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Augsburg’s Medieval Minnesota camp reveals real Middle Ages

An unusual students swordfightingsummer camp at Augsburg College offers high schoolers a glimpse into the real Middle Ages. While most classrooms strictly prohibit weapons, the College welcomed six sword-wielding students for Medieval Minnesota, a weeklong ­summer camp. From Renaissance dance classes to medieval costuming to classes about old texts, high school students got a taste of life in the Middle Ages.

Augsburg Welcomes New VP of Enrollment William Mullen

William MullenAs the College’s chief enrollment officer, William Mullen will lead a team of 30 admissions and student financial services staff in building enrollment and leveraging financial aid strategies for Augsburg’s undergraduate, adult undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Mullen will report to Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow and will serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet.

“Augsburg is excited to have William join our leadership team and spearhead the work of attracting talented, diverse, and engaged learners who value the distinct educational experience Augsburg offers and who will be successful in their work at Augsburg and beyond,” said President Pribbenow. “William has proven experience in enrollment management, an innovative and collaborative approach to recruiting and retaining students, a strong financial aid background, and a demonstrated commitment to the community. All of these factors position him well to help us advance our mission and to support the College’s continued success in this increasingly competitive higher education environment.”

 

Augsburg College Offers New Graduate Program

MFA in Creative Writing. Graduate Studies at Augsburg.

This Summer, Augsburg College launched its new Master of Fine Arts degree. The MFA offers four genres: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and screenwriting. A fifth genre, playwriting, will be added in 2014. A national book prize and concentrations in publishing, teaching and translation will also begin that year.

“An Augsburg MFA leverages our distinguished faculty and the strength of our undergraduate programs while delivering things no other program in Minnesota or the surrounding states offers, including a book prize, a screenwriting track, and low-residency programming for all four of our genres,” said Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow. “The program and its format show the ability of our school to meet marketplace demand and to use technology to increase accessibility and contain costs.”

The Augsburg MFA includes three 10-day summer residencies, complemented by online coursework as well as individualized mentorship semesters. During the residency, students will participate in daily workshops, readings, and mini-courses focused on literary craft, career skills in teaching, editing, publishing, book arts, advertising, translation, adaptation, and new media.

Trena Bolden Fields ’00, is returning to Augsburg to pursue an MFA degree. “I am excited about this program as it gives writers an opportunity to specialize in a genre as well as gain exposure in another genre of their choice,” said Bolden Fields. “I believe the program will give me the academic grounding I need and want as a creative writer. I look forward to connecting with other writers and being able to finish my next book!”

Learn more on the website.

Augsburg Homecoming and Parent & Family Weekend 2013

Homecoming: September 22-28, 2013

Visit for more information and to get registered.

Auggies from near and far are called back to campus for one week each year to celebrate what it means to be an Auggie. From September 22 to 28, alumni, parents, and friends of Augsburg will gather for a fun-filled week of events and celebration. New events along with traditional favorites make this one of the best times to visit campus all year.

Pastor Sonja Hagander Appointed Lead Pastor and Director of Augsburg College Campus Ministry

I am pleased to announce that Pastor Sonja Hagander has been appointed as the Lead Pastor Sonja HaganderPastor and Director of Campus Ministry, effective June 1, 2013. Pastor Hagander, who first joined the Augsburg community in 1998, assumes the duties previously held by Pastor Dave Wold, who retired at the end of May after 30 years as Augsburg’s campus pastor.

Pastor Sonja received her B.A. from Concordia College, her M.Div. from Luther Seminary, and an M.Sc. in Comparative Literature from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.  She has served as Pastor-Theologian at the Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton University, a competitive program focused on the ordained ministry as a theological vocation and the church as a theological community.  She also has served as Chaplain and emcee to the ELCA Youth Ministry Extravaganza Conference which  hosts more than 1,000 pastors and youth leaders.

At Augsburg, Pastor Sonja created and sustained the Urban Plunge and has been especially active on and off campus leading a variety of interfaith initiatives, including the Interfaith Scholars and the Interfaith Bridge Building events, bringing youth on campus and into the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood around faith and service.

Pastor Sonja is in the process of forming the campus ministry staff for 2013-14.  An associate pastor will be appointed later this summer.

I look forward to working closely with Pastor Sonja and other campus leaders during the coming year as we explore the vision and direction of our campus ministry programs for the years ahead.  We believe that Augsburg is uniquely positioned to model what campus ministry looks like in the 21st century – centered in our Lutheran faith and firmly committed to serving our diverse students, campus community, and neighbors.

Paul C. Pribbenow
President

Augsburg Builds Connections

Key in a puzzle piece

Augsburg College has graduated more than 16,500 students since 1869, many of whom have ascended to the top of their respective fields. Recognizing the essential role career mentoring plays in higher education, Augsburg provides an opportunity for alumni, parent professionals, and friends of the college to be involved as mentors in the lives and success of Auggie students. While advising focuses on skills needed for academic success, career mentoring focuses on the important human relationships and resources needed for professional success.

The Augsburg Builds Connections (ABC) mentoring program is one of many ways which Augsburg parents, alumni, and friends of the college are able to give back to the college by supporting our current students. This volunteer driven program is designed to connect students with mentors who will provide them with the guidance, networking opportunities, and resources required to complete the complex puzzle. The flexible nature of the program lets both the student and mentor to connect via email, phone, skype, or face-to-face meetings.

If you wish to learn more about the Augsburg Builds Connections program or other volunteer programs please contact David “DJ” Hamm, Volunteer and Alumni Engagement Manager, via email at hammd@augsburg.edu or by phone at 612-330-1329.

Augsburg NOW launches iPad Edition

Augsburg Now magazine cover

Augsburg NOW Magazine is now available for your iPad. Get the enhanced, interactive version. Search “Augsburg Now” on the App Store.

AUGGIE MOVE IN DAY

On Saturday, August 31st, Augsburg will welcome the largest first year class…ever! Staff in matching shirts hold sign pointing to Urness hallBeginning at 7:00 a.m. and finishing about 3:00 p.m., new Auggies will be moving into Urness Hall and because of the large size, some will move into Mortensen and Anderson as well. Come visit with the students and their families as they line up in their cars, vans and trucks all along 21st Avenue South. Food and beverages are provided all day for our new Auggies (playing car hop is always fun)!  It’s a great way to welcome new students. Questions? Contact Sally Daniels Herron ’79 at herron@augsburg.edu.