This section of the News and Media Services department site tracks stories in print and broadcast media that feature Auggie faculty, students, and staff. The area also is home to material developed for University-related programs, events, and more.
The hot, sweaty weather of July has brought a truly extraordinary botanical curiosity out of dormancy. The giant corpse flower, or titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum), is famous for producing an enormous, sinister, powerfully malodorous, but thankfully short-lived bloom. At 94 inches tall as of July 14, Augsburg University’s very own corpse flower is getting ready to put on its first floral display.
The plant has tentatively been dubbed “Lady Gag-Ugh,” in reference to the formidably foul smell―reminiscent of roadkill―it produces once open. The corpse flower will unfurl its bloom and emit its foul stench for a mere 24–36 hours before rapidly collapsing back into dormancy.
Augsburg University obtained its specimen as a donation from the United States Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. It forms part of an ongoing series of projects by biology professor Leon van Eck, curator of the Augsburg Greenhouse, to increase the diversity and conservation value of the permanent plant collection at Augsburg. “Lady Gag-Ugh” was grown from seed sown at USBG in February 2018, in D.C. The plant has been growing at Augsburg since July 2021, and is now flowering for the first time, at the age of seven.
Giant corpse flowers do not flower very often, and can hold out for almost a decade to do so. Every year or so, the plant sends up a single leaf―at 12 ft tall bigger than some small trees―to convert sunlight energy into sugars that get stockpiled in a large underground stem called a corm. Once the corm has enough energy stored up, the corpse flower will finally transition to reproductive mode and send up a flower stalk. “Lady Gag-Ugh” has now done exactly that.
These precious rainforest divas are temperamental, and the exact moment of blooming is difficult to predict. As of July 14, van Eck estimates the blooming of “Lady Gag-Ugh” between July 15–18. Once unfurled, the bloom will rapidly burn energy to heat up its central spire and emit its putrid scent, aiming to attract carrion beetles and flesh flies as pollinators.
This tropical relative of the jack-in-the-pulpit is native to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. In the wild, there are fewer than 1,000 mature individuals of this species remaining, and its continued survival is threatened by habitat loss to expanding oil palm plantations. Displays of these rare corpse flowers at botanic gardens and conservatories around the world attract thousands of visitors annually, and Augsburg is proud to continue the practice of preserving and exhibiting this rare and remarkable species.
The corpse flower is located in the greenhouse on the 4th floor of Hagfors Center at 700 21st Ave S in Minneapolis; arrangements are underway for free public viewing until 9 p.m. on the day it flowers. Follow @augsburg_greenhouse on Instagram for updates and more details.
Arif Bakar ’19 MAE has been named a 2025 Bush Fellow by the Bush Foundation. Selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 applicants, Bakar is one of 29 individuals eager to put his self-designed leadership plan into action through the time and resources being facilitated by the prestigious fellowship.
Originally from Ethiopia, Bakar moved to Minnesota in 2005 to begin a decade-long career in social work. He later became interested in education, seeing transferable skills in the field and earning a scholarship through Augsburg’s East African Students to Teachers (EAST) program—now Thrive—which made it possible to pursue a new career path with a Master of Arts in Education. Bakar gained classroom experience as a science teacher at Lincoln International High School in Minneapolis and later founded Bultum Academy in Columbia Heights, the first charter school in North America to teach Oromo as a world language.
Bakar said completing the extensive application and interview process for the Bush Fellowship was a deeply reflective experience, reminding him of how he has evolved and articulating his direction for the future.
“When you’re balancing school, work, and raising a family, you don’t always get the chance to stop and think about your own story,” said Bakar. “Going through the application made me reflect on where I came from, the people who influenced me, and the challenges that shaped my leadership journey. It was emotional at times—remembering my childhood, the struggles, and how far I’ve come. It reminded me that real leadership often comes from lived experience, resilience, and the inner drive to make a difference.”
After careful selection by the Bush Foundation, each fellow receives up to $150,000 to support their bold vision and their commitment to strengthening leadership skills. For Bakar, this means setting an example for his children and his community by pursuing a doctoral degree in leadership through St. Mary’s University. Bakar also plans to study global education models and teacher preparation methods in Japan, Finland, and Singapore.
“I want to throw myself into their culture and see it for myself from a quality standpoint. I want to experience as much as I can and bring that to my school and eventually pass on to other schools that want to replicate,” said Bakar.
Created by Archie and Edyth Bush in 1953, the Bush Foundation works to inspire and support creative problem solving—within and across sectors—to make the region better for everyone. The foundation works through open grantmaking programs to develop, test, and spread great ideas, equipping selected fellows throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations that share this geography.
Nearly 1,000 Augsburg University undergraduate students were named to the 2025 spring semester Dean’s List. The Augsburg University Dean’s List recognizes those full-time students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and those part-time students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.75 or higher in a given term.
The Augsburg University community mourns the tragic assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as well as the attempted assassination of Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, on June 14. Our prayers are with their families and neighbors in this distressing time.
Both Representative Hortman and Senator Hoffman have been exemplary public servants who shared our deep commitments to the role of education in Minnesota and beyond. We will miss Speaker Hortman’s keen intellect, calm demeanor, and political savvy, and we wish Senator Hoffman a speedy recovery.
We live in polarized times, which, as we teach our students, require empathy and grace if we are to live together. Violence is never the way forward and we grieve this moment for all of us.
Augsburg’s annual campus professional development conference, Days in May, typically attracts strong participation from faculty and staff. But the crowd that filled Hoversten Chapel on May 15 was larger than usual. Faculty, staff, alumni, family, and students packed the house to celebrate and remember the legacy of Associate Professor of Education Jennifer Diaz, who passed away in 2024.
Sponsored by the Education Department, the Office of the President, and the Office of Faculty Development, the keynote speaker for the Professor Jennifer Diaz Memorial Lecture was Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, professor emerita and former Kellner Family Distinguished Professor of Urban Education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Ladson-Billings is an influential scholar of culturally relevant pedagogy and critical race theory in education, a former president of the American Educational Research Association, and the author of critically acclaimed books, including “The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children” and “Crossing Over to Canaan: The Journey of New Teachers in Diverse Classrooms.”
Diaz studied with Ladson-Billings during graduate school at UW–Madison. After completing her Ph.D., Diaz joined Augsburg in 2015, where her scholarly work focused on interrupting “deficit narratives” in mathematics education. “Math was her vehicle, but not her purpose,” said Ladson-Billings, reflecting on Diaz’s work to identify and challenge inequitable systems through attention to context, cultures, and teacher effectiveness. “Jennie Diaz believed in her students.”
Diaz shared her personal vocation story in her own words in November 2023 as part of the “Uncovering Vocation” series at Augsburg. She spoke about being encouraged by a former teacher to give her gifts freely to the world, expecting nothing in return.
“In any conversation with Jennie, you knew you mattered,” said Professor Audrey Lensmire. “She believed that our work was a collective effort toward equity.”
2025 marks two important milestones in the relationship between Norway and the United States—the 200th anniversary of the first organized emigration from Norway to North America and the celebration of 100 years of Norwegian-American educational cooperation. Here at Augsburg, it is also the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Augsburg Choir to Norway.
A Century of Educational Cooperation
At an event in Oslo on May 15, Augsburg University alumni joined President Paul Pribbenow and His Majesty King Harald V in recognition of the deep and enduring educational ties between the U.S. and Norway
The event, held at Fanehallen in Akershus Fortress and co-hosted by the Norway-America Association, brought together alumni from from six sister universities, all founded by Norwegian immigrants—institutions which for generations have been bridge-builders between Norway and the United States. With academics, diplomats, business leaders and guests from Norway and the United States, the evening served as a tribute to shared history, knowledge, and future cooperation. Former Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of the Parliament’s Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee, Ine Eriksen Søreide, gave the keynote speech.
The six universities—Augsburg, Augustana University, Concordia College, Luther College, Pacific Lutheran University and St. Olaf College—were all founded by Norwegian immigrants. For over a hundred years, they have welcomed Norwegian students and maintained strong ties to Norway. At the event, Pribbenow delivered remarks about the importance of the long-term cross-Atlantic collaboration.
“At a time when transatlantic relations are being challenged, it is more important than ever to strengthen student exchanges. The relationship with the United States is about more than trade and defence—it is also about knowledge, understanding and common values,” said Hanne K. Aaberg, Secretary General of the Norway-America Association (NORAM).
NORAM works to promote mutual knowledge and understanding between Norway and North America. For over 100 years, NORAM has worked for transatlantic cooperation and helped more than 5,000 students with scholarships and advising.
Music and Memory
On May 17, members of the 1975 Augsburg Choir returned to campus to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their choir tour to Norway.
The October 1975 issue of Augsburg Now covered the tour: “In late spring of this year, the Augsburg Choir traveled to Norway as the cultural ambassadors for Minnesota to the first ceremonies in the National Theater in Oslo on Syttende Mai (Norwegian Independence Day – May 17). They traveled under an invitation from Nordmann’s Forbundet, who made all arrangements for them in the Scandinavian countries. Due to Nordmann’s Forbundet arrangements, the choir was well received in 19 cities throughout Norway and Sweden. The reviews were fantastic including, “Without a doubt they (the choir) rank among the ‘world’s elite’ as choirs …” Romesdals folkebald, Molde, Norway … The choir was the first group to be invited to Norway as part of the Sesquicentennial celebration.” Augsburg continued to be heavily involved in the year-long sesquicentennial celebration of the Norwegian immigration to the United States, culminating with a visit to campus by King Olav V in October 1975.
Of the 65 alumni who participated in the 1975 tour, 49 were present for the 2025 reunion, along with several partners and spouses. It was a meaningful day filled with reconnecting, reminiscing, and joining together in song and laughter. The reunion was a special opportunity to honor the lasting friendships, shared history, and enduring power of music that have united Auggies for decades. View photos from the reunion event.
Thor Heyerdahl International Days: November 5–6
Looking ahead, the celebration of 200 years of Norwegian immigration will continue this fall with Thor Heyerdahl International days, a special event to be held November 5–6 on Augsburg’s campus in collaboration with the Thor Heyerdahl Institute (Vestfold Museums), alongside Vestfold and Telemark County Councils, and the Norwegian Crossings 200 Committee. This two-day event—“Migration: Building a Better Future”—will explore the roles of higher education institutions in creating successful immigration stories.
Augsburg University’s Master of Arts in Nursing program has a new name: Nursing Leadership to Advance Health Equity.
The name change, effective in Fall 2025, reflects Augsburg’s deep, long-standing commitments as well as a core focus of the discipline of nursing for the future.
“Nurses are on the front lines when it comes to improving health outcomes for diverse and underserved populations,” said Associate Professor Katie Clark MAN ’10, DNP ’14, who chairs Augsburg’s nursing department. “Our alumni are passionate leaders who are equipped to advance health equity and address the social determinants of health at every level—in the clinic, within complex health care systems, and beyond.”
Students in the nursing leadership program take a total of 33 semester credit hours — eight 3-semester credit hour courses plus 9-semester credits of practicum. Local and global immersion practicum experiences provide opportunities for students to apply knowledge and gain experience partnering with diverse care providers, populations, and communities to address health inequities in creative and relevant ways. Short-term immersion experiences are offered in places like Mexico, Guatemala, Namibia, and Italy.
“At Augsburg, our commitment to mission is not just a discussion—it’s a call to action, and it is woven into everything we do,” said Clark. “This name change represents more clearly who we are as a department and who we aspire to be as a collective with our students.”
Within Augsburg’s School of Health, nursing students focus on interprofessional collaboration to foster just and inclusive care, alongside students studying social work, physician’s assistant/physician’s associate studies, and clinical psychology. In addition to the Master of Arts in Nursing Leadership to Advance Health Equity, Augsburg offers a range of nursing programs and pathways:
On May 8, the Augsburg University community gathered to recognize outstanding faculty contributions during the 2024–25 academic year. This annual celebration recognizes length of service; tenure and promotions; committee, program, and department leadership; grant applications; and individual awards chosen by students and faculty peers.
Tenure and Promotion to Associate Professor
Three individuals were recognized for their achievement in receiving tenure and promotion to associate professor, effective Fall 2025.
Moumita Dasgupta, physics
Amy Larson, computer science
Juyoung Lee, music therapy
Promotion to Full Professor
Three individuals were recognized for their promotions to full professor effective Fall 2025, in recognition of their exemplary practice and mastery in teaching, scholarship, and leadership.
George Dierberger, business and economics
O. Evren Guler, psychology
Robert Groven, communication studies
Augsburg Day Student Government Excellence in Teaching Award
Summer May ’26 has been awarded a 2025 Udall Undergraduate Scholarship. Through a highly competitive selection process, the Udall Foundation awards 55 scholarships annually to college sophomores and juniors who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, public service, academic achievement, and commitment to issues related to Native American nations or to the environment.
May, a member of the Red Lake Nation, is the third Augsburg student to receive a Udall Scholarship. Alongside her environmental studies major, she serves as a teaching facilitator at Red Lake Nation College. In this role she works with tribal elders to co-create online curriculum resources based on Indigenous traditions, values, and ecological knowledge and supports instructors in teaching Anishinaabeg language, history, and culture. She previously co-taught Intro to Anishinaabe Studies and Intro to Ojibwemowin at Red Lake Nation College and served as an Ojibwe language PSEO instructor at Robbinsdale High School.
“These experiences have helped me to realize that each of us has a strength that can be utilized to better the well-being of our community,” said May. “We are all born with the responsibility to uphold and use this strength for those presently, and those seven generations from now. It’s an honor to be able to serve my community and aid in the preservation and continuation of the Ojibwe cultural language and teachings.”
Through her work and her studies, May aims to further establish environmental curricula and programs that are grounded in Anishinaabeg values, with a goal of helping Red Lake Nation College and other institutions transition toward environmental sustainability. Ultimately, she hopes to develop outreach programs that make eco-centric knowledge available beyond academic spaces.
“Summer listens closely to folks of every sort and shares wonder without naiveté,” said Professor Michael Lansing, who nominated May for the Udall Scholarship. “Her ability to be true to herself, her considerable insights, and her closely-held commitments is matched by her willingness to learn from and honor others. It’s a potent combination, one that builds on a foundation of personal and intellectual integrity, and one that ensures she has an especially bright future.”
The Udall Undergraduate Scholarship honors the legacies of Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall, whose careers had a significant impact on Native American self-governance, health care, and the stewardship of public lands and natural resources. Udall Scholars receive up to $7,000 for eligible academic expenses and benefit from professional development and training opportunities with environmental and Native professionals, other scholars, and the Udall alumni network.
Augsburg University will celebrate the class of 2025 at an in-person commencement ceremony at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Friday, May 9. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and the ceremony begins at 6:00 p.m.
The ceremony recognizes candidates in Augsburg’s two doctoral, nine master’s, and three bachelor’s degree programs:
Doctor of Clinical Psychology
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Master of Arts in Education
Master of Arts in Teaching
Master of Arts in Leadership
Master of Arts in Nursing
Master of Business Administration
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Master of Music Therapy
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Master of Social Work
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Science
Augsburg’s commencement ceremony includes an address by a student speaker and the presentation of two student awards. the Richard J. Thoni Award is given to one member of the graduating class whose actions, commitments, and future aspirations represent commitments to community, hospitality, and innovation. The Marina Christensen Justice Award is given to one member of the senior class whose actions, commitments, and future aspirations most profoundly exemplify Augsburg’s motto: “Education for Service.” Flags displayed at commencement represent sovereign nations of American Indian students and countries of the international students graduating in the ceremony.
Tickets are required to attend in person, but the ceremony will also be livestreamed. Follow the celebration through the hashtag #AuggieGrad on all social media platforms, where students will be sharing images of the celebration.
The hot, sweaty weather of July has brought a truly extraordinary botanical curiosity out of dormancy. The giant corpse flower, or titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum), is famous for producing an enormous, sinister, powerfully malodorous, but thankfully short-lived bloom. At 94 inches tall as of July 14, Augsburg University’s very own corpse flower is getting ready to put on its first floral display.
