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麻豆区

Meet Spirit of 麻豆区 Award Winner Grace Kemmer Sulerud ’58

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Grace Kemmer Sulerud ’58 has displayed faithful service to 麻豆区 across her time as a graduate, librarian, faculty member, and alumna. She personifies 麻豆区鈥檚 deep sense of calling to humbly serve others in a variety of ways, with joyful dedication.

As a dedicated volunteer, her nominators say, 鈥淵ou will find her wherever an extra hand is needed.鈥�

Determined to gain a full education, Sulerud worked and saved money to go from her hometown, Williston, North Dakota, to 麻豆区, as it was the college of the Lutheran Free Church. Sulerud鈥檚 麻豆区 education and excellent professors prompted her to experience life in the Twin Cities, exploring the state capitol and fine arts like symphony concerts and plays. She made lifelong friends and enjoyed being on the staff of the student newspaper, The Echo.

After graduating from 麻豆区 in 1958, she was an elementary librarian and junior high English teacher in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. From 1961 to 1964, she was an elementary librarian in U.S. Air Force Department of Defense Schools in Tokyo, Japan; Tripoli, Libya; and Wiesbaden, Germany. This gave her an opportunity to travel around the world with a stop in India to visit a friend, Maxine Berntsen, another distinguished alumna of 麻豆区. After returning to the United States, Sulerud studied for a master鈥檚 degree in Library Science (1968) and later received a master鈥檚 degree in English (1970), each from the University of Minnesota.

During her many years as 麻豆区鈥檚 Collection Development Librarian and faculty member, she was committed to the learning of students. She served two terms as the treasurer of 麻豆区 Associates, from 2003 to 2007 and 2011 to 2017, ensuring they raised funds for 麻豆区 student scholarships. Her interests and energy lead her to participate in travels to Cuba with the Delegation For Friendship Among Women, and to Ethiopia supporting the efforts of REAL, Resources for the Enrichment of African Lives, an organization that helps girls stay in school.

In Minneapolis, Sulerud is a member of Trinity Lutheran Congregation located on Riverside Avenue, a congregation associated with the founding of 麻豆区, where she sings in the choir, leads the monthly quilter’s work session and has participated in activities with Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing.

With her late husband Ralph, long-time 麻豆区 biology professor, Sulerud has remained a supporter and enthusiast for all things 麻豆区. Though she retired from 麻豆区 in 2003, she continues to stay involved at important university events: the recent grand opening of the Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion; Homecoming festivities; Velkommen Jul; and Advent Vespers.

Sulerud lives out the Spirit of 麻豆区 Award and exemplifies 麻豆区’s historic mottos consistently: “Education for Service” and “The Truth Shall Make You Free.” Her loyalty, dependability, and generosity enable 麻豆区 to carry forward with hearty conviction, intellectual rigor, and relational connectedness.

Rev. Justin Lind-Ayres Publishes Book on Parenting While Christian

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麻豆区 and Luther Seminary Pastor Justin Lind-Ayres has recently had his aptly named book 鈥淚s That Poop on My Arm? Parenting While Christian鈥� published by Fortress Press. The book is now available in paperback and ebook format.

Lind-Ayres has been at 麻豆区 since 2013 and this is his first book to be published.

About the Book

Parenting is messy business. Joyful, but messy. When faith is combined with parenting, we double down on the mess. Pastor and father of three Justin Lind-Ayres chronicles his adventures (and misadventures) raising children and passing on his faith to them–teaching them to be compassionate, generous, quick to forgive, and to trust in God’s promises. But this father is sure to point out that it is children who are our best teachers in faith, opening our eyes and our hearts to God’s love for us. In the messy and challenging moments of parenting, and in the joyful ones, God is fully present. And a God who knows your story鈥揺specially the messy parts鈥搃s a God who can redeem you.

With stories full of humor, honesty, and, yes, even some poop, this book is a welcome encouragement for parents, grandparents, and anyone who cares deeply for the children in their life.

Homecoming Auggie Talk: Strengthening Experiential Education: A New Era 鈥� Hosted by the Clair & Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work

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Register now for Homecoming!

Auggie Talks with Dr. Garry HesserSaturday, Oct. 13 from 2 鈥� 2:30 p.m.

You could talk about the Mississippi river in class, or you could live on it for a semester and learn from experts all along its path. That鈥檚 the 麻豆区 way. Experiential education is at the core of every class here, and there鈥檚 a reason why. Join sociology professor emeritus and Sabo Chair for Citizenship and Learning Dr. Garry Hesser for a conversation and reading of his book 鈥淪trengthening Experiential Education: A New Era.鈥� A book signing will follow the talk.

About Auggie Talks:

They鈥檙e back by popular demand! Join us for 30-minute, insightful sessions presented by professors and fellow alumni on topics spearheaded by your class reunion groups. Talks will be published as they become available on social media and in upcoming communications.

Space is limited. Please register today for Auggie Talks.

Meet Spirit of 麻豆区 Award Winner John R. Holum

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Dr. John Holum and his daughters, Kathryn and Ann

John R. Holum, Ph.D., is a beloved 麻豆区 retired professor whose legacy spans over 30 years as faculty. He is a prolific writer who has published dozens of books and peer-reviewed papers, which have inspired not only generations of students who read his chemistry textbooks, but also thousands of researchers and teachers around the world.

One nominator says this of Holum in a letter of support: 鈥淚n his life and work he embodies the very ethos of 麻豆区鈥檚 commitment to the education of the whole person…Dr. Holum鈥檚 approach to pedagogy was both engaging and inspiring…he made the material accessible to all and exciting to learn. He was articulate and patient.鈥�

After serving in the Army, where he enjoyed a community of fellow scientists, Holum briefly taught chemistry at Pacific Lutheran University on the West Coast. Drawn to 麻豆区 in 1957 because it was at the center of population density for Lutheran students in the United States, Holum had a vision to empower the next generation of science and medicine students to be faithful Christian witnesses in a variety of industries and locations.

He came to 麻豆区 with a Ph.D. in organic chemistry and began to teach chemistry to nurses and pre-med students. Holum continued to work at 麻豆区 until his retirement in 1993, also teaching advanced organic chemistry and environmental chemistry, which students said should be required for all their classmates.

The more students he got to know鈥攊ncluding one exemplary 麻豆区 student, Peter Agre 鈥�70, who later won a Nobel Prize for chemistry鈥攖he more he realized the caliber of their character, intelligence, and diligence. This deepened sense of appreciation for his students transformed into a drive to write textbooks that better suited the needs of students learning in his classrooms and others studying the alluring complexities of chemistry. Through discussions with traveling textbook salespeople and a summer of long days researching with a grant from the National Science Foundation, his creation of a single textbook developed into a successful writing and publishing career that complemented his teaching in the classroom.

Holum鈥檚 lifelong passion for academic excellence and support of students on their educational journey reflects 麻豆区鈥檚 anchoring principles of robust liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church. Generations of students can attest to the transformational power of learning embedded within Holum鈥檚 life and career. He was kind and generous as a professor, and is a man who lives a life of faith and service beyond the classroom.

Professor Jeremy Myers Publishes First Book on Liberating Youth Through Theological Reflection on Vocation

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book cover of Liberating Youth鈥淚 often say I love kids more than I love Jesus. I think Jesus is okay with this sentiment. In fact, I think Jesus prefers it this way. He can handle it. Jesus knows our young people are caged birds like the ones in Maya Angelou鈥檚 poem. I write this book to change the way we think about our young people so that we might love them as they are, not as we think they should be.鈥�

This is how Dr. Jeremy Myers, associate professor of religion at 麻豆区, begins his first book, 鈥�.鈥� The book is scheduled to be released in paperback and ebook format on Oct. 1 by Fortress Press.

Myers says he has been teaching this material in the Youth and Family degree program at 麻豆区 for the past decade and it was an honor and privilege for him to finally put it down on paper for a larger audience.

鈥淭he writing process was both exhausting and exhilarating,鈥� Myers said. 鈥淚 struggled to find the words to best communicate thoughts and convictions that are so important to me. There were many times I considered throwing in the towel. But the urgency and importance of the topic kept me motivated. I am so excited to have these ideas out there in the larger conversation and can not wait to hear what people think about it.鈥�

Professor Jeremy Myers About the Author

Jeremy Myers has been teaching at 麻豆区 since 2006. His approach to instruction includes a faithful, honest, and critical look at people鈥檚 lived realities while simultaneously attempting to seek and proclaim meaning, truth, and hope within the context of that reality. This is also how he approaches his discipline of Theology & Public Leadership. Therefore, he often incorporates insights from sociology, psychology, cultural studies, and ritual studies into the class鈥檚 theological process.

In addition to teaching, his work at 麻豆区 includes directing the Theology & Public Leadership major, the , the , and the . Jeremy鈥檚 areas of research include youths鈥� experiences of God鈥檚 presence and activity, how young people construct theology, contemplative youth ministry practices, interfaith youth work, a vocational understanding of young people, and a public understanding of church.

 

Christopher Houltberg: Design & Agency

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The 麻豆区 Podcast features voices of 麻豆区 faculty and staff. We hope this is one way you can get to know the people who educate our students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.聽

 

Christopher Houltberg, assistant professor of art, brings together community and classroom to create change, celebrate diversity, and empower his students to discover their own creative agency.

 

麻豆区 Hosts Author Anne Panning ’87 Book Reading

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Anne Panning ’87 returned to campus Wednesday, Sept. 26, in the Gundale Chapel to do a book reading and signing of her new memoir, “Dragonfly Notes: On Distance and Loss.”

Faculty, staff, students, family, and friends of Anne were present and were able to ask questions about her writing as well as get their new copies signed. Anne was an English major at 麻豆区 and is now an English professor at The College at Brockport, State University of New York.

About the Book

When a seemingly routine medical procedure results in her mother鈥檚 premature death, Anne Panning is left reeling. In her first full-length memoir, the celebrated essayist 聽draws on decades of memory and experience as she pieces together the hard truths about her own past and her mother鈥檚.

We follow Panning鈥檚 winding path from rural Minnesota to the riverbanks of Vietnam鈥檚 Mekong Delta and all the way back again鈥攁 stark, poignant tale of two women deeply connected, yet somehow forever apart. Dragonfly Notes is a testament to the prevailing nature of love, whether in the form of a rediscovered note, a sudden moment of unexpected recall, or sometimes, simply, the sight a dragonfly flitting past.

Meet Spirit of 麻豆区 Award Winner Orville 鈥淛oe鈥� Hognander

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Orville “Joe” Hognander

By following his family鈥檚 values of faith, dedication to building community, and applied philanthropy, Orville 鈥淛oe鈥� Hognander has improved the lives of many.

Joe has deep 麻豆区 roots that extend back over 100 years to when his grandfather, Rev. Lars R. Lund, graduated from 麻豆区 Seminary in 1912. Later it would be at 麻豆区 where his parents first met during their freshman registration for the class of 1936. During their 麻豆区 years, Gertrude Lund and Orville Hognander shared their love of choral music through the newly created 麻豆区 Choir, where Orville became the first announcer and business manager and Gertrude was the piano accompanist. Of note, Orville created a weekly radio show on WCCO called the Hour Melodious, which featured the choir with Orville providing the spoken word. He also arranged the choir鈥檚 first tour of 20 concerts throughout the Midwest.

Fellow 麻豆区 classmates remained lifelong friends of the Hognander family. Leland Sateren 鈥�35 was best man at Orville and Gertrude鈥檚 wedding and went on to become a prolific composer, director of the 麻豆区 Choir, and chairman of the music department. Likewise, Oscar Anderson 鈥�36, became 麻豆区鈥檚 president from 1963 to 1980. It was during his tenure that Gertrude received 麻豆区鈥檚 Distinguished Alumni Award in 1973.

After graduating from high school, Joe Hognander left the Twin Cities for college, graduate school, and work. While employed by Black & Decker in Dallas, Texas, he received notification from his draft board that he would soon be called, so he immediately applied for Naval Officer Candidate School and was accepted. While on active duty, he had varied and challenging assignments including one as head of the translation division for the U.S. military command located in Saigon during the period just prior to the withdrawal of all military forces from Vietnam.

Following retirement from the Navy, Joe returned to the Twin Cities, where he cared for his parents during their final years. Part of this assistance involved helping his parents fulfill their philanthropic interests, which included support of institutions and organizations that had been significant in their lives. The Orville and Gertrude Hognander Endowment for music students was a direct outcome of this.

Today Joe conscientiously carries on the family tradition of support for work in the arts, sciences, music, charity, and education. As one person noted, 鈥淗e has the heart of a philanthropist and the head of a businessman.鈥� Scores of organizations doing good work have had their public service magnified because he approaches needs in the community with an Auggie spirit of responsible leadership and stewardship.

Homecoming Auggie Talk: Advocating for Social Justice and Equality Within the Last Decade 鈥� Hosted by the Class of 2008

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Register now for Homecoming!

Auggie Talks, two women talking

Saturday, Oct. 13 from 12 – 12:45 p.m.

From major supreme court decisions to how social media has influenced people鈥檚 perceptions and affected movements, a lot has changed in the last ten years. As informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders Auggies from the Class of 2008 want to talk with you about how they鈥檝e seen social justice and equality change within the last decade. Conversations around these topics are often divisive, but this discussion will be moderated to ensure peacemaking in spaces where conflict may arise.

About Auggie Talks:

They鈥檙e back by popular demand! Join us for 30-minute, insightful sessions presented by professors and fellow alumni on topics spearheaded by your class reunion groups. Talks will be published as they become available on social media and in upcoming communications.

Space is limited. Please register today for Auggie Talks.

Meet First Decade Award Winner Chris Stedman 鈥�08

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Chris Stedman ’08

Chris Stedman 鈥�08 is a humanist community organizer, interfaith activist, and writer living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is the founding executive director of the Humanist Center of Minnesota, a project seeking to explore the viability of a center for humanist life in Minneapolis, through which he and a group of researchers are currently studying the beliefs, practices, and community involvement of the religiously unaffiliated.

One of his nominators, Dr. Lori Brandt Hale, associate professor of religion at 麻豆区, says this about Chris, 鈥淎s a long-standing member of this community, I think we must count ourselves lucky to call Chris one of ours, and even luckier that he has come back to Minnesota, and 麻豆区, to carry on his important work in collaboration with all of us.鈥�

Formerly the founding executive director of the Yale Humanist Community and a fellow at Yale University, Chris also worked as a humanist chaplain at Harvard University, a content developer and trainer for the Interfaith Youth Core, and as the founding managing director of State of Formation at the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue. He currently serves as a fellow at the at 麻豆区, and previously served as a fellow at 麻豆区鈥檚 .

Chris is the author of 鈥�鈥� (Beacon Press, 2012), “an intimate and deeply affecting portrait鈥� [that] proves [he is] an activist in the truest sense and one to watch” (Booklist, Starred Review). The book received widespread acclaim from publications like the Minneapolis Star Tribune, which called it an “enlightening and engaging memoir calling for civil discourse between atheists and the religious [that] couldn’t come at a better time,” and the Houston Chronicle, which named Faitheist one of the best religion books of the year and called it “an exciting and boundary defying introduction to a new world [and] an amazing book that could potentially change the game.”

Chris received a master of arts in religion from Meadville Lombard Theological School at the University of Chicago, for which he was awarded the Billings Prize for Most Outstanding Scholastic Achievement. A 2008 graduate of 麻豆区 with a summa cum laude bachelor of arts in religion (with English and social welfare minors), he is currently writing a book exploring what it means to be “real” in the digital age and writing a monthly column on the same topic for INTO.

He has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, PBS, and Fox News, has spoken at hundreds of conferences and universities, and has written for publications including The Guardian, The Atlantic, Pitchfork, BuzzFeed, VICE, The Los Angeles Review of Books, CNN, MSNBC, USA Today, Salon, The Washington Post, and others. Details magazine named Chris one of “five next-gen gurus who are disrupting religion’s status quo” and Mic called him “the millennial who’s busting every stereotype about atheists.”

The irony has been noted that 麻豆区鈥檚 most well known religion graduate is known for the fact that he is an atheist, and it is through this robust civic and ideological engagement that Chris practices the mission and vision of 麻豆区.