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Find us online at luther.edu/ magazine.
Cover: Abby Spore, one of our featured seniors from the class of 2024, is a softball superstar who’s pursuing a laboratory science career through Mayo Clinic. Photo by Armando JenkinsVazquez ’21.
Luther alumni, including Pepito Cadalak ’16 (left) and Nata Guterres ’13 (right), work for LGBTQIA+ rights in Timor-Leste. Read more on page 28.
Contents
8
Pride in our prairies
Luther’s prairies flourish thanks to years of effort by students, faculty, and staff. 10
Musical tours abroad
Jazz Orchestra and Nordic Choir stage life-changing performances.
14
Senior spotlights
Ten students highlight the breadth and depth of a Luther experience.
22
A point for equity
Sheri Brenden ’81 writes a book about her groundbreaking sister, Peggy Brenden ’76.
LET’S STAY IN TOUCH
Update your contact information to hear about class reunions, events in your area, and college and alumni news. You can also update your personal and professional news or submit a birth/adoption or marriage announcement. Scan the code, email alumni@luther.edu , or call 800-225-8664.
Hundreds attended the 2024 Learning at Luther showcase, where 245 students presented research and creative projects that engage with our current world and help shape our future one.
WORKING
Together
Dear Luther Community,
My, how time flies when students are being educated, buildings are being renovated, faculty members are catching up on research, staff are readying our spaces and programs for a new academic year, and a president is entering the bell lap of her time at Luther.
When I first came to Luther, I introduced a Civic Sustainability Initia-
tive, because I felt so strongly that our survival as a world community depended on us being intentional about working with each other across ideologies, identities, and interests. The pandemic slowed us down, but as I enter my final year at Luther, I’m rededicating myself to supporting the Luther community in articulating five core values and reviewing our mission for this next generation. In this last year, I am one of fewer than 100 participants in the College and University Presidents for Civic Preparedness consortium, a growing movement of campus leaders dedicated to advancing critical inquiry, free expression, and civil discourse on campus.
There are many ways one might “bookend” a presidency. For me, as we consider Luther’s history and mission and the challenging state of a world seemingly growing ever
further apart, I am gratified to be in a community where we understand that mutual respect and stewardship of what we call “the common good” cannot be taken for granted and require both attention and intention.
I look forward to this next year and to the many opportunities I hope to have with you, in which we break bread, share a cup of coffee, sit shoulder to shoulder at an event, and—regardless of other aspects of our histories or beliefs—unite over our love for Luther College.
Soli Deo Gloria,
President Jenifer K. Ward
President Jenifer K. Ward
My life has been so enriched, challenged, and transformed by my time here. I look forward to continuing to engage with the broader Luther community over the next year as we advance this great college. Luther’s fabric is strong, and I know my successor will be equally blessed by how our people care for the ‘Luther blue’ thread that pulls through it.”
—Jenifer K. Ward, President
PRESIDENTIAL RETIREMENT
President Jenifer K. Ward announced her intention to retire as Luther’s president at the end of June 2025, at which point she will have served a six-year term. She expressed her appreciation to the Luther community and her desire to maintain momentum in implementing the college’s key strategic initiatives.
“Given the importance of this multiyear effort,” President Ward says, “I recognize that presidential transitions are best accomplished at the beginning or end of campaigns, but not in the middle. Both I and our Board of Regents share a common aim, which is to ensure that we continue to achieve Luther’s strategic objectives, especially bringing the first phases of our campus master plan to fruition to enhance the student experience at Luther.”
President Ward’s notable achievements include deepening a holistic approach to student education and success, including collaborating with faculty and academic leadership to reorganize Luther’s academic curriculum; introducing an integrated student services area under the provost; and uniting academic affairs, student engagement, and student success.
GREATEST FUNDRAISING YEAR
$34 MILLION COMMITTED IN 2023–24 FISCAL YEAR
• Largest-ever single gift
• Largest-ever Giving Day
• Largest-ever One Team Day
• Second-largest planned gift
The receipt of one of the largest planned gift commitments in college history has lifted Luther to its largest single year of fundraising, with just over $34 million committed in the 2023–24 fiscal year. The anonymous donor’s multimillion-dollar commitment is the second-largest planned gift to Luther and will be devoted to future student scholarships.
The gift joins Luther’s largest individual gift of a $10 million commitment from Michael ’92 and Nicole Gerdin and the Gerdin Charitable Foundation and a $2 million commitment from Dennis ’64 and Suzanne Birkestrand as well as Luther’s largest-ever Giving Day ($1.2 million) and largest-ever One Team Day ($365,000).
“The fact that we had all these records in a single year speaks to the tremendous momentum behind Luther College and the belief in the college’s future,” President Ward says. “These aren’t just gifts. They are investments by our alumni, friends, and supporters.”
CORE VALUES
During the 2023–24 academic year, the Executive Committee and Faculty Organization Committee engaged various constituencies of the college in exercises to define Luther’s core values. The initiative aimed to clarify a shared sense of institutional identity: Who are we, and what matters most in our work?
The resulting core values provide a lens through which to pursue initiatives and make choices, a valuable tool for everyone (faculty, staff, and students) who serves in a leadership role as well as for groups engaged in project-based work tied to institutional identity. The five core values developed this past year represent a range of qualities (academic, personal, and communal) and communicate both who we are as well as who we aspire to be.
Excellence
We prioritize excellence, so we
• challenge each other to grow in our learning, creating, and competing
• accept risk and equip ourselves to serve with distinction for the common good
Inclusivity
We are committed to inclusivity, so we
• embrace the diverse identities and perspectives that enliven our campus
• strive to be a community where people of all backgrounds and identities flourish and belong
Curiosity
We cultivate curiosity, so we
• ask big questions and tackle tough problems
• take joy in learning and in a sense of wonder
Sustainability
We pursue sustainability, so we
• care for one another, for our place, and for the planet that sustains us
• prepare globally engaged leaders who understand and confront a changing society
Community
We live and learn in community, so we
• strive to be transformed by encounters with one another
• support one another and sustain lifelong relationships
President Jenifer K. Ward and provost Brad Chamberlain, in consultation with the Executive Committee, also formed a task force that will propose revisions to the Luther College mission statement in light of the newly articulated institutional core values. The task force began its work in summer 2024 and will present recommendations to the Board of Regents at their February 2025 meeting.
HELP RECRUIT FUTURE NORSE!
Alumni, current/former regents, and current/former Luther parents, you can help recruit the next generation of Luther students. Any student you refer will receive $1,000/ year if they’re accepted to Luther College!
Refer a student
Click the QR code or visit connect. luther.edu/register/ future-norse-referral
Note: parents may not refer their own children.
Learn more about the renovation: luther.edu/alumni-friends/support/ priorities/regents-center-renovation
GERDIN FIELDHOUSE
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS
In August, surrounded by more than 90 prospective student-athletes and their families, current Luther student-athletes broke a ceremonial wall to mark the launch of construction on the $24 million Gerdin Fieldhouse for Athletics and Wellness
The first phase of construction began with the new north lobby entrance. The second phase will renovate numerous team locker rooms and other athletic department support areas. The third phrase—conversion of the space into an arena configuration, including the Birkestrand Family Court—will begin immediately afterward.
COMMENCEMENT 2024
On May 19, Christine Cruzvergara, chief education strategy officer for Handshake, was the speaker for the 2024 Luther College Commencement ceremony.
Matilda Koeller ’24 received the college’s Elizabeth A. and Paul G. Jenson Medal. Koeller, from McGregor, Iowa, majored in identity studies and is in the first cohort to graduate from the program, which was established in 2020. Koeller socially transitioned in gender identity during her sophomore year and became involved in activism for transgender students beginning her junior year. She wrote a petition, organized a rally, and spoke with Student Senate and administrators, advocating for policy changes for transgender students and inclusivity and equity for all on campus. As a result of her activism, there is now an expanded gender-inclusive floor in Brandt, where Koeller worked as a resident assistant for two years. She was also a member of the Beautiful Mess a capella group and the Pound Ultimate Frisbee team. After graduation, Koeller plans to work in student services or social services, with the ultimate goal of pursuing her master’s in social work.
“When you engage with a community in a way that connects with people, that is service,” Koeller says. “And the community has served me.”
Mallory Heinzeroth ’12 of Madison, Wis., received the Young Alumni Award. After graduation, she served as a fellow with the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children, creating a program for pre- and postnatal care in developing nations by establishing a program for women and children’s health clinics in rural Nicaraguan communities. In Madison, she serves on the board of the nonprofit With Love Inc., through which she supports women’s health equity through volunteer events and fundraising. She works as a global implementation executive for Epic Systems.
“Each time I said yes and tried something new, I learned, I made new connections with friends and peers, and my impact on improving health care around the globe deepened. I’m doing something that is meaningful to me each day because I said yes to a new challenge,” she says.
FULBRIGHTERS
Robert Clower ’23 of Grinnell, Iowa, and Amy Webb ’24 of Waverly, Iowa, received Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships in Germany for the 2024–25 academic year.
PROJECTS FOR PEACE
Esther Bitijula ’25 and Mansur Kasali ’27 received $10,000 Projects for Peace grants that supported community-centered projects in their hometowns this summer.
Bitijula, majoring in psychology and social work, fought against ableism by empowering young women with physical disabilities in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo. Kasali, majoring in economics and international studies, taught youth in Ibadan, Nigeria, the skills to fight against cybercrime.
TRIPLE CHAMPIONS
Three Luther teams earned A-R-C championship titles last spring. Congratulations to men’s golf, which made college history by winning the title for a third consecutive year; women’s swimming and diving, which brought home yet another A-R-C title; and men’s tennis, which won the A-R-C title for the fourth consecutive year. We’re so proud of our hard-working Norse!
LUTHER WINS AI COMPETITION
Luther teams place first and third in the Pi515 Day of Innovation AI Challenge.
teams placed first and third at a statewide AI competition last spring. Left to right: Evan Marinov ’25, Luc Vuong ’24, Minh Le ’27, professor Thuy Do, Mateus Rohden ’25, Huy Nguyen ’26, Diep Le ’25, Jibran Khan ’24, Emma Tran ’25, Adam Koller ’24, Nick Drew ’25, and professor Philip Iversen.
In April, Pi515, a nonprofit in Des Moines, Iowa, hosted the Pi515 Day of Innovation AI Challenge, a statewide event where teams of students compete to solve a data analysis problem using artificial intelligence.
The goal was to “develop an AI solution that leverages big data to address a social issue relevant to the Iowa community.” Students were able to choose from one of the following tracks: Iowa AgTech, Iowa’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Social Impact AI: Supporting Des Moines Public Schools, or Ancient Narratives: AI, AR, and Fashion Fusion.
Luther teams—coached by Thuy Do, assistant professor of computer science, with logistical support from Philip Iversen ’87, associate professor of mathematics—placed first and third in the competition.
Team Norse—Nick Drew ’25, Adam Koller ’24, Minh Le ’27, Emma Tran ’25, and Luc Vuong ’24— placed first. They developed an AI application that took video of sheep in a pen, identified the individual sheep as they moved around, and measured the total distance covered by each sheep. They paired this with a smartphone app that could alert the farmer to unusual behaviors, such as a sheep showing reduced movement.
Team Viking—Jibran Khan ’24, Diep Le ’25, Evan Marinov ’25, Huy Nguyen ’26, and Mateus Rohden ’25—placed third. They developed an application that makes recommendations to business start-ups regarding potential optimal locations for their new business within a community. It takes many inputs, including population characteristics, traffic patterns, and the location of other businesses, to make its recommendations.
The students had a stellar experience at the event, presenting their work to the judges, interacting with the other student teams, and presenting their award-winning work to a larger audience at an evening dinner.
NEW BOOK ON POLARIZATION
Orçun Selçuk, assistant professor of political science, recently published The Authoritarian Divide: Populism, Propaganda, and Polarization, which examines the relationship between populism and polarization through leaders in Turkey, Venezuela, and Ecuador.
“I want people to understand that populist leaders provide a sense of belonging to their supporters while antagonizing their opponents. Depending on our feelings of being included or excluded, citizens position themselves for or against the populist leader,” Selçuk says. “To overcome polarization, it is important to recognize the affective appeal of populism instead of dismissing the supporters as manipulated and ignorant masses. Populist leaders are on the rise globally, and we live in a world where polarization undermines the social fabric and democratic norms.”
Luther
NEW EMERITI FACULTY
The Board of Regents approved faculty emeritus status for the following people:
Barbara Bohach, professor of education, began at Luther in 1994
Michael Engelhardt, professor of political science, began at Luther in 1988
Lise Kildegaard, professor of English, began at Luther in 1993
Beth Lynch, associate professor of biology, began at Luther in 2001
Rebecca (Ostermeyer) Sullivan ’84, associate professor of Paideia, began at Luther part-time in 1986, full-time in 2004
We’re so grateful for your decades of teaching, mentoring, fostering connection to the world of ideas, and inspiring lives of impact. Thank you!
Beneficiary Designation
AN EASY WAY TO SUPPORT LUTHER’S MISSION
Did you know that you can easily designate multiple beneficiaries on your accounts, including charities? A beneficiary designation enables you to direct funds to your loved ones and charities without the formality of a will.
If you have one of these accounts, now is a great time to review your beneficiary forms and add Luther College!
SCAN THE QR CODE TO:
• Tell us about your existing planned gift
• Request information about including Luther in your estate plans
Updating your account is easy to do, and you can always change your mind. Review your accounts today and consider adding Luther College as a beneficiary of a specific amount or percentage. Have you already listed Luther as a beneficiary? We’d like to thank you and ensure that your future gift is used according to your wishes.
To learn more about beneficiary designations, please visit legacygiving.luther.edu or contact Kelly Sorenson at kelly.sorenson@luther.edu or (800) 225-8664. We welcome the opportunity to visit with you.
PRIDE IN OUR PRAIRIES
Luther’s natural areas flourish thanks to years of sustained effort by students, faculty, and staff.
One hot sunny May morning, Josie Meyer ’24 and a few friends were out on Luther’s Jewell Prairie with a truck full of seedlings and a water tank. It was the last stage of Meyer’s yearlong honors research project, part of her environmental studies major.
“We’re planting New England aster, swamp milkweed, common milkweed, blazing star, and joe pye weed,” Meyer said. Her research, which looked into 12 years of prairie restoration efforts on this reclaimed farmland on campus, had led to this particular selection of plants.
“Being in Iowa, a state that’s so dominated by agriculture, it’s important to recognize that there are these beautiful, valuable ecosystems that are worth protecting and restoring,” Meyer says. “It’s the sense of place, having pride in the natural resources around you.”
Meyer’s project is part of the rich crop of knowledge that Luther students have helped uncover about Iowa’s original environment—the tallgrass prairie— and its plants, pollinators, and effect on water and soil erosion.
Josie Meyer ’24 plants native species in Jewell Prairie.
Why Plant a Prairie?
Because of conversion into farmland, tallgrass prairie is one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America. The US Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that 99 percent of tallgrass prairie has been lost.
Luther has been working to restore several former farm sites along the Upper Iowa River. The college farmed on the land, much of which it purchased from the Jewell family nearly a century ago, until 2011. In 2008, however, a major flood inundated the area, which made the crop fields eligible for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program, a federal program that helps communities recover after natural disasters. Jewell Prairie was seeded in the fall of 2011 and had its first growing season in 2012.
Molly McNicoll, professor of biology and Luther’s natural areas land manager, has been overseeing the Jewell Prairie restoration. “Planting prairies and woodlands allows us to meet several goals at once, including improving habitat,” she says.
“Prairies are particularly great for soil-erosion prevention, because they build soil and hold it.”
The deep root systems of the prairies’ grasses, sedges, and wildflowers mitigate flooding by abosorbing river sediment into the soil instead of eroding, McNicoll explains.
In addition, prairies support beneficial native insects and other wildlife. “As soon as you start adding native species of plants, especially flowers, and increase the diversity of plants, they provide a ton of resources to pollinators and other native species for a healthy and functioning ecosystem,” says biology professor Kirk Larsen. “These species would not be found in Luther’s Jewell Prairie, Anderson Prairie, or Gateway Prairie if they were corn or soybean fields.”
Studying Burn Regimes
As part of her project, Meyer studied the relationship between prairie burn regimes and plant species, an area about which researchers are still learning.
“We burn in a rotation—only a third of the prairie at a time,” McNicoll said. “We can manipulate how we use fire to promote or suppress certain species.” Burn-
ing reduces woody vegetation and creates bare spots for plants to germinate. Prairie plants have evolved around the nutrient cycles sparked by burns. Burning in sections also protects animal and insect species living in the prairie.
A planned burn regime allowed Meyer to study plant populations in each section separately. She looked at plant community change between 2015 and 2023 for each section of the prairie, and how these changes might be correlated with the amount of time between initial prairie seeding and the first prescribed burn.
In all sections of the prairie, Meyer discovered increases in species diversity, warm season grasses, and highly valued “conservative” species, like golden alexander and pale purple coneflower. These species are more likely to be found at higher-quality sites. Meyer discovered no significant differences based on the year of initial burn.
“This finding adds to our understanding of prairie restoration, indicating that the initial seeding was well established at four years old,” McNicoll says. “Burning at four, five, or six years old did not alter the early years of development.”
What Happens Next?
While Jewell Prairie has not yet reached “remnant-like diversity,” a model used for prairie restoration, the land is returning to its native ecosystem, which can prevent soil erosion.
“You can’t just restore a prairie in one seeding event,” McNicoll says. “It’s a continual process. Part of that is the research the students have been doing.”
Meyer has set recommendations for the management of specific plant species, and her research will guide the prairie’s development into the future. Some species will need to be monitored for overabundance, some controlled or reduced, and others will need to be added, such as milkweed, blazing star, and legumes.
“It’s really special that we have this prairie restoration that’s really high quality,” Meyer says. “Looking at it 12 years later, you can see that all the things that were done over the past 12 years were worth it.”
—Laura
Barlament and Lydia Slattery
THE
Musical TRIP OF A LIFETIME
In spring 2024, Luther’s Jazz Orchestra and Nordic Choir embarked on significant international tours that built cultural bridges, elevated student learning and performance, and created lifelong memories.
Watch a video of
highlights.
Generous donor support made these tours possible for all students. Interested in setting up an endowed fund to support our students’ journeys? Contact us to learn more! development@luther.edu | 800-225-8664
Nordic Choir Norway Tour
Carol J. Birkland Scholarship
Bruce and Amy Wrightsman Scholarship
Friends of International Touring Scholarship
Curtis Reiso International Music Touring and Jenson-Noble Hall of Music Endowment
Jazz Orchestra Brazil Tour
Friends of International Touring Scholarship
Nordic Choir’s trip
It was so much fun to tour with Jazz Orchestra! I have so much respect for this group of people. Getting to know everyone and make music with them in such beautiful places was an experience I’ll never forget! I really enjoyed playing for packed audiences who always cheered for encores! Getting to meet the music students there was such a fun experience; playing with and learning from them was so valuable as a performer.
—Austin Efflandt ’24, trumpet
Jazz Orchestra’s tour of Brazil (May 20–June 5) was its first in eight years, since the Covid-19 pandemic scuttled its 2020 tour. The group performed concerts and participated in workshops with prominent musicians, dancers, and artists. They explored cities like Salvador, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro.
In São Paulo, Jazz Orchestra performed with students at the Tatuí Conservatory of Music and, as part of a service project, led a workshop at Santa Marcelina University, another music conservatory. In Rio de Janeiro, Luther students took a drumming workshop and performed a concert in the city’s botanical gardens.
Nordic Choir’s tour of Norway (May 20–June 3) celebrated Luther’s Norwegian roots and its distinction as the first college in the US founded by Norwegian immigrants. Since 2025 marks the 200th anniversary of Norwegian immigration to the US, the choir performed musical selections celebrating the theme of homecoming. The choir also had the pleasure of 59
Luther alumni, friends, and parents in Norway on a companion tour, attending choir performances and sightseeing.
On the tour, Nordic Choir performed at churches and concert halls in historic villages and cities like Lillehammer, Stavanger, and Kristiansand, as well as during a church service at the Bergen Cathedral. The choir finished their tour with a performance in Oslo at Uranienborg Kirke, a church located behind the Royal Palace.
Nordic Choir baritone Tyler Belanger ’25 summed up the feeling among Luther students who toured internationally this spring, saying, “This has been the trip of a lifetime. It brings me so much joy, but simultaneously so much melancholy. I got to spend two weeks making music with some of my best friends, making so many memories, and seeing such incredible sights. I know that I will never get to experience that again with those same people. It fills my heart but also breaks it.”
It was an amazing way to end my senior year at Luther and say goodbye to the members of the Jazz Orchestra, who have been some of my best friends throughout college. I was amazed at how even though the band and the people we visited didn’t speak the same language, we were able to share in the creation of music.
One of our gigs, at a school for underprivileged kids to learn music, had us sitting in with their beginning band. One kid next to me started playing “Careless Whisper,” a lick that all sax players pretty much know by heart. As I joined in, and then we looked at each other grinning ear to ear, I remembered how music can cross every boundary, from nation to language to money to race to age to anything else. There were so many unforgettable experiences on this trip, and I’ll carry that little moment in particular and many others like it for a long time.
—Simon Poelman ’27, baritone sax
—Hannah Wren ’24, trumpet
While touring Norway, we sang in some of the most beautiful venues and saw some of the most gorgeous landscapes I’ve ever seen. I’m also so happy to have gotten to experience this country alongside my best friends and the community of Nordic Choir.
—Noah Bowers ’26, tenor
Traveling with Nordic Choir to Norway was incredible! I greatly appreciate the opportunity to have learned so much, seen so much, and sung so much. The beautiful venues and wonderful mountain views were a lovely backdrop for the memories we made together. I have already had many enriching conversations about my experience, and I hope to return to Norway someday!
—Julia Weiner ’25, alto
This trip made me realize that I’m able to do such amazing things during my time at Luther that I wouldn’t normally get to do anywhere else. Doing it with people I would consider my closest friends also made a huge difference because you get to create all these new and lasting memories with the people you have grown close with.
—Ryne Eyestone ’26, baritone
SENIORsnapshots
Luther’s class of 2024 began their college journey at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, but so many of our incredible students defied the odds, immersing themselves in critical learning and meaningful experiences. Here’s just a sample of the diverse and impressive things this graduating class was able to accomplish at Luther even during unprecedented times.
Portraits by Armando Jenkins-Vazquez ’21
Building communication chops alongside deep cocurricular involvement
When he first visited Luther in January 2020, California native XAVIER ANDRADE had a moment of doubt about attending college in the Midwest.
“I think it was about 10 degrees below zero in Decorah that weekend,” he recalls with a laugh.
Thankfully, the atmosphere on campus—and particularly among members of the Norse football team, for which he played linebacker and safety—felt exponentially warmer. “That visit was incredible,” he says. “The guys were great, the coaches were great, and the campus and the small-town environment felt so comfortable.”
The intimate size of the college community facilitated Xavier’s transition to campus that fall. “I’m pretty shy,” he says. “But it wasn’t hard for me to come out of my shell at Luther.”
The grandson of immigrants from Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico, Xavier served as Student Senate’s
diversity representative and as president of Latines Unides, which supports students of Hispanic/Latino descent and brings awareness of the culture to the wider community.
In the classroom, Xavier focused on political science and communication studies. The son of two community-minded parents—his mother, Ligia, is a current member of the San Mateo Union High School District Board—he had long been interested in the science of politics. Classes like Media Literacy, which taught him how to engage ethically with technology and the media, hooked him on communication studies.
Xavier connected the two disciplines by participating in the Lutheran College Washington Semester in the spring of his senior year. As part of the program, he completed a communication internship with Hola Cultura, a publication that celebrates Latino art and culture in the nation’s capital. “My internship experience was awesome,” says Xavier. “I learned so much about the intricacies of the journalism trade, and I really sharpened my writing skills.”
Now back home in San Mateo, Xavier is putting those skills to good use on a social media campaign promoting his mother’s school board reelection effort.
“There are so many things I’m interested in pursuing down the road,” he says. “I’m going to take some time to figure out the details, but I want to stay in the communications field.”
—Sara Friedl-Putnam
A research duo makes a major discovery
GWEN COLEMAN (right) and EMMELYN CULLEN
accomplished a lot during their time at Luther. Emmelyn, a biology and theatre major from Madison, Wisconsin, participated in seven theatre and three opera productions, mostly in stage management but also through acting and lighting and set design. Gwen, a bio major and environmental studies minor from Hot Springs, Arkansas, was a fouryear member of Luther’s conference-winning swimming and diving team.
The two are impres sive individually, and they’re also a powerful duo. In the summer of 2022, they worked with professor of biology Kirk Larsen to research native bee biodiversity on campus. Their research led to the discovery of seven species of bees never before recorded in the state of Iowa. It was a major surprise and a welcome validation that efforts to increase pollinator-friendly plants on campus were working.
received national media coverage, getting picked up by news outlets in 42 states, from Florida to Alaska to Hawai'i. Gwen and Emmelyn, quickly thrust into the limelight, got used to being pulled from the field by a Luther media relations specialist asking if they could do an interview in 20 minutes.
In addition to Professor Larsen’s tutelage, part of the secret of the pair’s success was a bee identification course they sat in on that summer with an expert from the Missouri Department of Conservation who’d written a book on the subject and was teaching graduate students on Luther’s campus. It was an uncommon opportunity to learn a rare skill.
“Credit has to be given to the donors to undergraduate research opportunities as well,” Emmelyn says. “The fact that we were able to be paid for doing this made it way more feasible.”
A Luther mentor plus a visiting expert plus research funding added up to an incredible stepping stone for Gwen and Emmelyn. And the duo proved just how powerful a small liberal arts education can be when they won first (Gwen) and second place (Emmelyn) in the student poster competition at the national meeting of the Entomological Society of America in November 2023, competing against students—entomology majors, no less—from large R1 universities.
It was also a huge achievement for two undergraduates—bee identification is a really specialized skill, and new discoveries like this don’t typically come from a pair of 21-year-old college students. The project
They also parlayed their summer research into other positions. Emmelyn worked with the USDA’s Dairy Forage Research Center in Madison, Wis., in summer 2023. Gwen participated in a Research Experience for Undergraduates at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln that same summer.
“It went so well that they offered me a paid position for graduate school,” Gwen reports. Two weeks after graduating from Luther, she began her program,
studying mosquitoes as plant pollinators and also as vectors of human diseases.
Emmelyn spent the summer after graduating doing what she loves—surveying bees, this time for the US Geological Survey’s Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center in Jamestown, North Dakota. Eventually, she plans to attend graduate school to continue learning about bees.
“When it comes to bees,” she says, “every person I talk to about it has interest. And I just felt really good with the research I did at Luther, being able to raise awareness and teach other people about all these things I was excited about.”
—Kate Frentzel
Embracing the new while studying the old
IAN GONZALES from Olathe, Kansas, is an anthropology superstar. During his time at Luther, he served as an executive member of the Anthropology Club for three years, including as president. He held a workstudy job in the Anthropology Lab for four years and contributed to a conference paper for the Society for American Archaeology. He was a member of the Lambda Alpha Honors Society for Anthropology and recipient of the R. Clark Mallam Memorial Scholarship in Anthropology.
He also put in lots of time in the literal field, helping conduct geophysical surveys around northeastern Iowa—particularly at Effigy Mounds National Monu-
ment—not only as a paid summer researcher but also as a volunteer on weekends and school-year afternoons.
“There’s something so neat for me about picking up an artifact and knowing that it has its own story and history that we don’t really know,” he says.
While Ian made his mark on Luther’s anthropology program, he also leveraged his college years to try new things. As a double major in Nordic studies, he helped with classes for children at the Vesterheim Museum, and he spent a semester in Norway. He joined the Equestrian Club and the Pound Ultimate Frisbee team—both brand-new activities for him.
“I’ve learned in the last few years just how fun trying new things can be,” Ian says.
“Even though it was scary to ride a horse for the first time, to take a plane by myself to a foreign country for the first time, to volunteer at an archaeological excavation for the first time, I knew that I would always come out of the experience with something new. New skills, new stories to tell, new people met. I have learned to love the new.”
This past summer, Ian tried something new while becoming part of something old when he joined the legacy of Luther grads to work at Bear Creek Archaeology in Cresco, Iowa. Eventually, he plans to attend graduate school—hopefully in Norway—and specialize in Norwegian and Scandinavian archaeology.
—Kate Frentzel
A global health major works toward “good births”
During a gap year between high school and college, LINNEA JOHNSON NORDQVIST of Gothenburg, Sweden, taught third grade in a low-income school district. “So many of my students’ families had immigrated to Sweden and had these barriers to financial and housing security,” she says. “It really impacted them and made me realize that health isn’t just about the physical well-being of people; it’s about the structures that we’ve built and how they’re often a disservice to people.”
Linnea knew she wanted to major in global health, but at Luther, she developed an especial interest in reproductive and sexual health and feminist medical anthropology. She took a gender, health, and medi-
cine course that really solidified her interest. “In high-income countries like the US, birth outcomes are statistically really good,” she says. “But that’s obscuring the experiences that women are having in this context that isn’t benefiting them. Women should have the right to have a good birth.”
Linnea interned with a certified professional midwife at Willow River Midwifery and a nurse-midwife at WinnMed, both in Decorah. “The midwifery model of care didn’t pathologize birth, and I really resonated with that,” she says. She focused her senior project on obstetric violence and what she learned through her immersions in home-birth and hospital-based models of midwifery.
Linnea co-founded the Global Health Club at Luther and served as its president. She was also president of the Luther Disability Alliance, served on Student Senate in a number of roles, and participated in choir for three years. She worked for Luther’s Center for Academic Enrichment for three years, moving from tutor to peer coach to lead peer coach.
Unsurprisingly, Linnea has been flush with offers for the year following her college graduation. She was a semifinalist for a Fulbright assistantship, and she turned down a Peace Corps placement so that she could spend July and August in Resita, Romania, working with a local NGO that serves children and young adults. In October, she heads to Cingoli, Italy, to spend six months with the Italian Red Cross. Her longer-term plans are to earn nursing and certified nurse midwife degrees at Gothenburg Sahlgrenska Academy.
“The global health major was so open for exploring,” she says. “It really gave me the ability to tailor it toward what I was interested in, and that’s been profoundly empowering. It’s really contributed to getting me where I am today.”
—Kate Frentzel
Leading through the power of music
Some college students take a while to find their academic focus, but that wasn’t the case for JOSH KAINZ of St. Michael, Minnesota.
Josh gravitated toward musical activities in high school, where participation in concert choir and musical theatre opened his eyes to the possibilities of a career in music education. “I experienced so many cool things through music in high school that I knew then that I wanted to help other students harness the power of music to become the best versions of themselves,” he says.
Josh began college at North Dakota State University, but his first year left him unexpectedly unfulfilled. Mere weeks before his sophomore year, he ran into Mark Potvin ’01, Luther assistant professor of music, at an American Choral Directors Association event. When Josh told Potvin he didn’t feel at home at NDSU,
Potvin suggested that Luther might be a better fit. Two weeks later, Josh arrived in Decorah and started classes as a vocal music education major.
The college hit all the right notes from the start.
“Luther really was the perfect fit—I ended up where I was supposed to be but took just a little bit longer to get there,” Josh reflects. “I loved the small Lutheran college choral tradition and the excellent quality of the music program.”
His endeavors on and beyond campus included singing three years as a tenor in Nordic Choir (with which he toured Norway this past summer), working two years as a resident assistant, serving a semester as student conductor for Norskkor, stepping in as interim choir director at Decorah Lutheran Church, and directing the pit orchestra for the Luther production of Big Fish.
This fall Josh began work as vocal music director at Coon Rapids (Minnesota) High School. He’s not ruling out the possibility of seeking a master’s or doctoral degree in the future, but, for now, he’s focused on the musical growth of his students at Coon Rapids.
“I feel very prepared to teach vocal music,” he says with typical exuberance. “Luther allowed me to try out different things, make mistakes, experience success, and gain confidence in my skills to lead others from point A to point B.”
—Sara Friedl-Putnam
A Harvard-bound theology major learns in and out of the classroom
It turns out that using a manual typewriter isn’t an entirely lost skill among today’s college students. When it came time for ETHAN KOBER , an English and religion major from Cedar Falls, Iowa, to start his senior honors project—a 105-page historical-fiction novella about a man who died of rabies in 1903—he decided to go back to the basics: no computer, no Google Docs, no spellcheck, no modern technology at all. Instead, Ethan spent hours pounding away on a typewriter until the novella, To Die Full of Days, was complete.
And while he isn’t necessarily eager to repeat the experience, Ethan does say it was the ideal way to tackle the project. “The beauty of writing with a type-
keep going, keep writing, keep staying in the flow,” he says. “It wasn’t about the speed of my writing; it was about the intention behind it.”
Ethan had to approach his entire time at Luther with deep intention, if just to fit everything in. He ran cross country for the Norse, played French horn in Concert Band, and served on the board for the Oneota Review literary magazine and as managing editor for the Chips campus newspaper, all while earning top grades in his classes—he was inducted into the Sigma Tau Delta English honor society—and working for the Center for Sustainable Communities.
“Not every school allows you to participate in such a variety of activities,” Ethan reflects. “But that’s part of why I love Luther so much—from the start, the college saw me as a whole person who has a lot to offer and learn, both in and out of the classroom.”
Ethan will spend the next three years earning his master of divinity degree at Harvard University. Accepted to four top divinity programs, he says one of the primary reasons he chose Harvard was because of the way faculty approach theological questions.
“It’s akin to Luther in the sense that they explore how to have deep theological conversations in ways that embrace other religions and aren’t so exclusively Christian,” he explains. “Harvard immediately felt like the right choice exactly because of that diversity of thought.”
—Sara Friedl-Putnam
Making great strides with a servant’s heart
Faith is front and center for SAMUEL SCOTT . In Decorah, he was a member of Stone Ridge Community Church. On campus, he was involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Tuesday Night Discipleship, and Men’s Bible Study. In conversation, he frequently quotes Bible verse.
In particular, Samuel takes to heart Bible passages that highlight service. As a member of the men’s basketball team for four years, he says, “My goal was not to get a one-up on my teammates, but to serve them on or off the court. That’s the biggest thing I learned from being part of a team. You want accolades, but don’t sacrifice what God put in you just to be good at the game.” Samuel was recognized for this attitude—as well as leadership and sportsmanship— with the Bleed Blue Award at the annual Norse Awards last spring.
During his time at Luther, Samuel, a management major from Banning, Calif., also served fellow students through his work in Luther’s TRIO program, coaching them on financial wellness and connecting them with resources. And he really homed in on his goal of becoming an entrepreneur.
As a high school sophomore, Samuel’s family lost their home. Having nowhere else to go, they moved in with a family friend—nine people in a one-story house with Samuel sleeping on a cot. Up until that point, he’d imagined a career in basketball, but a torn MCL around that time ushered in a new reality. “That’s what started it for me,” Samuel says, about becoming an entrepreneur. “I thought, This will never happen to my family again. My family will never feel what it’s like to have a lack of money or resources ever again.”
At Luther, Samuel was president of the Entrepreneurship Club, and he even launched his own chewing gum company. During his last six weeks of college, he studied for and passed the Iowa health and life insurance exam and was already training remotely for his new career with Globe Life Insurance.
Eventually, Samuel hopes to start a business that serves families in some way. “You can’t go into something thinking, What can this do for me? What can I get from this?” he says. “It should always be, What can I give? How can I serve? How can I help these people? I’ve been helped more than I could ever imagine, so I’m going into it with that.”
—Kate Frentzel
A new minor lights the way for a theatre major
As a new student at Luther, LAUREN SIEMS found a home in the theatre program. Even though that’s not where she saw her future career, she was drawn to the people and to the immediacy of the art form.
“With any fiction, you can get drawn into its world,” she says. “And theatre is especially magical because it’s happening in real time. It’s like a communication and a relationship between the audience and the actors—that’s what I really love about it.”
Lauren stretched out in the theatre major, acting on stage, co-directing a SPIN Theatre production, and serving as vice president for Top Banana Improv Troupe. She took a work-study job writing content for the Visual and Performing Arts Department. The summer before her junior year, she adapted Dracula into a radio play, Westenra, that Luther’s Underground Radio Theatre of the Air performed.
That same summer, an announcement from Luther changed her life: the college was adding a counsel-
ing minor. Lauren had spent time as both a nursing and psychology major, but neither felt like the right fit. Her father, Jay Siems ’84 (Lauren’s mom is Sheryl [Luckow] Siems ’82, and her oldest brother is Greg Siems ’12), told her about it. “I was thrilled. It was everything I wanted from the psychology major but less of the analytical facts and figures and more of the human connection and that sort of thing. I immediately declared the minor.”
Lauren saw a chance to use both of her academic disciplines when she stumbled across drama therapy—a therapeutic technique that asks people to act things out to improve empathy, self-awareness, and communication, as well as to process emotions. The summer before her senior year, she was selected as part of Luther’s Research Scholar Program. She researched intergenerational trauma, then wrote a full-length stage production about it, which became part of her senior thesis.
This fall, Lauren began a master’s program in school counseling at the University of Northern Iowa. “I want to foster a home for students who feel safer at school than at home, while also making students who feel safer at home feel comfortable and safe in school,” she says. “I want to be that safe, nice person and part of that positive association with school.”
—Kate Frentzel
A catcher of the year with her sights set on the lab
Any college softball team would be thrilled to add ABBY SPORE to their roster. During her college career, the catcher from Robins, Iowa, was named American Rivers Conference Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference (twice), Second Team All-Conference, Academic All-Conference, First Team Academic All-District, National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) First Team All-Region (twice), NFCA First (and Second) Team All-American, NFCA Scholar Athlete, and College Sports Communicators Second Team Academic All-American. She was the Norse top hitter for two seasons, and if your head isn’t spinning yet, she was also named the Division III Catcher of the Year in 2023 and nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year in 2024.
“Those awards are also a reflection of my teammates,” Abby says. “In a team sport, you never do anything by yourself.”
While the accolades have been gratifying, the friendships Abby formed through the team have the real staying power. She reflects, “Softball’s given me a group of people that I spend time with every day. It’s given me so many relationships, and they’re all surrounded by something I love. Even though my career’s done, those are going to be a part of my life forever.”
Abby wove herself through other activities at Luther too, from three years of work-study running stats and score-
Department, to acting as morale captain for Luther’s annual Dance Marathon fundraiser, to serving on the board of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She also assistant coached the Decorah High School softball team. “Sometimes I got a little too excited,” she admits, “but I think the girls realize that it’s just because I love the game so much and love helping athletes find similar passion for it.”
Abby was also a committed bio major. Last year, she interned at the Howard County Regional Health Center in Cresco, Iowa, learning how to draw, test, and microscopically observe samples in a medical lab. Because it was a smaller lab, she was able to really connect with the people who worked there. “I was having a lot of conversations about what these people’s lives look like and what their paths were and listening to the similarities and differences within them,” she says. “I knew I wanted to get into lab work and not research, and that really solidified it for me.”
The experience was such a fit that this fall, Abby started the Medical Laboratory Science Program at Mayo Clinic.
—Kate Frentzel
Expanding a comfort zone through global education
While many of her Luther classmates were grabbing coffee, ordering breakfast, or sleeping in, AMY WEBB often began work at Luther’s Preus Library. She didn’t mind the early start. “When I’m passionate about something, it energizes me,” she says. And yes, Amy is passionate about libraries and the opportunities they offer. “Preus Library, like most libraries, fosters learning and inclusivity,” she says. “I grew up spending many hours exploring the Waverly Public Library, and my first job was there, too.”
She learned about Luther, in fact, while working at the Waverly library. The library’s director, Sarah Meyer-Reyerson ’96, sang her alma mater’s praises, piquing Amy’s interest in the college. A campus visit for Scholar Recognition Day sealed the deal. “I knew immediately that Luther was where I was meant to be,” she says.
Amy explored a lot at Luther over her four years here. A talented violinist, she joined Symphony Orchestra and even managed the ensemble her senior
year. A born leader, she served as president of the Luther Model United Nations club and the Luther Association of Gamers. An exemplary student, she earned membership in three honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa. A disciplined and inquisitive learner, she declared majors in international studies and German and traveled abroad during two January Terms.
But it was the semester she spent studying in Münster, Germany, that inspired her path after Luther. “I knew this experience would likely change my life, and it did,” she says. “It proved to me that I could step outside of my comfort zone and immerse myself in another culture.”
That’s exactly how Amy will spend this academic year, teaching English in Germany as a Fulbright recipient. “I’m excited about the prospect of living and working abroad while acting as a cultural ambassador,” she says.
Amy’s not sure what the distant future will hold, but she’s already contemplating earning a master’s degree in international relations or library science. Wherever she goes and whatever she does, one thing is certain—she’ll carry her Luther years with her every step of the way:
“I felt accepted at Luther from the start,” Amy says, “I’ve been part of a larger experience that I know will stick with me for the rest of my life.”
—Sara Friedl-Putnam
A POINT FOR EQUITY
Scoring
—Kate Frentzel
by Kate Frenzel
Author Sheri Brenden ’81 writes a book about her groundbreaking sister, Peggy Brenden ’76.
A Luther education helps launch a lot of trailblazers. But sometimes, Luther welcomes a student who has already made an incredible impact in the world. So it was with Peggy Brenden ’76, who fought, as a high schooler, for the rights of girls to compete in high school sports. Her landmark civil rights case opened up opportunities for young female athletes and fueled the momentum of Title IX.
Sheri Brenden ’81, Peggy’s sister, recently published a book about this era in their lives.
Break Point: Two Minnesota Athletes and the Road to Title IX is a colorful, engrossing, richly researched chronicle about an episode that’s impacted every female who’s played sports in a school setting in the past 50-plus years.
An Early Love of Sports
The Brenden sisters were raised in St. Cloud, Minn. Peggy says, “We grew up in a neighborhood full of active little boys, so we learned pretty quickly that if we were going to have people to play with, we needed to learn to hit or throw a ball.”
Along the way, Peggy encountered tennis. “I had a competitive fire about tennis from shortly after I was introduced to the sport,” she says. “It fed my need to run and exercise, but also my need to accomplish something and get better at something. It had that blend of something that challenged you both physically and mentally.”
When she entered high school at St. Cloud Tech, Peggy approached the boys’ tennis coach about joining the team (there were no interscholastic girls’ teams). He told her about a rule that prohibited girls from playing at the risk of disqualifying the team from competition, but he offered to let her practice with them when there was an odd number of players.
Peggy was disappointed but dogged—she hit balls against the wall before practice, waiting for boys who didn’t have a partner that day. She spent most of her free time at the courts, including in the summers, hitting against the wall by herself or playing with whomever showed up. She competed in every summer tournament she could, working her way up, in 1971, to a first-place under-18 Minnesota girls ranking by the Northwestern Tennis Association.
Sheri says, “As Peg became a tennis player, she taught me what it looked like to be so passionate about a sport that you would put that type of time into it, work to find people to play against, and choose to put yourself in competitive situations.”
Seeing the passion and dedication
that Peggy displayed—and the limited opportunities she had to play competitively—a third sister, Sandy, and her now-husband, Jim Tool, mentioned that the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union (MCLU) had helped in a number of sex discrimination cases.
Peggy tracked down a mailing address and got out her typewriter. She wrote a letter asking the MCLU to legally challenge the rule. Her postscript read “Please hurry. I’m a senior.”
In the Courts
The MCLU decided to take Peggy’s case, eventually adding a second plaintiff to it, Toni St. Pierre, a cross-country runner and skier from Hopkins, Minn.
In Break Point, Sheri writes that the MCLU attorney who took the case, Thomas Wexler, “believed that winning this case would create a chink in the armor of the high school athletic system built with boys in mind. It would provide the impetus necessary to push high schools, and the Minnesota High School League, to develop opportunities for girls so they wouldn’t be confronted with similar challenges.”
In our digital age of 24-hour news cycles and robust social media, it’s strange to learn that the case took place in a bit of a vacuum from the perspective of the average citizen. Peggy and Toni each spent a day testifying in court—never meeting each other— and the Brendens largely followed the case through the newspaper headlines—when the newspaper covered it. In interviewing former St. Cloud Tech boys’ team tennis players, Sheri realized that they weren’t even aware of the case at the time.
Peggy remembers her own first inkling of the case’s significance— beyond letting her play tennis her senior year—when she came home one day to a copy of the St. Cloud Daily
Left: Peggy Brenden '76 (left) and Sheri Brenden '81 (right) grew up during a time when opportunities for girls to play organized sports were limited.
Times. The front page read: “Brenden Sues School District.”
“Things don’t make the front page of the local newspaper unless there’s a little heft behind them,” she says. “So that made me realize that something bigger was afoot.”
A Landmark Ruling
On April 18, 1972, Judge Miles W. Lord made his ruling: both Peggy and Toni could play on the boys’ teams, and the boys’ teams could not be disqualified. Neither Peggy nor Sheri remembers a press conference, rally, or celebration. “My family—we were good old Norwegian Lutherans,” Peggy says, “so I’m sure we had a conversation at dinner about what this meant and what would happen next, but that was it.”
What it meant most immediately for Peggy is that during her senior year of high school, she played five matches at third singles, winning three, losing two, and earning her high school letter.
The bigger victory, of course, was the opportunity that Brenden v. Independent School District 742 opened up for young female athletes and the momentum the decision gave to Title IX, also decided in 1972.
Sheri makes the point that Title IX legislated equal educational opportunities for women, but that it didn’t specifically address school sports teams or outline how athletic opportunities would be imple-
mented. Peggy’s case made it clear that if schools did not create sport programs for girls and create them soon, they would see lawsuits—and lose them. The year after Peggy’s case, her high school had seven girls’ sports teams.
At Luther, Peggy played first singles tennis, making it into the Athletics Hall of Fame. During law school at the University of Minnesota, she coached tennis at Augsburg College, then at the University of Minnesota. Sheri played several high school sports, as well as Luther tennis and field hockey.
The case shaped Peggy’s life beyond athletics. “I was really impressed with the lawsuit in terms of its outcome, but also because of how it went so quickly,” she says. “The pace of this case is really unprecedented—lawsuits like this usually drag out years. Judge Lord really put the pedal to the metal to make this one happen in a timely way, and the case was an important factor in my deciding to pursue law.”
Peggy retired in 2016 after working as a state workers’ compensation judge in Minnesota for 30 years.
Telling the Story
Over the years, Sheri saw Peggy’s story come up sometimes, for students’ History Day projects or through special awards given by historical societies or halls of fame. But she always felt like its nuance was being lost—that the whole story wasn’t being told. She says,
(center) and Sheri (right) have spent a lot of time touring Break Point together.
Peggy
“Even as a family member living with it, I didn’t quite understand how it went and what it meant. It wasn’t a soundbite kind of explanation—it would never be that. It was a special story, it was a significant story, and I was in a unique position to tell it, with both the right skills and the right proximity.”
Sheri was indeed well positioned to tell the story. In addition to majoring in English at Luther, she had served as a Chips editor and went on to work as a reporter for the St. Cloud (Minn.) Times and as research librarian for two of Minnesota’s largest law firms. Her book captures Peggy’s story with honesty, vibrancy, compassion, and fascinating detail.
The sisters have toured the book extensively— including at Decorah’s Dragonfly Books and at Luther—and it resonates with audiences young and old. “There are a number of people Peg’s age and older who express a fair bit of pain or regret, loss, a sense of the absence they felt and the many ways they were blocked from pursuing things,” Sheri says.
Making an Impact on Luther Students
“They had passions, and their education was different because they were female and they couldn’t always do those things. Those people experienced the kind of loneliness that Peggy probably did as she was going through this. And it’s really meaningful to know that it was shared. That other people felt that pain. You weren’t alone.”
Peggy says, “For a long time, I had regret about not being more outspoken and articulate and, you know, rallying the troops around the cause. You see many young people doing that these days around important social issues. That was not my style.”
She continues, “I’ve come to realize, though, that the way it unfolded for me was maybe another way of reinforcing or inspiring people to do what they didn’t think they could do. It was saying that it can happen anywhere and anyone is capable of it. You don’t have to be from a big city. You don’t have to be a rock star or a world leader. We all have the agency to make a difference. It’s just a matter of doing it.”
Last April, the Brenden sisters came to Luther to share a meal with English and law and values majors and give a talk about Break Point in the Center for Faith and Life. Here’s what some Luther students had to say.
I was surprised to learn that someone who went to the same college as me made such an impact in my home state. It was a celebrity moment when I realized the scale of the work that the Brenden sisters had done for women in athletics. Overall, I greatly admired their desire for change and how they paved the way for female-identifying athletes.
—Gretchen Dwyer ’24, law and values major
After listening to the Brendens speak of how they were discriminated against because of their gender, I realized how lucky I am to be able to play sports on competitive teams with people who support women in sports. I was impressed by their dedication to the cause and how brave Peggy was to fight for equal opportunities at a young age.
—Abigail Ostermann ’26, exercise science and Spanish major, tennis player
The Break Point presentation reminded me that while we’ve made a lot of progress in allowing women to participate in sports and commending them for their success, we still have a long way to go. Women’s sports are still not treated equally across all levels of competition despite Title IX, and while recent attention on Caitlin Clark has shifted the perception of women’s basketball, there are still a ton of other women’s sports that aren’t receiving the attention they deserve.
—Peter Heryla ’24, communication studies major, tennis player
I was moved by the level of detailed journalistic work that it took to write about this case. It’s in the details that stories become real for us as readers. As a Chips writer, I can see the influences that writing for the Luther newspaper had on Sheri, how it’s shaped her own style and mind as a writer, thinker, and researcher.
—Ethan Kober ’24, English and religion major
OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE A Pioneer
Greg Hager ’83 started with teletype and now leads a $1 billion National Science Foundation budget.
How does an unassuming kid from small-town Iowa become a pioneering scientist in artificial intelligence?
In the case of Greg Hager ’83—Mandell Bellmore Professor of Computer Science at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and assistant director for the National Science Foundation’s Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Directorate—the answer is (fairly) simple: natural smarts, hard work, unrelenting drive, a bit of serendipity, and, yes, a small liberal arts college named Luther.
In 1971, when Greg was just 10 years old, he began practicing basic math on a “teletype” computer at his school in Postville, Iowa, courtesy of Luther. “The college had received a grant from the state of Iowa to put modems and teletypes in all of the regional schools,” he recalls. “Because of that, I had early access to a computer and immediately knew that was what I wanted to do when I grew up.”
Fast forward to 1979, and Luther again loomed front and center.
“I knew it was a place that valued computer science,” Greg says of his decision to enroll.
Over the next four years, he majored in computer science and math and also, as a work-study student, wrote code that supported the grading system for the college. He also met two important faculty mentors: Walt Will and Craig Cornelius ’74, the latter of whom, says Greg, “piqued my interest in artificial intelligence.”
After graduation, Greg studied computer science on an National Science Foundation graduate fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Five years and one doctoral degree later, he traveled to Germany on a Fulbright to study at the University of Karlsruhe for a year. He then spent the next eight years as a faculty member at Yale University—where he began his groundbreaking research on vision-based robotics— before answering the call of JHU in 1999.
As founding director of the JHU Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare, Greg has spearheaded transformative work on collaborative and vision-based robotics, time-series analysis of image data, and medical applications of image analysis and robotics. (He’s also authored more than 500 articles and books on these topics.) “We call it human-machine collaborative assistance,” he says when describing JHU’s Da Vinci machine and other surgical-assistant robots. “How can we build combinations of people and computing that can accomplish tasks that neither can accomplish alone?”
Greg will have an opportunity to enable research on this and many other questions in his newest role. As of June 3, he leads NSF’s CISE Directorate with a budget of nearly one billion dollars that funds 80 percent of non-defense-related computing research. “It’s an opportunity to collaborate with talented people to influence the direction of computing,” he says. “It’s a chance to articulate the value of computing to the broader science community. And it’s a way to give back to an organization, NSF, that has given so much to me for the past 33 years.”
Photo by Maggie Conley, courtesy of the US National Science Foundation
Researching
THE INTERSECTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND EDUCATION
Laura Wangsness Willemsen ’97, who studied in Tanzania as a Luther student, returns as a professor for a critical Fulbright year.
As an undergraduate at Luther, Laura Wangsness Willemsen ’97 had no idea that studying abroad in Tanzania in 1995 would shape her future. Not only did the East African country—home to the continent’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, and an array of wildlife—capture her heart, but it’s also been integral to her career over the past three decades. Most recently, she spent the 2023–24 academic year there as a Fulbright Scholar researching how climate change is reshaping education.
“We need to know what’s happening in these areas of the world where climate change has accelerated social change,” says Laura.
“We know it’s impacting schools, but we don’t fully understand how. Some of what we thought we would see, we saw, and sometimes those were hard stories.”
Laura, an associate professor of education at Concordia University, first noticed the effects of climate change while teaching English in Tanzania in the late ’90s. At the time, she says, people thought the dramatic weather changes like extreme droughts and flooding were “flukes.” Unfortunately, they weren’t, and those extremes have shaped education there today.
“When crops fail, kids drop out of school,” she says. “Boys in secondary school might be tasked with going home to find work rather than pay for school fees. For young women, if their family doesn’t have school fees, they might marry earlier. You see more
Laura Wangsness Willemsen ’97 and Musa Kamaika (both at left) with community members and preschool children in Eluwai, Monduli Juu
illness, students missing class to fetch water. All these things showed up in our Fulbright research.”
Tanzanian Musa Kamaika, a longtime cultural guide and translator from the Maasai tribe who also co-leads a Luther study-away program in the village of Monduli Juu, assisted with Laura’s Fulbright research to understand how the people of northern Tanzania have innovated as climate change accelerates. They were struck by the incredible ways in which people, including teachers, care for one another as they face unpredictable environmental challenges.
“If a student comes to school without shoes, a notebook, a school uniform, soap, or any of the basic stuff that you need, teachers will pull together their meager resources and ensure that the student has what they need,” she says. Laura is familiar with the power of teachers. Her parents—Robert ’70 and Diane [Rathmell] Wangsness ’71—spent their careers as teachers, and their three daughters all became teachers.
“I want my work to be in service of Tanzanian people and schools,” she says. “This all started in 1995, and I’ve kept so many of those connections. I wouldn’t have had my experience in Tanzania without Luther. It’s not an overstatement to say that those Luther roots have shaped who I am.”
—Amy Carlson Gustafson
Visibility THE FIRST STEP IS
Nata Guterres ’13 works for LGBTQIA+ rights in Timor-Leste.
Nata Guterres ’13 of Dili, Timor-Leste, is a changemaker. At Luther, he developed his own major combining politics and economics. At the time, Timor-Leste was in the process of drafting a strategic development plan for the country, and Nata wanted to cultivate the expertise to help. He earned a master’s degree at the United Nations University for Peace in Costa Rica, then returned to Timor, where he worked as a social inclusion advisor to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and now as a specialist for the Asian Development Bank, helping prepare the country for inclusion in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
But while Nata was eager to help his country, he worried that a return to Timor-Leste might shake his confidence as a recently out gay man. He’d shared his queerness gradually, first to Luther friends while studying abroad during the Nottingham Program, then to relatives in the UK, then to select family members in Timor. But with a population that’s 97
Nata Guterres ’13 and collaborators—including some from Luther—met with the prime minister of Timor-Leste when he recorded a historical video statement for their documentary film, The Road to Acceptance , and for the country’s first pride march (also organized by Nata and others). Left to right: Marfiano Manuel ’16, Pepito Cadalak ’16, prime minister Rui Maria de Araújo, Nata, and a friend, Maria.
percent Catholic, Timor-Leste can be a challenging place for LGBTQIA+ people to find acceptance.
“The traditional Timorese culture is very heteronormative and patriarchal,” Nata says, “so even without Catholicism, it’s already quite difficult.” After a painful coming-out to his own family, Nata decided to take a bold step to help pave the way for others.
With two friends from Luther, Pepito Cadalak ’16 and Marfiano Manuel ’16, Nata founded a youth group called Hatutan (in English, “to connect”), which led dialogues on queer acceptance and produced awareness videos. They also launched a letter campaign and received a video statement of LQBTQIA+ support from prime minister Rui Maria de Araújo.
“That statement really made an impact. It made headlines around the world,” Nata says.
That same week in 2017, Nata and friends organized Timor-Leste’s first pride march. Over the years, the event has grown from hundreds of people in 2017 to several thousand in July 2024. The march now ends at the president’s palace, where this year, president José Ramos-Horta delivered a message of support.
This is exactly the kind of visibility and awareness that Nata and others have been working to build. “If you want to create change,” Nata says, “first you need to talk about it.”
The next step, Nata says, is working to change policy. “I want to live in a country where I can feel at home—not just me but all queer people,” he says. As someone who grew up being bullied, he would love to see a policy addressing discrimination and bullying at school based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
He continues, “Sometimes I sit and think about how the things I’ve fought for are so difficult to push through. But looking back, I feel like we’ve achieved so much already. And then I think that even if we go slowly, we can still go forward.”
—Kate Frentzel
Share THINGS WE
Anita Tamang ’22 connects newcomers to Minnesota with healthcare—and compassion.
As a Luther student, global health major Anita Tamang ’22 spent a semester as a research assistant at Mayo Clinic, looking at chronic diseases and healthcare disparities among marginalized populations. Now, just two years out of college, she leads a team of community health workers addressing health inequities at CHW Solutions in St. Paul, Minn.
In her work, Anita partners with Minnesota’s Refugee Resettlement Programs Office to help newcomers to the state access medical care. She works mainly with people from Ukraine and Afghanistan, and most of the clients she sees are either pregnant or living with chronic disease. She says, “Every patient has their own story and journey and struggles. I help them navigate healthcare and social needs related to health, along with health education.”
It’s a complex service that Anita and her team provide. When meeting a new client, they assess social determinants of health—housing, income, transportation, social support, food security, and more—then connect people with community resources to fill in the gaps. They also educate clients on health conditions, health insurance navigation, and things like the difference between primary care versus urgent care versus the emergency room, with the ultimate goal that these newcomers—most of whom don’t yet speak English—eventually become able to self-manage their healthcare.
“My main challenge is that it’s in my nature to help and do what I can, and I have a hard time leaving my work behind,” she says. “This feeling of wishing I could help everyone doesn’t sit well with me sometimes. But I’m learning to accept the reality of doing what I can. Anyone who works in social services would understand.”
As a personal project, Anita Tamang ’22 (under the Luther bell, in a colorful jersey) organizes the annual Ride 2 Rights fundraising bike ride from Rochester, Minn., to Decorah. She founded the event as a Luther student as a way to spread awareness, raise money, and build connections for communities experiencing health disparities.
Anita’s sense of community care extends to her free time. As a Luther student in 2022, she organized a 75-mile bike ride from Rochester, Minn., to Decorah to raise money for people in need of healthcare in recently invaded Ukraine. It raised nearly $7,000. Anita has continued to organize the annual Ride 2 Rights (R2R) event ever since, “to support and amplify the voices of diverse communities experiencing health disparities.”
For now, Anita values the opportunity to better understand challenges and inequities in healthcare.
“I decided to be a community health worker when I graduated because I wanted to understand at the grassroots level,” she says.
“I’m hoping that one day I’ll be in the position to make decisions to improve community health. I’m hoping all of these stories and experiences will help me make the right decisions. They will help me advocate for the right things.”
But there are a few things she sees already. “We’re all human. There are things that make everyone smile, make everyone cry,” she says. “Kindness and compassion matter no matter who we are or where we are. These are things we share. You feel content when you lead with compassion.”
—Kate Frentzel
Class Notes
Notices as of July 8, 2024
’58
Joel Brende of Prairie Village, Kan., published The James Tapes: Book One, offering a rare glimpse into the psyche of a patient with multiple personality disorder.
’61 Jean Wuamett of Escondido, Calif., published The Antiques Talk, about growing up on her family’s century farm in Owatonna, Minn.
’69 Berit Midelfort of Minneapolis was selected as a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.
’73 Joyce Johnson of Chevy Chase, Md., was appointed to the US Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors, reappointed to the University of Maryland Medical System Board of Directors, and serves as the chief medical advisor (contractor) to the National Science Foundation’s Office of Polar Programs.
’74 Kevin Keith of Coralville, Iowa, has retired and been granted emeritus associate professor of practice status from the University of Iowa.
Robert Schultz of Salem, Va., won the Soho Photo Gallery’s International Portfolio Competition. His exhibition of 18 works, titled One Root, features portraits of American Civil War soldiers and mourning family members developed in the flesh of leaves. It was exhibited in July and August.
’75 David Hovde of Mulberry, Ind., published a book, The History and Archaeology of Fort Ouiatenon: 300 Years in the Making
Steve Mineck of Elmhurst, Ill., is retired from a career in the aviation field.
Gerald Saboe of Bulverde, Texas, received the 2024 John A. Tamisiea Award from the Aerospace Medical Association.
’76
Tom Stark of Madison, Wis., along with his wife, Kathleen, published a children’s book, Dragon Love
’79
Christopher Cudworth, of North Aurora, Ill., published a new book, Nature Is Our Country Club.
Les Ellis of Onawa, Iowa, retired as a market analyst from United Hardware Distributing Company.
Mary (Burbridge) Kreger of Apple Valley, Minn., retired as superintendent of the Rosemount–Apple Valley–Eagan school district.
Jim Lovell of Eagan, Minn., retired from the Iowa Clinic after a 30-year career as an interventional cardiologist.
Kevin Volden of Johnsburg, Ill., retired from a long career in regional and corporate sales management.
’80
Rodger Hoover of Burke, Va., retired after almost 39 years in federal government contracting.
’82
Brian Leeper was elected north central regional governor of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and has also been appointed coordinator of inclusion for the College of Arts and Communication at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.
Val and Cindy (Vanderford) Penney live in the Iowa City area. Val is semi-retired following a career in insurance and finance.
Julie (Meyer) Schulte of Brooklyn Park, Minn., retired after a career in software development.
’83
Patti Lu (Evensen) Goettsch of Inver Grove, Minn., retired from a 40-year career teaching in the Inver Grove Heights Minnesota Public Schools.
Andrew Torgerson of Fort Myers, Fla., retired from the roofing construction industry and founded American Roof Inspection Services.
’84
Doug Knutson of Minneapolis will be inducted into the Burnsville High School’s 2024 Hall of Fame class for his noted career as a photographer.
Jeep Kust of New Berlin, Wis., is a seventh-grade US history teacher and track and cross country coach at Pilgrim Park Middle School.
’85
Nancy (Nygaard) Johnson of Golden Valley, Minn., retired in 2023 after nearly 38 years in IT at Lutheran Brotherhood/Thrivent.
Steven Reeves of Creston, Iowa, earned a master of applied science degree from Johns Hopkins University.
’86
Robert Hanzlik of Anoka, Minn., retired after 21 years at Sandia National Laboratories.
’87
Ann Harrington of Minneapolis is director of institutional relations at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts.
Loran Storts of Decorah works in human resources for Toppling Goliath Brewing Company.
’88
Callista (Bisek) Gingrich of McLean, Va., has been appointed to the Ave Maria Mutual Funds Catholic Advisory Board.
Phil Hull of Warrensburg, Mo., accepted the Presidential E. Award from the US Department of Commerce on behalf of the University of Central Missouri, where he is director of the International Center. The award recognizes the year-over-year increase of international students at UCM.
’89
Dawn Mathson of Arden Hills, Minn., retired after 30 years with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
Teri Staloch of Minneapolis is the superintendent of Robbinsdale Area Schools.
’90
Jennifer (Birgerson) Boettger of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is executive director of donor relations at the University of Missouri.
Sara (Eckheart) Roberts of Boone, Iowa, is a community engagement coordinator at YSS in Ames, Iowa.
’91
Karen Ryberg of Baldwin, N.D., is deputy director of the US Geological Survey South Dakota Water Science Center and recently published an article in Nature, “Why Snow Is Crucial for Water Supply and What Will Happen When It Becomes Scarce.”
’92
Todd Pyka of Trempealeau, Wis., is the Ryan White case manager/ID at Gundersen Health System/Emplify Health in La Crosse, Wis.
’93
Stacey (Sayko) Brady of Mocksville, N.C., earned a doctorate in ministry from United Lutheran Seminary.
Thor Davidson of Wheaton, Ill., is the district governor for Rotary International.
’94
Craig Murphy of Burlington, Iowa, is a lieutenant colonel with the US Army Reserve.
Sarah (Ruble) Sladek of Midlothian, Va., owns XYZ University. Sarah authored six books and co-produced six episodes of the Jobs of Tomorrow docuseries streaming on Tubi. Recently, she was one of 52 business leaders invited to the White House to meet with senior presidential advisors.
’96
Marti (Zacher) Crosby of Excelsior, Minn., earned an MA in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas and is a mental health clinician at CARE Counseling in Minneapolis.
Beth (Olson) Haddinger of Rogers, Ark., earned an EdD in educational leadership from the University of Arkansas.
Jessica Kettles published a children’s book, God Says
Dan Kraft of Saint Augusta, Minn., is a physician with Centracare Health in St. Cloud, Minn.
’97
Lynne Carlson Voss is director of market strategy and research at Noridian Healthcare Solutions in Fargo, N.D.
Joy (Fritz) Paffenroth of Sherwood, Wis., made her conducting debut at Carnegie Hall in April.
’98
Phil Hood of Cambridge, Wis., is vice president for advancement at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis.
Ann (Bossard) Smith of Decorah earned a doctorate in educational leadership from Western Illinois University.
’00
Steven Hudak of Colleyville, Texas, was awarded the Distinguished Chair in Urology for Urologic Reconstruction at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.
Lauri Lillie of Northfield, Minn., is founder and owner of Workplace Bullying Project.
Scott Vial of Marshalltown, Iowa, retired from the US Army as lieutenant colonel, following 27 years of combined military service. He is a homeland security contractor for LMI.
’01
Mollie Busta Lange of Tomah, Wis., was one of 50 artists recognized by the Wisconsin Arts Board during their 50-year celebration.
Sue (Buckheister) Hanson, of Milton, Wis., earned tenure and was promoted to professor of anatomy and physiology at Carroll University. Sue also published three laboratory manuals. Anne (Teare) Lange of Waterloo, Iowa, is the business office manager for the Waterloo Community Playhouse/Black Hawk Children’s Theatre.
Kristen (Albright) Pearce earned an MBA and serves as senior director of operations at Ellie Mental Health–Minnesota.
Anita Smallin of Annandale, Va., is assistant director at Pimmit Hills Senior Center in Falls Church, Va.
Sarah Stadler serves as pastor at St. John Lutheran Church of Cedarbrook outside of Aitkin, Minn.
’04
Byron Anway is an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. His solo art exhibition, Landscape and Memory, will run at Kiechel Fine Art in Lincoln from October 18 to November 30.
Sarah (Braun) Ekenberg of Chanhassen, Minn., is founder and CEO of Maakr.
Katie Konrath of Minneapolis is director of growth marketing with Cirrus Systems.
Dustin Nash of Allentown, Pa., is associate professor of religion studies, chair of the religion studies department, and director of the Jewish studies program at Muhlenberg College.
Katie (Miller) Stobbe of Livermore, Calif., is the director, corporate insights for Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose.
’05
Erin (Radke) Flaherty of Rochester, Minn., is division chair—development, external relations, and communications— at Mayo Clinic.
’06
Veronica (Alzalde) Wells of Boone, N.C., is an outreach and public services librarian with the Special Collections Research Center at Appalachian State University.
’07
Tyler Finley of New York is a project coordinator with the CFA Institute.
Adam Loy of Northfield, Minn., is associate professor of statistics at Carleton College.
Anna (Amundson) Oksnevad of Crystal, Minn., is director of client success at Aim360 Marketing.
’08
Ryan Fordice of Chicago is director of spiritual care at Unity Hospice of Chicagoland.
Kacie (Clement) Garver of Boone, Iowa, earned an adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist post-master’s
certificate from the University of Detroit Mercy and is a clinical nurse specialist with UnityPoint Health in Des Moines, Iowa.
Ethan Grev of Chaska, Minn., is vice president of Allianz Life Financial Services.
Nina (Catterall) Schultz of McFarland, Wis., is a licensed CSR with McConnell Agency–American Family Insurance.
Kate Vaske-Wright of St. Paul, Minn., is a medical director at Family Tree Clinic in Minneapolis.
’09
Janet (Brenton) Boyes of Decorah is a dentist at West Side Dental.
Justin Madsen of Inver Grove, Minn., is senior director, investor relations at Target Corporation.
Cody Ryberg of Winston-Salem, N.C., is assistant director of global abroad programs at Wake Forest University.
’10
Brianne Thicke of Rosemount, Minn., is an accountant at Gemini.
’11
Grant Borden of Savage, Minn., earned an MBA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is IT manager at MN Air in Bloomington, Minn.
Kim Horner earned a doctorate, specializing in immigration policy, at the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs. This fall, she started a two-year postdoc in political science at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.
Alex Olson of Seattle is senior HR business partner for artificial general intelligence at Amazon.
Melissa (Larson) Schori of Northfield, Minn., is an academic administrative assistant at St. Olaf College.
’12
Phillip Bray of Bellevue, Wash., is an addiction psychiatry fellow at the University of Washington.
Brenna Everson of Minneapolis is a Salesforce and communications consultant at Brenna Everson Consulting.
Kelsey (Hunerdosse) Lode of Ankeny, Iowa, is a challenging
behavior and autism team consultant at Heartland Area Education Agency in Johnston, Iowa.
’13
Matthew Dalthorp of St. Louis, Mo., earned a bachelor’s degree in interior design from Maryville University and is an interior designer at FGM Architects.
Lindsay Sheridan of Alexandria, Va., is marketing manager, NSO, Fortas, and new music at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
’14
Eric Klein of New Richmond, Wis., is executive director at Luther Park Bible Camp.
Brittany (Leemon) Mitchell of Madison, Wis., is a grants coordinator at the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
Elliott Nolte of St. Paul, Minn., is a ministerial intern at First Universalist Church of Minneapolis. Sam Wettach of Onalaska, Wis., is an agricultural runoff management specialist at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Erik Wingate of Minneapolis is systems administrator at Foresight MSP.
’15
Tyler Crowe of Minneapolis is a physician at Hennepin Healthcare.
Kyrie (Dailey) Lopez of Westminster, Colo., is a physician’s assistant at the University of Colorado Cancer Center.
Kayla (Herman) Nassiri of Naperville, Ill., is manager–talent business partner at Littler.
Brianna (Hopp) Zutz of Rochester, Minn., is associate professor in nursing at Luther College.
’16
Jesslyn Hendrickson of La Crosse, Wis., earned an MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin–Central Wisconsin and is a resident physician in family medicine at Gundersen Health System/Emplify Health.
’17
Betsy Fawcett of Washington, DC, is an education finance associate at WestEd.
Trever Schwichtenberg of Boston earned a PhD in chemistry
from Oregon State University and is a senior scientist at NewFields.
’18
Su Su San of Jersey City, N.J., is a mental health counselor at Vibrant Emotional Health.
Emily Starman of North Mankato, Minn., earned a DDS from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, followed by a pediatric dental certificate from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry.
’19 Alexandria Atal of Des Moines, Iowa, is lead case manager at the Beacon.
Abigail (Korenchan) Conzett of St. Paul, Minn., earned an MA in educational leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Janet (Irankunda) Satern of St. Cloud, Minn., is assistant dean of students at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.
Emma Veum of Eagan, Minn., is an emergency room tech at Fairview Southdale Hospital.
’20
Madison Devine of Front Royal, Va., earned a DVM from the Atlantic Veterinary College on Prince Edward Island and is in residency.
Maddy Kroeger of Urbana, Ill., earned an MD with research distinction from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and is an obstetrics and gynecology PGY-1 resident physician at Carle Foundation Hospital.
Linh Luong of La Crosse, Wis., earned an MS in biomedical engineering from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and is a quality engineer for TE Connectivity.
Maren Olson of Oslo, Norway, earned a master of philosophy degree in health economics, policy, and management from the University of Oslo and is a research coordinator for the university.
Amber Sorenson of Mason City, Iowa, is an annual giving and donor relations specialist at MercyOne North Iowa Foundation.
’22
Rachel Clennon of Minneapolis is a public policy intern at the Minnesota Social Service Association in St. Paul, Minn.
Mickey Lorento of Ames, Iowa, earned a master of special education degree from Northern Illinois University and is an orientation and mobility specialist at Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Abbey (Gapinski) and Preston Shultz live in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where Abbey is a kindergarten teacher and head softball coach at Lisbon Community Schools and Preston is a technical communicator at P&K Midwest.
Yashica Zuniga of Chicago is a marketer at the Archdiocese of Chicago.
’23 Ethan Braun is a seasonal fisheries technician with American Southwest Ichthyological Researchers in Albuquerque, N.M.
Jadyn Gasper of Valley Springs, S.D., is a research specialist at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, S.D.
’24 Olivia Luster of Janesville, Wis., is a marketing and communications specialist at GOEX Corporation.
Grace Parrott of Iowa City, Iowa, is a physical scientist with the US Geological Survey in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Austin Wesenberg is a fisheries technician with the Department of Fish and Game in Dillingham, Ala.
Missy (Norman) ’17 and Cooper Nelson ’17 celebrated their wedding—complete with a Luther flag—in October 2023.
Former Luther Golf teammates recently reunited in Decorah. Dave Aspenson ’84 says, “We think we played a couple of tournaments together postgraduation in the late 1980s in and around Iowa but know for sure it was the first time we played together in Decorah in 42 years. It was an enjoyable couple of days reliving old memories and celebrating new milestones with Coach Fjelstul and the success of the current men’s golf program.” Left to right: Rob Cassidy ’84, coach Scott Fjelstul ’83, 2024 American Rivers Conference champion/ medalist Jay Fjelstul ’24, Mike Gaul ’83, and Dave Aspenson ’84
Class of 1991 grads recently celebrated their long-lasting Luther friendships with a trip to Italy. Left to right: Gerilyn (Haug) Johnson, Allison (Huth) DeGraaf, Kirsten (Storm) Sebold, Janet (Wagamon) Lewis, Laura (Paulson) Landau, and Rachel Mueller
In February, Kim Horner ’11 ran in the US Olympic Team Trials Marathon in Orlando, Fla. She qualified for the trials at the 2022 Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minn., with a time of 2:36:43 and, despite the very hot weather in Orlando, finished well above her ranking at 40th place in the trials with a time of 2:36:47. Among her supporters were her parents, Todd ’82 and Mary (Van Gerpen) Horner ’81 and aunt Lori (Van Gerpen) Stanley ’80, Luther professor emerita of anthropology, as well as other Luther grads and more than 70 members of Twin Cities–based Mill City Running.
On April 6, former Nordic Choir members sang the national anthem at the Twins v. Guardians game at Target Field in Minneapolis. Left to right: Alex Sievers ’14, Brad Beale ’14, Ben Wegner ’14, and Dietrich Jessen ’15.
Zach Withers ’18 got married in June in Ankeny, Iowa, with many Luther grads from the class of 2018 there to celebrate! Left to right: Hunter Prueger, JD Crecca, Zach Withers, Paul Clark, Matt Smith, Daniel MelaasSwanson, and Sara Byom. Not pictured but also at the wedding: Emma Withers ’18, Derek Barnhouse ’18, Nate Withers ’24, and Jim Withers ’84
Longtime friends gathered outside of Lansing, Iowa, last spring to celebrate more than 25 years of friendship! Left to right: Mike Bryant ’97, Garrett Klein ’94, Trevor Burke ’96, Dave Koth ’96, Chris Considine ’96, David Dueland ’96, Eric Bookmeyer ’96, Matt Oyen ’95, Kevin Mallon ’98, Dieter Bierbrauer ’96, Steve Gauerke ’96, Benjamin Buren ’97, and Matthew Chaffee ’96
In March, Ruth Fjelstad (seated center, in red), emerita professor of Spanish, celebrated her 99th birthday with colleagues and former students. Congratulations, Ruth!
Marriages
’83
Andrew Torgerson and Rachel Cantrell, May 2024
’94
Daniel Stout and Annie Dean, June 2024
’99
Martha Rockenstein and Brian Eklund ’00, July 2022
’01
Erin Flater and Kyle Slaton, Nov. 2023
’04
Trent Williams and Maurizio Renzi, Oct. 2023
’06
Corrine Bishoff and Gregory Schaefer, April 2022
’09
Christine Richardson and David Chakmakjian, Sept. 2022
’10
Susie Clark and Gabriel Aguayo Diaz, Dec. 2023
’11
Grant Borden and Svetlana Bornschlegl, Aug. 2023
’12
Brandon Boles and Ashley Grosvold, June 2024
Brenna Everson and David Nelson, Sept. 2022
’13
Tyler Funke and Austin Lautke, June 2022
Andrew Zutz and Brianna Hopp ’15, July 2023
’15
Flint Angeroth Franks and Catelyn Janda ’19, July 2024
Megan Richason and Ian Olson, May 2024
Luther alumni in the National Lutheran Choir (NLC) celebrated with a photo at the last concert of their 2023–24 season. It was their first season with artistic director Jennaya (Rogers) Robison ’96 at the helm. Luther alumni currently represent 24 percent of NLC singers/staff—the most represented college in the choir! Back row (left to right): Dan Streeper ’85, Matt Olson ’10, Travis Karstad ’00, Josh Vidervol ’18, Brian Lensch ’00, Eli Pollock ’08, Will Heller ’16, and Shaun Halland ’00. Front row: Anna Streeper ’18, Anne Wilson ’20, Jennaya (Rogers) Robison ’96, Ali Pinto ’23, Abs Trewin ’22, Ellie (Dundek) Demitrius ’07, Emily (Lillegard) Tryggestad ’07, and Sarah (Bane) Olson ’07. Not pictured: Allison (Alpers) Ackmann ’12 and Kelvin Li ’18
Gerry (Mosby) ’59 and Neal Nottleson ’59 celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in July, surrounded by lots of family members who are also Luther grads! Back row (left to right): Ben Nottleson ’19, Andrew Nottleson ’90, Aaron Shatzer ’10, Stephen Shatzer ’16, Bruce Shatzer ’82, Neal Nottleson ’59. Front row: Betsy Diekema ’90, Gerry (Mosby) Nottleson ’59, Hannah Shatzer ’13, and Kari (Nottleson) Shatzer ’82
’16
Jacy Mahoney and Roman Looser, April 2022
Aidan North and Emma Radtke ’17, Sept. 2023
Raleigh Sims and Allison Boyd, Dec. 2022
’17
Emily Chlapik and Ryan Paulson, June 2023
Cooper Nelson and Missy Norman, Oct. 2023
’18
Zach Withers and Emma Peeler, June 2024
’19
Natalie Delcorps and Kyle Backes, May 2024
’20
Katelin Parkinson and Ashley Krizmanich, June 2022
Calli Jo Wagner and Jordan Benth, Aug. 2023
’21
Eythan Blair and Anna Dietrich ’22, June 2024
’22
Abbey Gapinski and Preston Shultz, June 2023
Alison Merrill and David Hanson, June 2023
Births & Adoptions
’04
Olivia, Feb. 2023, child of Elizabeth Hauth and Tom Johnson
’05
Logan, Jan. 2024, child of Marianne (Holmer) and Bill Butler
’06
Sadie, Feb. 2024, child of Corrine (Bishoff) Haulotte and Gregory Schaefer
’07
Millicent, Feb. 2024, child of Amy (May) and James Teigland
Tybalt, Feb. 2024, child of Susie (Bissen) and Zach Esker
’09
Addison, Oct. 2023, child of Christine (Richardson) and David Chakmakjian
Elijah Walker, March 2024, child of Lynnea and Justin Madsen
’10
Axel, Nov. 2023, child of Erin (Nelson) and Ryan Heinlen
Leslie Rae, April 2023, child of Leah Holloway-Nilsen and Stephen Nilsen
’12
Collin, Aug. 2022, child of Nadia and Erik Mattson
Noah, Jan. 2024, Allison (Alpers) and Nate Ackmann
Rohan, Feb. 2023, child of Haritha and Collin Schultz
’14
Theodore, May 2024, child of Terra (Kruger) and Tim Acri
Vera Monica, Dec. 2022, child of Mary and Luke Dovre
Zeke, Dec. 2023, child of Becca (Rudquist) and Sam Simataa ’13
In Memoriam
Notices as of July 31, 2024
Faculty emerita
Nanette “Nan” Eklund of Minneapolis died March 1, 2024, age 92.
Regent emeriti
Helen (Peterson) Hustad ’52 of Mukilteo, Wash., died March 7, 2024, age 93.
Walter “Walt” Rugland ’59 of Appleton, Wis., died March 8, 2024, age 86.
’48
Arlene “Renie” (Stenberg) Lellelid of St. Paul, Minn., died June 25, 2024, age 95.
’50
Donald Aschom of Haslett, Mich., died June 3, 2024, age 96.
David Leirmo of Ferryville, Wis., died January 9, 2024, age 94.
Donald “Don” Weber of Mason City, Iowa, died March 13, 2024, age 97.
’52
Joanne (Anderson) Fletcher of Coon Valley, Wis., died June 5, 2024, age 93.
’15
Isla Brooke (photo 1), March 2024, child of Alison (Vuolo) and Walker Vuolo Nyenhuis
Javi, Dec. 2023, child of Kayla (Herman) and Siena Nassiri
Sigrid Ann and Soren Arthur (photo 2), Nov. 2023, children of Alli (Kephart) and Andrew Tjossem ’13
’16
Robby Conrad (photo 3), May 2024, child of Amy and Tyler Moon
’17
Gwen, Oct. 2023, child of Mallory (Carr) and Tyler Asbe
Nelson (photo 4, right), Nov. 2023, child of Molly (Hilgart) and Cory Wirth ’18
RJ (photo 4, left), Aug. 2023, child of Maddie (Bouslog) and Jackson VanKirk
’18
Camiel and Cassian (photo 5), Aug. 2023, children of KT (Roets) and Branch Johnson-Roets ’17
Valerie, April 2023, child of Danica (Kafton) and Garrett Zink
’19
Julian, June 2024, child of Abigail (Korenchan) and Tyler Conzett
Lilah (photo 6), May 2024, child of Hannah (Carmon) and Ryan Simon
’20
Wesleigh, April 2024, child of Katelin (Parkinson) and Ashley Krizmanich
Grace (Sorlien) Johnson of St. Ansgar, Iowa, died May 9, 2024, age 96.
Marjorie (Rasmussen) Lange of Cedar Falls, Iowa, died January 15, 2024, age 94.
Donald Rem of Homewood, Ill., died February 19, 2024, age 94.
’53
Donald “Don” Bungum of Hayfield, Minn., died May 12, 2024, age 92.
’54
Maynard Anderson of Alexandria, Va., died in March 2024, age 91.
Joan Bedessem of Eden Prairie, Minn., died October 9, 2023, age 92.
Marilyn (Huebner) Davison of Coral Gables, Fla., died July 12, 2024, age 91.
William “Bill” Ortmayer of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died June 29, 2024, age 92.
Mary Jane (Doane) Sevatson of Romeoville, Ill., died April 3, 2024, age 94.
Donna (Howland) Williams of Baxter, Minn., died April 6, 2024, age 92. 2 3 4 5
’55
Clarie (Renslo) Streng Broste of Hanska, Minn., died January 26, 2024, age 90.
’56 Lois (Soma) Beisner of Des Moines, Iowa, died April 23, 2024, age 89.
David Ellefson of Brevard, N.C., died March 2, 2024, age 89.
Betty (Nyhus) Gollnik of Mason City, Iowa, died May 26, 2024, age 94.
David Landswerk of Maple Grove, Minn., died April 24, 2024, age 89.
Nels Lillejord of Jamestown, N.D., died April 8, 2024, age 89.
John Marshall of Hurricane, Utah, died February 10, 2024, age 89.
Karl Moe of Waverly, Iowa, died June 24, 2024, age 90.
Don Peterson of Lake City, Minn., died May 5, 2024, age 89.
William “Bill” Swensen of Decorah died April 9, 2024, age 89.
’57 Jean (Amundson) Bravick of Clearwater, Fla., died December 10, 2023, age 87.
Don Harmon of Anamosa, Iowa, died March 9, 2024, age 87.
Janice (Anderson) Horn of Clarion, Pa., died March 9, 2024, age 88.
Eunice (Mithum) Levisay of Lincoln, Neb., died June 11, 2024, age 89.
Glendon Losen of Mason City, Iowa, died July 19, 2024, age 92.
Mavis (Dralla) Wagner of Fargo, N.D., died May 7, 2024, age 88.
’58
Loleen (Leland) Anderson of Rapid City, S.D., died March 28, 2024, age 88.
Janice (Eittreim) Imse of Land O’ Lakes, Wis., died February 10, 2023, age 86.
Vernon Jahn of Bloomington, Minn., died March 27, 2024, age 93.
Marlin “Bud” Scheib of Roswell, Ga., died May 9, 2024, age 92.
’59
Jerome Brophy of Bettendorf, Iowa, died March 23, 2024, age 86.
Gurine (Whitlock) Eggen of La Crescent, Minn., died July 15, 2024, age 88.
Ronald “Ron” Stoen of Des Moines, Iowa, died November 19, 2023, age 86.
’60
Jan (Graham) Hanson of Tacoma, Wash., died June 22, 2024, age 91.
Gerald “Jerry” Hesselberg of Sparta, Wis., died July 2, 2024, age 85.
Kenneth “Ken” Roen of Prescott, Wis., died June 14, 2024, age 92.
Jean Severson of Seymour, Wis., died May 15, 2024, age 85.
George Paul Zemke of Clare, Mich., died June 9, 2024, age 86.
’61
Robert “Bob” Gerber of Rice Lake, Wis., died June 5, 2024, age 85.
Mavis Kjarland of Pepin, Wis., died June 6, 2024, age 85.
Linda (Sorenson) Wright of Flowood, Miss., died May 10, 2024, age 82.
’62
Viola “Vi” Christiansen of Edina, Minn., died June 28, 2024, age 84.
Marc Dahlquist of Aiken, S.C., died May 7, 2024, age 84.
’63
Lorna (Hample) Bader of Slayton, Minn., died March 13, 2024, age 82.
Charles “Chuck” Fluegel of Oshkosh, Wis., died May 4, 2024, age 84.
Maurice “Ed” Hover of Decorah died July 11, 2024, age 85.
’64
Nan (Anderson)
Marcum of Lombard, Ill., died October 10, 2023, age 81.
’65
Richard Jaeke of Windsor, Wis., died September 8, 2023, age 84.
Marcia (Norland) MacLaren of Richmond, Ky., died February 12, 2024, age 80.
’66
Elsa (Schoenman)
McDowell of West Des Moines, Iowa, died April 9, 2024, age 97.
’67
James “Jim” Nerge of Verona, Wis., died April 4, 2024, age 79.
’68
William Arthur Nelson of Ridgefield, Wash., died May 21, 2024, age 78.
William O. “Bill” Smith of Greensburg, Ind., died June 17, 2024, age 78.
’69
Fredrick “Fred” Haugo of Fargo, N.D., died May 28, 2024, age 77.
Loy “Dean” Krambeer of Pine Island, Minn., died May 29, 2024, age 77.
’70
James “Jim” Jaeger of Missoula, Mont., died May 16, 2024, age 75.
Harold “Harry” Olson of DeWitt, Iowa, died February 29, 2024, age 75.
’71
Dennis “Denny” Hjelmeng of Avon, Ind., died April 19, 2024, age 74.
’72
Gary Kittelson of Clermont, Iowa, died March 28, 2024, age 77.
’73
Gary Schluter of Fort Collins, Colo., died May 1, 2024, age 73.
’74
David Aurelius of Ellison Bay, Wis., died July 22, 2024, age 73.
’75
Bonnie (Johns) Buddin of Centennial, Colo., died December 17, 2023, age 73.
’76
JoAnn (Anderson) Anderson-Wright of Cedar Falls, Iowa, died June 22, 2024, age 70.
Paul Sanderson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died January 21, 2024, age 69.
June (Peters) Schmidt of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died March 22, 2024, age 69.
’77
Allan Sather of Ellettsville, Ind., died June 9, 2024, age 69.
’79
James Crompton of Wilmington, Del., died November 15, 2023, age 66.
’80
Jonathan Fieroh of Onchiota, N.Y., died June 25, 2024, age 64.
’81
Dirk Darnell of Silver Spring, Md., died October 26, 2023, age 64.
’82
Donalee (Rima) Burns of Decorah died April 17, 2024, age 78.
Gary Larson of Rochester, Minn., died April 30, 2024, age 64.
’84
Paul Kaare of Cambridge, Wis., died July 12, 2024, age 62.
’88
Brent Huber of Owatonna, Minn., died September 23, 2023, age 57.
’90
Kathryn “Kathy” Saxe-Mueller of Albert Lea, Minn., died March 9, 2024, age 56.
Arndt Schnöring of Berlin, Germany, died in January 2024, age 55.
’91
Robert Jon Larson of Aurora, Colo., died May 31, 2024, age 55.
Christine “Chris” (Green) Watt of Estelline, S.D., died March 2, 2024, age 55.
’93
Jeffrey “Jeff” Haug of Andover, Minn., died April 7, 2024, age 52.
’95
Jennie Deming of St. Paul, Minn., died February 27, 2024, Age 50.
’00
Tory Hart of Waverly, Iowa, died March 30, 2024, age 46.
’09
Amber Uhlenhake of Stewartville, Minn., died March 19, 2024, age 36.
HOMECOMING
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Sunday, October 27, 2024
Luther College
ONE TEAM DAY
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Luther College
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Sunday, December 8, 2024
Luther College
GIVING DAY
Thursday, March 6, 2025
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