Luther Magazine Fall 2021

Luther MAGAZINE FALL 2021

NEW grads

share their powerful Luther experiences 10

Luther magazine Volume 55, number 1, Fall 2021 © Luther College 2021 Editor Kate Frentzel Art director/designer Michael Bartels Contributors Sherry (Braun) Alcock ’82 Nick Bjerke Erin Dintaman ’23 Hayley Jackson Kirk Johnson ’82 Judy Riha Rachel (Schutte) Vsetecka ’09 Luther College Photo Bureau Luther magazine feedback, inquiries, and ideas may be sent to the Editor, Luther Magazine, Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, Iowa 521011045; magazine@luther.edu; phone (563) 387-1483. Class Notes submissions, changes of address, and alumni news may be sent to the Alumni Office, Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045; alumni@luther.edu; (800) 225-8664; (800) 2 ALUMNI. Find us online at luther.edu/ magazine.

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Senior stories

Meet six members of the class of 2021 who illustrate something special about the Luther experience.

Contents 17

Luther Fulbrighters Alumni across decades share how they’ve been shaped by winning this prestigious award.

23

Vocation-inspired mentoring

A new program that pairs students with alumni mentors leads to learning and growth all around.

28

Happy anniversaries The Koren building, Nordic Choir, and the Nottingham program celebrate major milestones this year.

Departments 2 President’s letter 3 Campus news 33 Alumni

38 Class Notes 43 Marriages 43 Births/Adoptions 44 In Memoriam

Calendar inside back cover

Over the summer, biology majors Annalise Meyer ‘23 and Jill Richards ‘22 conducted student/faculty research with Beth Lynch, associate professor of biology. The trio examined rare algific slope ecosystems in northeast Iowa.

WE CONTINUE TO LIVE IN PANDEMIC TIMES AND NEED EACH OTHER’S GRACE TO FLOURISH.”

Showing up a way to express my gratitude

God’s people, to understand and

for all the faculty and staff who

confront a changing society, and

continue to show up to serve our

to strive to be a community where

students.

enlivened and transformed by

magazine, you will read about the

encounters with one another, by

ways that current students and

the exchange of ideas, and by the

alumni show up as well. There

life of faith and learning.

are profiles of current seniors that highlight their participaPresident Jenifer K. Ward

In other words, to show up. For all who study and learn

tion in and outside of the class-

here, for all who were formed

room, stories from past recipients

here, and for all who continue to

of Fulbright awards, and a piece

support Luther College every day

“The whole world is short-staffed.

about our growing Vocation-In-

and in every way, thank you for

Be kind to those who showed up.”

spired Alumni (VIA) Mentor-

showing up.

Someone posted a photo of this

ing Program that pairs current

sign on the door of a business

students with alumni. We learn,

on social media. It has made the

as well, about career paths that

rounds—maybe you have seen

our alumni have taken, many of

it—and it speaks to the recog-

which contribute new knowledge

nition that we continue to live

or thoughtful stewardship to the

in pandemic times and need

world we all share.

each other’s grace to flourish.

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students, faculty, and staff are

In this issue of the Luther

Luther College’s mission calls

At Luther, I used this quote to

us to serve with distinction for

address our community today, as

the common good, to care for all

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Soli Deo Gloria,

Jenifer K. Ward

COMMENCEMENT Luther celebrates with a modified in-person ceremony. Luther held a modified in-person Commencement ceremony on May 16 to celebrate the class of 2021. Each graduate was able to have two guests on campus who watched a livestream of the event in classrooms across campus. Following the ceremony, graduates, their guests, and members of the faculty and staff were able to gather briefly outside on Bentdahl Commons and the library lawn. Of the 406 graduates celebrated that day, 148 received Latin honors and 30 were first-generation college students. The 406 graduates represent 24 different countries. Chris Norton ’15 offered an inspiring virtual Commencement address, and Madeline Lomprey ’21 (right) received the Elizabeth A. and Paul G. Jenson Medal, an award presented each year to an outstanding senior, selected by the graduating class, who best demonstrates the ideals of the college through service to students and the college community. “The Luther community is one that will not let you fail,” Lomprey said in her acceptance speech. “Every time I have struggled during my time here, I could always look around to see so many supportive people around me. If it were not for my peers, I would not be the confident leader I am today.”

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NEW CAMPUS LEADERS Ashley C. Benson assumes Luther’s newly created dean of student engagement position, part of an administrative reorganization designed to create an integrated, student-centric approach to all academic and co-curricular services. Benson comes to Luther from the College of Wooster in Ohio, where she was associate dean of students. She will oversee seven units including campus recreational sports, Counseling Service, the Nena Amundson Lifetime Wellness Program, Residence Life, student activities, Health Service, and the Student Life Office. Melissa Bills has been named director of College Ministries and college pastor. Ordained in the ELCA, Bills has served as associate pastor for First Lutheran Church in Decorah since 2013. She will lead and coordinate Luther’s multiple ministries supporting students’ faith life both on and off campus; provide mentoring, vocational discernment, spiritual formation support, care, and communication to students and the wider Luther community; and support partnership with the ELCA and ecumenical and interfaith organizations in higher education. Adrianna Tam has been named assistant professor of music and conductor of Collegiate Chorale and Aurora. Tam joins Luther from Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, where she was assistant professor of music, director of choral activities, and director of two ensembles including a non-auditioned Concert Choir ensemble and an auditioned Chamber Singers ensemble.

THANK YOU, PROFESSORS!

Last spring, Luther said farewell to 12 retiring faculty members who’ve helped shape Luther learners for decades. Nancy Barry, professor of English

Jim Martin-Schramm, professor of religion

Anne Bulliung, instructor in classics

Deborah Lee Norland ’75, professor of education

David Bishop, professor of psychology

Kim Powell, professor of communication studies

Rachel (Andersen) Faldet ’78, assistant professor of

Lori (Van Gerpen) Stanley ’80, professor of

English

Virginia Strauss, professor of music

Kevin Kraus, professor of biology, vice president for

Jacki Wright ’75, associate professor of physical

academic affairs, and dean of the college

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anthropology

Don Jones, professor of management

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education

PROJECTS FOR PEACE Two Luther students were recently awarded $10,000 grants through Davis Projects for Peace, established by Kathryn W. Davis to award selected students funds to create and build peace anywhere in the world. Since the creation of the grant program in 2007, Luther students have established 21 different projects in 20 different countries. In total, 34 Luther students have been awarded this prestigious grant to spread sustainable peace around the world. Methembe Moyo ’23, Lift as You Rise “I grew up in urban Bulawayo, a city

Temuulen Erdenebulgan ’21, Promoting Peace through Music

in Zimbabwe,” Moyo says. “However, I

Erdenebulgan is creating

attended high school in a rural area, and

safe spaces for children

this is where I noticed the educational

to learn to play music

disparities between urban and rural

in his home country of

education.”

Mongolia.

In Zimbabwe, students must pass an end-of-the-year exam before they can obtain their

“I strongly believe that learning how to play music can provide

high school diploma.

some peace, build a sense

According to Moyo,

of community and security,

61 percent of 16- to

help heal scars—physical and other-

18-year-old students

wise—and help people deal with stress

in rural Zimbabwe

and difficulties in their lives,” he says.

drop out of school

Erdenebulgan’s project builds on the

upon failing their

work of Lantuu Dohio, a nonprofit with

national exams.

a mission to eradicate human traffick-

Moyo’s project began in

ing and protect children from violence,

early June in Ntabazinduna, Zimba-

neglect, abuse, and exploitation. The

bwe. It will help purchase school text-

organization has established two build-

books, assemble a team of tutors, obtain

ings in Mongolia where children go to

rental spaces, and pay examination fees.

study, socialize, and feel safe.

It will also establish a poultry project to

Erdenebulgan’s grant was used to

include an entrepreneurial aspect and

hire music instructors and to purchase

allow it to become self-funding.

19 instruments for the Ulaanbaatar

“I am excited to start Lift as You Rise,

location. He plans to further this work

a name I came up with upon realizing

by creating a fund to connect students

that while I am also still rising due to the

to quality music schools in Ulaanbaatar

opportunities I have been given, I can lift

and to support volunteers.

others in need,” Moyo says.

“Playing piano has made me a kinder and more peaceful person,” Erdenebulgan says. “In the long run, I hope it does the same for these kids so I can live in a place where every child has access to the bare necessities of security, education, and love.”

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MAGAZINE

GENE RESEARCH WITH R E A L - W O R L D I M PA C T

Student/faculty research could help explain the origin of some human diseases. deletion in worms, which could help inform how uncontrolled proteins in humans may lead to serious diseases. “The protein I studied essentially takes care of other proteins,” Ahmed says. “Because proteins need to be turned over every now and then, if this protein does not do its job, old proteins can start messing up the cells. You can connect this to Alzheimer's disease, to cancer, or to other diseases that result from dysregulation.” The Hiester lab research contributes to a larger conversation being had among professional researchers around the world. “You kind of think of scientific research as trying to build an ocean through little tiny drops of water,” Hiester says. “We’re just trying to contribute maybe a couple drops of water into that This summer, Luther College students Anneke Knauss ’22, Hamid Ahmed ’22, and Julia Schulte ’23 collaborated with Brian Hiester, visiting assistant professor of biology, using C. elegans (a type of worm) to investigate the expression and function of a family of genes. Their research examined how stress impacts gene expression and how reduced expression impacts an organism’s development. Their findings can help to explain how human diseases, such as cancer and Alzheimer's, form. Knauss and Schulte worked together on an experiment studying the effects of heat stress. They tested two types of genes and four types of complementary DNA (cDNA), which they made themselves. “We tested the expression of the different cDNAs against a normal population of worms using heat shock,” Schulte says. “Then we harvested the

and, over time, contribute to our overall

“You kind of think of scientific research as trying to build an ocean through little tiny drops of water,” Hiester says. “We’re just trying to contribute maybe a couple drops of water into that and, over time, contribute to our overall understanding.”

a little bit more about how these genes work, that might inform us about how genes in mammals are functioning and how dysregulation of those genes can contribute to certain human diseases.” This research is part of Luther’s larger summer student/faculty collaborative research program, which allows students to develop their research skills; actively learn in Luther’s natural areas, precision labs, or elsewhere; and gain expertise in a specific facet of a larger field of study. “Ultimately, for all my research students, I want to build up their sense of independence—their ability to work on their own, to develop their ability to design and execute their own experiments,” Hiester says. “For a lot of these students, it’s their first opportunity to conduct real intensive research. I want

worms to see if their genes were different from those

to give them a taste of what it’s like and give them that

that were not under stress.”

opportunity to choose whether or not research is some-

Ahmed researched the consequences of protein

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understanding. If we can understand

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thing they want to pursue in the future.”

BRINGING THE SPECIAL O LY M P I C S T O D E C O R A H

Luther students from different disciplines team up to make a big local impact. Over the summer, social work major Rachel Clennon ’22 and accounting major Sebastine Swamynathan ’22 partnered with CHOICE Employment Services in an effort to assess the need and develop a plan for bringing a Special Olympics event to Decorah. Clennon says that a Special Olympics presence in Decorah would help ensure that people with intellectual disabilities are seen, heard, understood, involved, and included in the community. “Having an athletic event that brings people with

“Having a sense of community is so important. A lot of our individuals don’t have a lot of community involvement or community activities to go to,” says Leah Dahlquist ’15, CHOICE regional director.

disabilities and people without them together, learning different sports and playing them together, will bring the community a lot closer,” Swamynathan adds. Decorah-based CHOICE Employment Services is dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities by helping them access, obtain, and maintain employment. While its mission is vocation-oriented, CHOICE staff recognize that it takes more than a job for a person to feel fulfilled. “Having a sense of community is so important. A lot of our individuals don’t have a lot of community involvement or community activities to go to. There is a Special Olympics program for high schoolers, but they don’t have this opportunity once they become an adult,” says Leah Dahlquist ’15, CHOICE regional director. Clennon and Swamynathan teamed up on the effort through a Social Impact Research Fellowship (SIRF).

Left to right: Swamynathan, Dahlquist, and Clennon are working to bring the Special Olympics to Decorah.

Established in 2018 by faculty advisors Britt (Hellgren) Rhodes ’96, Brittany Cord, and Alexandra White, the

different disciplines. This allowed us to cover all the

SIRF program pairs one social work student and one

bases in the project and get different perspectives to

management/accounting student with a communi-

expand our scope of knowledge. Not only is this proj-

ty-based partner organization to help address a prob-

ect benefiting our personal career development, it’s

lem or fill a community need.

benefiting a real organization and, in this case, real

The interdisciplinary approach of the research is an essential aspect of the SIRF program. Clennon believes

people,” she says. “For me,” Swamynathan says, “this is really import-

having a social work major and accounting major come

ant, because it takes me in a full circle from learning

together on a project leads to high-impact results.

and then giving back to Luther and the community,

“It's really important not only to have two

and that, for me, is the biggest part.”

people working on the research, but two people from

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MAGAZINE

BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH C R E AT E S A VALUABLE BASELINE

A research project on campus uncovers seven moth species—and lots of opportunities for Luther students. Research conducted by Lena Schmitt ’20 and Kirk Larsen, professor of biology, has uncovered seven moth species never before found in Iowa. In Luther’s oak-hickory forests and tallgrass prairies, Schmitt and Larsen collected a sample of 12,290 moths representing 468 species, 99 of which had never been documented in Winneshiek County and

tool, the project has opened doors for Schmitt, who

the seven species new to the state are the carpenter-

was a student at the time. “It was a fantastic oppor-

worm, crocus geometer, mobile groundling, dusky

tunity not only for the resulting publication, but

herpetogramma, and the beautiful sparganothis.

also for the experience of writing grant proposals

These findings were recently published in an article in

for funding, designing an experiment, trouble-

the Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society.

shooting problems and following through doing

According to Schmitt, there has only been one intensive moth survey performed in Winneshiek

the admittedly tedious work of collecting and processing data,” Schmitt says.

County, by Bert Porter in 1908. Larsen and Schmitt’s

Lena presented her results at national meetings

work provides an important baseline from which to

of the Entomological Society of America in St. Louis,

build biodiversity knowledge and plan management

Mo., where she won first place for her presentation,

of local natural areas.

even among students from large universities with

“Without knowing what is present, we can’t take care of what we have,” Larsen says. “This lack of

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In addition to providing an invaluable ecological

seven of which had never been found in Iowa. Among

entomology departments. This project has also opened doors for future

knowledge can pose a threat to our local ecosystems.

Luther students for years to come. Using this research

The presence of a species not previously found can

as a baseline, students will be able to study long-term

indicate shifts in the distribution of a species due

changes that may occur in moth populations due to

to the changing climate, or even the arrival of a new

habitat loss, climate change, or types of management

pest.”

used on the prairies and forests in Iowa.

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B

HER ITAGE CLUB

Built ON BIGGER DREAMS

At Luther, we help students shape an education that matters. We collaborate to turn ideas, passions, and talents into building blocks for a bright future. This is where students build their biggest dreams, and together we equip them to build a future more incredible than they could have imagined.

We invite you to join this association and affirm the dreams of future Luther students. All individuals and couples who have established a planned gift for Luther College qualify for membership in the Heritage Club. There is no minimum amount required for a planned gift. For more information, please contact Kelly Sorenson, assistant director of legacy and gift planning, (800) 225-8664, kelly.sorenson@luther.edu, or visit legacygiving.luther.edu.

Senior stories

Each year, Luther sends a graduating class into the world with the power of a Luther experience behind them. Here, we profile six new Luther alumni who are prepared to learn and lead and live with impact. —Kate Frentzel

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I thought, You know what? I’m at Luther, it’s focused on liberal arts, and they’re giving me the choice to participate in as many things as I want.” Through her music studies, playing in ensembles, and performing accompaniment for other musicians, Liu found peace and respite. “As a Luther student,” she says, “you can feel like parts of yourself are scattered across campus because you’re involved in so many things. Music is where I can just forget all of that—even if I do love all of it.” While Liu was regularly spending 14–21 hours per week practicing her instruments, she was also thriving in her neuroscience major. Junior year, she spent spring semester in Luther’s Rochester program, interning with a neuromodulation

research lab at Mayo Clinic. “Rochester was

instrumental in helping me see how the process of learning is usually better than any result, like a test grade,” she says. “The people I was working with—my lab head and the PhD students— were so thirsty to learn, and they instilled that in me.

EXCELLING IN THE LAB AND O N T H E S TA G E

It helped me become more independent, and in the research world you have to have some independent, creative thinking.” Liu credits her Mayo Clinic experience with helping her gain acceptance into the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, where she starts studying this fall after completing an ophthalmology research fellowship this summer—and where she

Luther students often combine diverse interests, but

also plans to audition for the university’s symphony

few have pursued two equally demanding paths with

orchestra.

as much passion and dedication as Shana Liu. As a

But back in May, Liu was overjoyed—as winner

neuroscience major and music minor, she excelled

of Luther’s piano concerto competition—to cap off

in the classroom, thrived in a Mayo Clinic internship,

her time at Luther by performing a piano solo with

and played with immense artistry on not one but two

Symphony Orchestra the weekend of Commencement.

instruments during her time at Luther.

“This has been a highlight because I get to combine

Liu grew up in Urbandale, Iowa, watching

some of my solo work with literally my favorite thing

two older sisters play piano and violin. “Of course I

on campus: Symphony Orchestra. It’s my home away

wanted to be just like them—I started playing those

from home,” she says. “So now I get to play with my

instruments, and thank goodness I actually did like

friends. I get to collaborate with my conductor, Dr.

them for myself,” she laughs.

Baldwin, whom I respect and admire a lot. I got tickets

But despite her musical talent, Liu entered

for my parents, who were carting me around to lessons

Luther focused on STEM studies. “I actually didn’t

when I was in high school and middle school. Every

even take viola lessons at first because I wanted to

day I leave rehearsal, I think, Wow, I’m so lucky to

save time,” she says. “But I saw everyone doing it, and

do this.”

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MAGAZINE

FINDING STRENGTHS

design. The experience itself taught him a lot, but equally powerful was the work he did during the semester around intentional reflection through Luther’s Career Center, especially through the Clifton Strengths program and

Levi Bird is a seeker. He has an innate curiosity about the

the Design Your Life curriculum. Soon, not only was he

world around him and how to find meaning for himself

a participant, he was co-facilitating—with professor Jodi

and others in it. As he navigated his time at Luther, this

Enos-Berlage and Career Center assistant director Miriam

spirit of exploration and discovery acted as a compass.

(Blom) Skrade ’04—a Design Your Life conversation group

As an incoming first-year student from Muscoda, Wis.,

for his fellow Rochester Semester students. By fall, he was

Bird participated in the Endeavor Together program, a

officially working at the Career Center as both a Strengths

pre-orientation experience that brought together small

ambassador and a career and life design intern, lead-

groups of new students for community-building trips. He

ing workshops and working one-on-one to help students

returned to the program to co-lead a group of ten students

discover their strengths and make meaning of their life and

as a sophomore, and he became program assistant his

work experiences.

junior year. Endeavor Together was a pivotal experience;

Bird has a natural talent for building bridges and

it helped him realize that he wanted a future in which he

facilitating discussion. It’s part of why he was one of two

facilitated reflection and fostered deep conversation.

students selected as a 2019–20 Peace Scholar to participate

In spring 2020, Bird participated in Luther’s Rochester

in a six-week program through which he studied some of

Semester, where he interned at the Diversity Council. He

the central issues and theories regarding conflict, war, and

worked on its Human Library Initiative, which collects and

peace.

shares community members’ stories around experiencing bias and prejudice, and helped improve its website

The experience was really meaningful for Bird, a Nordic studies major who chose the field in part because the Nordic countries are often lauded for their social welfare systems. As a Nordic studies major, he was interested in exploring how close to perfect they really are. He also loved that the major, while focused on language and literature, allowed him to explore all aspects of human expression and society, as well as psychology, philosophy, and anthropology. As a first-generation college student, Bird seized every opportunity to explore his vocation and at Luther and found himself growing emotionally and personally, especially as he came to recognize his identity as a gay man. When he arrived at college, he says, “I was very traditional in the ways I was religious. Being at Luther, it was very much this opening up in terms of thinking about what my identity meant as a Christian.” He sought counsel from friends and college pastors, and, he says, “The combination of people at Luther, from students to faculty to staff, were so supportive.” The vocational, intellectual, personal, and spiritual work he’s done over his four years at Luther means that

he can finally feel like “I’m bringing my full

self and all my strengths to what I’m doing,” Bird says. Starting this fall, he’ll be sharing those strengths as a coach with Luther’s Catalyze program, which helps Pelleligible and/or first-generation college students navigate the college experience. FA L L 2 0 2 1

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EMPOWERING OT H E R S

As a social work major who wants to help Black women, refugees, and immigrants, Peilla Ishimwe took an active role in shaping her education. Whenever she had to write a paper, she used the opportunity to learn about these populations and their struggles. Her research has focused on the mental health resources available to US refugees and immigrants, and also those available to Black and indigenous students of color at predominantly white institutions. Knowing that eventually she’ll return home to Burundi, she says, “I tried to use my education not only to benefit people in the US but also to make it something I can carry into the world to be useful.” Ishimwe, who attended high school at Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa, was equally focused in her internships. When she heard about the Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association in Rochester, Minn., she pursued a placement there wholeheartedly since it aligned so well with her values. At IMAA, an organization providing support services to refugees and immigrants, Ishimwe conducted client intakes, sometimes for victims of domestic abuse or sex trafficking, and

ment of Public Services, both in Decorah. She also

“Burundian girls are capable of doing amazing things; they just need people to believe in them. I’m going to be that person.

interned with Burundi Friends International, an aid orga-

In a sense, every internship or opportunity or volunteer

nization through which she acted as a community facili-

activity that I do is to help make sure that the generation

tator with the Women Empowered Program, which helps

after me will feel more empowered than I do.”

connected them with available resources. During college, Ishimwe supported women and families in a few different contexts, including at Helping Services for Youth and Families and at the Iowa Depart-

women form community savings groups that allow them

Ultimately, Ishimwe hopes to increase support for

to become entrepreneurs and gain some financial agency.

victims of gender-based violence in Burundi by expand-

Through her diverse experiences, Ishimwe developed a

ing access to women’s shelters throughout the country

lot of cultural sensitivity and learned that empowerment

and also by advocating for policies that protect survivors

looks different to different communities. “In the US,” she

and allocate adequate resources to social services. She’ll

says, “you hear about Planned Parenthood access and

get one step closer to her goal this fall, when she starts a

reproductive health and the wage gap. But in Burundi,

master’s program in social work at McGill University in

women are not allowed to own land. They want to save

Montreal, Canada, fully paid for through a Mastercard

money to own a bike, or raise pigs, or send their kids to

scholarship.

school. For them, that’s empowerment.” Even while the obstacles in her home country seem greater, Ishimwe has hope:

“I’m a kid from Burundi who didn’t have the means to go to college in Burundi, but here I am,” she says. “I feel like I have a huge responsibility toward my people, toward Burundian women, to make sure that tomorrow is better than today.”

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MAGAZINE

CONNECTING WITH THE WIDER WORLD

Aaron Blumberg is a traveler. He was born in Johan-

remain close with those people forever.”

nesburg, South Africa, and grew up in a Jewish enclave

Basketball also taught Blumberg to manage his

of friends and family in Melbourne, Australia. He made

time carefully in order to excel in his data science and

the decision to attend Luther after representing Austra-

mathematics/statistics majors. In addition to learning in

lia on the men’s senior basketball team in Israel during

the classroom, he completed internships at both Ernst

the Maccabiah Games, which he describes as the Jewish

and Young, on one of their transaction advisory teams,

Olympics. Once he knew what was out there, he says,

and at a sustainability-focused startup called Adaptive

“It didn’t make sense to limit myself to one country, one

Green, where he helped the New York–based company

city, one culture, one religion. The world’s way too big to

strategize an expansion to the West Coast.

confine myself that way. It’s a good purpose to explore.”

Blumberg has long been fascinated with financial

Blumberg had been thinking about playing college

markets. He sees them as another way to connect with

basketball—which meant he’d have to study abroad,

the wider world.

since Australia doesn’t participate in college sports—but

“The coolest thing about markets is that they give

his experience at the Maccabiah Games sealed the deal.

you a snapshot of what’s happening in the world. You

Playing college basketball was, he says, “by far the

might see some sort of currency drop or a huge climb in

most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. It’s also by far the

a sort of equity, but it’s all derived from world events,”

most difficult, with the most highs and lows.” He went

he says. “Markets are a quantitative snapshot of what’s

from practicing two or three times a week back home to

happening in the world, and the more I understand

practicing six times a week and lifting weights three or

them, the more I enjoy them. I get worldly information

four times a week. “The level of playing was at a higher

and learn as much as I can through these numerical

quality than I was used to,” he says. “It really did push

representations.”

me and challenge me.” It also introduced him to some of his closest friends.

“I’m proud of the development I made as a basketball player and my personal achievements, but what matters most are the connections I made with people. Throughout my four years I met probably 40, 50, 60 teammates, and I think I’ll

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This fall, Blumberg starts a master of financial mathematics program at the University of Chicago, where he received a generous scholarship. While he’s thrilled to have received an opportunity in the prestigious program, his Luther nostalgia looms large. “I really built a great network and an extensive group of friends,” he says. “I really felt a part of Luther, which was an amazing feeling.”

MAKING CHANGE THROUGH SERVICE Maren Gabor’s journey through college has focused a lot on learning how she can best help people. “I viewed volunteering and being involved as important as getting an A in a class,” she says.

Alpha Phi Omega (pledge-trainer); child-mentoring program PALS (treasurer); and intergenerational-friendship program GrandPALS. Within her sorority, Tau Delta Gamma, she organized lots of volunteering opportunities with Winneshiek Gift of Life’s breast cancer awareness events. In part through volunteering, she says,

“Decorah became my community. And it was exciting to see the programs I was involved in helping the Decorah community, which was my community. It was really special to me. Luther is in Decorah, and we help

As a biology major from Algona, Iowa, who chose the

each other. I really found that through my volunteering.”

health field as a way to help people, she adds, “Getting

Gabor also focused her efforts on campus. Through

an A doesn’t mean learning the material—they’re sepa-

her position in Student Senate, she worked to address

rate things. I would apply myself in my courses and do

the equity gap by helping draft letters to the adminis-

the best I could. I would read my textbooks and study

tration about course and housing policies related to

hard, but in my free time on the weekends and at night

international students and students of color. She also

when I needed a break from studying, I would spend

helped articulate student expectations regarding COVID-

that time in my organizations or volunteering. I wasn’t

19 and the school returning to in-person operations. In

going to take a trip to Rochester when I could volunteer

addition, Gabor served as student liaison on Luther’s

at the Vesterheim.”

Curriculum Committee, where she advised a group of

As a student, Gabor averaged about 25 hours of

professors and administrators on curriculum changes

service per week—on top of a full course load. Among

and development. Serving in these roles, Gabor says,

other things, her involvement, which was broad and

was how she felt she could have the most impact on the

included a lot of leadership roles, encompassed Student

student body and the administration toward the kind of

Senate (campus betterment chair); service fraternity

change she wanted to see on campus. But in working to improve Luther and Decorah, Gabor also saw a change in herself. “It’s something I started to strive for because I felt good about volunteering and it made me feel good about myself. It’s like getting an A on an exam, that really proud moment you have—you did your best. I also felt that after I’d volunteer and see a job done or after I cleaned up a stretch of highway or mentored a child. I felt that after doing these things in my community.” Reflecting on the end of her time at Luther, Gabor says, “I did as much as I could to see change in myself and change around me.”

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P R OT E C T I N G THE PLANET THROUGH ENGINEERING

technological innovations that improve the human

Nicholas Behrens, a physics major and chemistry and

It’s an incredible opportunity for an undergraduate

mathematics minor from Falcon Heights, Minn., has

student to participate in a groundbreaking interna-

logged a lot of time in the lab. He’s also logged a lot of

tional collaboration aimed at better understanding the

time in nature. He’s hiked, biked, kayaked, or camped

smallest possible building blocks of the universe.

in nearly 30 national parks and extensively in the Decorah area. Behrens’s experiences in nature have helped him

condition within an equitable and global context.” And he’s building the science chops to make this happen. During his time at Luther, he conducted research with several professors in Luther’s math, chemistry, and physics departments. The past two years, he conducted research with physics professor Todd Pedlar, funded through the National Science Foundation, focused on studying elementary particle decays for the Belle II/KEK accelerator project in Japan.

Particle physics isn’t where Behrens sees himself long-term, though. This fall, he begins a PhD program in electrical engineering with a focus on applied

understand the world, he says, as “a delicate balance

physics at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Training

of co-existence” that needs and deserves protecting.

at this tier-one research school will help him explore

His love of the natural world is part of what drew him

avenues toward conservation-focused engineering, like

to Luther, and it’s part of what’s driving his future

high-energy density plasma physics, which could even-

career path.

tually provide essentially unlimited amounts of energy

Behrens plans to use science—specifically physics

without radioactive byproducts, or micro- and nano-

and engineering—in order, he says, “to be a steward of

technology and small-scale robotics, which could help

our natural and built environments, and to shape

monitor environmental quality. While Behrens’s future learning will become increasingly specialized, he’s grateful and glad that he studied physics within a liberal arts context as an undergraduate. Through his humanities classes, he gained a better appreciation for how humans impact the lives of each other and our shared planet, which was instrumental in his choice to pursue conservation-minded engineering. The liberal arts model also allowed him to play in three music ensembles, which has brought joy and balance to his life. And when it comes to the lab, he says, Luther’s approach to education helped him learn “to search for answers when no official solutions or even methods for arriving at solutions exist. As students,

we weren’t set on a path to arrive at a predetermined answer, and that will be relevant for any kind of research I’m going to do in the future.” FA L L 2 0 2 1

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Becoming GLOBAL CITIZENS

Luther graduates who win highly competitive Fulbright awards take the next step in broadening their horizons. Many young people start their journey toward becoming global citizens at Luther. Luther courses emphasize engagement with the wider world, and nearly 90 percent of our students study away. On top of that, our student body includes people from 70 countries, which enriches the perspective and experience of the entire campus community. These things and more prepare a young person to shape and be shaped by the larger world. After graduating, some alumni choose to take a next step and quite intentionally grow their exposure to other cultures and contexts by studying or teaching abroad. Some of them do this through the Fulbright Program. Started in 1945 in the aftermath of World War II, the Fulbright Program is designed to build global goodwill through the international exchange of students and researchers. Elizabeth Steding, associate professor of German, works with Luther students, recent graduates, and faculty who are applying for a Fulbright. She explains, “During their time abroad, Fulbright recipients are informal ambassadors for the US, and when they return home, they share their knowledge of their host country with other Americans.”

Tiffany Choi ’09 Then: Fulbright English teaching assistant (ETA) in the Paris suburb of Lycee Evariste Galois, 2009–10 Now: high school French teacher in Denver, Colo.

My experience with Fulbright solidified my career

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the

path toward public education. I learned that I loved

Fulbright. It’s a highly competitive program, and

working with teenagers and that I particularly loved

Luther frequently ranks as a top-tier producer of

inserting the arts into my teaching. Seeing a public

Fulbright recipients. Here, some of those recipients

education system different from our American system

share how their Fulbright experience has impacted

made me more critical of our own system and drove

their lives. Responses have been edited for length

me to work toward better education policies locally.

and clarity. For fuller responses and more photos, visit luther.edu/magazine.

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Karin Maxey ’07 Then: ETA in Kamen, near Dortmund, Germany, 2007–8 Now: works at the University of Chicago Language Center, where she offers professional development opportunities for language instructors, plans workshops related to language curriculum design, and coordinates grant-related activities

This experience showed me in a very profound way that language isn’t just a thing you can put into a chart or a grammar book—language is for doing things and for connecting people. That perspective is still central to the work I do now.

James Feinstein ’11 Then: ETA in Thailand 2011–12 Now: senior policy manager at Arcadia, a climate tech company based in Washington, DC, where he works to shape and improve state and federal renewable energy policies

My Fulbright experience began in October 2011 when we met in Bangkok for crash courses in Thai language and teaching English as a second language. That month, Bangkok and the surrounding areas experienced terrible flooding that killed hundreds of people and caused billions of dollars in damages. While a number of issues were at play, it was evident climate change was a significant force multiplier. I witnessed the devastating consequences extreme weather has on frontline communities up close and personal. This experience motivated me to build a career around climate change.

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Betsy Fawcett ’17 Then: ETA in Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine, 2017–18. She also stayed an additional year teaching in Kyiv. Now: adult education instructor at Briya PCS in Washington, DC, where she teaches immigrants and non-native English speakers English, family literacy, and workforce skills. She’s also pursuing a master’s degree at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, studying education policy analysis with a concentration in global, comparative, and international education.

My entire life, I said I will not be a teacher. But teaching encompasses so much more than what we casually think of classroom teaching. Teaching is about sharing, it is about connecting with people, and it is about finding a common language—those are all things that I have been passionate about for years. Fulbright showed me this connection and showed me how much I truly do love teaching and the process of educating. Without my experience in Ukraine, I am not sure if I would be doing this job that I love so much or going to continue my education in a field that I find so fascinating and find so much fulfillment in.

Patrick Larson ’17 Then: ETA in Kardzhali, Bulgaria, 2017–18 Now: strategic planning healthcare consultant in Minneapolis and a volunteer on boards of the Special Olympics and the PACER Center

My time in Bulgaria only reiterated my desire to continue learning about communities of people that are different from the one I grew up in. As a foreigner in a small Bulgarian town, I learned how to approach my new environment and people around me with empathy and compassion.

Laura (Mohs) Hesse ’10 Then: ETA in Bulgaria, 2010 Now: middle school social studies teacher

Heidi DraheimShadbeh ’02

Spending time overseas really enriched my teaching and helped me bring more global examples and awareness into my lessons. Plus, my students love hearing all about my many adventures (and some laughable language errors) while abroad.

Then: ETA in Leinefelde, Germany, 2003–4 Now: first- and second-grade English teacher at the German International School in Portland, Ore.

Upon my return to the states after my Fulbright year, I gathered all my courage, moved across the country, took this job, and am still here! My year in Germany definitely gave me the confidence to make the decision to move to another place I had never been to, far away from all my family and friends. I went thinking I would stay a year or two, and now am married with two kids, a mortgage, and a deeply rooted life and fulfilling career here. My Fulbright year definitely positively shaped my future. There was never a question that German would play a pivotal role in my life after that, and it’s still true! My own two kiddos are fluent in German, and my husband is desperately trying to learn the language as well. Second Fulbright: Draheim-Shadbeh says, “I loved living abroad so much that I applied for and was granted a Fulbright-Hays scholarship in 2007. It allowed me to be a part of a delegation studying how foreign languages were taught in China. I spent five amazing weeks in China, and my worldview was forever changed.”

Ryan Fordice ’08 Then: ETA in Gaziantep, Turkey, 2011–12 Now: completed an MD at the University of Chicago, then worked as the Lutheran campus minister for the university, alongside fundraising work. Currently beginning a hospital chaplain residency.

Being in Turkey and the ten other countries I was able to visit that year taught me how infinitely insignificant a part of the world we each are unto ourselves, but how infinitely significant we are in relationship to one another. The world is big, and full of good people waiting to meet.

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Lauren Griffin ’12 Then: ETA in Podgorica, Montenegro, 2012–13 Now: social scientist in the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation at the Administration for Children and Families in Washington, DC

It’s hard to imagine where I would be today without my Fulbright experience! My year in Montenegro challenged me in ways I never expected and pushed me to feel capable of embracing exciting opportunities in the future. From moving to both the East and West Coast, going to grad school, and taking new jobs, Fulbright set me on an extraordinary path and gifted me with lifelong friends.

Sean Anderson ’11

Then: ETA in Barranquilla, Colombia, 2011–12 Now: heads the Mexico City office of the Mintz Group, a global private investigations firm, where he manages and conducts complex litigation, due diligence, and asset-tracing investigations throughout Latin America and helps lead their cryptocurrency investigations team

Living abroad for a substantial period is one of the best choices you can make in life. Studying abroad at Luther was a fantastic opportunity that helped open my eyes to the world, but living and working in another country really changes how you view the world. It helps remove a lot of the assumptions we all make about how the world works and should work. You start to question things you take for granted at home and gain appreciation for other things about where you grew up. Plus, hopefully, you gain a deep appreciation and love for another culture, which will always influence the way you see the world.

Studying in Eastern Europe deepened the perspective that I bring to issues related to the public discourse surrounding that region and foreign policy more generally. Given the outsized role that coverage of Eastern Europe–related issues has played in the media and societal landscape of the US in the years since I returned, that deeper perspective has been an invaluable tool as I analyze these events from the perspective of a rhetorical scholar. Indeed, that tool gives me an edge in producing substantive and original work in my academic context, which has bolstered my scholarly career.

Matthew Lind ’13 Then: ETA in Gaziantep, Turkey, 2013–14 Now: a lawyer in Chicago

My Fulbright year got me interested in refugee and asylum law, which has led to me advocating for asylum-seekers as part of my legal practice.

Julia Reimann ’16

Then: ETA in Alor Setar, Malaysia, 2017 Now: pursuing an MDiv at Harvard Divinity School. This summer, she completed a chaplaincy internship at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis.

Not a day goes by that I don’t think of the generous, loving hospitality I experienced within my community in Alor Setar. My experiences in Malaysia deeply informed my life’s path, expanded my capacity for flexibility in all areas of my life, and developed my confidence in the skills I offer as a teacher and friend. They also confirmed

Kristen (Carlson) Einertson ’17 Then: ETA in Riga, Latvia, 2018–19 Now: currently in her third year of pursuing a PhD in rhetoric at the University of Minnesota

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my desire to pursue further studies in the fields of religion and spirituality at a multireligious divinity school

Four current Luther faculty members—and many former and emeriti faculty members—also received Fulbrights. Steve Holland, professor of economics, taught in Podgorica, Montenegro, 2012–13.

Elizabeth Steding, associate professor of German, taught and researched in Münster, Germany, in 2018. Robert Christman, professor of history, received two Fulbrights—one as a graduate student in Leipzig, Germany, 1999–2001, and one as a professor in Münster, Germany, 2013–14. Alexandra White, associate professor of management, received a Fulbright to teach and study in Bulgaria, 2021.

due to my interests in religious literacy and interreligious connection. Now I find myself regularly reflecting on my connections with my Muslim community members in Alor Setar and their powerful model of care that I benefited from as I train to become a multifaith healthcare chaplain.

Paul Hanson ’67 Then: ETA near Agra, India, 1967–68 Now: “In retirement,” Hanson says, “the significance of that Fulbright year only looms larger in importance. Because of the wonderful experience I had at Luther, I decided I wanted to teach in a similar environment. I wound up teaching for 40 years at California Lutheran, during which time it changed from a college to a university, and I was able to help internationalize the curriculum. . . . I founded and directed an interdisciplinary global studies program, I developed and led several study abroad trips to India, and nationally I was a founding board member of the South Asia Studies Association.”

That 1967–68 Fulbright . . . gave me a global perspective that I have carried through life. More surprising to me at the time was the new perspective it gave me on my own country; learning how people and media abroad saw the US and how our actions and motives were seen and interpreted added a new dimension to my trying to be a good American citizen. In retrospect, I was fortunate to have this formative experience before the internet and cell phones, so there was no choice but to engage and accommodate to the very different culture I was in. No contact with friends or family except by letters, which took two weeks. That

built independence, resilience, and self-confidence— all useful for the rest of one’s life.

Katherine Shaner ’98 Then: ETA in Heidelberg, Germany, 1998–99 Now: professor of New Testament at Wake Forest University. She completed MDiv and ThD programs at Harvard Divinity School, was ordained as an ELCA pastor, and published a book, Enslaved Leadership in Early Christianity, with Oxford University Press.

My love for New Testament studies from my Fulbright year and the ability to thrive in multiple environments and hear multiple perspectives, which living abroad gave me, coalesced during my doctorate. Today, my research, scholarship, and teaching challenges me and others to listen for the voices of people who are usually left out of the stories in our biblical texts and in our histories of justice. This theme that runs through my career has emerged from the unique combination of seeds planted at Luther College, tending and nurturing learned during my Fulbright year, and the resilience and creativity that comes with strong roots.

Marta Williams ’19 Then: Fulbright research grant to study in Bonn, Germany, 2019–20 Now: student at Harvard Medical School

I knew I wanted to attend medical school before going to Germany, but my experience there has definitely changed my perspective as I enter medicine. Having experienced the challenges of language and cultural barriers firsthand

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in the Bonn ER, finding ways to effectively provide care across such barriers is definitely a priority for me. Having also seen the advantages of the universal healthcare system in Germany (particularly amid a pandemic), I hope to be an advocate for expanded access to affordable and equitable health care. More generally, my time in Germany helped me to recognize some aspects of myself and my own culture that were harder to see against the backdrop of the US.

A FATHER/SON PAIR OF FULBRIGHTERS

Sean Taylor ’84 Then: Fulbright research scholar at the University at Agder (UiA), in Kristiansand, Norway, 2011–12. Sean also lived in Norway with his wife, Anne (Lysne) Taylor ’88, for several years in the 1980s. Now: professor of history at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM)

My career since the Fulbright is tightly connected to Norway. One of the ideas behind being a Fulbright Scholar is that you don’t simply say “thanks a lot” on your way out and never have contact again. During my time at UiA, I realized that MSUM and UiA are very similar schools, and I have worked in the intervening years quite hard to get an exchange program off the ground. . . . In short, I spend a lot of time thinking about getting students to engage in the world around them by becoming critical thinkers and active learners.

Ethan Taylor ’16 Then: ETA in Bokhtar, Tajikistan, 2019–20 Now: pursuing dual master’s degrees in public policy and international and regional studies at the University of Michigan

In some ways I never stood a chance at shaping my own path! My dad received a Fulbright to southern Norway in 2011 and took the whole family with him as

he taught at a university in Kristiansand. The opportunities were absolutely life-changing in the best ways. Not only did I learn a new language, I also was forced on a near daily basis to think critically about cultural relativism: How do our very human experiences differ because of material determinants? How do the richness (and the limits!) of one language influence how you perceive your own? To what degree has a culture (such as our own) shaped cultures external to ours without us realizing it? These were complicated and often difficult questions for an eighteen-year-old, and I think it is only in the light of my own Fulbright experience to Tajikistan that I have begun first to articulate them, and second to understand them. While my international experiences (including two years as a teacher in South Korea and as an alum of Luther’s Malta program) prepared me for the cultural niceties and the practical logistics of living abroad, the truth is the realities of living in a post-conflict country continue to shape my perspectives in graduate school in profound and unexpected ways that I myself do not yet understand completely. The shortest takeaway I can articulate is simply that we—as a society and culture—have a responsibility to use our resources and ingenuity to ensure that our better natures win out; that we are obliged to leave the world an improved place for people of all circumstances, even if (and especially when) that means asking uncomfortable questions about the way we perceive and are perceived in the world.

Luther has been part of the Fulbright community since 1949, when Kathryn Ulvilden Moen ’41 studied organ at the Oslo Konservatoriet in Norway.

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Left to right: Alyssa Ritter ’11, Phil Iversen ’87, and Rachel Brummel staff Luther’s VIA Mentoring Program.

SOMEONE WHO’S GONE BEFORE ME Through the VIA Mentoring Program, alumni mentors help light the way for current Luther students. —Kate Frentzel Crossing the threshold from college student to full-

who help those students think about their values,

fledged adult in the world can feel overwhelming.

strengths, and ways they find meaning in life.

In the flood of coursework, activities, grad school

Mentors are trained not to focus only on careers,

applications, and hunting for jobs and internships,

but also to explore with students bigger questions

it’s easy to lose track of what gives your life meaning

like who am I and how do I want to engage in the

and purpose. Sometimes, it helps to have a guide.

world? Where do I want to spend my time? How will

For the past few years, interested Luther students

I balance my values with my work? How will I build

who want just such a guide can find one through

a meaningful and fulfilling life after Luther, and how

Luther’s Vocation-Inspired Alumni (VIA) Mentoring

might I start to cultivate those pieces now?

Program. The program, co-directed by associate

The program has led to a lot of deep conversation

professor Rachel Brummel and associate director

and soul searching, some connections that will likely

of alumni relations Alyssa Ritter ’11, with support

be lifelong, and provide meaningful benefits for both

from associate professor Phil Iversen ’87, pairs

mentees and mentors.

current Luther students with Luther alumni mentors

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Expanding student support Luther’s VIA Mentoring Program has grown from 12 mentor/mentee pairs in 2019–20, to 30 pairs in 2020–21, to 50 pairs this year. Mentors so far have been drawn primarily from the Alumni Council, the Black Alumni Association, and the Latinx Alumni Group. While it’s now entirely self-sufficient, the program was funded in part in its initial years by a grant from

Loretta Dooley Wetzel ’80 (right) mentors Kelao Charmaine Neumbo ’22.

CIC-NetVUE, the Council for Independent College’s Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education, whose goal with the program is to embed a sense of vocation in liberal arts schools.

Creating space to explore together

Mentors aren’t meant or expected to be experts.

Students are nominated by faculty, staff, or fellow

Rather, Ritter says, “It’s a great way to expand who’s

students, or they can self-nominate. Ultimately, the

in a student’s circle, who’s in their corner, who’s root-

VIA Mentoring co-directors want to choose students

ing for them along the way.”

who, Brummel says, “will most benefit and be most

Last year, Lisa Small Steinbauer ’88, director of

engaged—students for whom this could really move

communications at Ridgeview Medical Center and

the needle, students who will benefit from exploration

president of the Alumni Council, mentored Odalis

and conversation with an alum.”

Gonzalez ’21. Although they come from very different

backgrounds, Small Steinbauer says, “What I got

out of it was pure joy—a sense of pride in having the opportunity to be a resource for Odalis and be part of her journey as she neared the end of her amazing time at Luther. I’m not her parent,

Kelao Charmaine Neumbo ’22 fit this bill exactly. “When I found out the VIA Mentoring Program was active and something I could be a part of, I was ecstatic,” she says. “It was an opportunity to gain not just advice but also guidance from someone who has lived before me and had similar experiences and similar hurdles they’ve had to face, which is

I’m not her boss, I’m not her professor or roommate,

always helpful when you’re younger and facing major

but I’m someone with whom she had a shared Luther

decisions in your life.”

College experience, and I could be a sounding board

Neumbo was matched with Loretta Dooley

for her. I could listen to her. She could share with me

Wetzel ’80, CEO and president of the Wetzel Group

what she was feeling great about and where she was

in Chicago and co-president, with Perran G. Wetzel

having challenges or struggles.”

IV ’79, of the Black Alumni Association. It was clear from the beginning that the match was strong. “When Loretta and I connected at first, it felt like I knew her already,” Neumbo says. “I’m just smiling ear to ear thinking about our conversations. They’ve always been interesting, always exciting, and I never wanted to put the phone down.”

At the beginning, Wetzel says, “The only expectation I set was to add value. I wanted to go with the flow and serve. What blossomed was a beautiful lifelong relationship!” Lisa Small Steinbauer ’88 (left) mentored Odalis Gonzalez ’21. FA L L 2 0 2 1

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One of the ways that Neumbo, a neuroscience and global health double major, felt especially supported by Wetzel was as she was preparing

that they had to wait in line outdoors for two hours before getting into the rental building. Simataa says, “We were laughing afterward

to intern at Mayo Clinic during Luther’s Roches-

because it was like, Wow, was that really two hours?

ter Semester. Going into it, Neumbo, who struggles

We were talking the whole time.”

with imposter syndrome, felt intimidated. She says,

While bonding over tennis, the international-stu-

“Loretta was really monumentual in giving me advice that I deserve to be there. She instilled the notion—or the truth—that I belong at the table. Being an immigrant, being Black, and being a woman, and her also being Black and being a woman, we’re often places where you question whether you should be. She really drove into me that I deserve to be there.” As Neumbo prepares to lead the student body as Student Senate president this year, she carries with her some of the best advice Loretta shared with her: you need to create space for others to contribute. “I really carry that with me and think it to myself under my breath sometimes,” Neumbo says. “It doesn’t sound so impactful when you hear it the first time, but when I internalized

Sam Simataa ’13 (left) mentors Nyathi Motlojoa ’22.

that, I realized that when you’re in spaces where you’re able to make change—which are spaces I

dent experience, and their home countries was natu-

want to be in and often find myself in—you can’t make

ral and easy, the pair also dug deeper, talking about

those changes yourself. You need to create platforms

possible futures.

joa ’23. They had a lot in common from the start.

“This relationship helped me see what life is like for someone who’s from the same region of the world as I am living in the United States,” Motlojoa says. “It is, in a way, a glance into what the future holds or what the future could be like for me.”

Both men are from southern Africa and both played

In a neat kind of alumni chain, with mentors

and space for others to contribute and take part— that’s how you make change.”

An alumni chain Sam Simataa ’13 was paired with Nyathi Motlo-

tennis at Luther. They spent time bonding over these

going forward and backward, Simataa actually had

things, often over WhatsApp but also in real life.

a similar experience when he engaged in monthly

Although there’s no expectation that mentors meet

check-ins with other VIA mentors, where they shared

their mentees in person, Simataa, a software test engi-

their experiences and offered tips and support to one

neer in Rochester, Minn., made a point of attending a

another.

couple of Motlojoa’s tennis matches, and once the duo

“Just as Nyathi is kind of living a life very similar to

even went snowboarding in La Crosse, Wis. Simataa

what I thought my Luther experience was,” he says,

picked up his mentee on campus, then drove an hour

“I got to meet some people who I thought I lived their

to Mount La Crosse, where COVID restrictions meant

Luther experience. So it was interesting to hear from

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Marlon Henriquez ’15 (right) mentored Jon Rivera ’21.

them and what they did in life, and I learned a few

kept balancing and learning about myself and our

things that I can add to my life too.”

relationship.”

Small Steinbauer also found the mentor group

Marlon Henriquez ’15, an instructional coach

check-ins invaluable. “I wasn’t expecting to meet

at Pilsen Community Academy in Chicago, mentored

and start to build at least virtual relationships with

Jon Rivera ’21. They share similar backgrounds as

a whole other set of Luther alums who I never would

first-generation Hispanic college students, and Rivera

have met,” she says. “Logging in and seeing people

grew up in Chicago, where Henriquez now lives. While

from different parts of the world and knowing that the

these things offered great points of connection at first,

Luther experience—whether it was great, good, indif-

Henriquez says, “Eventually, our conversations really

ferent, whatever—was the common denominator was

focused on career aspirations for both of us.”

really cool. That was another unexpected, unintended benefit.”

Henriquez and Rivera met twice in the past year, once at Decorah’s Landing Market, where they talked for hours, and another time for ice cream at

Growing together While the VIA Mentoring Program is designed to support students, mentors also benefit. Simataa, who graduated from Luther eight years ago, says, “Once you start working, you love the non-homework life, and you can kind of do things on your own terms. But having a mentee taught me about accountability and consistency again. In work, that’s required, but in

the Sugar Bowl. “Although I was supposed

to be the ‘mentor,’ I got just as much as Jon did out of this experience, if not more. Jon asked so many good questions about my own career aspirations that helped me affirm my goals,” Henriquez says. “We have truly become support systems for each other.”

my outside life, I needed to make sure I was available

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and accountable to my mentee. You want to support

To learn more about the VIA Mentoring

them but not direct everything they do, so striking

Program, contact Alyssa Ritter, alyssa.ritter@

that balance of being open and honest but also being

luther.edu, or Rachel Brummel, brumra02@

supportive and understanding—that’s something I

luther.edu.

26

When you support the Luther Fund, you're supporting students. It's that simple. givenow.luther.edu

Luther College Book Shop 563-387-1036 Kristen (Aslakson) Abbey ’98, mom to Hailey Abbey ’22

lutherbookshop.com

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Anniversari HAPPY

The year 2021 marks several major milestones at Luther. The Koren building celebrates its 100th birthday, Nordic Choir turns 75, and the Nottingham study-away program welcomes its 50th group of students. We asked college archivist Hayley Jackson to share some background— and some current student/faculty research—on these Luther institutions.

Koren

On October 14, 1921, the Luther College community gathered to officially dedicate the new Koren Library. At the ceremony, two men were honored: college founder Rev. U.V. Koren, for whom the library was named, and President C.K. Preus, who led the 12-year effort to build it. From the bricks made by students that formed its walls to the furniture purchased using funds raised by alumni, Koren embodied the collaborative spirit of its campus community. A century later, both Koren and that collaborative spirit remain. In honor of the building’s centenary, museum studies director Destiny Crider and college archivist Hayley Jackson will launch the first issue of Koren 100, a series of newsletters documenting the history of Koren from its library beginnings to its current role as home to the social sciences. These newsletters, like Koren, are based on an ongoing collaboration between faculty, staff, and students to gather the stories of this building through historical records and the memories of the campus community. One of the original goals of Koren 100 was to provide museum studies students hands-on experience in historical research. To that end, research began in fall 2019, when students in the Introduction to Museum Studies class used records from the Archives to create exhibits on different aspects of Koren’s history. For students who only knew Koren as the social sciences building, it was eye-opening to learn that the building once housed the Hendrickson Organ and that the original archaeology lab stored its artifacts in the old library stacks where college sweethearts once flirted. The story of Koren was not only in the paper records, but in the memories of Luther College faculty, staff, students, alumni, and families. To gather those

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ies! stories, Crider and Jackson worked with professor Jacqueline Wilkie to create a project for her 2020 Public History course, in which students interviewed Luther College community members about their memories of Koren for preservation in the College Archives. The community response was incredible. With over 60 people volunteering to participate, under the direction of Crider, anthropology lab work-study students picked up where the public history students left off, continuing to interview throughout fall semester. For months, they listened to reminiscences of college pranks, campus personalities, and the local effects of national events ranging from Vietnam to 9/11. “[Koren] really was the center of everything,” Lori (Van Gerpen) Stanley ’80 remembers, “not just where we took our courses or had the artifacts, but of all the relationships...where the culture resided.” “It’s rewarding to see our students connect directly with alumni via Zoom during a tough pandemic year,” Crider says. “Koren is the center of our interview focus, but the value is in the relationships built between current students and alumni that emerged through every conversation. . . These exchanges show how Koren can continue to provide a central place for meaningful relationships across different groups

100th

within the Luther community.” The first newsletter will be released during Homecoming 2021, with subsequent editions published throughout the year. The newsletters and information for participating in an interview can be found at luther. edu/archives. —Hayley Jackson

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MAGAZINE

75th

A new Nordic Choir album, Coming Home to the Light, is available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. It features 21 of the best performances by Nordic Choir from 2017 to 2021.

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Nordic Choir

Arnold (2005–10), Hightower, and Last have carried on this legacy.

Choral music has long been a distinctive feature of the

The legacy of Nordic is, for many members,

music program at Luther College. “[We all] want to be

life-changing. As part of their research, Last and

someplace where what we love is highly valued,” Allen

Connors have interviewed past choir members, and

Hightower, Nordic director from 2010 to 2016 told the

their comments reflect the significance of Nordic in

College Chips in 2010 upon his hire. As Luther’s oldest

their own lives, long after their graduation. As Karen

extant choral group, Nordic Choir exemplifies Luther’s

(Gesme) Brunssen ’75 shared, “It lives on afterwards,

highly esteemed choral tradition. The iconic ensemble,

forever.”

established in 1946, celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

Some comments make it clear that the relationships formed between choir members are just as impactful

In honor of this milestone, current Nordic direc-

as the experience of performing. “I expected to make

tor Andrew Last ’97 and senior music education major

good music in Nordic Choir,” Gregory Peterson ’83

Bailey Conners are creating a timeline of Nordic

observed. “What I didn’t expect was to have the level

Choir’s history and an anniversary album showcasing

of relationship experiences, spiritual experiences, and

different eras of the ensemble. They spent this past

grounding in a way that felt authentic.”

summer researching in the Archives, studying photo-

“Nordic can be a forever family,” Evelyn Galstad

graphs and tour documents and even listening to vinyl

’20 shared. “I genuinely feel that Nordic is a place I

records to trace the journey of this choir.

will forever have a home...that I will forever be able to

Originally known as Nordic Cathedral Choir, Nordic is the longest ongoing mixed chorus established at

belong.” It is this sense of community among Nordic Choir

Luther. It was first led by music faculty member Sigvart

members that has influenced Connors the most. “I

Steen ’23. After Steen’s resignation in 1948, Weston

learned a lot about what creates a long-lasting choral

Noble ’43 took over the choir as part of his initial

experience through interviews with both Nordic

one-year appointment. One year became 57 years, and

alumni and former Nordic conductors,” he says. “Their

under Noble’s direction, the choir flourished, eventu-

insights have impacted the way I am going to lead my

ally earning both national and international reputa-

future ensembles.”

tions for musical excellence. His tenure saw, among other achievements, several international tours and

Last and Connors anticipate the historical timeline and anniversary album will be released this fall.

performances at prestigious venues including New York City’s Lincoln Center and Salt Lake City’s Mormon

—Hayley Jackson

Tabernacle. Successive Nordic conductors Craig

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MAGAZINE

Nottingham As Luther’s oldest established study-abroad program, the Nottingham Year is a flagship for the Center for Global Learning. The 2021–22 cohort, led by professors Ben Moore ’02 and Sarah Frydenlund ’05, will be the 50th to participate in the program. Luther’s connection to Nottingham arose out of an earlier college initiative. In 1958, Luther students began volunteering at Hothorpe Hall in Northamptonshire, a conference and retreat center then owned by the Lutheran Council of Great Britain. Students helped maintain the grounds and run summer camps for local children. In the summer of 1965, campus pastor W. Gordon Smedsrud ’43 and his wife, Marie, brought 15 Luther students to Hothorpe for a summerlong work camp. One of their projects was to assist pastor Hans Seger and his East German immigrant Lutheran congregation in Nottingham with renovating their new church. In January 1972, Smedsrud reconnected with Seger when he returned to England to explore the possibility of developing a yearlong study-abroad experience. Seger helped Smedsrud establish contact with the University of Notting-

50th

ham and secure housing and classroom space. In the fall of 1972, the Smedsruds returned with 15 students for the first official Nottingham year. Students shared a flat, took coursework from the University of Nottingham and the local Adult Study Center, studied courses on English history and culture with Smedsrud, and participated in community service projects at the Lutheran Church and other area congregations. Since then, dozens of Luther faculty from a variety of disciplines have led the program. There have been changes over the years, as new directors bring unique experience and expertise. As Moore explains, “We, like directors before, have followed the path laid out over the 50 years of Luther College in Nottingham, each choosing when to add branches or prune back, to venture down different roads, finding new connections and practices with an eye on what is yet to come.” Yet in the midst of these programmatic shifts, the values of the Nottingham program—living, learning, and working in community—remain the same. Students still share a flat, take part in community service events, and engage with the local community through organizations and university groups. And in these ways, the 50th cohort of students to experience the Nottingham program will, Moore says, “share in the five decades of history that offer students the opportunity to live as both citizens of Nottingham and ambassadors of Luther College.” —Hayley Jackson

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32

COMPOSING FOR A

Cause

Left to right: Shank, Luhrs, and Tesdahl all played a part in a project to raise funds for musicians during COVID.

Alumni reunite in song to raise money for COVID relief. As Boston-based composer Joshua

cial assistance to career musicians

piano and immediately began making

Shank ’03 entered quarantine in

in need to help cover medical costs,

plans for the Hickory Choral Society

March 2020, he sat down at a piano

lodging, clothing, food, and other

to join the consortium and premiere

to write music as an act of self-care.

vital living expenses. His original

the piece on March 21, 2021.” Shank

A few weeks later he had written an

goal was to raise $7,000. But by this

attended the premiere via Zoom.

entire choral work using only a single

point, at least 35 choirs from across

word: “alleluia.”

the nation have joined the consortium

me to tears,” Tesdahl says. “And

and raised nearly $12,000.

before long, I was singing in a choir

“For me,” Shank says, “that’s

“Christmas at Luther 2020 moved

always been a word that expresses

One of those choirs was the Hick-

for the first time in over a decade—

gratitude—being thankful for friends

ory Choral Society of Hickory, North

through a laptop due to a global

and family and music and laughter,

Carolina, conducted by Ryan Luhrs

pandemic, no less—being conducted

but also for the growth that can come

’04, who also serves as associate

by a friend from Luther for a piece

from sadness and grief over things

professor of music at Lenoir-Rhyne

written by another Luther friend, and

we’ve lost.”

University. One of the singers in his

once again weeping.”

In order to help his colleagues

choir was Gene Tesdahl ’01.

“One of the most incredible things

in the performing arts who had

The Christmas at Luther 2020

their livelihoods decimated by the

performance had put Luhrs and

presentation of the work,” Shank says,

pandemic, Shank decided to recruit

Tesdahl in the mood to explore other

“was that they accompanied it with

a group of choirs from across the US

ways to connect through music during

pictures of people dealing with the

who would each pay a nominal fee in

an isolating time. Luhrs explains,

pandemic from their community—folks

order to give the world premiere of the

“Gene and I reminisced about Juletide

helping seniors celebrate birthdays,

new work, titled alleluia (from quar-

and Christmas at Luther. We discussed

local headlines about schools trying

antine). Normally, funds raised from

the importance of continued mean-

to keep students safe, and acknowl-

a consortium like this would go to the

ingful music experiences during a

edgments of the staggering loss of life.

composer, but Shank instead teamed

pandemic.”

Gene wasn’t the only Luther alum at

up with the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, a charity that provides finan-

He continues, “I played through

about the Hickory Choral Society’s

that premiere shedding a tear.”

alleluia (from quarantine) at the

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MAGAZINE

awakening AN

always favored the

Sponsorships in Minnesota),

white side of my life.

which connects patrons to artists’

No one taught me to do

self-directed projects featuring

this, it was just how it

classical singing. He’d already

was. I spoke the language,

been working on a few Spanish-

I was more familiar with the

language songs and decided to

customs, and I was comfortable

use the OOPS MN opportunity to

in that world.”

compose, perform, and record a

He continues, “My educational

By connecting with his dual heritage, Rodolfo Nieto ’04 writes bilingual music for everyone.

express universal experiences—

in white European traditions.

like feeling isolated, feeling

The languages I studied were all

stuck, feeling like you’ve ignored

Western European. The people

something important—from an

I surrounded myself with were

American Latinx perspective.

predominantly white. Those

The result, Un Despertar/An

things in and of themselves are

Awakening, was performed and

not bad in any way, but now I see

recorded at the Ritz Theatre in

them as extremely lacking. In

northeast Minneapolis, where

When the pandemic hit, Rodolfo

my own myopic view, all of my

Nieto was supposed to have

(Rudy) Nieto ’04, a Minneapo-

dreams and goals were based in a

performed in La Bohème before

lis-based musical theatre and

white Western world, and I never

the pandemic shut down the

opera performer, turned to

considered that my talents could

production the day before it

composing to cope. “For myself

have been used outside of that.”

opened. The set was still up when

and a lot of my colleagues, the

A collaboration with friend

Un Despertar was recorded a year

theatre is our church and our

and colleague Alejandro Magallón

later, and it’s an apt illustration

community gathering,” he says.

changed everything. When the

of Nieto’s dual heritage, the set

“It was such a vital part of our

two performed a recital of Mexi-

of this traditionally European art

lives that was taken away.” While

can folk and pop songs with

form composing the background

composing during the pandemic

other musicians who hailed from

for Latinx American singers.

started as a means of making

Mexico, Nieto says, “Doing this

“Without realizing it,” he

peace with his new reality, it ended

music and communicating with

says,”I was missing and yearn-

up allowing him to explore a heri-

these members of the band in

ing for this side of my identity,

tage that, like a lot of third-gener-

their language, which was a part

and now that it’s opened I have

ation immigrants, he hadn’t fully

of my culture, opened up that

found so much more passion, life,

connected with before.

door and that feeling and that

vibrancy, purpose, and opportu-

love. All of a sudden there was

nity in my work.”

Nieto grew up in the Chicago

FA L L 2 0 2 1

bilingual suite of nine songs that

and artistic goals were all based

suburbs in a multicultural

a release in me, a freedom in

household, with a white mother

myself.”

and Hispanic father. Though

During the pandemic,

both of his parents spoke Span-

Nieto was contacted by OOPS

ish, Nieto says, “Growing up I

MN (Opera-Oriented Projects

34

Watch Un Despertar and other performances on Nieto’s YouTube channel. —Kate Frentzel

Sommer Stevens ’19 uses pandemic downtime to launch Somkoda Design in her new Wyoming hometown.

Go west, YOUNG DESIGNER

When Sommer Stevens’ 19 started

city, to start a business of her

mie (Stevens estimates she’s one

a thriving interior design and

own.

of the city’s first interior design-

general contracting business in

This was just as the pandemic

ers)—she’s able to charge for both

a brand-new city less than a year

was ramping up, but when

materials and design, and she’s

out of college, it surprised even

Stevens was laid off from her

booked well into 2022.

her. “I always wanted to be an

retail job, she decided to take the

entrepreneur and have my own

plunge. Ultimately, she thinks

of college, she opened her own

business someday,” Sommer

the timing worked in her favor:

showroom in downtown Lara-

Stevens ’19 says, “I just didn’t

“Nobody really knew how to

mie. For people looking to start

think I would be this young.”

navigate business during COVID.

a business of their own, she has

Last September, just a year out

At the start of 2020, Stevens, a

It was like everyone had a reset

some advice: “It’s never going to

management major and art minor

button, so it was almost a level

be the right time. Make educated

who always felt drawn to the

playing field in a weird way.”

decisions, but don’t let the fear of

Stevens started out repping

failing keep you from doing some-

West, moved to Laramie, where her boyfriend, Jake Vogt ’19, was

cabinet, floor, and tile lines

in law school at the University of

and offering complimentary

Wyoming. She took a retail job

design when customers ordered

and started to get her bearings in

materials through her. She was

her new town.

nervous at first about the stigma

That March, right before the

attached to interior design in a

nationwide COVID shutdown,

rustic place like Laramie. “Lara-

a former neighbor and mentor

mie is like an old cowboy town,”

came out on a skiing trip with

she says. “They’re not really

her family. She owned an inte-

fancy people. I was scared

rior design business, and Stevens

to use the words interior

had worked for her in high school

designer. I didn’t want

and college. “My responsibilities

people to think I’m

there were unique,” Stevens says,

this fancy person

“because she let me do more than

from the city coming

just design—she let me work on

in with expen-

the business side of it, so I was

sive products that

doing everything from designing

nobody can buy.

kitchens to marketing and budget-

But I’ve been find-

ing and accounting work. She let

ing that Laramie

me understand what it takes to

is fancier than I

run an interior design business.”

thought!” Now—

And she encouraged Stevens, who

even as a newcomer

was struggling to find a full-time

and even in an indus-

career in the somewhat insular

try that’s new to Lara-

thing.” Learn more about Stevens’s business at Somkodadesign.com. —Kate Frentzel

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MAGAZINE

Leading

T H E W AY T O A C U R E

Scott Boyken ’07 founds a biotech firm that may change the way we treat cancer.

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36

Not only is Scott Boyken ’07 poised

proteins from scratch—de novo

allows researchers to dream big in

to help deliver the next generation

proteins—as a postdoc at the Baker

the realm of cellular therapies.

of cancer treatment—he’s leading

Lab at the University of Washing-

the charge. As an expert in compu-

ton. The work energized him. “The

Lab, Boyken and a friend and

tational protein design—and as

sky’s the limit in terms of creat-

colleague, Marc Lajoie, were asked

cofounder of the new biotech

ing new technology that’s going

to cofound Lyell Immunopharma,

Through his work at the Baker

company Outpace—he’s

a biotech company

at the forefront of devel-

focused on T-cell ther-

oping cell therapies that

apy to cure cancers.

show a lot of promise in

Boyken describes the

fighting solid tumors.

work there, in simplest

Boyken, a computer

terms, as taking a

science and biology double major,

to solve real problems and enable

patient’s T cells and teaching them

studied at Luther during a time

new therapies for patients,” he

how to seek and destroy tumors.

when bioinformatics—using

says.

As heads of the protein and cell

computational technology to analyze complex biological data— was undergoing a radical revolution, seeing a proliferation of tools, techniques, big data, and new projects. With encouragement from his Luther professors, he quickly seized on the emerging field and went on to earn a PhD in bioinformatics and computational biology at Iowa State University. At ISU, Boyken focused on understanding proteins and how they allow immune cells to function. “Proteins are these amazing molecular machines that carry out

“Especially in the medical field, the ability to design custom proteins that are tailor-made to address specific problems presents an enormous opportunity, and that was the thing that really captivated me.”

engineering team, Boyken and Lajoie were developing new technologies to engineer all sorts of anti-cancer tricks into cell therapies. A year ago, Boyken and Lajoie had the opportunity to spin their work out into a new company, Outpace Bio. Outpace is currently 18 scientists strong and growing, and Boyken is very excited for what comes next. “I really believe that cell therapies are going to be the future of medicine,” he says. “Cells have all these amazing

Boyken and his team at the

programs inside of them, and if the

all of life’s processes,” he says.

Baker Lab were at the very fore-

wrong program gets turned on at

“It’s their 3-D structure and how

front of computational biology.

the wrong time, or if the cell starts

they move that gives them these

They invented new ways to move

going down the wrong pathway,

amazing functions and basically

protein design into functional

that’s when you get things like

makes biology possible.”

protein design. A lot of work in

cancer. The cells are doing things

the field had already allowed for

that they’re innately programmed

Boyken knew that he wanted not

By the end of his PhD program,

researchers to design proteins and

to, but they’re making the wrong

just to study proteins but also to

then have the structure come out

decisions at the wrong times. We

design them. “As much as I loved

in the real world as it appeared on

can intervene in that complex biol-

protein structure,” he says, “I real-

screen, but most of these proteins

ogy and teach cells how to make

ized I had a much bigger appetite

were inert, unable to do much.

the right decisions at the right

for designing things and was also

Boyken, however, designed several

time. We can harness that power to

much better at the creative engi-

classes of de novo proteins with

go after complex diseases in ways

neering aspects than at studying

moving parts and precise inter-

that typical drugs cannot.”

proteins from a reverse-engineer-

action specificities that allow

ing perspective.”

them to actually do things in the

Boyken got his chance to design

—Kate Frentzel

real world. And this step forward

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MAGAZINE

Class Notes ’56 Odell Bjerkness

published a book, Off We Go!: Letters to My Mother during the Korean War. The book recounts his time serving as a member of US Air Force bands in Michigan and Tokyo from 1950 to 1953. Odell dedicates the book to his mother, noting that she “read and answered all 100 of my letters, and saved them for me so that 70 years later I could write this story.”

’57 Joanne (Doerring) and

Milt Kramer ’59 live in Manchester, Iowa. Joanne is a retired teacher and was active in the community. Milt is also a retired teacher and has been the mayor of Manchester for 47 years. The Manchester Family Aquatic Center was renamed to the Milt and Joanne Kramer Aquatic Center to honor them last spring.

’58 Joel Brende of Prairie

Village, Kan., is a retired professor of psychiatry and department chair at Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Ga. He recently published a book, The James Tapes, based on eight years of psychotherapy with James, a multiple personality patient Joel treated between 1975 and 1983. Joel expects to follow this with two more books on the same subject.

’59 Lou Accola of Mesa,

Ariz., published a book, Feelings and Faith: Reflections of God’s Gifts for Life’s Journey.

’63 John Eggers of Bemidji, Minn., is the owner and director of Envisioning Your Future.

’66 Paul Davis of Los Angeles is a retired engineer.

’67 Terry (Thiele) Rasmussen of Fort Collins, Colo., is a retired casualty field examiner. After her husband, James, passed away, Terry took up running. She ran her first half marathon on her 64th birthday.

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38

At age 73, she completed her goal of running half marathons in all 50 states.

Rolfe Lehman of Middleton, Wis., is a retired massage therapist.

’68 Mike Ruzek is the owner

Rich Nading of Owensboro, Ky., retired as a health educator with the Green River District Health Department.

and manager of the Austin (Minn.) Health Insurance Agency and one of the founders of Austin Area Foundation.

’69 David Ellingson of

Edmonds, Wash., published a children’s book, Grizz and His Friends. Robert Hankel Jr. of Marana, Ariz., is a retired dentist and a graduate student in the MPH program at Grand Canyon University.

’70 Gretchen Andersen of

White Pigeon, Mich., is a retired teacher.

’71 Daniel Bollerud of Anchorage, Alaska, is a retired ELCA pastor.

John Severtson of Minneapolis retired as executive director of Opportunity Village in Clear Lake, Iowa.

’72 Peder Hegland is a stu-

dio potter and owner of Peder Hegland Pottery in Sartell, Minn. His work, and collaborative work with painter Judith Bergerson were featured last summer at the Ripple River Gallery near Bay Lake, Minn. Lee Olson of Fitchburg, Wis., is a retired reinsurance manager.

’73 Deborah Hafner DeWin-

ter of Windsor Mill, Md., is a retired clergy who serves on the Metro New York Synod Bishop’s Visioning Team. Carl Homstad of Decorah is a painter-printmaker at Homstad Studio and Gallery. His work is featured at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in a yearlong exhibition called An Artist’s Journey: Carl Homstad, 50 Years from June 2021 through May 2022.

Mary Runningen Monsted is a piano teacher, church pianist, and CEO of Musical Gumbo.

’74 W. D. Foster-Graham of

Mounds View, Minn., is the new book review editor for Insight News. He has also published his sixth novel, The Right to Be: A Christopher Family Novel. Karen (Olson) and James Gerth ’77 live in Prairie Du Chien, Wis. Karen is a retired deacon. James is a retired pastor. Larry Welo of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., is the owner of Larry Welo Studio. His paintings and prints were shown in an exhibition, Then and Now, at Groveland Gallery in Minneapolis from July 24 through Sept. 4.

’75 Jeff Nelson of Edina,

Minn., is a retired family physician. He has also published a book, I Got to Live with an Angel, in honor of his late wife, Jane (Korsrud) Nelson ’76. Rosie (Almo) Spangenberg of Council Bluffs, Iowa, retired after 46 years of service in education.

’76 Keith Drews of Com-

merce, Mich., retired after working for 34 years at the National Park Service as a park ranger and IT specialist. Gary Grindeland of Bayonne, N.J., is pastor at Grace Lutheran Church. He was named Bayonne and Hudson County Senior Citizen of the Year for 2021. Kevin Hibbard of Carrollton, Ga., retired after 41 years of teaching, the last 32 as director of choirs at the University of West Georgia. He plans to resume directing his community and church choirs in the fall.

Christina (Rudey) Silka earned a doctorate in nursing practice from Mount St. Joseph University. She is the system director of operational informatics at ProMedica Health Systems and is adjunct faculty for the master of nursing science program at Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio.

’77 Christi Korn-Finholt

and James Finholt ’78 have retired to San Antonio, Texas. Christi retired after 37 years of teaching music and has started writing a children’s book series, CATastophe! The first book, The Christmas CATastophe!, was published in April 2021 in English and Spanish. James also retired after 19 years as a Microsoft certified engineer and chair of the Computer Information Systems Department at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Ore. Barbara Larsen is a medical librarian at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Andrew Ward is supervisory epidemiologist and director of the Evidence Development Division at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Baltimore.

’78 Don DiLaura retired after 43 years as the public works director for the Ossian (Iowa) Water, Sewer, and Maintenance Department. David Wettach of Muscatine, Iowa, is a retired family physician.

’79 Kristen (Braaten) and

Bruce Wilder of Albuquerque, N.M., will retire from serving Faith Lutheran Church in Dec. 2021, Kristen as the new member and adult ministry coordinator and Bruce as the senior pastor for the past 23 years.

’80 Gladys Noll Alvarez of

Des Moines, Iowa, is author of two social work books, Grandma Mary Says Things Happen: A Guide to Help Children Who Have Experienced Trauma and Grandma Mary Says Bullies Hurt.

’81 Lina (Viise) Miller of Independence, Kan., is a retired elementary school music teacher.

Gary Nordmoe is a master data analyst at Novolex in Cincinnati.

’82 Mike Donohue is CEO of the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging in Decorah.

’83 Karen (Kramer) and

Daniel Landsverk live in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. Karen is a legal assistant at Alan A. Panek Law Office. Daniel is a district sales manager at Sysco. Jim Nussle of Alexandria, Va., is the president and CEO of the Credit Union National Association. He was also recognized as one of The Hill’s top lobbyists of 2020. Laura (Holcomb) Wold of Sheridan, Wyo., is a veterinarian at Big Goose Veterinary Clinic. She also is the author of the children’s book Magic Pajamas.

’84 Stephen Berg is a

customer relationship advocate at Fidelity Investments in Salt Lake City. Kathy (Fjelland) Kolden of Mesa, Ariz., is the senior manager internal audit at the University of Phoenix.

’85 Thomas Gilbertson

of Apple Valley, Minn., is data security manager at Self Esteem Brands. Kris (Hahn) Henderson of Edina, Minn., retired from her role as vice president and general manager of cash products at Ameriprise Financial and an active consultant and volunteer for multiple organizations including the Minnesota Council on Economic Education, Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People, and Giving Voice Crosstown, a chorus for people with dementia and their caregivers that will launch later this year.

Eric Isaacson served as the interim executive director of the Louisville (Ky.) Ballet from March through August and has returned to his position on the music theory faculty at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

’86 Diane Davis is director

for alumni engagement at Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Dan Thoreson is staff accountant at Smith, Schafer, and Associates in Red Wing, Minn.

’87 Tim Mitchell retired after 34 years of teaching secondary vocal music. He moved to his hometown of Charles City, Iowa, to take a more active role in his family’s show cattle operation.

’88 Scott Frankwick is

accounting manager at Tripwire in Portland, Ore. Christine Long was elected to a two-year term as assistant chief judge in the Third Judicial District in Owatonna, Minn. Ann (Glidden) Platt of Denison, Iowa, is retiring after 33 years of teaching music to kindergarten through third-grade students.

’89 Jill (Schroeder) Putnam

of Eagan, Minn., is the chief financial officer at JAMF Software. She was also appointed to the board of directors of Integral Ad Science. Jill also serves on the board of Queen’s Gambit Growth Capital.

’90 Jane Vaaler Roets of

Wethersfield, Conn., is an early childhood mental health consultant at the Village for Families and Children.

’91 Marit (Ness) Lloyd of

Corona, Calif., is the head of preclinical development at Immunity Bio. Clark Shah-Nelson of Baltimore earned a doctorate of business administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus and is the assistant dean of instructional design and technology for the University of Maryland School of Social Work.

Dean Southern is interim dean of academic affairs, Dorothy P. Schmitt Chair in Opera, and artistic director of CIM Opera Theatre at the Cleveland (Ohio) Institute of Music.

’93 Thor Davidson of Whea-

ton, Ill., was elected assistant district governor for Rotary International District 6440 in Illinois and serves as foundation chair for Wheaton Rotary. Eric Goers was appointed city attorney for Iowa City, Iowa. Matt Helgemoe and his wife, Jenny, are the new owners of Geneva’s Hideaway, a multi-unit Airbnb rental property in Peterson, Minn. Thomas Martin is board certified in internal medicine and a gastroenterologist at the Iowa Digestive Disease Center and a physician specialist at Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, Iowa. Anjie Shutts of Des Moines, Iowa, was sworn in as 135th president of the Iowa State Bar Association. She is a partner and divorce and family law attorney at Whitfield and Eddy.

’94 Jennifer (Fields) Garcia

of Sierra Madre, Calif., is the CEO of LND Companies, a women-owned boutique real estate development, investment, development management, and construction company. Julie (Thompson) and Michael McNamara live in La Grange, Ill. Julie is a math teacher at Daniel Burnam Elementary School. Mike is the vice president of mortgage lending at Proper Rate Mortgage. Chris Oehler received the 2021 Governor’s Volunteer Award. Chris is a volunteer hospital historian and wayfinder at UnityPoint Health in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

’95 Kyle Jackson is senior

pastor at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Excelsior, Minn. Melissa (Schindler) Miroslavich of Woodbury, Minn., earned a JD from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and is staff attorney to the Honorable Vicki Vial Taylor for the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

’96 Mark Greenwood of

Bozeman, Mont., is a professor of statistics and director of statistical consulting and research services at Montana State University. Jill Johnson of Chanhassen, Minn., earned an MSN degree from St. Catherine University. She is on the nursing faculty at Herzing University. Suzanne (Roverud) Mineck of Des Moines, Iowa, is president and CEO of the Mid-Iowa Health Foundation. She was named a 2021 Women of Influence honoree by Business Record for her work reshaping conversations and sparking new approaches for improving children’s health and for building a network of children’s health advocates working on system changes to address the social determinants of health, such as food, housing, and racism.

’97 Amanda (Alcock) Freese earned a master’s degree in teaching and learning from the University of Iowa. She is a K–4 talented and gifted educator for the Marion (Iowa) Independent School District.

’98 Jay Kautt is vice pres-

ident and director of advanced sales at Advisor Group in Oakdale, Minn. Thippi Luangpraseuth is owner and manager of Global Grounds Coffee and Tea in La Crosse, Wis.

’99 Corey Hoodjer is senior

agency and client relationship manager at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Des Moines, Iowa. Stephanie Larsen of Rockford, Ill., is a self-employed writer and teacher. She founded the Game Changer and published a book, Discover Your Master Chakra.

’00 Soo Goh of Raleigh,

N.C., is assistant professor of clarinet at Appalachian State University and a co-coordinator of the music performance area. Kara Sabatke of Minneapolis is program manager for the Judge Group.

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Luther alumni who are current members of the master of arts in music education choral conducting cohort at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., gathered for a photo last summer. Left to right: Jimmy Deignan ’15, Liz (Langkamp) Gullick ’03, Bethany (Tisthammer) Engen ’09, Melissa Sassaman ’05, and Jeanine Link ’10.

Alumni and potential alumni from the Tresemer family vacation in Michigan posed for a photo on the lake. Left to right: Dan Tresemer ’97, Nora Tresemer, Carrie Tresemer ’00, Marcy (Howerter) Swain ’99, Don Tresemer ’69, Zoey Owens, Emily (Bakke) Owens ’08, Mike Owens ’08.

Colin Cosgrove ’20, Jordan Phillips ’20, and associate professor Jill Wilson presented at the Association for Popular Music Education conference about Colin and Jordan’s experience creating a six-week modern band class for students attending a local alternative school. FA L L 2 0 2 1

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A group of Pi Sigs from the class of l964, spouses, and friends gathered in Decorah the last weekend of July to attend the memorial service of classmate and friend Joe Bodensteiner ’64. The group has gathered annually for 22 years. Front row (left to right); Kay Saxvik, Erik Saxvik ’64, Mary Ann (Skifton) Thurmer ’68, Dan Thurmer ’66, Susan (Savre) Ashland ’66, Barbara (Moen) Amundson ’65, Linda Matter, Ann (Fritz) Woelffer ’64, Judy (Hoplin) Johnson ’64, Bonnie (Curtis) Behnken ’64, Donna (Wangsness) Weigle ’64, Sharon Boyce, Dale Mundahl ’64, and Marilyn Fritz Shardlow ’72. Back row: Bill Upton ’64, David Kundert ’64, Dick Ashland ’64, Rich Amundson ’64, Jim Matter ’64, Mike Woelffer ’63, Jim Boyce ’64, Jim Weigle, Barry Behnken, Luther Nervig ’64, and Marilyn Nervig. Not pictured: Jim ’64 and Judy (Larson) Fogdall ’65, Dick ’64 and Pat (McCullough) Edwards ’63, and Maddy (Preus) Lawrence ’64.

Classmates from the class of 1997 got together at Mickey’s in Iowa City, Iowa, for their first lunch after getting vaccinated. Left to right: Carter Johnson, Kevin Roiseland, Rockne Cole, and Chris Harris.

Three friends from the class of 1994 gathered in Door County, Wis., over the Fourth of July holiday. Left to right: Allen Pofahl, Kendra (Olson) Burkum, and Ellie (Stack) Shaw.

Jason Steward is chief financial officer and vice president of finance and operations at Frontier Hospitality Group in Bettendorf, Iowa.

’01 Amanda (Jack) Alwy is

the CIO–North America region for ManpowerGroup in Minneapolis.

’02 Kirsten Kumpf Baele

is a German lecturer at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where she teaches a course called Anne Frank and Her Story. From the Anne Frank Center and Mutual Respect USA, Kirsten requested a sapling chestnut tree derived from the same tree Anne Frank often saw from the window of the secret annex she and her family were hiding in during the Holocaust. The tree will be planted on the University of Iowa’s Pentacrest. Gayle Tucker was pastor at Plymouth Congregational UCC in Madison, Wis., for six weeks last summer while their pastor was on sabbatical.

’03 Josh Cinnamo was one

of 61 athletes representing the US at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Josh, who was born with a congenital limb deficiency of his right arm, captured gold medals at both the 2019 Parapan American Games and 2019 World Para Athletics. He is the current world record holder in the F46 shot put category. Joshua Visser is a financial assistance specialist for Dakota County in St. Paul, Minn. Nathan Voight of Mount Vernon, Iowa, earned an MBA from the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business. He is general manager of the avionics product line at Collins Aerospace.

’04 Vanessa Abbe of St.

Louis Park, Minn., is vice president of strategic initiatives at UnitedHealth Group. Bob Boerschel is senior vice president and senior company counsel at Wells Fargo in Minneapolis. Brandon Fields is a homicide detective for the Cincinnati Police Department.

Sam Yamoah of Eden Prairie, Minn., is the chief strategy and innovation officer at Cambia Health Solutions.

’05 Rebecca Tumm is

development director at the Lift Garage in Minneapolis.

’06 Amanda (Lynch) Howe

is relationship manager for private-label customer financing at Wells Fargo in Des Moines, Iowa. Andrea (Trimble) Tuomi of Denver is production data coordinator at Validus Energy. Christina (Alderson) VanderBeek of Brandon, S.D., earned an MA in clinical mental health counseling. She is a clinical coordinator at United Health Care. Rachel Ware Carlton of Kiel, Wis., is the dean of the Kellett Program at Lakeland University.

’07 Sarah (Bane) Olson

earned an MA in children, youth, and family ministry from Luther Seminary. She is the children and family faith formation coordinator at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater, Minn.

’08 Abby (Oitzman) Chavez is a real estate agent at Exp Realty in Chandler, Ariz.

Grady Jensen of Munich, Germany, earned a PhD in neuroscience from Ludwig Maximilian University. He works at Brainlab AG. Kristen (Learman) Stengl of Valdosta, Ga., had her photography selected for the cover of the “Explore Fairbanks” 2021 visitor’s guide to Alaska.

’09 Laura Dickson of

Northfield, Minn., earned an MA in addiction studies and is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor at Hazelden Betty Ford in St. Paul, Minn. Ashley Johnson is associate director of wealth strategy at Ascent Private Capital Management of US Bank in Minneapolis. Justin Madsen of Inner Grove Heights, Minn., is the director of investor relations for the Target Corporation.

Felix Malpica of Janesville, Wis., was elected to a six-year term as bishop of the La Crosse Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Dana (Harney) Teske is an educator mentor and academic learning coach for the Stoughton (Wis.) Area School District.

’10 Bethany (Nicoll) Barnes

of Lincoln, Neb., is an operating room nurse at Bryan Health. Sky Macklay joined the composition faculty of the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. As a fellow at the Columbia Institute for Ideas and Imagination in Paris, she is collaborating with French ensemble 2e2m. As a 2021 Guggenheim fellow, her next project is a chamber music album that will synthesize her work as a composer and her raucous, multiphonic-rich oboe performance practice. River Cook Needham earned a ThM from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Jacob Reitz is associate corporate attorney at Entrust Datacard in Shakopee, Minn. Sarah Sprecher is a registered nurse at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

’11 Kyla Betts of Janesville,

Wis., graduated from the University of Minnesota’s Integrated Food Systems Leadership Program in 2020. She is the quality assurance manager at Jones Dairy Farm. Libby (Dahms) Brunner of Appleton, Wis., is a business analyst at SECURA Insurance Companies. Amy Dorman of Centerville, Minn., earned an MPP from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She is a PhD candidate in social work at the University of Minnesota. Kiersten Fevold earned a DVM from Iowa State University and is an associate veterinarian at Bristol Veterinary Services in Salem, Wis. Michaleen Melby of Ashland, Wis., is the head baker at Wonderstate Coffee in Bayfield.

Kelly (Bandman) Scocchera of St. Paul, Minn., is junior project manager at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. Kirsten Strandjord and Jay (Dewitt) Strandjord live in Shoreview, Minn. Kirsten is an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota and will be starting as a tenure-track professor in the aerospace department in the fall of 2021. Jay is an attorney for the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. Jordan (Meyer) Zahrte is assistant supervisor of early childhood family education for the St. Paul (Minn.) Public Schools.

’12 Kim Larson of Fitchburg, Wis., earned an MS in nursing from Marquette University.

’13 Mariel Kise of Edi-

na, Minn., earned an MS in speech-language pathology from Western Kentucky University. Alison Toal of Philadelphia earned an MBA from Georgetown University and is an associate at Sandbox Advisors.

’14 Matthias Broner of San

Francisco is product marketing manager at the DFINITY Foundation. Brooke (Johnson) and Ryan Eppen ’16 live in Chatfield, Minn. Brooke earned an MSN in leadership and management from Western Governors University. She is a nurse manager at Mayo Clinic. Ryan is facilities director and assistant activities director at Chatfield High School. Charles Martin-Stanley II earned a PhD in higher education and student affairs from the University of Iowa. He is director of diversity, equity, and inclusivity at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Victória Müller Ewald of Iowa City is the winner of the 2021 Rex Montgomery Dissertation Prize, which recognizes the most meritorious dissertation by a doctoral student conducting research in the prevention of disease and/or the translation of research into clinical practice.

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Angela Stancato is associate content writer for the Milwaukee Art Museum.

’15 Ryan Castelaz is owner of

Makayla (Marinack) Dahleen was ordained in the ELCA and is a pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sterling, Ill.

Carly Ellefsen is public relations representative for the Minnesota Rural Electric Association in Maple Grove.

Coriann Dorgay of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., earned an MPH from Yale School of Public Health. She is a population health fellow at the Wood County (Wis.) Health Department.

Amanda Johnson is a preschool teacher at New Horizon Academy in Rochester, Minn.

Lydia Eager of Austin, Texas, is the senior business development manager at JetClosing.

Katelynn (Richman) Knipper is a physician assistant intensivist at UW Health in Madison, Wis.

Hailey (Johnson) Fields of Centennial, Colo., is a student success advisor at 2U.

Matthew Knutson of Janesville, Wis., is the vocal music director at Scott Highlands Middle School.

Zoe Johnson of Mound, Minn., earned a DNP from the University of Minnesota.

Discourse Coffee in Milwaukee.

Alexandra Kokkinen earned an MS in business intelligence and data analytics from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She is data and reporting analyst at Banner Engineering in Plymouth, Minn. Katherine Kust is a school social worker at Lionsgate Academy in Minnetonka, Minn. Matthew Scheidle is a behavior specialist for the Council Bluffs (Iowa) Community School District. Shelby (Babcock) Shuster earned an MS in biomedical sciences from the University of Milwaukee. She is science communications manager at Executive Directors Incorporated in Milwaukee. Jonathan Williams earned an MA in political science from Colorado State University. He is public policy director of the National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander, Wyo.

’16 Rachel (Wiebke) and

Brian Bellrichard live in Maplewood, Minn. Rachel is a lab technologist at Diversigen. Brian is the senior financial analyst at Abbott Laboratories. Kalla (Galyon) and Jordan Boekhoff live in Kasson, Minn. Kalla is a sales assistant at McNeilus. Jordan earned a master’s degree in integrated curriculum from American College of Education and is high social studies teacher and department head for the Byron Public Schools.

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Katherine Kovacovich of St. Paul, Minn., earned an MSW and EdM from Boston University. Sarah (Eckhert) and Blake Moen live in Decorah. Sarah is the customer success manager at Rave Mobile Safety. Blake is the superintendent of recreation and aquatics at the Decorah Parks and Recreation Department. Corrina Slings of Des Moines, Iowa, is a clinical lab analyst at the State Hygienic Lab of the University of Iowa. Tia Stenson is an archivist at Deadwood (S.D.) History.

’17 Jessica (Morrill) Andrade

is a quality assurance supervisor at Whitehall (Wis.) Specialties. Grant Holsinger of Rochester, Minn., is mobile department lead at Marketsource and a member of Rochester’s Choral Arts Ensemble. Adison Riley of Parker, Colo., is founder of the construction company 5280 Crew and part owner of apparel brand 5280 Cowboy. Alexa Schroeder of Eau Claire, Wis., is a teacher at Wildlands School. Jessica Skjonsby of Saint Anthony, Minn., is the preschool development grant project coordinator at NorthPoint Health and Wellness. Leah Williams earned an MD from the University of Minnesota Medical School. She is a resident physician at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

’18 Derek Barnhouse is a

teacher at the Waukee (Iowa) Community School District. Emily Dirks of Decorah is a voice instructor at Luther College. Jeffrey Lackmann of Detroit Lakes, Minn., is a master’s degree student studying tropical ecology at North Dakota State University. He is a National Science Foundation graduate research fellow and a graduate consultant for the NDSU Graduate Center for Writers.

Jacob Noble of Plymouth, Minn., was coauthor—along with Luther professor of psychology Kristy Gould and colleagues at Knox College—of “Gazing for Permission or Gazing for Help? The Effects of Encouragement and Handler Familiarity on Problem-Solving by Owned Dogs,” presented at the Canine Science Forum virtual international meeting July 6–9, 2021.

’20 Jackson Churchill of

Lydia Nelson is a social worker with Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Duluth, Minn., is pursuing an MA from the University of North Texas, where he played in the Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band. He was also an alternate finalist in the International Trombone Association’s Carl Fontana and J.J. Johnson competition.

Paige Putnam is a financial analyst at the HON Company in Muscatine, Iowa.

Lizzy DePrenger of Iowa City, Iowa, is a digital gift officer at Buena Vista University.

Sam Tollefson works in patient services at Planned Parenthood in Minneapolis.

Sophie Lamo of Sandy, Utah, works at Optum Health Bank.

Abby Mark of Watertown, Mass., is an associate scientist at Pfizer.

Zach Withers earned the master of arts degree in business with a specialty in intercollegiate athletic administration from the University of Nebraska. He is a donor experience officer at the University of Nebraska Foundation in Lincoln.

’19 Alex Aakre of Onalaska,

Shannon Lunn of Farmington, Minn., is a clinical research coordinator nurse in the clinical trials office at the Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota. Kendra Peterson of Madison Wis., is the retail support team coordinator at Ward-Brodt Music.

Wis., published an article on Norwegian-American altar-pulpits in the Journal of the Lutheran Historical Conference. The article also received a 2020 A.R. Wentz Prize in American Lutheran History honorable mention.

Madeleine Ross is a program manager at Tree Trust in St. Paul, Minn.

Becca Buse is an English teacher at the Sogang Language Program in Gwangju, South Korea.

Mackenzie Zenk of Minneapolis was awarded the Collaborative Research Award from the North Central Council of Latin Americanists Conference for her research paper titled “Destabilizing the Binary Rhetoric of Migration in Yuri Herrera’s ‘Señales que precederán al fin del mundo’ (Signs Preceding the End of the World).”

Janet Irankunda is assistant director of residence life at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Lily Kime of Spirit Lake, Iowa, is a teacher in the Harris–Lake Park Community School District. Haley Nelson teaches second grade at Stewart Elementary School in Washington, Iowa.

’21 Connor Hopkins of

Decorah works at Driftless Multimedia.

Births & Adoptions ’98 James Arden, July 2021, child of Bobbye (Roberts) and Eric Schubert ’96

Harrison, Oct. 2019, child of Margit (Severson) and JJ Speckeen

’06 Amelia Jane, July 2020,

’11 Ainsley Lois, April 2021,

child of Laura (Davis) and Nathan Dahlke

John Edwin, Nov. 2019, child of Mandi (Lynch) and Joseph Howe

Oliver, Nov. 2019, child of Ali (Cowmeadow) and Evan Sienko

James Corin, Feb. 2021, child of Jane Ferrell and Matthew Robey

Micah, June 2020, child of Kirsten Strandjord and Jay (Dewitt) Strandjord

Lucia, Sept. 2020, child of Andee (Trimble) and Michael Tuomi May 2021, child of Maren (Stumme-Diers) and Tom Beard

’10 Annie Wren, March 2021, child of Bethany (Nicoll) and Caleb Barnes

child of Kara (Donahue) and Clinton Firstbrook

’08 Frederic William,

Cedar Brent, April 2020, child of Dana (Harney) and Brent Teske

’09 Micah Jens, Oct. 2020, child of Lynnea and Justin Madsen

Jacob Robert, Nov. 2020, child of Amanda Weber and Zeb Hults

Devin, April 2021, child of Gaoxue (Her) and Alex Stoppel

Hans Thomas, April 2021, child of Kelsey (O’Connell) and Brad Nelson

Miriam Joy, Oct. 2020, child of Kristin Swedlund and Andy Twiton

Kaia Dee, March 2021, child of Jordan (Meyer) and Tim Zahrte ’12

Liliana Jo, May 2021, child of Lindsey Weaver and Greg (Shirbroun) Weaver ’10

’12 Sophia Grace, May 2021,

’14 Bennett and Colton, Oct.

Henry, Sept. 2019, and Nora, May 2021, children of Molly (McHenry) and Terrance Sullivan

’15 Emilia Grace, May 2021,

child of Kristi (Wietecha) and Michael Muston

2020, twins of Brooke (Johnson) and Ryan Eppen ’16 child of Elle (Krogh) and Andrew Withers

’16 Matthew Philip, March

2021, child of Sarah (Eckhert) and Blake Moen

Marriages ’73 Deborah Hafner and Sally

’12 Peter Beierwaltes and

’16 Hailey Johnson and Tyler

Rachelle Lenz and Erik Floden, Sept. 26, 2020

’96 Abe Brinton and Trinke

Nick Fisher and Marty Mitchell ’13, April 24, 2020

Jenna Johnson and Tyler Dick, May 8, 2021

Lane Rahlf ’21, June 12, 2021

’97 Tanya Adams and Kelly

Abby Martin and John Weirather, Sept. 12, 2020

Gretchen Strube and Joseph McCarthy, May 29, 2021

Jessica Carpenter and Joel Freeman, Sept. 4, 2021

Louise Usanase and Joshua Hecht, Oct. 10, 2020

’17 Mileah Gumpert and Paul

Anna Hug and Matthew Harper, June 27, 2021

Stanfield, May 23, 2021 Vaughan, Sept. 1, 2019 Roach, Dec. 28, 2019

’09 Justin Madsen and Lynnea Sundman, June 7, 2019

’11 Libby Dahms and Matthew Brunner, June 14, 2019

Abby Herman and Kevin Gadek, Oct. 23, 2020 Greg Woodin and Kelly O’Brien, Dec. 31, 2020

Jessica Savitt, May 4, 2021

’14 Jessa Anderson-Reitz

Fields, June 28, 2020

Fritzell ’18, May 22, 2021

and Luke Hanson, May 23, 2020

Jess Morrill and Joseph Andrade, April 17, 2021

Ashley Kent and Brandon Price, April 9, 2021

Amanda Witzlib and Matthew Brown ’18, Aug. 22, 2020

’15 Blake Wragge and Katie

’18 Abigail Colby and

Pearson, June 12, 2021

’20 Linnea Carlson and

Thu Pham and Grant Barnes ’16, June 19, 2021

Mitchell Knippenberg ’16, June 5, 2021

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In Memoriam

Notices as of August 1, 2021. Obituaries at luther.edu/in-memoriam.

’39 Louise Marie (Naeseth)

’55 Alice (Ullestad) Johnson

’66 Ginger (Warren) Hirt of

’80 Loren Virgil Stortz of

’42 Frances Margaret (El-

Dixie Lee (Blom) Keeney of Lakeville, Minn., died March 5, 2021, age 85.

’67 Richard D. Hanson of

’82 Steve Christensen of

’43 David Walter Preus of

Richard “Dick” Sundbo of Homosassa, Fla., died Jan. 19, 2020, age 86.

’68 Stanley Elden Kant of

Michael Scott “Merc” Hahn of West Des Moines, Iowa, died June 11, 2021, age 60.

Hubbard of Princeton, N.J., died June 29, 2021, age 105.

liott) Morse of Osage, Iowa, died March 31, 2021, age 100. St. Paul, Minn., died July 23, 2021, age 99.

’47 Frederic Arthur Giere of Cedarburg, Wis., died June 16, 2021, age 97. Barbara R. (Nelson) Vick of Ridgeway, Iowa, died May 15, 2021, age 94.

’50 Louise (Thomley) Johnson of Mankato, Minn., formerly of Osseo, Wis., died May 21, 2021, age 93.

’51 Travis Emerson Cleveland of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died May 24, 2021, age 92.

’52 Larrie Wanberg of Santa

Barbara, Calif., formerly of Grand Forks, N.D., died May 2, 2021, age 91.

of Mankato, Minn., died May 13, 2021, age 98.

’56 Clayton Allen Hovda of

Los Alamos, N.M., died May 25, 2021, age 77. Coon Rapids, Minn., died in Jan. 2020, age 74. Raleigh, N.C., died April 3, 2021, age 74.

Plymouth, Minn., died June 19, 2021, age 86.

Stephen Carl Sheie of Portland, Ore., died June 20, 2021, age 75.

Charles G. Kloster of Austin, Minn., died June 30, 2021, age 87.

Forest Grove, Ore., died Sept. 26, 2020, age 71.

’57 B. Marilyn Klukken of

Long Prairie and Osakis, Minn., died June 27, 2021, age 87. Kenneth L Peterson of Coon Rapids, Minn., died Oct. 5, 2020, age 86.

’58 Carl Aanonsen of St.

Peter, Minn., died July 24, 2021, age 90.

’60 Carolyn (Nagel) Erick-

’69 Thomas J. Byrd of

of Decorah, formerly of St. Paul, Minn., died June 22, 2021, age 70. Barbara A. Wedge of Clinton, Iowa, died April 23, 2021, age 69.

’77 Marilyn (Wilcox) Hines

Mildred Carma (Seter) Jennings of Orchard, Iowa, died July 2, 2021, age 89.

of Savannah, Ga., died Dec. 10, 2020, age 81.

(Herman) Bergquist of Bloomington, Minn., died March 4, 2021, age 87. Frieda E. (Mindrum) Nowland of La Crosse, Wis., died April 2, 2021, age 87.

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Hutchings of Salida, Colo., died May 6, 2021, age 79.

’64 Elsa Mae Groe of Ocala, Fla., died July 6, 2021, age 79.

died June 23, 2021, age 60.

’86 Barbara Jean (Lande)

Adams of Rio, Wis., died April 25, 2021, age 89.

’63 James Allen “Jim”

’83 Lori A. Jones of Seattle

’73 Debra Rosheim Geske

of Kirkland, Wash., died May 30, 2021, age 69.

Ardith Lorraine “Ardie” (Gulbro) Rotto of Bemidji, Minn., died May 9, 2021, age 85.

’54 Lorraine Genevieve

David T. Schink of Champlin, Minn., died Feb. 13, 2021, age 61.

’84 Perry Ray Dau of Roth-

’75 Debra Campbell-Potter

’61 Dennis Roy Sukkestad

Spirit Lake, Iowa, died March 30, 2021, age 61.

’71 Waldemar Neil Anderson

son of Amidon, N.D., died June 16, 2021, age 82.

’53 Lorraine (Lewison)

Elgin, Minn., died April 20, 2021, age 63.

of Eden Prairie, Minn., died June 16, 2021, age 68. of Waterloo, Iowa, died May 26, 2021, age 66.

’78 Bruce A. Fure of Roch-

ester, Minn., died June 24, 2021, age 65.

’79 Keith Mervin Ellingson

of Indianola, Iowa, died May 14, 2021, age 63.

schild, Wis., died June 9, 2021, age 59. Hanisch of Oakfield, Wis., died June 12, 2021, age 57. Bonolo Joy Tlou of Park City, Utah, died June 12, 2021, age 57.

’88 Jodi Adams Royce of

Inver Grove Heights, Minn., died June 9, 2021, age 55.

’90 Andrew Nesset of New

Richmond, Wis., formerly of Decorah, died May 1, 2021, age 52.

’10 Tat Erredge of Zumbrota, Minn., died July 29, 2021, age 33.

1955 C O R N B O W L A N D 1970 S TA G G B O W L F O OT B A L L R E U N I O N S

ARIZONA GOLF EVENT VESPERS SERVICE

ALUMNI COUNCIL MEETING

Friday, March 18, 2022

Saturday, April 9, 2022

Saturday, October 16, 2021

Tuscany Falls Golf Club

Luther College

Luther College

at Pebble, Creek Goodyear, Arizona

C L A S S E S O F 1970 A N D 1980 R E U N I O N S Saturday, June 4, 2022

Luther College

15 T H A N N U A L K E N T F I N A N G E R ’54 GOLF CLASSIC

With speakers Beth Willer ‘03,

Saturday, March 19, 2022

Stacie Mickens ‘02, and Amanda

Tuscany Falls Golf Club

Weber ‘08

at Pebble, Creek

P H I B E TA K A P PA LECTURE VIA ZOOM Saturday, October 16, 2021

HOMECOMING IN CHICAGO

Goodyear, Arizona

G I V I N G D AY

Saturday, October 24, 2021

Thursday, March 10, 2022

Meg’s Cafe

Luther College

Glencoe, Illinois

Luther College

ALL-LUTHER WRESTLING REUNION Friday, June 10– Sunday, June 12, 2022 Luther College

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ALUMNAE TOUR OF PERU Friday, July 8–

ALUMNI AND FRIENDS TOUR OF VIETNAM AND B H U TA N

Saturday, July 16, 2022

C L A S S O F 2020 R E U N I O N C E L E B R AT I O N Friday, October 29, and Saturday,

Friday, March 18–

Hildebrand ’74

October 30, 2021

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Decorah, Iowa, and Luther College

Hosted by Ann Highum,

ALUMNI/ADMISSIONS G AT H E R I N G Thursday, November 18, 2021 Newbo City Market Cedar Rapids, Iowa

C H R I S T M A S AT L U T H E R PERFORMANCES Thursday, December 2– Sunday, December 5, 2021 Luther College Also livestreamed December 5 at 2:30 p.m. CST

vice president emeritus of student

Hosted by coach Amanda Bailey and former coach Jane (Greene)

CONCERT BAND REUNION DINNER

life, and Jerry Freund

Saturday, July 23, 2022

BLACK ALUMNI A S S O C I AT I O N T O U R O F WASHINGTON, D.C.

With professor emeritus of music

Luther College Fred Nyline

Thursday, March 24–

C L A S S O F 2015 R E U N I O N

Sunday, March 27, 2022

Saturday, July 30, 2022

Washington, D.C.

Luther College

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID DECORAH, IA PERMIT NO. 148

LUTHER COLLEGE 700 COLLEGE DRIVE DECORAH, IOWA 52101-1045

2021

Christmas at Luther

Thursday, December 2 • Friday, December 3 Saturday, December 4 • Sunday December 5 Livestream option available for the 2:30 p.m. Sunday performance. Purchase your in-person or livestream tickets at tickets.luther.edu.