Luther Magazine Spring 2021

Luther MAGAZINE SPRING 2021

SNAPSHOTS

of the pandemic

Alumni around the world share their experiences 6

Luther magazine Volume 54, number 3, Spring 2021 © Luther College 2021 Editor Kate Frentzel Art director/designer Michael Bartels Contributors Sherry (Braun) Alcock ’82 Nick Bjerke Erin Dintaman ’23 Sue (Franzen) Drilling ’78 Kristine Jepsen Kirk Johnson ’82 Jon Lund Jack Lunderby ’20 Judy Riha Luther College Photo Bureau Luther magazine feedback, inquiries, and ideas may be sent to the Editor, Luther Magazine, Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, Iowa 521011045; magazine@luther.edu; phone (563) 387-1483.

Class Notes submissions, changes of address, and alumni news may be sent to the Alumni Office, Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045; alumni@luther.edu; (800) 225-8664; (800) 2 ALUMNI. Find us online at luther.edu/ magazine.

6

Pandemic postcards

Alumni from all corners share snippets of life abroad during the pandemic.

Contents 5

Departments

A community effort lands Luther on the National Register of Historic Places.

2 President’s letter

Luther makes history 12

Luther Navigator

Three computer science students launch a travel tool just for Luther folks. Sign up to help plan where you’ll go next!

14

Coming home, giving back

3 Campus news 17 Alumni

23 29 30 31

Class Notes Marriages Births/Adoptions In Memoriam

32 President’s Council Calendar back cover

Five 2020 grads spend the year after graduation serving the Decorah community.

Cover: Carla (Meyer) ’87 and Mark Hillman ’86 sent us this photo of a mural by Eduardo Kobra in their home city of São Paulo, Brazil. Read about the pandemic experiences of Carla and Mark and other Luther alumni abroad on page 6.

Men’s soccer is one of several fall sports the pandemic postponed to this spring. Here, Faydane Ouro-Akondo ’22 controls the ball against Buena Vista University on April 3.

PHOTO BY NICK BJERKE.

Hannah Lund ‘12, who lives in China, sent this photo of a bridge in Kunshan, Jiangsu province.

WE MAY BE OCEANS APART, BUT WE’RE ALL NEGOTIATING THIS REALITY WITH LUTHER AT OUR BACKS.”

Crossing D I S TA N C E As they join the ranks of our alumni in 116 countries, I’m

tiating this reality with Luther at

reminded once again that Luther

our backs.

is a global community. In a world too often rocked by division, our

This spring, when the class of 2021 crosses the Commence-

global ethic—and the curiosity,

ment stage, we’ll celebrate on

empathy, and perspective-shifting

campus with a limited number of

it engenders—matters.

President Jenifer K. Ward

oceans apart, but we’re all nego-

in-person guests. It’s an import-

I’m also aware that during a

ant reminder that someday we’ll

worldwide pandemic, being part

cross distances both greater and

of a global community feels bitter-

smaller than six feet to gather

Last May, Luther was emerging

sweet. As we’ve felt our horizons

our loved ones close again. Soon,

from its first semester during the

shrink and our ways of navigat-

we’ll welcome our alumni, from

pandemic and all the seismic

ing space draw tighter, many of

wherever they hail, back to this

shifts in operations it entailed.

us have lost access to the familiar

special place.

I’m proud of us for the work we’ve

comforts of gathering with friends

done as a community to get to

and family, of drawing our loved

this point. One year later, we’re

ones close. Doubly so when our

living and learning in person with

loved ones lie across oceans.

continued care for each other

In this issue of the maga-

and deep investment in making

zine, while we’re stuck in the

this experiment work. Soon, our

confines of pandemic space, we

2021 graduates will chart paths

check in with alumni around the

to futures across the country and

world, from Malaysia to Chile to

around the world.

right here in Decorah. We may be

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Soli Deo Gloria,

Jenifer K. Ward

NEW PROVOST President Jenifer K. Ward appoints Lynda A. Szymanski to provost.

The role will be a linchpin in an administrative reorganization designed to create an integrated, student-centric approach to all academic and co-curricular services. Szymanski will work alongside the president to provide energetic and creative leadership as she oversees a student-facing division that includes academic affairs, student engagement, and student success.

Szymanski began her career at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minn., in the classroom, teaching undergraduate psychology courses. She has held more recent positions as associate and interim provost there.

President Ward noted the consistency in written feedback about Szymanski from students, faculty, and staff and says, “From the opening words of her application letter to the last conversation in her finalist interview, Dr. Szymanski demonstrated that she knew Luther College—both its gifts and its challenges—and that she believed in the intersection between her decade of academic leadership experience and Luther’s desire for a mission-conscious, inclusive, and integrative thinker as its new provost.”

S PA R K I N G C H A N G E

in the juvenile justice system Sarah Edgington ’23 was recently asked to serve on a newly

people of color being put into the system and then, because of that

formed commit-

exposure, they’ve

tee in Hennepin

reentered the system

County, Minn., focused on eliminating disparities in the juvenile justice

multiple times,” Edgington says. “The

“What I’ve seen too often is young people of color being put into the system and then, because of that exposure, they’ve reentered the system multiple times,” Edgington says.

unfortunate thing is that the initial interaction

system. Having witnessed the

could have been avoided.”

inequalities of the system first-

Edgington thinks she was

experience” and also “her own innovative ideas to better support young people.”

hand, she adds a valuable voice

asked to serve on the council

to the Youth Justice Council as a

because of the work she’s been

target the historical damage and

member of the Executive Steering

doing on the Youth Advisory

aftermath of how this country

Committee and the Youth Advi-

Board for the YMCA for the last

was systematically structured,”

sory Board.

two and a half years. YMCA Youth

Edgington says. “To be the person

and Family Services has called

who can write laws and actually

systematic discrimination is of

Edgington a “change agent” and

make change is ultimately what I

special interest to Edgington.

said they are proud of “her will-

want to do.”

“What I’ve seen too often is young

ingness to speak up about her

As a political science major,

“One of my main goals is to

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MAGAZINE

T E N U R E A N D P R O M OT I O N S

At its February meeting, the Board of Regents granted tenure to (left to right) Marie Drews ’02, English; Jill

Leet-Otley, education; La Donna (Hoornstra) McGohan ’95, nursing; Ryan Torkelson ’07, economics, accounting, and management; Molly Wilker, chemistry; and Roman Yasinovskyy, computer science. Drews, Leet-Otley, Torkelson, Wilker, and Yasinovskyy were also promoted to associate professor. Elizabeth Steding, German, was also promoted to full professor.

BUILDING AWARENESS Four Luther students have been building awareness

that’s inspired her to double major in international

among Iowans about a situation unfolding in their

studies and women and gender studies at Luther. “I

home country of Myanmar. In February, the military

want to understand international law and human

seized control of the country to overturn a popu-

rights with the hope that I can become a diplomat one

lar democratic experiment that began in 2011. Mass

day who can represent Myanmar properly for its rich

protests have been mounted, and the military has

history and culture,” she says. “I am disheartened, but

responded with force. Hundreds of people have been

am still burning to help bring the positive changes as

killed.

needed.”

Students (clockwise from upper left) Nora Nyi Myint ’21, Min San Thu (Eric San) ’22, Thawdar Zin ’21, and Myo Kaung ’21 have been sharing their stories and the fears they have for their country.

In addition to participating in a panel discussion at Luther, the four have been engaging with local media about the situation.

Prior to 2011, Zin and his family fled their village and sought refuge in a dense forest for nearly five years of military rule. He says that after 2011, his country got the chance to reunite and rebuild. “People were basically starting to come out of the dark, and we started to see the consequences of years of the system imposed by the military,” Zin says. “The coup has taken away the little hope that we have for the peace of the county.”

Nyi Myint says it’s the dire state of her country

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LUTHER MAKES HISTORY Through a community effort, Luther’s central campus has been named to the National Register of Historic Places.

Many of us have seen the historic Campus House photo of the Brandt family in front of their parsonage, the women and children in long, flowing dresses, the men in formal black suits, the table filled with what must surely be flatbrød and rømmegrøt. But imagine for a moment what the incoming students of 1867 saw: a substantial, crisp new building in a very contemporary Italianate East-coast style—of which the new town of Decorah had only a couple of examples—standing across an unmown meadow from the only other campus building, the 1865 Gothic-towered Main.

Luther sits at a unique intersection of landscape, architecture, and history. It boasts features

Luther faculty and staff and DHPC and local commu-

of significance from several periods, including

nity members. “This was another one of those

several midcentury modern buildings and also a

successful collaborative Luther/Decorah projects,”

campus design by internationally renowned land-

says Adrienne (Leseth) Coffeen ’71, a DHPC member

scape architect Jens Jensen.

and project researcher.

Now, after three and a half years of community

Volunteers brought their own strengths to the

effort, this distinctive site—including the historic

project. Coffeen, for example, drew on both archi-

32-acre upper campus, 24 buildings, and nine outdoor

val materials and family history when researching

sculptures—has been named to the National Register.

Loyalty Hall, which was designed and built by her

Although many colleges have individually designated

husband’s grandfather A. R. Coffeen. Because of her

NRHP buildings, there are only three Iowa colleges

long-standing commitment to women’s history and to

with an extensive historic district, and only a large

women at Luther in particular, late professor emer-

handful of such districts in the upper Midwest.

itus of English Mary Hull Mohr researched Brandt

The nomination process started in 2017 with the

Hall, Luther’s first women’s dormitory. Professor

Decorah Historic Preservation Commission’s ongo-

and reference librarian emerita Elizabeth Kaschins

ing project to catalog and celebrate the work of local

worked with retired library staff member Kathy Buzza

architect/engineer Charles Altfillisch, who designed

to research the 1969 Preus Library.

every major Luther building between the 1926 Preus

National Register designation does not place

Gymnasium and the mid-1960s Tower residence halls.

explicit limits on future campus changes, nor does

The project was headed by Mark Z. Muggli, DHPC

it offer any direct funding to support preservation.

chair and Luther professor emeritus of English, with

“What it does do,” according to Muggli, “is provide a

crucial support from Ryan Engelman, a former Luther

constant reminder that the Luther campus—both its

employee; Eric Runestad, former vice president for

buildings and its landscape—is a precious legacy, a

finance and administration; Paula Carlson, former

gift to be preserved and a vision to be nurtured.”

president; and Hayley Jackson, college archivist and DHPC member.

Thanks to Mark Z. Muggli for contributing to this article.

Other volunteers included present and retired LUTHER

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MAGAZINE

Wish you were here PA N D E M I C P O S T C A R D S F R O M N O R S E A R O U N D T H E W O R L D With alumni living in 116 countries, Luther truly is a global community. In non-pandemic times, stories abound about Luther grads recognizing each other by their Norse T-shirts in Madrid, or spotting a fellow grad’s class ring in Oslo. During this time of limited travel, we’re really missing our friends around the world. So we decided to check in with our alumni abroad to learn how they’ve experienced the pandemic in their countries of residence.

We hope you feel a sense of expansiveness and solidarity as you read about your fellow Norse around the globe.

And wherever you are, we hope you’re safe.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity. For so much more from these alumni, visit luther.edu/magazine.

Nadia Onsando ’16 works in Nairobi, Kenya, for One Acre Fund, a nonprofit that supports East African smallholder farmers

At its strictest, what measures did Kenya institute?

Jim Hildebrand ’06 teaches at an international school in Saudi Arabia.

At its strictest, what measures did Saudi Arabia institute?

At its strictest, we were in complete lockdown. We

At its strictest, we had a nationwide 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.

were allowed to go out for medical reasons, or one

curfew. We also had a county lockdown last year, so if

adult was allowed to go for groceries providing they

you lived in certain counties (Nairobi included), you

had booked an appointment online. There were ther-

could not leave county limits.

mal cameras and our temperatures being taken at the

What do you look forward to about post-pandemic life?

door. We weren’t allowed out to walk our dog, and the kids weren’t allowed out the front door.

Not wearing a mask anymore! Seeing family and

Now there is a government app that tracks our loca-

friends more frequently, without fear that our interac-

tion and shows if we have left the country, been in

tion could harm them. Being out past 10 p.m.! Nairobi

contact with someone with COVID, been tested for

has a thriving nightlife that is impossible to enjoy

COVID, or have been vaccinated. They have recently

during a pandemic.

opened the parks for the children. We are now allowed to socialize with up to 20 people.

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Carla (Meyer) ’87 and Mark Hillman ’86 teach at an international school in São Paulo, Brazil.

How has your city changed?

people. You can imagine that it would be very difficult to have a wedding of 50 when normally you can expect to have up to 2,000 guests. How do you plan for

Currently [late March] we are on a three-week severe

a funeral for 50 when your immediate family is already

lockdown because most hospitals are so overloaded.

more than 50 people? I personally felt this pain and

Brazil has approached the pandemic in some ways

stress during the passing of my brother, when there

similar to the States with a less cohesive national

were family members who couldn’t attend his funeral

plan or message. Brazilians are very social, and

because of COVID regulations.

many restaurants and bars have not instituted social

bars and restaurants filled with people and no masks.

What has school looked like for your kids?

The police have raided private parties and clubs where

School definitely looked different for my daughter,

hundreds of people were present.

who is currently at Luther, than it did for her two older

distancing. On weekends and evenings you can see

What customs or celebrations have been practiced differently because of COVID?

sisters. It’s already difficult having a daughter studying overseas, but the added pressure of a pandemic was something we were not prepared for. Getting her

The biggest has been the lack of attendance at soccer

through this time has definitely been a community

games and the cancellation of Carnival. Soccer is a

effort, and we are sincerely grateful to have a network

religion here, and Paulistas LOVE their teams. Carni-

of people who care about her as much as we do.

val has a two-week buildup of blocos (neighborhood street parties that can bring thousands of people together for dancing and celebrating) before the actual week with the parades. There was a definite

Hannah Lund ’12 is a copy editor, fact checker, and translator in Shanghai, China, for media outlet Sixth Tone.

empty feeling during Carnival week!

What customs or celebrations have been practiced differently because of COVID?

Namupa Nengola ’98 is self-employed in Windhoek, Namibia, at her family’s marula oil production business, Pure Marula by Taneta.

The Tomb-Sweeping Festival in 2020 was much more

What customs or celebrations have been practiced differently because of COVID?

trauma from the outbreak. Though I’m not Chinese, I

We are a very social and people-oriented culture. Due

intense, since the government also had a national day of mourning around that time to acknowledge the also took part and found it quite moving.

to COVID regulations, gatherings are limited to 50

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MAGAZINE

Are you satisfied with the measures that have been put in place?

I’m pretty satisfied with how things are and constantly

place, the church live-streamed it so we could watch, and it felt like we were all together in prayer.

without social distancing. I travel around the coun-

Are you satisfied with the measures that have been put in place?

try, go to clubs, go to orchestra concerts, dine out,

I am satisfied with the measures but hoping that

and I’m able to run a writing group and plan writing

interventions are done quickly enough to minimize

retreats. That being said, I’m alarmed by the coun-

the impact on the most vulnerable. The private sector

try’s efforts to capitalize on this hard-won feeling of

has been negatively impacted by political impasse,

well-being and safety by obscuring the botched early

which took place before the pandemic, and that led

days of the crisis, and also enraged at how efforts in

to economic difficulties. The measures that are meant

other countries to stay cognizant of such missteps has

to protect public health might only exacerbate the

led to an uptick in racism and hate crimes directed at

struggles in the private sector. Also, the majority of

people who have nothing to do with it. At the end of

Timorese are in the informal economy and rely on

the day, I’m happy to be alive where I am in the world,

daily income. Strict measures being implemented

and I still love China (and America!) even when it’s

could lead to reduction in their incomes.

feel lucky at everything I’m able to do unfettered and

hard. Some days, with all that’s going on in the world, remembering that is enough!

Josefina Bakhita Gonçalves Soares ’18 is a program assistant for USAID in Dili, Timor-Leste.

What customs or celebrations have been practiced differently because of COVID?

Laurel Morris ’18 works as a case manager at Living Water Community in Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago.

How has the pandemic impacted your work?

I work at an NGO that provides services to migrants,

The majority of Timorese people are Catholic, and reli-

asylum seekers, and refugees. I’m a case manager for

gious celebrations are important here. Last year, the

survivors of gender-based violence. Like most other

church was the first to take action by canceling Mass

countries around the world, the pandemic caused

and religious ceremonies to prevent people from gath-

an increase in the number of these cases coming to

ering in groups. Instead of having Mass during Easter,

our attention. We were forced to provide our services

which usually draws thousands of people in one

remotely, which could be difficult at times because our job often depends on being mobile.

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What customs or celebrations have been practiced differently because of COVID?

bottles of hand sanitizer and face masks in my pocket.

The biggest one for us is Carnival, which is considered

at the shop. When this is all over, I look forward to

the greatest show on earth. Everything was virtual,

having a big barbecue for my neighbors.

and it was really hard not to have it this year. Every

year without fail, Carnival brings the country together,

Ann (Ulrich) ’73 and John Walker ’73 are teachers in Santiago, Chile, where John also founded the home-based Forest Refuge Music Studio.

and you can feel it in the air. It’s electric! This year, unfortunately, that was missing.

Olav Skogaas ’98 is a translator in Drammen, Norway, where he also runs Norway’s biggest blog dedicated to barbeque and grilling, meatandmetal.no.

What customs or celebrations have been practiced differently because of COVID?

I look forward to seeing the faces of the people I meet

What has pandemic life looked like in Santiago, Chile?

Our pandemic reality in Chile has been one of slow and careful observation and carefully monitored transition. At first, one needed a police permit, which allowed a two-hour interval to do needed errands— food, pharmacy, basic tasks. We never left our house

The biggest is that the big parades during Syttende

for months and months and months.

Mai (Norway’s national day) were canceled across the

nation. It is difficult to explain to non-Norwegians just

On March 8, 2021, children were allowed to return to

how big of a deal this was, especially for the children.

our neighborhood school. From my window, I could

However, we made our own celebration in our street,

hear the loudspeaker boom. I listened to the voices

complete with a paraad, hot dogs, ice cream, and

ring in harmony singing the national anthem. I could

games.

envision the “welcome back to school” speeches by

headmasters, headmistresses, directors, and teachers.

What do you look forward to about post-pandemic life?

Being able to have a beer, go to a concert, travel freely,

Laughter filled the air. For me, that was the sweetest gift of all! At long last, our neighborhood is slowly coming back to life!

shake hands and hug, sit outside in the summer with friends without constantly thinking about keeping our distance. I look forward to walking around without

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MAGAZINE

Yuen Ching Lee ’19 works as a journalist in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Anna Dieter ’15 teaches at an international school in Mbabane, Eswatini.

I work with a startup news company called The Vibes

There are a few large-scale cultural events (Incwala

that launched in September of 2020. The scariest part

and the Umhlanga reed dance) that have been

about working in the media is the amount of exposure

canceled due to the fact that large groups of people

we get as reporters when we go out for our assign-

can’t gather anymore. Another huge event is called

ments and are crammed into a room for a press confer-

Bushfire, which is an outdoor musical festival in May

ence.

that normally draws crowds of 30,000 people. This is a

How has the pandemic impacted your work?

How has your city changed?

I live in a city where shops usually close late and

What customs or celebrations have been practiced differently because of COVID?

huge economic loss for the country, as people from all over the region spend the long weekend in Eswatini.

pandemic put into place an earlier curfew, so nightlife

At its strictest, what measures did Eswatini institute?

has sort of dwindled. Also, everyone has to register in

For many months, the borders to South Africa were

a countrywide system—MySejahtera, which trans-

closed. This put a huge strain on the country, as we

lates directly from Malay to English as MyProsper-

are very dependent on “big brother South Africa” for

ity—before entering any shop. Users register, and each

imports, weekend shopping trips, medical appoint-

business is given a special QR code. Before entering a

ments. You needed to get very special permission to

building’s premises, citizens are required to scan the

cross the border.

we have eateries that are open 24/7. However, the

business’s code. The purpose of this system is to keep tested positive for COVID was in the same proximity as

What do you look forward to about post-pandemic life?

they were.

I look forward to not needing to get a COVID test to

track of patrons and alert them if anyone who has

travel to South Africa. Those are around $50 USD. I look forward to attending Bushfire, as I’ve never been yet—and I’ll have been living here almost two years.

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Peter Forsgren ’82, Jake Dibbert ’02, and Sam Oines ’11 teach at an international school in Vienna, Austria.

Nicole Matusinec ’94 teaches at the American Business School of Paris and elsewhere and lives in Châtenay-Malabry, France.

How has your city changed?

Jake: We experienced lockdowns in both the Middle

What does pandemic life in France look like this spring?

East and here in Vienna since the pandemic began. In

After months of contradictory statements by the

the Middle East, the first lockdowns were much more

French government, the general morale has grown to

stringent, not allowing anyone to leave their home

one of “confinement fatigue”: depression and frustra-

without an official permit. Since moving to Vienna,

tion as the pandemic is still raging and new variants

there is consideration for mental and physical well-

are being discovered.

ness, especially for children, and so we’ve been able to visit any number of the beautiful parks in the city

As of today [late March], only 1 percent of the French

during the extended lockdowns.

population has received their vaccine, which is disappointing. Tensions are high as to the lack of organi-

Sam: Like Jake, I got to experience lockdowns in two

zation, the lack of supply, and the concerns over the

different countries: Japan and Austria. Mask-wear-

AstraZeneca vaccine’s efficacy.

ing was already a part of Japanese culture, so nearly 100 percent of the residents in Tokyo were masked

Working remotely is still highly encouraged in France,

indoors and out once the lockdown started. When I

and workers have proven to be 22 percent more

arrived in Austria, the numbers were so low that it felt

productive while working from home (in the local

fairly open compared to my experience in Japan. I still

parlance, loafers here are lovingly called charen-

haven’t seen a concert though or been to the theatre in

taises)! More productive? Personally, I’m exhausted!

Vienna. I’m eager for that day when I can really see the

It’s a lot more work than I ever could have imagined.

city in its full glory.

What do you look forward to about post-pandemic life?

Fortunately, my son and I live near the Parc de Sceaux and can visit the gardens to recharge when staying home proves stressful!

Peter: Slowing down and savoring the educational and recreational moments we share with family and friends.

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MAGAZINE

Where

Register for an account to begin your journey!

LutherNavigator.com/register

WILL YOU GO?

Let Luther Navigator guide you.

Where will you go? In a “normal,” non-COVID world this existential question frames many of my conversations with students. I think about the question not simply in terms of geography, but also the shape, direction, and trajectory of our students’ lives and their deeper reflection on what they are meant to do with those lives.

I love to explore the deeper nature of things; “Where will you go?” helps me do just that.

For most of the past year, my general conversations with students have not revolved around the interrogative “Where will you go?” Instead, they have been framed by the imperative “No, you can’t go.” I have become Luther’s global buzzkill . . . I’m the grinch who stole the studyabroad Christmas. Throughout the course of

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the year, it has become painfully clear to me and our students that the nature of global education does not pair well with the nature of a global pandemic.

Fortunately, a new normal is beginning to emerge, and as it does, my staff and I are once again asking the existential questions. And with the help of three Luther computer science students and their meaningful senior project— called Luther Navigator—the broader Luther community can virtually reflect on this question and help others as we all begin again to navigate into a much larger world.

So, where will you go?

—Jon Lund

Luther Navigators Over the past year I have had a lot of time to think about the role of navigators. Luther, in fact, is a community of navigators—one where students pilot themselves through life away from home and where professors guide their students in their learning through class discussions, major requirements, research, and senior projects. This year I, too, found myself serving as a navigator of sorts through my internship in the Center for Global Learning (CGL), where I met daily with students to discuss study-away opportunities around the globe. More than simply knowing a route, I came to appreciate that navigators start from a reference point—Luther, in this case. To know where you’re going is, in large part, dependent upon knowing where you’re coming from.

In a “normal” year, the CGL intern provides support to a faculty member and a group of Luther students engaged in one of the college’s many off-campus J-Term experiences. Sadly, it was not meant to be for me this year. Instead, I got to dream about locations around the world as the CGL staff and I—along with a team of Luther computer science seniors—designed Luther Navigator, a web applica-

Seniors (left to right) Nell Himlie, David Oniani, and Will Allen created a TripAdvisor-style app specifically for the Luther community.

tion where the Luther community can connect and share information from their experiences around the

a college fair in Tbilisi. A computer science and math

world. The students designed the app to be a blend of

double major, David and Jon dreamed up the idea

social media, user-generated content, and a TripAd-

of Luther Navigator while in the car returning from

visor-style application. After creating an account,

Luther’s Rochester Semester Program. David enlisted

users are able to post reviews of hotels, restaurants,

the help of Will Allen ’21 and Nell Himlie ’21, and the

and other attractions from wherever their journeys

project took shape. Will—a computer science, data

take them. Users will also be able to search for specific

science, and music triple major—grew up knowing

Luther study-away programs to share in the experi-

about Luther from his mother, an alumna. Originally

ences and insights of others who’ve participated in the

from Raleigh, N.C., Will plans to return there upon

program. Luther Navigator is all about connections—

graduation to work as a software developer at the SAS

connections to parts of the world, to other members

Institute. Nell’s journey to Luther was a bit shorter,

of the Luther community, and to the college’s shared

having grown up in Rushford, Minn., with Luther on

global story.

her college radar screen from a very early age. With

Luther Navigator is not just about sending out,

interests in both software engineering and graphic

it’s also about bringing together. The senior project

design, Nell took on the role of providing the creative

brought together the ideas and talents of three seniors

design and clean, crisp look for Luther Navigator.

under the direction of computer science professor

It is, perhaps, fitting that in a year defined by

Paul Mattson ’81. Fittingly, the team was composed

closed international borders and global Zoom fatigue,

of students whose routes to Luther were every bit

place-bound Luther seniors launch Luther Navigator

as varied as the global destinations to which our

and enable the wider Luther community to connect

students annually navigate.

globally once again.

David Oniani ’21 found his way to Luther from the country of Georgia after connecting with Jon Lund at

—Jack Lunderby ’20 LUTHER

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Class of 2020 grads (left to right) Collin Kern, Maggie Anderson, Martin Donovan, Matt Staver, and Mara Mergens (not pictured) moved from full-time Luther students to full-fledged Decorah community members during their year as Green Iowa AmeriCorps volunteers.

COMING HOME, GIVING BACK 2020 grads spend their first year out of college making a difference in Decorah.

by Kristine Jepsen

SPRING 2021

14

It’s a bright day

Energy education

in March, warm enough (by student standards) for

In tandem with Winneshiek Energy District, Green

shorts and a sweatshirt, but there’s a wary chill, too,

Iowa AmeriCorps volunteers serve as coordinators of

seeping from the cement Decorah courthouse steps

energy-related services, education, community activ-

where 2020 graduates Collin Kern (Bloomington,

ities, and logistics. As the resident energy coordina-

Minn.), Maggie Anderson (St. Peter, Minn.), Martin

tors, Matt and Martin spearheaded the modification

Donovan (Minneapolis, Minn.), and Matt Staver

of GIA’s flagship service: the home energy audit. With

(Bloomington, Ill.) are perched. It’s an anniversary

COVID restrictions preventing the team from entering

of sorts—of the month COVID-19 first impacted their

clients’ homes to replace lightbulbs, install water-

college careers, and of the Green Iowa AmeriCorps

saving faucet filters, and test homes for air leaks,

volunteer service they each started considering as a way to get “home” to Decorah after completing their senior year away from campus, online.

“A year later, I think I’m still processing what it meant,” says Mara Mergens (St. Paul, Minn.), also a volunteer since summer 2020. Hitting eject in the culminating months of her Luther career pitched her and her classmates into a whirlwind of Wi-Fi-dependent goodbyes, then a job search in a marketplace several degrees narrower than anticipated.

But Green Iowa AmeriCorps (GIA) service offered an opportunity to bridge COVID’s uncertainty and accelerate these graduates’ interest in environmental and community stewardship. A division of the national AmeriCorps volunteer network, Green Iowa Amer-

the GIA team developed the Bright Box—a customized box of energyefficient LED lightbulbs to replace a home’s incandescent or compact fluorescent bulbs. Customers sign up for a

Bright Box on the WED website, with costs subsidized in part for all customers, with free service for lowincome residents and older citizens.

Halfway through their service term, Martin reports that Bright Boxes have saved residents of more than 80 homes nearly $13,000 in energy costs. The 2020–21 GIA team also developed Bright Box instructions and energy-efficiency information in Spanish to better serve nonnative speakers, especially in the Postville community.

iCorps “empowers Iowa’s communities and school

Along the way, both Martin and Matt earned certifi-

districts to make more environmental, conserva-

cates in building science principles from the Build-

tion-minded decisions and improvements through

ing Professional Institute, part of GIA’s professional

direct service work, environmental education, profes-

development mission. “It’s been valuable to have

sional development opportunities, and volunteer

firsthand knowledge of energy-related issues and

engagement.”

policies,” says Matt, who is interested in nonprofit work. Martin, who was active in the 2018 Decorah

GIA’s hub resides with the University of Northern

Power initiative to explore a municipal energy utility

Iowa’s Center for Energy and Environmental Educa-

in town, as well as the development of the Decorah

tion. Winneshiek Energy District, in Decorah, is a

Sustainability Plan, sees energy as a central issue for

host organization for volunteers who serve 11-month

community development. “Having an understanding

terms, typically September to August. In 2020–21, two

of energy efficiency and how it’s becoming the social

summer volunteers, Collin and Mara, stayed on to join

and technical norm applies in a variety of fields,” he

the incoming fall cohort. This marked the first time

explains.

Luther grads filled all five competitive service positions.

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MAGAZINE

The five AmeriCorps volunteers served the Decorah community in ways that ranged from home energy audits to invasive buckthorn removal to seed-packing at Seed Savers Exchange. Above, Anderson helps out at the Decorah Food Pantry.

Community engagement

a retired Spanish teacher, helped us translate our

As activities coordinator, Maggie orchestrated inva-

materials so more people understood how to access

sive buckthorn and honeysuckle removal from public

the pantry, even as things were shifting and chang-

spaces and Luther’s campus, as well as maintenance

ing week to week to keep up with best practices under

of the Decorah Community Butterfly Garden and

COVID.”

seed-packing at Seed Savers Exchange. “I feel like my mental map of town is so much better!” she says.

Mara agrees: “Typically, GIA teams come from all

“It’s nice to feel a part of the larger community.” She

parts of the country, but that didn’t happen for a vari-

and education coordinator Collin Kern, an assistant

ety of reasons this year. Instead, I found diversity I

to the Luther track program, also facilitated a walking

didn’t expect hearing the life experiences of senior

school bus for elementary children in Decorah, result-

volunteers. One woman—and she’s fairly young for

ing in weeks-long volleys of “Would you rather?”

a retiree! I don’t want to get in trouble for suggesting

Boots-on-the-ground response

she’s older than she is!—really taught me about resilience, about accepting what you’ve been given and

In hindsight, the team points to volunteering at the

finding ways to continue to share your skills, to give

Decorah Food Pantry as the most memorable outcome

back to the community.”

of their GIA service amid COVID. When stay-at-home orders and precautions for older citizens made it

A longtime coordinator of campus recycling for

unwise for the pantry’s typical staff of volunteers age

Luther’s Center for Sustainable Communities, Mara

65+ to risk exposure at work, the GIA team picked up

continues both her GIA work and a survey of campus

one to two shifts per person each week, helping the

waste infrastructure largely from her Decorah apart-

pantry transition to an online ordering system and

ment’s kitchen counter, via Zoom. “I recommend

touch-free pickup and delivery.

volunteer work in general. You gain experience that helps you figure out your next move. We were lucky to

“I found myself really looking forward to working with

regain some of our time here Decorah, to be welcomed

some of the RSVP [Retired Senior Volunteer Program]

as members of the community.”

folks each week,” Collin explains. “One gentleman,

SPRING 2021

16

Building BETTER COMMUNITIES

Healthcare consultant Sam Yamoah ’04 turns his strategy training to service work.

Sam Yamoah ’04 wants to leave

between business and technology.

other lines, which is why he joined

each community he lives in better

He saw a growing need for this work

the board of the American Heart

off than he found it. As he’s traced

in the healthcare space. He got his

Association in the Twin Cities. In

a path through the world, he’s left

feet wet at McKesson in Dubuque,

the US, heart disease disproportion-

in his wake a history of high-impact

Iowa, and soon set his sights on

ately affects people along racial and

service.

working in strategy and consult-

other lines, and the AHA is heavily

ing. After earning a graduate degree

committed to addressing these gaps.

civil war in the late 1980s, he says,

Growing up in Liberia during the

from the University of Chicago Booth

The pandemic has underscored

really shaped this ethic: “I experi-

School of Business, he worked

the profound health disparities in

enced a great deal of service from

as a consultant at McKinsey and

this country, and during this time,

others, whether it was the Red Cross,

Company in the Twin Cities, where

Yamoah has been coauthoring

the UN, or just families supporting

he helps clients in the healthcare

reports, conducting outreach, and

families. I felt a sense of caring and

industry address strategy and opera-

leveraging his relationships with

people looking after each other. The

tions challenges.

healthcare providers to amplify

true aspects of humanity come to life

In Dubuque, Yamoah served as

awareness.

in some of the most challenging and

a board member with the American

stressful times.”

Red Cross of the Tri-States and the

that people can live purposeful

Dubuque Rescue Mission. He was

and healthy lives,” Yamoah says.

an African American mission who

instrumental in building a hous-

“So I continue to see my role as an

counseled child soldiers who had

ing program helping men transition

advocate for closing health dispar-

laid down their arms. “Some of my

permanently out of homelessness.

ity gaps, often linked to socioeco-

Yamoah’s father was a teacher at

most rewarding experiences were

Over the past few years, Yamoah’s

“My mission is to make sure

nomic factors. Food, jobs, housing,

getting to go with him as a young kid

been increasingly involved in clos-

education, transportation. If we

to see that happen,” Yamoah says.

ing disparity gaps. He’s the health-

want people to live purposeful lives,

“I found that he didn’t need money

care leader for McKinsey’s Insti-

those are the issues that are going

to be of service to others. And when

tute for Black Economic Mobility,

to matter to me, and I’m going to

I made my way to Luther, Luther as

dedicated to advancing racial equity

continue to see how we can put prac-

an institution pushes service as well.

and inclusive growth globally. He’s

tical solutions in place.”

That resonated with me.”

also invested in working toward

As a Luther student, Yamoah knew he wanted to bridge the gap

health equity across racial, gender,

—Kate Frentzel

socioeconomic, geographic, and LUTHER

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MAGAZINE

SPRING 2021

18

Protecting AN ECOSYSTEM— AND A COMMUNITY

Meghan Barker ’17 preserves critical salmon habitat, safeguards an economy, and bridges political divides by finding common ground.

As a political science and environ-

The science was unequivo-

doing outreach at trade shows, work-

mental studies major, Meghan Barker

cal: Pebble Mine would have been

ing with the legal team on strategy,

’17 had planned to work in environ-

devastating to the salmon habitat

engaging new stakeholders, writing

mental policy in D.C. But a summer

and to the communities who rely

content, and supporting volunteers.

internship in Alaska’s Glacier Bay

on commercial and sport fishing

Now that the mine has been stopped,

National Park changed everything.

in southwest Alaska—a $1.6 billion

she’ll continue to do that work, but

She fell in love with the place—with

industry that employs 15,000 people

toward the goal of securing perma-

its breathtaking nature, the sheer

and is a vital component of the

nent protections for Bristol Bay.

scale of its glaciers, its community

largely subsistence lifestyle of people

of warm, caring, quirky people. “It’s

of Alutiiq, Dena’ina, and Yup’ik

want to be fighting Pebble in five,

very intentional living—it’s hard to

descent who have been stewarding

10, or 50 years,” Barker says. “The

live here,” she says from her home in

the area’s resources for thousands of

people of Bristol Bay know what they

Anchorage. “You have to invest a lot

years.

want for their sustainable future,

mentally, emotionally, and physi-

One of the remarkable things

“At the end of the day, we don’t

and they’ve been clear that Pebble

cally. And that very much aligns with

about the effort to block Pebble’s

isn’t a part of that vision. Bringing

how I want to live my life.”

permit is that it was a bipartisan

Alaskans, hunters, anglers, and

effort. This was owing, in part, to

other supporters together to advance

Unlimited, Barker works to protect

Now, as Alaska organizer of Trout

Barker and her colleagues’ inten-

permanent protections is what will

the place and the people she’s grown

tional, nuanced building of support.

ultimately secure the fishery for the

to love. Last November, she and her team scored a major victory when they won a 20-year fight to deny the key federal permit for the proposed Pebble Mine.

“My one-sentence description of Pebble,” she says, “is that it would have been the largest openpit copper and gold mine in North America smack-dab in the middle of the headwaters of the most prolific sockeye salmon fishery on the planet.”

“When we were trying to build common ground,” she says, “it has always come down to what are our values?

It’s fish, it’s community, and it’s making sure that our children can continue to have both. This is where we need to come together for the right thing.”

years to come—and I’m grateful to get to be a part of that.”

—Kate Frentzel The Bristol Bay region is the traditional homeland of the Dena’ina, Alutiiq, and Yup’ik peoples. Barker lives and works in Anchorage, which sits on ancestral, unceded Dena’ina lands.

While work to stop Pebble was under way, Barker spent her time

LUTHER

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MAGAZINE

connects M U S I C T H AT

From Star Wars to Outer Wilds, composer Andrew Prahlow ’10 writes music with emotional impact.

Los Angeles–based composer Andrew Prahlow ’10

of the same song, just on their own planets. When it

has a long list of credits writing music for films, trail-

pieces together, it’s the same tune, and that becomes a

ers, commercials, video games, and television. He’s

big theme throughout the game.”

composed for household names like Game of Thrones,

It’s a powerful idea that’s resonated with fans in a

Avengers, and Star Wars, but it’s his score for the

huge way. Social media is lit up with people making

video game Outer Wilds that may make him a house-

mashups and covering Prahlow’s songs on everything

hold name. Outer Wilds has racked up several interna-

from guitar to harp to electric kalimba. Admirers are

tional best game awards and music nominations, and

posting profoundly heartfelt things, like “Your music

Prahlow’s soundtrack has reached nearly 13 million

saved me” and “Thanks for making this year more

plays on Spotify.

bearable.”

Outer Wilds is an exploration-based game about a

Prahlow is incredibly excited by the response. And

solar system stuck in a time loop. It involves several

in turn, he aspires to model one of the game’s central

alien species, and music isn’t just a backdrop to the

themes: that music is a powerful tool of connectivity.

game—it’s an integral part of it. In composing the

He tries to respond to every message he receives, and

score, Prahlow kept in mind the idea that “We’re all

he’s committed to posting online tutorials of how to

connected, no matter the distance. So in this small

play his songs. He’s gratified, he says, if learning his

solar system, the characters are playing a variation

songs “could be someone’s first dive into learning how

In composing the score, Prahlow kept in mind the idea that “We’re all connected, no matter the distance. So in this small solar system, the characters are playing a variation of the same song, just on their own planets.”

SPRING 2021

20

music can help them relax, or maybe they’ll find they

competent enough to take everything you learned out

even want to write music someday.”

of undergraduate school and apply it to team-based

Prahlow arrived at Luther as a transfer student focused on trumpet performance, but after joining professor Brooke Joyce’s composition studio, he real-

film and game projects. The structural backbone for that was my Luther schooling, absolutely.”

Prahlow will continue to write impactful music for

ized he loved composing more. “I found a lot of joy in

the screen, but this year he has a second goal in mind:

writing music,” he says. “For my senior recital, I got

to release his own album, unrelated to someone else’s

a bunch of people from the orchestra together to play

project. “I’ve never released a full compositional

some things I had written to officially serve as my grad

record of my own before,” he says, “but I finally feel

school application” to the University of Southern Cali-

ready.”

fornia’s Screen Scoring Program.

—Kate Frentzel

“I was really excited about that recital,” he says, “and it turns out it was really valuable to have a bunch

Listen to Prahlow’s music on Spotify and find one of

of music recorded live to prove my orchestration chops

his songs on a playlist featuring Luther alumni compos-

and songwriting and arranging ability to the profes-

ers that Neil Quillen ’13 assembled: luthercomposers.

sors—they’re listening for that to make sure you’re

buzzsprout.com.

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MAGAZINE

LUCKY TO LIVE THIS

Mission Mary Kessens ’76 helps people with disabilities find support.

“There are a lot of good things

connected to other people, we

ipants have been getting vacci-

about a good day,” says Mary

want to engage in activities, we

nated, they’re working on the next

Kessens ’76.

want to be able to work. With just a

set of protocols to keep everyone

few supports, people with disabili-

safe.

As president and CEO of Aptiv, Kessens leads 300 employees serving 1,400 people with disabilities

ties can do anything they want.”

In non-pandemic times,

Doing this work—in a pandemic, no less—requires a lot

across 44 counties in western and

employment services—like help-

of dedication, but Kessens expe-

southern Wisconsin. That adds up

ing people find placements and

riences it as a calling: “It’s a great

to a whole lot of chances for good

supporting them in performing

intersection for me of all of the

things in a day.

their jobs—is a big piece of what

management training and expe-

Aptiv does. So are youth services—

rience I’ve had throughout my

Aptiv offers a staggering range of

Headquartered in La Crosse,

helping kids with disabilities or

career, plus this thread that runs

services and support to people

behavioral needs to build skills

through it of supporting people

across a huge spectrum of physi-

so they can stay in school and live

with disabilities. Whether I’ve

cal and cognitive disabilities. From

with their families in productive

hired people with disabilities to do

employment services, to help with

ways. But, like everywhere else,

a job or served on a board or what-

independent living and finances,

Aptiv had to pivot when COVID hit.

ever it was, it has always been this

to behavioral and physical thera-

Almost immediately, the

calling for me—supporting people

pies and more, Kessens says, “We

nonprofit closed its center-based

with disabilities through the skills

meet people where they’re at and

programs and started developing

that I’ve been able to develop.”

help them with what they really

virtual opportunities for partici-

need.”

pants to connect. Staff developed

less as a job than a privilege—and

To do this, Kessens and her

Kessens talks about her work

a set of safety protocols, and when

for good reason. “We get to change

staff connect people with disabil-

it was safe to start reopening,

people’s lives,” she says. “We get

ities to available resources in

they instituted a one- to two-week

to make a difference so that people

their communities. “Lots of times

training and assessment period

with disabilities may live more

people with disabilities are invisi-

to make sure that people access-

meaningfully. I’m a lucky woman

ble or overlooked,” she says. “It’s

ing programs and services could

to get to do this every day and live

always a struggle to get support,

follow protocols like mask wear-

such a great mission.”

but they’re not any different

ing, hand sanitizing, and physical

from you and me: we want to be

distancing. As staff and partic-

SPRING 2021

22

—Kate Frentzel

Class Notes

’61 Daryl Erdman of Minne-

apolis and his daughter Denae (Erdman) Harder ’87 of Des Moines, Iowa, paired up to create their first children’s book series, Charlie the Snowshoe Rabbit. Daryl wrote the stories, which teach children life lessons about kindness, forgiveness, and difference, for his grandchildren about 15 years ago and asked Denae to bring them to life through pictures.

Bonnee Lauridsen of Lititz, Pa., retired from Episcopal Church Publishing.

’68 Keith Hjelle of Guthrie Center, Iowa, is a sports writer for the Guthrie County Times Vedette.

’69 Douglas Smith of Palm

Coast, Fla., is lead instructor for the Grief Support Services Certificate Program at the University of Wisconsin and recently formed the Lay Ministry Training Center.

’70 Harry Hindson of La

Crosse, Wis., is bassoon and woodwind teaching techniques instructor at Winona State University and the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.

’73 Tim Christ is a retired pastor in Fulshear, Texas.

’74 Edith Copley of Flagstaff, Ariz., will retire in June after 31 years as director of choral studies at Northern Arizona University. She was also named president-elect of the American Choral Directors Association.

’75 Jon Blumhagen of Or-

lando, Fla., is owner and digital designer of JAB Designs and founder of God’s Hands Agency.

He and his wife, Earline, are planning their fourth Mission Possible Tour from Orlando to Alaska in 2021 (five months and 5,000 miles) on recumbent tricycles. The theme of the tour is “It Ain’t Too Late!”

Jana (Tatman) and Randy Bruns ’74 live in Ankeny, Iowa. Jana is a retired teacher. Randy is a retired trade review principal and the secretary-rules editor for NCAA Baseball.

Gordon Peterson is a retired ECLA minister and an adjunct professor at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kan. John Savre of San Diego is a retired military officer and volunteer deputy sheriff with search and rescue and the California DOT.

’76 Pamela (Wohlfeil) Da-

vick retired from the Rochester (Minn.) Public Schools.

Radford Decker of Austin, Texas, retired from Sunovion Pharmaceuticals and is the owner of ERD Pharma Consulting. He works with small to medium biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to help discover and develop new medicines.

Kurt Meyer is president of Humanities Iowa, a nonprofit promoting understanding and appreciation of the people, communities, culture, and stories of importance to Iowa and the nation.

Frederick Thoni of St. Paul, Minn., is director of healing ministry at North Heights Lutheran Church. He has been in pastoral ministry for 38 years.

’77 Brad Schneider of

Verona, Wis., retired after 38 years of teaching music. He is president-elect of the Wisconsin Music Educators Association, which is currently focused on advocating for music education access and equity for all Wisconsin students during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Robyn (Lundquist) Sloan of Lyons, Colo., is a classroom and behind-the-wheel instructor for Mountain States Driver Education.

’78 Paul Pribbenow is presi-

dent of Augsburg University and was appointed by Minnesota governor Tim Walz to the Young Women’s Initiative Council, which aims to eliminate barriers that young women face and provide a pathway forward to ensure their success.

’79 Hans Brattskar of Asker,

Norway, completed a four-year assignment as Norway’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva. He is special envoy for climate for the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment.

Martha Gesme Nielsen of Cary, Ill., is a member of the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum Board of Directors.

Kristi Reinholtzen Westphal retired as registrar for Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn.

Carol Tomer is the redevelopment pastor at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Olympia, Wash.

’80 Dan Kilen of Eldridge,

Iowa, was inducted into the 2021 Iowa Rugby Hall of Fame by the Iowa Rugby Union. As captain of Luther’s rugby football club, Dan led the team to a second-place finish at the 1980 All-Iowa Rugby Tournament. He also played for the Quad City Irish and the US Eagles national team.

Mark Werning is chief operations officer for BankORION in Orion, Ill.

’81 Pete Espinosa of Edina,

Minn., is the CEO of Mortgage Cadence, owner and founder of Decorah’s Pulpit Rock Brewing, and vice president of enterprise sales and alliances at Limelight Health. He also serves on Luther’s Board of Regents.

’82 Renee Dyshaw of

Visalia, Calif., is a paralegal at the Law Offices of James P. Hurlbutt. Renee has completed 55 marathons and is training for her 56th in May 2021.

Roger Henserson will retire after 38 years of teaching—31 of them at Grinnell (Iowa) High School—at the end of the 2021 school year.

Kathy (Kemp) Kilen of Eldridge, Iowa, is a registered nurse at Clarissa Cook Hospice House.

Gaone Masire is a patron for the Family Foundation in Gaborone, Botswana, promoting governance and youth leadership.

Marilee (Reinertson) Torres is the minister for faith and life at

St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Lori Weiman of is coauthor of The Price of Health, which discusses how the US has reached its current state of affairs where drugs are priced out of reach of many Americans. It also looks at models and policies that might be useful in mitigating the current crisis without (hopefully) damaging the opportunity for future innovations in science and medicine.

’84 Richard Anderson of

Port Charlotte, Fla., is a teacher with the Charlotte County Public Schools.

Michael Bergan of Dorchester, Iowa, was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives for District 55.

Joseph Swift is a member at Baker Sterchi Cowden and Rice Law Firm in St. Louis.

’85 Thea (Phelps) O’Grady

of Marion, Iowa, retired after 30 years as a pediatric nurse. She is a knitting instructor at Kirkwood Community College.

’87 Shawn Bina retired as

provost of Vermilion Community College in Ely, Minn.

Kris Ferkin of Plainview, Minn., is an interim pastor for the ELCA Southeast Minnesota Synod.

’88 Quentin Johnson is an

animal control officer for Aurora, Ill., and also serves as deputy poet laureate for the city.

Chuck Miller is assistant medical director at Kaiser Permanente San Diego.

Todd Sands of Oronoco, Minn., is the CEO of Precision Chiropractic.

Joan (Schneider) and Kevin Schatz ’88 live in Sartell, Minn.

Joan is copresident of Park Industries. She received the 2018 Step Ahead Award, a national award for women who have made a significant leadership impact in manufacturing. Kevin is founder and president of Reclamation Technologies.

Bret Van Camp of Ellsworth, Maine, retired from active duty as a US Army colonel after 32 years of service. He lives on his gentleman’s farm and has LUTHER

23

MAGAZINE

Thank you!

On Giving Day 2,000+ friends gave

“

$1,195,265.70

to the Luther Fund in support of students.

Giving Day is one of my favorite days out of the year because of all of the love and support I see from Luther alumni and friends. It is so amazing to see how much of an impact Luther has had on so many people.

My Luther experience would not have been possible without the support that we receive, and for that I am forever grateful!”

—Rachel Clennon '22

turned his focus to the regeneration of the American chestnut tree in the Eastern Woodlands.

Leah Vriesman of Hermosa Beach, Calif., is executive director of Executive Education Programs in Health Policy and Management and is on the faculty in UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health. She is also president and founder of Excel Research, a strategy and leadership development consulting firm.

Eric Wulfsberg of Minneapolis is senior director of product line management at DZS.

’91 Michael Klimesh of Spillville, Iowa, was elected to the Iowa State Senate for District 28.

Thomas Marquardt was appointed chief medical officer of Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah.

’92 Brenda (Leon-

hart-Moen) Biesterfeld of Hope, Minn., is the owner of 1st Call Bail Bonds.

Debra Bullock earned a DMin from Bexley Seabury Seminary and is rector at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Evanston, Ill.

SPRING 2021

24

KC (Saterbak) DiNardo earned an MDiv from Fuller Seminary and is associate pastor at Hope Church in Richfield, Minn.

Tracy Johnson is city administrator for West Union, Iowa.

Debbie (Hess) Smith of Denver, N.C., is director of product management at Ellucian.

Jodie (Kill) Victoria is a visual arts teacher for the Denver (Iowa) Community School District.

’93 Jason Strandberg of

Hopkins, Minn., is a chiropractor and owner at Lake Minnetonka Mobile Wellness.

’94 Stephanie (Grobner)

Kalbach of Owatonna, Minn., is executive director of the Mentor Network.

Jon Trouten of Iowa City, Iowa, is a regional social worker at Mental Health/Disability Services of the East Central Region.

Jon is also a dog park attendant for Iowa City.

’95 Sheila Altman is a

resource coordinator at Alliant Energy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Erik Columbus was named the 2020 Iowa and Central Sec-

tion (Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan) Boys Golf Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations. Erik is a special education teacher and head boys and girls golf coach at Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Heidi (Waxenburg) Huff is vice president of business partnerships at IGA in Chicago.

Julie Jensen is clinic manager for the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium in Sitka.

Shawna Kirby-Eckstein earned a master of science degree in nursing from Capella University and is a registered nurse at UnitedHealth Group in Minnetonka, Minn.

Kendra Mancusi of Minneapolis is EY law marketing and communications leader.

Owen Newman is an attorney and partner at Duane Morris in Chicago.

Rebekah (Jorstad) Tarras of Berlin, Wis., is pastor at Grace Lutheran Church and First Lutheran Church.

Kristin (Chelberg) Williams of Maple Grove, Minn., is senior agile project manager at Horizontal.

Julie (Edwards) Worthington of Riverside, Calif., co-owns Shine Craft Vessels with her husband, Timothy.

’97 Nathan Ferris is a patrol

sergeant with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Balsam Lake, Wis., and team leader, medic, and trainer for their SWAT team.

He is also a board member for Positive Alternatives, a nonprofit multiservice organization that operates five group homes around the state for at-risk youth.

’98 Kari (Bersagel) and

Matthew Bersagel Braley ’97 live in La Crosse, Wis. Matthew earned a PhD from Emory University and is associate professor in ethics, culture, and society and director of honors at Viterbo University. Kari is the cofounder and executive director of GROW La Crosse, a nonprofit organization that connects children to healthy food and nature. They collaborate with local schools to establish school gardens and create experiences at local organic farms.

Brian Remfrey is director of sales strategy, central EMEA at Salesforce.com in San Francisco.

Thatcher Vagts earned an MBA degree from Utah State University. He was recently appointed CEO of the Synergy Company in Moab, Utah. While overseeing Synergy’s research and development department, he helped it bring more than 25 new products to market. He was also instrumental in formalizing Synergy’s community outreach program, which contributed more than $100,000 to local nonprofit organizations in 2020.

Joe Yanda was named CEO of Lakeside Foods in Manitowoc, Wis.

’99 Brad Herrick is an

ecologist and research program manager at the University of Wisconsin Arboretum in Madison.

Angela Kade Goepferd of Minneapolis is a pediatrician and the chief education officer at Children’s Minnesota. Angela received the Special Recognition Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2019 for education and advocacy for LGBTQ+ youth. Angela was also a featured speaker on “the revolutionary truth about kids and gender identity” for TEDxMinneapolis in fall 2020.

Joel Miron is a pathologist at CentraCare Health and St. Cloud Pathologists PA in St. Cloud, Minn.

Bradley Nussdorfer of Minneapolis is the strategic enrollment manager at Strategic Education.

Lori (Hagen) Schoenhard of Marion, Iowa, is senior business operations manager, global business operations, at Cornerstone on Demand.

Jody Slavick of Ft. Collins, Colo., earned a PhD in education with an emphasis in equity, bilingualism, and biliteracy from the University of Colorado–Boulder and is a research associate at the university’s BUENO Center.

Cory Wikan was named dean of the Hurley School of Music at Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport beginning July 1, 2021.

’00 Katie (Brunner) Ellingson is a library assistant at the Appleton (Wis.) Public Library.

Todd Gullickson is a partner at the Gullekson Group in Davenport, Iowa.

Julie (Perrault) LaSota is the senior director of Cushman and Wakefield in Minneapolis.

Brian Schult is assistant vice president of internal audit at Fidelity and Guaranty Life in Des Moines, Iowa.

Jason Smith will become the head of school at the International School of Arizona in Scottsdale on July 1, 2021.

Art Trimble is a science teacher and head wrestling coach at Mayo High School in Rochester, Minn.

Scott Vial is deputy director for public health services for the US Army Public Health Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Kenny Wheeler is head girls track and field coach at Pleasant Valley (Iowa) High School. He was named the 2019–20 Iowa Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year and the National Federation of State High School Associations Central Section Coach of the Year, which includes Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan.

’02 Heidi (Helling) Barr

coauthored a book, 12 Tiny Things: Simple Ways to Live a More Intentional Life, a journey through 12 essential areas of life—space, work, spirituality, food, style, nature, communication, home, sensuality, creativity, learning, and community—and an invitation to take one tiny action at a time to open up growth and renewal.

Sarah (Root) Bengtson is supervisor of pediatric rehabilitation therapy at Unity Point Health, St. Luke’s Hospital, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Anika (Lindall) Sellmeyer is a second-grade teacher for the Richfield (Minn.) Public Schools.

’03 Joshua Shank of

Cambridge, Mass., is a composer and lecturer of music at Gonzaga University. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit last spring, he composed a song titled alleluia (from quarantine), which was performed by multiple choirs around the country. Joshua gave the pro-

ceeds—more than $10,000—to the Sweet Relief Musician Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to professional musicians who are struggling during the pandemic.

Erik Sill is MNCAPS coordinator for the Prior Lake-Savage (Minn.) Area Schools.

’04 Courtney Allensworth

Esposito of Minneapolis was appointed Indian probate judge for the United States Department of the Interior by secretary David Bernhardt on Jan. 8, 2021.

Tyler Hesseltine of Bloomington, Minn., is district manager at the Davey Tree Expert Company’s north Minneapolis residential and commercial services office.

Joel Hollenbeck was appointed to the University of Houston C. T. Bauer College of Business Advisory Board. Joel is project manager at Specpro Environmental Services and has been a project manager for multiple Department of Defense fuels contracts over the past six years.

Dustin Nash is associate professor of religion studies and director of the Jewish Studies Program at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa. Andrew P. J. Olson was awarded the Herbert S. Waxman Award for Outstanding Medical Student Educator by the American College of Physicians. Andrew is a practitioner and associate professor of medicine and pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He is also director of medical education research and innovation at the Medical Education Outcomes Center.

Emily (Knuth) Stork, senior vice president, general counsel, of Bankers Trust Company in Des Moines, Iowa, was named a member of Business Journal’s 2021 Forty under 40 class.

Tiffany (Jones) ’04 and Matt Wogsland ’97 live in Stoughton, Wis. Tiffany is the director of youth and family ministries at Ezra Church. Matt is the assistant vice president of compliance at Wells Fargo Card Services.

’05 Terry Blessing of

Lamoni, Iowa, is senior vice president of client development at VisiQuate.

Virginia King earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Walden University and is a CSS supervisor and ITCD team leader at Preferred Family Healthcare in Hannibal, Mo. Katie (Mindrup) McKean of Silvis, Ill., is youth achievement program leader at Two Rivers YMCA. Timothy Patton is history department chair at Hebrew Academy RASG in Miami Beach, Fla. Russ Schouweiler of Decorah is an associate representative with Thrivent.

’06 Eric Hahn earned a

master’s degree in administrative leadership from the University of Colorado–Denver and is assistant principal and athletic director at Alameda International Junior/Senior High School in Lakewood, Colo.

Larissa (Curtis) Iverson is an early childhood and primary school music teacher at the International School of Stavanger, Norway.

Kristen (Thompson) Moon is an orchestra and classroom music teacher for the Minnetonka (Minn.) Public Schools.

’07 Troy Peterson is the

chief financial officer at Prime West in Denver.

’08 Amelia (Larson) Harless is an ophthalmic assistant with Gundersen Health System in Decorah.

Ashley Holland is a psychiatrist with Mayo Clinic’s Behavioral Health Care Program in Eau Claire, Wis. Danny Lee is director of major and planned giving at Be the Match Foundation in Minneapolis.

Niki Mosier is the head of SEO at AgentSync in Denver.

Kyle Nelson is director of coaching at the Cedar Valley Youth Soccer Association in Waterloo, Iowa.

LUTHER

25

MAGAZINE

Jodi (Andrews) Coleman ’01 and her husband, Jeremy, warmed up with hot cocoa in their Luther mugs at Alta Ski Area in Utah this winter.

Carl Westphal was named an advisor to the US executive director at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC. Seth Worthington is a mixed animal veterinarian at AMCV Veterinary Services in Audubon, Iowa.

’09 Liz (Hansen) Cox is

assistant vice president of development at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C. Bethany (Tisthammer) Engen is choir director for the Spring Grove (Minn.) Public Schools.

Jenna Pulkowski is pastor at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Mundelein, Ill.

’10 Jordan Balk is a pastor at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Weston, Wis.

Mallory (Marlatt) Hanson of West Union, Iowa, is the regional economic development and tourism coordinator for Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development and the director for Fayette County Economic Development and Tourism. Mallory led the Byways of Iowa Public Art Initiative, facilitating the development of 17 unique public art installations in small rural Iowa communi-

SPRING 2021

26

Four alumnae from the class of 1974 connected this spring over Zoom during a class Evie (Miller) Waack (top right) taught for Lifelong University at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Janet (Lundquist) Werner (top left) and Angie (Geilfuss) Swetland (bottom left) joined the class from Minnesota, Solveig (Sperati) Korte (bottom right) joined from South Dakota, and Evie taught from Iowa. The course, Mindful Mandalas, explored creating mandalas as part of a mindful art practice with an emphasis on the creative process rather than the final product. On the day this photo was taken, the four stuck around after class to visit—“Sort of like going to Mabe’s for pizza afterward, or walking to the Whippy Dip!” says Evie.

ties. The project and Northeast Iowa RC&D received the 2020 Iowa Governor’s Arts Award.

This spring, Mallory was also appointed by Iowa governor Kim Reynolds to serve a sixyear term as a commissioner on the Iowa Natural Resource Commission.

Erin (Lunde) and Sean Lunde Keenan live in Missoula, Mont.

Erin is the development director at the Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana. Sean earned a BS in nursing from the University of Washington and is a registered nurse at Providence St. Patrick Hospital.

Manaswini Ramkumar earned a master’s degree in international relations from the School of International Service at American University in Washington, DC. She is a doctoral student and an Adel Ait-Ghezala Graduate Research Fellow at the university.

Eli Wallace of Cambridge, Mass., earned a PhD in cellular and molecular pathology from the University of Wisconsin– Madison and is a postdoctoral scholar at Tufts University.

’11 Katy (Russell) Baccam of Castle Rock, Colo., is a teacher at Cheyenne Mountain School District 12.

Taylor Bergen is the owner of Punk Ass Flips in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Natalie (Baudler) Long of Edina, Minn., is a communications manager at Land O’Lakes.

Alicia (Woodhouse) DeFrance is a clinical services coordinator-OBGYN at University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City.

Jonathan Lueck of Eau Claire, Wis., earned a master’s degree in organizational change leadership from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville and is the continuing education administrator at PESI.

Felecia DeJong earned a master’s degree in education leadership from Drake University and is a sixth-grade teacher in the Postville (Iowa) Community Schools.

Britta Dosland is a pediatric and adult anesthesiologist at Associated Anesthesiologists in St. Paul, Minn.

Douglas Hamilton is the director of supply chain at Deco Products in Decorah.

Elizabeth Harrell is senior associate of new business at Chemonics International in Washington, DC. Kimberly Horner earned a master’s degree in immigration studies from the University of Oxford and is a PhD student and graduate research assistant at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Kirsten Indrelie is a physician at Essentia Health in Duluth, Minn.

Alyssa (Botkin) Kimber is senior category manager at Donaldson Company in Bloomington, Minn.

William Morris is a reporter for the Des Moines (Iowa) Register.

Elizabeth Nelson of New Hope, Minn., is a product support representative at United Healthcare.

Nicole (Becchetti) Plagge is the youth and family coordinator for the Bloomington (Minn.) Public Schools.

Melissa Record of Crystal, Minn., earned a BS in nursing from Western Governors University and is a labor and delivery registered nurse at Fairview Health Services.

Anna Rick earned a JD from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and was admitted to the Minnesota Bar in 2019. Anna is a judicial law clerk at the Fourth Judicial District Court in Minneapolis.

Anthony Rohr of Minneapolis is a software engineer with RBC Wealth Management.

Doug Knutson ’84 (right) and Ben Jasper ’20 (left) work together in their pandemic side jobs at MGM Liquor in Minneapolis.

When Jeremy Henning ’10 went through his local drive-through COVID vaccination site in Madison, Wis., he was surprised to see a familiar face when Meg KenKnight ’09 gave him his shot. Meg and Jeremy used to sit next to each other in the low brass section of Concert Band.

Kelly (Schneider) Sheldon of West Lafayette, Ind., is an elementary teacher with the Tippecanoe School Corporation.

’14 Solveig Entwistle is a

Sarah Stadie is a children’s mental health case manager at Washburn Center for Children in Minneapolis.

Jenna (Reishus) Takes earned an MPH from the University of Iowa and is director of client experience at Health Solutions in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Alex Van Dyke is a social studies teacher at Northfield (Minn.)

Middle School.

Katie (Trewartha) Weiers is a sixth-grade language arts teacher at the New Prague (Minn.)

Area Schools.

Lara (Graves) Zimmerli is an early childhood special education teacher in the Mankato (Minn.) Area Public Schools.

Lara is also the co-owner of Cedar Crate Farm with her husband, Dan. They attend the Mankato Farmer’s Market and have a successful 80-person CSA. This year will be their sixth growing season.

’12 Courtney Guntly is the

Iowa balance of state continuum of care director at the Institute for Community Alliances in Des Moines.

Hannah Lund earned a master’s degree in comparative and world literature from Zhejiang University. She is a writer and Chinese-English translator in Shanghai, China. She also cofounded the Hangzhou Writer’s Association International and works for Sixth Tone, a Shanghai-based online magazine.

Alex Mundy works in the research division of clinical pharmacology at Covance in Madison, Wis. Teresa Procter is a speech-language pathologist at Houston Methodist Hospital.

Miguel Secor is head strength and conditioning coach at Iowa Central Community College and owner of Secor Strength Gym in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

’13 Devan Benjamin and

Sam Weinberg ’15 live in Milwaukee. Devan is a first-grade teacher in the Milwaukee Public Schools. Sam is an internal medicine resident at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Grant Burke of Decorah is a business tools specialist with the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.

graduate student in the MBA program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Ingrid (Baudler) and Nils Johnson ’15 live in Decorah. Nils earned a JD from the University of Iowa. Ingrid earned a JD from the University of Colorado Law School.

’15 Sarah Brandt is sales

coordinator at the Westin Minneapolis.

Leah Broderick-Niedermann of Edina, Minn., is associate director of business development at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.

Sarah Loberg of Longmont, Colo., is a math teacher at Mead High School.

Timothy Bumpus earned a PhD in chemical biology from Cornell University and is a research associate at Potomac Institute for Policy Studies in Arlington, Va.

Brita Moore of Eagan, Minn., is the director of public relations and communications at the Minnesota Farmers Union.

Trent Harder is a resident physician in the University of Minnesota Mankato Family Medicine Residency Program.

Lillianna Petsch-Horvath of Milwaukee is an IPS employment specialist at Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin.

Meghan (McAllister) and Ryan Harrod live in Cresco, Iowa.

Meghan is a PK–6 physical education teacher and junior varsity softball coach. Ryan works at Mehmert Tiling and is an assistant varsity football coach at Crestwood High School.

Blake Potthoff of Fairmont, Minn., is executive director of the Fairmont Opera House.

Blake was one of four people honored at a 4 under 40 event to recognize young up-and-coming leaders in his community.

Rachel Stenhaug of Hopkins, Minn., is the audit manager–corporate audit at Medtronic.

Donald Wolfgram is human resources manager for Associa, a property management company for homeowners’ associations in Palm Desert, Calif.

Kathleen Kennedy earned an MS in nursing management and leadership from Western Governors University and is an MSN RN at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Ellie (Magner) Malecha is a K–4 STEAM teacher for the Pine River–Backus (Minn.) Schools.

LUTHER

27

MAGAZINE

Kelsey (Sorensen) Motzko is a secondary math teacher for the Cloquet (Minn.) Public School District.

Carly Rusek of Tucson, Ariz., is an occupational therapist at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Institute.

Caitlin Olson earned an MSW from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and is a school social worker for the Grantsburg (Wis.) School District.

Nick Shaw of Minneapolis passed the certified specialist of spirits exam through the Society of Wine Educators and is a bar manager for Hodges Bend.

Nicholas Rauch of Woodbury, Minn., is a lawyer at Larson King Law. He is also the president of the Legal Leadership Network of Minnesota.

Masha Statkevich is a compliance coordinator at InterExchange in New York City.

Samantha (Eilers) Ruiz is choir and piano teacher for the Comal Independent School District at Canyon Lake High School in Fischer, Texas.

Sammy (Barron) Russell is a behavioral specialist at Kids of the Kingdom Childcare in Litchfield, Minn.

Sarah Schutz earned an MSN from Capella University, is a nursing education specialist for Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, Wis., and is an adjunct faculty member in Luther’s Nursing Department.

Sadie Stoiber is the quality assurance manager at Healthcare Alternative Systems in Chicago.

Krista Wahlstrom of Iowa City is a graduate researcher and PhD student studying neuroscience at the University of Iowa, with an NIH National Research Service Award to study the mechanisms of learning and memory.

’16 Rachel Madryga earned

three master’s degrees (in architecture, urban design, and construction management) from Washington University in St. Louis. She is an architect with NAVFAC–US Navy in Silverdale, Wash.

Jenna (Dengler) Opdahl of Phoenix, Ariz., earned a DPT from the University of Iowa and is a physical therapist at Spooner Physical Therapy.

Olivia (Mitchell) and Brad Paulsrud live in Caledonia, Minn.

Olivia is a dental student at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. Brad is regional sales manager for Garmin.

SPRING 2021

28

Tia Stenson of Milwaukee completed an MLIS with a concentration in archival studies from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and is a contract cataloger for GeerCrest Farm and Historical Society.

Mary Claire Vuckovich is assistant director of engagement at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Annie Waniger earned an MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin and is a resident physician in psychiatry at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Andrew Welch earned an MA in exercise and sport science and sport administration from the University of North Carolina and is the quarantine and isolation housing logistics coordinator at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

’17 Kyla Grau is a graduate

student in the international policy and development program at Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, Calif.

Nathaniel Koch is a paraprofessional at Intermediate School District 917 in Minnetonka, Minn., and a graduate student in the teaching program at Augsburg University.

Kylie Kozelka earned a postbaccalaureate degree in all social sciences education from the University of Northern Iowa and is a high school world studies teacher for the Johnston (Iowa) Community School District.

Patrick Larson is a consultant at Optum in Eden Prairie, Minn.

Berit (Breed) Rhody is culture and development coordinator at Tegria in Madison, Wis. Kirby Stalley is director of music at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Westborough, Mass.

Brynne Stellner earned an MA in educational leadership from Concordia University St. Paul and is an English language arts teacher for the Northfield (Minn.) Public Schools.

Allison Swenson is a kindergarten teacher at Black Earth (Wis.) Elementary School.

’18 Nathan Burwell earned

an MA in library and information studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society. Nathan is a visiting instructor and academic librarian at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn.

Carrie Cibula is an ASCP certified medical lab scientist at Unity Point Health St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Meredith Diebold is the virtual learning supervisor and director of Xuberance Show Choir at Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Annalise Johnson is weekend news anchor for KIMT-TV in Rochester, Minn.

Abigail (Suhr) Schweitzer is a service associate at Kohl’s in Coralville, Iowa.

’19 Shannon Baker has been selected for inclusion in Plain China: A National Anthology of the Best Undergraduate Writing.

Shannon wrote the piece selected during professor Amy Weldon’s Advanced Creative Writing course in fall 2019.

Rebecka Green is communication and media specialist at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding in Washington, DC. Megan Johnson is a staff accountant at Johnson Block and Company in Middleton, Wis. Lily Kime of Sac City, Iowa, is a seventh-grade English language arts teacher at East Sac County Community School District.

Andrew Lindstrom is a case manager at Radias Health in St. Paul, Minn.

Nicole Stier is a registered nurse at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Sarah Webb is a Spanish teacher for the Roseville (Minn.) Area Schools.

’20 Andrew Avila is a

special education assistant at Cityview Community School in Minneapolis.

Anila Bano is a lab technician/ researcher 1 at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Jacey Burns is a registered nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Emma Busch is a Minnesota Reading Corps tutor at Falcon Ridge Elementary School in New Prague, Minn.

Hannah Clark is a medical student at Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Smith.

Sarah Davidson is a law student at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis.

Jennifer Hickey is a first-grade teacher at New Century School in St. Paul, Minn.

Kari Hoff is a software developer at IBM in Rochester, Minn.

Riley Lannon is a graduate student in the MDiv program at Princeton Theological Seminary (N.J.).

Derek Lin founded a new journal, The Starter, featuring literary and visual art by, among others, Emma Busch ’20, Gillian Klein ’20, Matthew Lensing ’20, Canon Reece ’21, Mary Rice ’78, and Derek himself.

Anna Seltz of Afton, Minn., is a care coordinator for Entira Family Clinics.

Amber Sorenson of Kent, Ohio, received the Interpersonal and Family Communication Excellence in Qualitative Research Award from the Central States Communication Association for the 2020 scientific research she conducted with Luther professor of communication studies Kim Powell titled “Ambiguous Loss after Shaken Baby Syndrome/ Abusive Head Trauma: Parental Management of Dialectical Contradictions of Grief.”

Hannah Stenoien is a communications specialist at Barr Engineering Company in Minneapolis.

701/2

IRA ROLLOVER

OR OLDER

DIRECT UP TO

$100,000

Help further Luther’s mission with an IRA Charitable Rollover avoid federal taxes on transfers up to $100,000

potentially satisfy some or all of required minimum distribution

reduce taxable income, even without itemizing deductions

make a gift that is not subject to the deduction limits on charitable gifts

use the rollover to make payments on an existing pledge

ARE YOU READY to create your legacy and make an IRA charitable rollover gift this year?

For more information, please contact Kelly Sorenson, assistant director of legacy and gift planning, at (800) 225-8664 or kelly.sorenson@luther.edu or visit legacygiving.luther.edu.

Marriages ’73 Tim Christ and Pamela

Koppel, Oct. 3, 2020

’14 Madeline Davidson and

Emily Lange and Josh Siros ‘15, Sept. 19, 2020

’82 Renee Dyshaw and

’10 Jeremy Henning and Kelsey Hill, Oct. 16, 2020

Melissa Hernes and Geno Pickerign, May 25, 2019

Jackson VanKirk, July 18, 2020

George, Feb. 14, 2019

Arvid Fristad, Oct. 19, 2019

’86 John Baumgartner and Peter Kleinlein, July 31, 2020

’99 Heather Hoberg and

’11 Alyssa Botkin and Evan Kimber, March 3, 2019

Kirsten Indrelie and Carson Gorecki, July 3, 2020

Christopher Rothe, Aug. 9, 2020

Jenna Reishus and Adam Takes, May 26, 2019

Brad Nussdorfer and Bridget Rewitzer, Aug. 8, 2020

Greg Woodin and Kelly O’Brien, Dec. 31, 2020

James Didier, June 20, 2020

Brita Moore and Adam Kutz, Oct. 24, 2020

Kristen Carlson and Christian Einertson, Aug. 22, 2020

Melissa Tholen and Jon Hunt, Jan. 23, 2021

’18 Jenny Woods Benitez

’15 Katherine Dick and Eddie Shimkat ‘16, Nov. 21, 2020

Samantha Eilers and Matthew Ruiz, Feb. 28, 2020

’07 Heather Tweten and

’13 Quinn Meyer and Chloe

Kristen Winter and Neil Hackman, July 25, 2020

’08 Danny Lee and Anna

Elisa Smith and Jake Guenthner, July 25, 2020

Kaney, Aug. 22, 2020

Jonathan King, Feb. 1, 2020

Philion, Sept. 28, 2019

’17 Maddie Bouslog and

and Collin White ‘14, April 15, 2019

’19 Andrew Lindstrom and Grace Pelowitz, Sept. 6, 2020

’20 Daniel Suhr and Carly Felice, Sept. 5, 2020

’16 Erika Balk and Nate LUTHER

29

MAGAZINE

Births & Adoptions ’99 Hendrix, Nov. 2019, child

’06 April James, Nov. 2020,

’00 Morgan Coker, July

Sloan Christine, Jan. 2021, child of Lauren (Kraus) and Dave Keller ‘09

of Megan (Molnau) and Micah Helling 2019, child of Marsha Erdahl

’04 Prescott, Oct. 2019,

child of Amanda (Fenner) and Timothy Davidson

child of Emily and Paul Birdsall

Ruby Clare, Aug. 2019, child of Kathleen (Lunsford) and Dan Durbin ‘06 Wesley, Aug. 2019, child of Katie (Billings) and Nick Hedeman Daphne, Sept. 2019, child of Nicki (Svestka) and Aaron TerBeest

’09 Walter Robert, Feb.

2019, child of Stephanie (Borgen) and Keagan Meyer ‘11

’12 Liam Benjamin, Dec.

2020, child of Brittany (Johnson) and Aaron Burreson Sonya Helen, July 2020, child of Erin (McWilliams) and Brian Hart

’13 Kyson, July 2020, child

of Kaylee (Helgemoe) and Trent Kerrigan

’10 Ingrid Solveig, Oct. 2020, child of Erin Lunde Keenan and Sean Keenan ‘09

’07 Clara Wynn, Nov. 2020,

Evelyn Mary, March 2021, child of Emily (Looft) and Chad Nelson ‘09

of Ellie (Valeta) and Nick Wiltgen

Gabriel Birch, Dec. 2020, child of Ladia and Adam Frye

child of Meghan and Steven Andrukaitis

Alex Edward, Oct. 2020, child of Molly (Ness) and Paul Youssef

Samuel Kruse, June 2019, child of Katie (Kruse) and John Rather

Connor, Jan. 2020, child of Alicia (Woodhouse) and Alex DeFrance

’08 Elsa Solveig, Jan. 2021,

Simone James, Feb. 2020, child of Beckie Lovell Dillahunty and Jacy Dillahunty

’05 Everett, Sept. 2020, child

child of Megan (Anderson) and Joe Beatty

child of Alyssa Cheadle Pearson and Paul Pearson

’11 Jacob Bruce, June 2020,

William Richard and Olivia Quinn, Jan. 2021, children of Natalie (Baudler) and Drew Long

Simon Alexander, Dec. 2020, child of Kelsey (Brown) and Ben Legore Walter Linden, July 2020, child of Kathryn (Schwartz) and Ethan Vogel Clara Lee, March 2020, child of Christina (Storlie) and Andrew Weckwerth ‘12

Lavetta, April 2019, child of Starlyn and Noah Olson Tilia, Nov. 2019, child of Addison (Choi) and Bryan Perrott ‘08

Luther College Book Shop 563-387-1036 Spencer Weis ’21, Computer science major Data science minor Decorah

Dean Jackson, July 2020, child of Nicole (Becchetti) and Brian Plagge Adaline, Feb. 2020, child of Erin (Daniels) and Alan Rubach Everett, Oct. 2020, child of Kelly (Schneider) and Addison Sheldon Benjamin, Jan. 2021, child of Jenna (Reishus) and Adam Takes Elizabeth and Charles, Dec. 2019, children of Alison Wathen and John Herfkens Rose, Oct. 2020, child of Maggie (Buchta) and Rick Westermann Addison Lynn, Dec. 2020, child of Lara (Graves) and Dan Zimmerli

lutherbookshop.com 30

SPRING 2021

Ruth, Dec. 2020, child of Devan Benjamin and Sam Weinberg ‘15

’15 Treyton Wayne, Oct. 2019, child of Meghan (McAllister) and Ryan Harrod

Griffey, Dec. 2020, child of Samantha (Eilers) and Matthew Ruiz

In Memoriam

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

FACULTY EMERITA Professor emerita of English Mary Lou Hull Mohr of Decorah died April 1, 2021, age 86.

REGENTS EMERITI

Rosalie “Rosie” (Storvick) Miller of Zumbrota and Faribault, Minn., died Dec. 15, 2020, age 89.

Sonja (Strom) Scarseth of Bothell, Wash., died March 9, 2020, age 87.

’62 Orrin H. Grangaard Jr.

of Waukon, Iowa, died Dec. 16, 2020, age 80.

Gary K. Lee of Decorah died Dec. 17, 2020, age 80.

Marvin Lee of Hinton, Alberta, Canada, died Feb. 17, 2021, age 80.

Marlene Antoinette (Heise) Schroeder of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and De Soto, Ill., died Dec. 7, 2020, age 80.

’64 David A. Chellevold of

Sharon Kay (Rose) Rendack of Davenport, Iowa, died March 10, 2021, age 71.

’72 Diane Lea Flaherty of

Fort Dodge, Iowa, died Jan. 30, 2021, age 70.

Steve Smith of Algona, Iowa, died Feb. 27, 2021, age 71.

Scott Sorensen-Jolink of Portland, Ore., died Aug. 1, 2020, age 70.

’73 Ronald E. “Ron” Bock

of Asbury, Iowa, died March 19, 2021, age 70.

’61 Roy Eric “Rick” Carlson

’54 James Alan Bergquist of

’80 Arne Sorenson of Wash-

’55 Lois M. (Grangaard)

’65 Allen Fingerson of

’56 Donald L. Berg of Dec-

William Chung-Penn Hsu of Warren, Mich., died July 10, 2020, age 78.

John “Jack” Schultz of Cedar Falls, Iowa, died Dec. 28, 2020, age 89.

Bruce MacLaren of Richmond, Ky., died March 17, 2021, age 77.

Joel Sommerfeldt of Merrill, Wis., died Feb. 25, 2021, age 66.

’66 Paul R. Cravath of Silver

’78 Curtis Allan Behr of

Redwood Falls, Minn., died Aug. 9, 2019, age 84.

Thomas Alan Ellingson of Spring Grove, Minn., died Dec.10, 2020, age 76.

Rebecca “Becky” Lynn (Soli) Simonson of Owatonna, Minn., died Dec. 22, 2020, age 64.

Elaine Jeanette (Wischhoff) Looft of Arlington Heights, Ill., died Feb. 8, 2021, age 85.

Judith A. (Labus) Engebretson of Crystal Lake, Ill., died Feb. 8, 2021, age 76.

’80 Marvin Ray Dubose of

Theodore B. Peterson of Bemidji, Minn., died Jan. 15, 2021, age 87.

Davis W. Johnson of Decorah died March 27, 2021, age 76.

of Decorah died March 13, 2021, age 86. ington, DC, died Feb. 15, 2021, age 62.

’41 Adrian S. Helgeson of

Wayzata, Minn., died Dec. 26, 2020, age 100.

’49 J. Gordon Christianson

of Rochester, Minn., formerly of Decorah, died Feb. 19, 2021, age 94.

William Charles Jungbluth of Marble Falls, Texas, died March 7, 2021, age 96.

’50 H. Donald “Don”

Abrahams of Minneapolis died Dec.11, 2020, age 93.

Joseph Alexander Fjelstad II of Minneapolis died Jan. 16, 2021, age 93.

Alan Dale Stoddard of Amery, Wis., died Jan. 1, 2021, age 94.

Roy Willard Thorn Jr. of Joplin, Mo., died Dec. 21, 2020, age 92.

’51 Audrey (Dahl) Fennie of

Northfield, Minn., died March 27, 2021, age 91.

Kletus “Klete” Rood of Albuquerque, N.M., died March 20, 2021, age 91.

Robert L. Rosholt of Decorah died March 2, 2021, age 91.

’52 Donald T. Fossum of

Beloit, Wis., died Feb. 9, 2021, age 91.

’53 Manuel Johnson of

Edina, Minn., died Jan. 27, 2021, age 94.

Minnetonka, Minn., died Feb. 3, 2021, age 88.

Paulson of Austin, Minn., died Jan. 17, 2021, age 86.

orah died Jan. 10, 2021, age 86.

Howard Duane West of Altoona, Iowa, died Jan. 27, 2021, age 87.

’57 Paul H. Duckstad of

Gerald Skaar of Pardeeville, Wis., died March 21, 2021, age 86.

’58 Marjorie Thea “Marj”

(Sather) Nelson of Fitchburg, Wis., died March 1, 2021, age 84.

Marietta (Bauder) Pfister of Bonner, Mont., died March 14, 2021, age 82.

’60 Joseph G. Soley of

Greenville, Ohio, died Feb. 21, 2021, age 82.

’61 Leilani (Hovden) DeMuth of Johns Island, S.C., died April 21, 2020, age 80.

Elaine (Redalen) Olson of Kalispel, Mont., died Oct. 12, 2020, age 85.

Richard Dale “Dick” Rud of Allen, Texas, died March 10, 2021, age 81.

Mount Horeb, Wis., formerly of Darlington, Wis., died Dec. 15, 2020, age 79.

Burnsville, Minn., died Feb. 7, 2021, age 77.

City, N.M., died Dec. 23, 2020, age 76.

’67 David A. Harms of

Cottonwood, Ariz., formerly of Peoria, Ill., died Oct. 28, 2020, age 75.

’68 Jere Carleton Huffman of What Cheer, Iowa, died Nov. 27, 2020, age 74.

Jacqueline “Jackie” Ann Wicks of Morris, Ill., died March 16, 2021, age 74.

’69 Robert F. “Bob” Kramer

of Elkader, Iowa, died March 23, 2021, age 74.

’70 Keith Keller of

Manasquan, N.J., formerly of Austin, Minn., died Jan. 27, 2021, age 72.

’71 Duane “Bogie” Baun of

Detroit Lakes, Minn., died March 5, 2021, age 71.

Paul Hansen of Waverly, Iowa, died Jan. 25, 2021, age 69.

’75 Teddy Gray of Chicago died Feb. 11, 2021, age 67.

’76 Rodney Marvin Dirth of

Ruskin, Fla., died March 8, 2021, age 67.

Sioux City, Iowa, died Jan. 17, 2021, age 65.

Evanston, Ill., died Jan. 17, 2021, age 62.

Alan G. Heide of Owatonna, Minn., died March 2, 2021, age 63.

’81 Mark Lee Harthan of

Clear Lake, Iowa, died Dec. 13, 2020, age 63.

’82 Everett Francis Waters

of Hinckley, Minn., died Nov. 19, 2020, age 75.

’83 Craig Michael Nordmoe

of Mount Vernon, Ohio, died Feb. 18, 2021, age 59.

’89 Rachel Ellen (Braaten) Studt of Eau Claire, Wis., died Jan. 7, 2021, age 53.

’08 Dale R. Gohl of Little

Falls, Minn., died Feb. 28, 2021, age 35.

’22 Nyalat Pal Ruach of

Rochester, Minn., died Jan. 12, 2021, age 20.

LUTHER

31

MAGAZINE

“

PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL Luther students are at the center of all we do, and donors at all levels take great pride in joyfully sustaining the college’s mission. During these extraordinarily challenging times, with so many unknowns, I take heart knowing Luther’s President’s Council members remain among our most generous, enthusiastic, and steadfast supporters. I am delighted to welcome the new Life Members who attained this philanthropic milestone in 2020 and celebrate their cumulative generosity to Luther College!”

—President Jenifer K. Ward

2021 New Life Members †John ’53 and †Jean Bruemmer Barbara Fuller ’72 Katherine Johnson-Becklin and †Jay Becklin Sandra (Neitzel) ’87 and Jonathan Joppa ’85 Haldis (Solem) ’81 and †Harris Kaasa ’50 Dale and Sunny Nimrod Britt Sather ’78 Mark ’65 and Roxann Steine Matthew ’01 and Jaime (Rowe) Titus ’00 Estate of Luther Peterson ’61 Roger L. & Agnes C. Dell Charitable Trust EY Foundation †Deceased A full list of 2021 membership, based on 2020 calendar year giving, is available at luther.edu/ magazine.

“We were welcomed to the Luther and Decorah communities in 1967 with offers of opportunities and responsibilities that would become extraordinarily stimulating and satisfying over the years. We choose to give back to Luther because we are grateful, and particularly grateful that all three of our boys could be born and raised in this place, and that each would choose Luther College for his own lifeshaping experiences.

Mange tusen takk!”

—Sunny and Dale Nimrod with their three sons (left to right): Adam Nimrod ’94, Andrew Nimrod ’90, and Jacob Nimrod ’01

SPRING 2021

32

We hope to gather in person soon. Until then, explore these ways to keep connected!

F O L L O W U S O N FA C E B O O K facebook.com/luthercollegealumni

J O I N Y O U R FA C E B O O K C L A S S GROUP From the Luther Alumni Facebook page, search for and join your class group to continue to connect and share memories with classmates.

S U B S C R I B E T O T H E M O N T H LY N O R S E N OT E S E - N E W S L E T T E R by emailing alumni@luther.edu

U P D AT E Y O U R I N F O R M AT I O N A N D SHARE YOUR NEWS luther.edu/alumni/update

REFER A FUTURE NORSE Help us recruit Luther’s next generation. Each student you refer receives a $1,000 scholarship (in your name!) each year, for four years, when they enroll at Luther. luther.edu/ambassadors

PA I D E I A I I I — V I R T U A L A L U M N I B O O K CLUBS luther.edu/alumni/events/book-club

D O W N LOA D A LU T H E R V I RT UA L BACKGROUND luthercollege.photoshelter.com/galleries

W AT C H A C O N C E R T Visit the Luther College Music Department YouTube channel to watch a full concert from your favorite Luther ensemble.

NOW STREAMING Concert Band, Jazz Orchestra, Nordic Choir, and Symphony Orchestra albums

Photo: Anna Dieter '15 sent this photo of the beautiful countryside of Eswatini, where she teaches at an international school.

LUTHER COLLEGE 700 COLLEGE DRIVE DECORAH, IOWA 52101-1045

Commencement SUNDAY, M AY 16, 2021

We’ll see a limited number of you in person.

Those of you at home can watch a stream of the ceremony, including speaker Chris Norton ’14, at luther.edu/commencement.

Join us in congratulating the newest class of Luther grads!

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