11
Stefani 聽Zappa 鈥11
Irene Abdullah 鈥10
Taylor Davis 鈥10
Joshua Holmgren 鈥10
Matthew McEnery 鈥10
Jill Watson 鈥10
Shonna Fulford 鈥09
Raymond Kidd 鈥09
Agnes Kigwana 鈥09
Caitlin Lienard 鈥09
Derek Francis 鈥08
Joshua Harris 鈥08
Bryan Ludwig 鈥08
Brian 聽Bambenek 鈥07
Erik Helgerson 鈥07
Maria Helgerson 鈥07
Charlie Scott 鈥07
Babette Chatman 鈥05
Hannah Dietrich 鈥05
Sheryl Wallace-Holman 鈥05
Mel Lee 鈥04
Mathew J. Shannon 鈥04
Jamie E. Smith 鈥04
Jarret Howard 鈥03
Nick Rathmann 鈥03
Brent Peroutka 鈥02
Nick B. Slack 鈥02
Erica Bryan-Wegner 鈥01
Erica Huls 鈥01
Jason 聽Beckendorf 鈥00
Kirsten Kelly 鈥00
Stephanie Lein Walseth 鈥00
Ross Murray 鈥00
Meg Schmidt Sawyer 鈥00
Brandon Hutchinson 鈥99
Guillaume Paek 鈥99
Terry Marquardt 鈥98
Jessica Wahto 鈥98
Amy Bowar Mellinger 鈥97
Nancy Holmblad 鈥95
Jay Lepper 鈥95
Liz Pushing 鈥93
Heather Johnston 鈥92
Kristen Hirsch Montag 鈥91
Greg Schnagl 鈥91
Drew Privette 鈥89
Tracy Sundstrom 鈥89
Jerry Dieffenbach 鈥88
Darcey Engen 鈥88
Jenni Lilledahl 鈥87
Lisa 聽Anderson 鈥86
Nancy Mueller 鈥85
Norm Okerstrom 鈥85
Lisa Kastler 鈥84
Jenny Kelley 鈥84
Karen Casanova 鈥83
Joan Evans 鈥83
Karsten Nelson 鈥83
Cinthia W. Sisson 鈥83
Lori Moline 鈥82
Eric Anderson 鈥79
Becky Bjella-Nodland 鈥79
Sally Daniels Herron 鈥79
Jeff Swenson 鈥79
James Bernstein 鈥78
Rick Bonlender 鈥78
Beverly Meyer 鈥78
Dennis Meyer 鈥78
Jeff Nodland 鈥77
Roselyn Nordaune 鈥77
Jeffrey Mueller 鈥76
Kathryn Wahl 鈥76
Norm Wahl 鈥76
Merilee Klemp 鈥75
Linda Holmen 鈥74
Bob Strommen 鈥74
Linda Andell 鈥72
Saul Stensvaag 鈥72
David Andell 鈥71
Wayne Jorgenson 鈥71
Bonnie Niles 鈥71
Bob Stacke 鈥71
Dennis King 鈥70
Richard King 鈥69
Peter Strommen 鈥69
Karolynn Lestrud 鈥68
Lennore Bevis 鈥66
Richard Mork 鈥66
Allen 聽Anderson 鈥65
Eunice Dietrich 鈥65
Joyce Pfaff 鈥65
Livi Smith 鈥64
Barbara Larson 鈥63
Dean Larson 鈥62
Lawrence Gallagher 鈥61
Winnie Nordlund Anderson 鈥61
Dale Hanka 鈥60
Robert Herman 鈥55
Michael Bloomberg – Staff
Frank Haege – Staff
Paul C. Pribbenow – President
Margaret Bostelmann – Friend
Lois Swenson – Friend
Update: This event is now sold out.聽If you are interested in being added to the waitlist, please follow the registration link and add your name. We will let you know as soon as possible if we have ticket(s) available!
Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime event. On Friday, September 27, 2019, we kick off Augsburg鈥檚 sesquicentennial with a gala in downtown Minneapolis. This gala will acknowledge our history of pursuing the calling to serve the community, and it will rally our energetic support for the next 150 years of 含羞草视频.
During this unprecedented evening, we will share stories of gratitude and hope for the future. We will celebrate with friends who have been a part of the community: alumni, parents, faculty, and staff. We鈥檒l enjoy moments to reflect, share, and give while surrounded by the relationships that have always been at the heart of Augsburg.
We look forward to seeing you there.
鈥擠arcey Engen 鈥88 and Jeff Swenson 鈥79
Sesquicentennial Committee co-chairs
Friday, September 27, 2019
4:30 p.m. Reception, 6 p.m. Program
Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot
225 3rd Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55401
This event will likely sell out. Order today to reserve your place.
In 2019, Augsburg celebrates 150 years as a University. Our sesquicentennial will be a year-long opportunity to reflect on our past and present 鈥 to honor our leaders and legacies, and also to discover our roots.
As part of the Sesquicentennial celebration, Augsburg has commissioned several public art projects around campus lead by Kristin Anderson and Christopher Houltberg. The main installation is a participatory art project called 鈥淚nside Out鈥 that will cover 4 city blocks and showcase over 1,869 faces of people part of the Augsburg community.
Let鈥檚 celebrate the faces of current and historic members of the community with this ambitious public installation! Woven together, each black and white portrait will create a mesh of faces celebrating, recognizing and honoring the core of the institution: its people. This textile of woven portraits will be a unique opportunity to take part in .
Having the whole Augsburg community represented in this installation is very important to us. That includes Rochester campus, weekend university students, international students, faculty, staff, and alumni. So we want to invite YOU to participate by sending in your photo from wherever you are through . The deadline to send in these photos is Friday, May 24.
Let鈥檚 show who we are behind the walls of the institution and each of our roles within it for the past 150 years. Whether to pay tribute or simply pay attention, this project creates the opportunity to recognize how many shoulders it takes to create a strong and successful academic community in every single realm existing in a university.
Beyond getting your portrait taken or sending in a photo, this is about shared moments, pride, and seeing yourself appear side by side with around 3,000 other faces with the same pride and commitment to Augsburg.
The Augsburg Associates are hosting a lunch and Arboretum Tour for their spring event at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum on Wednesday, May 29. This event includes a lunch starting at 11:30 in the Tea Room at the Arboretum with featured speaker Dr.聽Stan Hokanson a horticulture professor at the University of Minnesota during lunch. At 1:30, the Associates will be taking a tour of the Arboretum on the tram. The cost for this event is $35.
As we celebrate the completion of this academic year and honor the newest class of Auggie graduates, Augsburg is promoting the Tassel Challenge fundraising campaign.
This online giving event supports future Auggies with all proceeds benefiting the Sesquicentennial Scholarship Fund, an endowed scholarship fund at Augsburg.
A donation today in any amount is an investment for Auggie generations to come. Over 200 donors have already contributed more than $110,000 to the Sesquicentennial Scholarship.
The Tassel Challenge is a great way to recognize your favorite graduating Auggie, give back to Augsburg, and help ensure an Augsburg education is accessible to all.
Honor a student special to you and we will make sure they know they were recognized, and send you and the student an Augsburg tassel keychain as a token of our gratitude.
More information can be found and donations made on the page. The Tassel Challenge will run from today through May 19. If you have any questions please contact bogen@augsburg.edu.
