Alumni, Parents, and Friends

�鶹�� Homecoming 2026: A Weekend Full of Auggie Pride

jonesma — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 20:52:44 +0000

What a wonderful �鶹�� Homecoming weekend! Campus was buzzing with energy as alumni, students, families, friends, faculty, and staff came together to celebrate all things �鶹�� and what makes our Auggie community so special.

From reconnecting with classmates and celebrating milestone reunions to cheering on Auggie athletes and musicians, honoring outstanding alumni at the Distinguished Alumni Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame, and enjoying events like Taste of �鶹��, the Alumni Family Picnic, and the Homecoming Music Showcase, the weekend was filled with connection, celebration, and Auggie pride.

We’re so grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make Homecoming such a memorable weekend. Your enthusiasm and presence are what make gatherings like these so special.

We’ll be sharing more photos from the weekend soon, so stay tuned! We can’t wait to welcome you back to campus for more opportunities to reconnect, celebrate, and stay involved with �鶹��.

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Vocation Without Borders

cjohnson — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 15:30:35 +0000

Jessica Spanswick’s ’10 path to a life of service didn’t begin in one place, but it took clearer shape during her high school years in Perham, Minnesota. Influenced by her father—who grew up on a farm and later saw the world through his time in the Navy—she carried an early awareness that there was more beyond what she could immediately see. That awareness took on new meaning when she arrived at �鶹��.

“At �鶹��, learning wasn’t just something you studied—it was something you lived,” she said.

Through experiences in Cedar-Riverside and across the globe, Jessica began to understand how people, cultures, and systems are deeply connected—and how her own life might fit within that larger picture.

At �鶹��, that understanding was grounded in the idea of vocation. Jessica found language for something she had always felt but never quite defined: that her life and work could be part of something bigger than herself.

“I didn’t have a concept of vocation before �鶹��,” she said. “It helped me see that my path could be about contributing to something beyond just myself.”

At the same time, her Lutheran faith deepened in meaningful ways. In theology courses, she was challenged to think more critically about belief, context, and history, while her relationships in the community—especially tutoring immigrant students and adults—brought those questions into real, human connection.

“There was a lot of growth for me,” she reflected. “I was learning about other faiths and cultures, and also really thinking about what I believe. I started to see how many shared values there are across communities.”

Her semester in Namibia and South Africa during her sophomore year became a turning point. Living with host families and studying the histories of colonialism and apartheid offered a new way of seeing the world.

“It was completely eye-opening,” she said. “I started to understand how history and systems shape people’s lives—not just there, but here in the United States too.”

That way of thinking stayed with her.

“Once you start asking those questions—about history, about systems—you carry that lens with you wherever you go.”

Jessica carried that perspective into the years that followed, continuing to seek out opportunities to learn and serve. Her work took her to communities in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean—whether supporting students in rural South Africa, serving in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic, or studying migration and human rights during graduate school.

“Service can look like a lot of different things,” she said. “But for me, it was always about working alongside communities—learning first, and contributing where I could.”

Over time, that path led her back home. Jessica realized she wanted to bring what she had learned into her own community, where those same questions about systems, equity, and opportunity are just as present.

“I realized I could make the biggest impact in my own community,” she said.

Today, she works in Hennepin County in climate and resilience, focusing on the ways environmental challenges intersect with the lives of the most vulnerable residents.

“All of these issues are connected—climate, housing, migration,” she said. “And the same communities are often carrying the greatest impact.”

Jessica speaks about her work with clarity and conviction. She sees it not simply as a career, but as a continuation of her vocation—a way of contributing to something meaningful, alongside others.

“It’s a privilege to do work where you feel like you’re contributing to something bigger,” she said.

That sense of purpose, she says, began at �鶹��—where she was encouraged to engage deeply, to ask hard questions, and to see her life as part of a larger story of service. Jessica lives in St. Paul with her husband and son.

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A New Academic Year Begins at �鶹��

jonesma — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 18:55:43 +0000

And just like that, summer is winding down and campus life is back in full swing!

�鶹�� has been buzzing with energy as students return to campus. New Auggies are taking part in SOAR programming, residence halls are filling up, and student-athletes are back on the field and in the gym. Across campus, faculty and staff are also preparing to welcome students and begin a new academic year.

For alumni, the sights and sounds of this time of year may bring back memories of your own first days at �鶹�� – moving into the residence halls, finding your way around campus, meeting new classmates and wondering what the years ahead might hold. A new class of Auggies is experiencing those moments for themselves this week.

The official kickoff for the 2026–27 academic year takes place Tuesday, September 1, with Opening Convocation. The �鶹�� community will gather to welcome new students and mark the beginning of another year of learning, growth and connection.

Classes begin this week on Wednesday, September 2, but orientation programming has been underway in the days leading up to the first day of classes. Auggie Days, our first-year welcome week, welcomed new students to campus, while First-Year First Day gave students a chance to meet with their AugSem classes. Transfer SOAR also helped transfer students get oriented, meet their classmates and begin finding their place in the �鶹�� community.

As another academic year begins, we’re excited to see campus come alive once again. There’s something special about this time of year at �鶹�� – the familiar energy of a new semester and the excitement of all that’s still to come. A new class of Auggies is making memories of their own this week and, just as generations of students have done before them, beginning their �鶹�� stories.

Welcome back to our Auggies, and here’s to a great year ahead!

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Building Purpose—and Paying It Forward

cjohnson — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:07:11 +0000

When Brandon Williams ’19 talks about �鶹��, he doesn’t start with a building, a class, or even a professor. He starts with a feeling.

“I just wanted to be involved,” he says. “I fell in love with the community.” That sense of belonging was powerful for Brandon, especially considering the path that brought him there.

Born in Chicago, Brandon moved to Minnesota with his mother when he was in elementary school. The years that followed were marked by frequent moves and financial instability. At different points in his childhood, his family stayed in shelters—including People Serving People—while his mother worked to rebuild stability.

“We moved around a lot,” Brandon recalls. “There were times when housing fell through, or my mom lost her job. We went to shelters a few times when I was about twelve, then again in my mid-teens.”

Through it all, Brandon kept his focus forward.

He attended Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Minneapolis, where students balance rigorous academics with professional internships. The environment helped shape his outlook early. “It was very future-focused,” he says. “You were always preparing yourself for what came next.”

When it came time for college, Brandon considered several options. Ultimately, �鶹�� stood out.

“I chose �鶹�� because it was a smaller school,” he says. “When you’re in a smaller community, you really get to know people. You get to fall in love with the place.”

And he did exactly that.

At �鶹��, Brandon immersed himself in campus life—serving in student government, building relationships across campus, and helping create initiatives designed to improve the student experience. One effort he remembers with pride was helping negotiate a Metro Transit partnership so students could access bus passes through their tuition.

But what mattered most wasn’t the individual accomplishments. It was the culture of care he experienced.

“The staff and the community at �鶹�� created an environment where I felt cared for and thought about,” Brandon says. “I didn’t feel like just another number.”

That sense of belonging shaped his view of leadership—and stewardship.

“For me, being part of �鶹�� meant thinking about the people coming after you,” he explains. “Once you find your place and grow there, your focus should turn to the next group of students. How do you help them have an even better experience?”

Today, Brandon continues to carry that mindset forward.

He is enrolled in law school in a blended evening and weekend program while working full-time as a legal assistant at Winthrop & Weinstine.

In law school, Brandon has discovered that his strengths lie in advocacy and persuasion. “I enjoy arguments and negotiations,” he says. “Taking the facts and the rules and making a case for why something should go a certain way.”

But beyond any specific legal specialty, Brandon is clear about what he hopes his career will be built on.

“More than anything, I want to find purpose,” he says. “Even if something isn’t perfect, I’m always asking: how do I find meaning in this? How am I impacting people’s lives in a real way?”

That search for purpose is the thread connecting his journey—from childhood adversity to leadership at �鶹�� to his future in the law.

And it’s also why he remains closely connected to the �鶹�� community.

“The people I met there are people I still trust,” he says. “They care about others, they care about community, and they’re always willing to come back and help.”

For Brandon, that is the real legacy of �鶹��: a community that shapes students—and inspires them to shape the future for others.

“It’s not about being the biggest or the best,” he says. “It’s about the people. When you build those connections, they stay with you.”

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Send a message of support to �鶹�� students

jonesma — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 20:54:09 +0000

As today’s Auggies move through the spring semester in Minneapolis, we invite �鶹�� alumni, supporters, and friends to share a brief message of encouragement and support for our students. Your words can remind them that they are valued, that they belong, and that a caring �鶹�� community stands with them.

Thank you for supporting �鶹�� students and for being part of a community that cares deeply about access to education and the wellbeing of our neighbors.

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Help shape the future of �鶹�� – join the Alumni Board

jonesma — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:25:43 +0000

�鶹�� is now welcoming applications for new Alumni Board members. This is a meaningful opportunity to support the university by strengthening connections among alumni, students, and the wider �鶹�� community.

Alumni Board members help imagine new ways for Auggies to stay engaged, foster relationships between alumni and current students, and create spaces for the �鶹�� community to come together.

New members will begin their terms this summer.

To learn more, visit the��Alumni Board page��or reach out to��alumni@augsburg.edu

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Your Support Matters—End the Year with a Gift to the �鶹�� Fund

jonesma — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 16:49:47 +0000

At �鶹��, our students are constantly drawn into conversation with their neighbors, invited to explore across disciplines and perspectives, and engaged in the hands-on work of building a meaningful life together. In the midst of these last weeks on campus, our community has rallied together to support and care for each other.

The world needs more Auggies and Auggies need our unwavering support. We are committed to a college experience where every student has access to transformative opportunities and the support to navigate them with confidence.

Philanthropic funding is what makes this promise a reality. Will you make a gift to support the �鶹�� Fund today? Your gift to the �鶹�� Fund by December 31 makes it possible for us to continue supporting the students we are privileged to serve today, and those who will come in the future.

Thank you for a gift before the end of the year, and for your faithful partnership in this critical work.

We encourage donors to make credit card gifts through our secure website at . If you prefer to mail us your credit card information, it must arrive in our office no later than Tuesday, December 30. For check donations, please ensure they are postmarked by Wednesday, December 31. If you have any questions, feel free to call us at 612-330-1613.

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Remembering Stan Nelson ’43

jonesma — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 03:01:39 +0000

�鶹�� athletics legend passed away on November 20, 2025, at the incredible age of 105.

After growing up in Dawson, MN, Stan immersed himself in the �鶹�� community, earning 12 varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball, and golf. �鶹�� connections ran deep in the Nelson family—Stan’s brother, Edor Nelson ’38, would become the Auggies’ longtime football and baseball coach. Stan was inducted into the �鶹�� Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977 and received the 2024 Legend of �鶹�� Athletics Award.��

After the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Stan enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an officer (Lieutenant Junior Grade) during World War II, serving in the Normandy invasion and the Pacific theater. Following the war, he earned his master’s degree. He had an extensive career as a football coach at Anoka High School, leading the team to seven conference championships and the 1964 Minnesota state championship. He was named the MHSCA Coach of the Year in 1964 and was named to several Halls of Fame for his coaching accomplishments. He will be remembered as an Auggie whose dedication, leadership, and service made an enduring impact on his community.��

There will be a visitation on Tuesday, December 2, from 9–11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka, with a service to follow at 11 a.m.

Learn about Stan’s incredible life in these articles:��

(Anoka County Union Herald, November 2025)
(Minnesota Star Tribune, September 2023)

Please join us in keeping Stan’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

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Distinguished Alumni Spotlight: Ross Murray ’00, ’09

jonesma — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 19:44:36 +0000

Ross Murray ’00, ’09, and his husband, Richard Garnett ’07, ’09, share a unique bond as both double alumni of �鶹��. Ross graduated with a degree in Youth and Family Ministry, while Richard graduated with a degree in computer science. Together, they completed their MBA in 2009. “We decided that going to graduate school would be a good couples-building activity,” Ross joked. Today, that shared �鶹�� foundation continues to shape their lives in meaningful ways—evident in Ross’s recognition as one of �鶹��’s 2025 Distinguished Alumni.

His impressive career centers on faith and advocacy, as he is both an ordained deacon and Vice President of the . When reflecting on what this recognition means to him, Ross shared, “It’s a huge honor to be in the company of others who have built these social enterprises that are supporting their community. It’s truly amazing.” His national leadership and reputation can be traced back to his formative years at �鶹��.��

While attending community college, Ross was part of an honor society that helped students gain admission to four-year institutions, and �鶹�� seemed like a good fit. “�鶹�� was really good with how they treated transfer students and accepted credits from other places,” Ross shared. Experiences with Campus Ministry and service learning opportunities began shaping his pathway of faith and advocacy. “Working with people in the community allowed me to put myself in scenarios where I’m connecting with people from all walks of life,” he reflected. Attending �鶹�� also gave Ross the chance to embrace himself. “I used my move to Minneapolis and �鶹�� as a way to begin showing up authentically,” he shared. Reconciling his Christian faith and gay identity empowered him to pursue a vocation grounded in integrity and service.��

The values Ross cultivated at �鶹�� not only informed his career choices, but also inform philanthropic causes he and his husband choose to support. “Richard and I ask ourselves what institutions can help society build a better future and be a leader in that effort—and this is where �鶹�� becomes especially important,” Ross shared as he reflected on the state of higher education. “It’s in a unique position to have a sincere religious conviction while also ensuring outreach is as inclusive as possible.” He noted the growing Somali population and programs like StepUP, which help students in recovery, and �鶹�� Family Scholars, which provides support for students who have experienced the foster care system. “This is why unrestricted giving is so beneficial,” Richard added. “We trust the university to deploy our gifts to the areas of greatest need. �鶹�� has done a lot to help elevate people who might need a little extra support.”��

Ross and Richard continue to see the unlimited potential of current and future Auggies. “�鶹�� has always been a place that has fostered connection and dialogue as a way to confront challenges and build bridges,” Ross said. “If we could provide one message to students, it would be to be the advocates and leaders they wish to see in the world,” Richard added. Just as �鶹�� shaped their journeys, Ross and Richard now model what it means to live out a life of authenticity, advocacy, and service.��

Join Ross, Richard, and others in making a gift for between now and November 20 to help advance �鶹��’s mission and continue their legacy of giving back. Generosity helps unlock the potential of current and future Auggies!��

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Remembering Ingrid Shelby (Gimse) Andress ’56

jonesma — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 17:29:12 +0000

Ingrid Shelby (Gimse) Andress ’56 passed away peacefully on November 1, 2025.

Shelby’s impact on �鶹�� cannot be quantified. As a student, Shelby majored in English and became the first female student body president in �鶹��’s history. In 1956, Shelby married fellow Auggie Jim Andress ’51. The two committed to supporting �鶹�� through volunteering and philanthropic support for the rest of their lives.��

As an alumna, Shelby was deeply involved with �鶹�� Women Engaged, supported students through mentorship, started the Jim and Shelby Andress Education Scholarship to support current students who have a passion for teaching, and visited campus often to stay connected to the work that was happening at �鶹��. In 1992, Shelby received the Distinguished Alumni Award. She also named �鶹�� as a beneficiary of her estate, ensuring her support for the university would continue.

Shelby’s career sent her around the country to study and consult on effective youth development while working at Search Institute. During her time as a consultant, she worked with over 350 communities in over 35 states. Shelby has authored or co-authored 16 research-based publications, and spoke at local, state, and national levels.

In reflecting upon why she felt so deeply committed to staying connected to �鶹��, Shelby shared that, “�鶹�� gives students a vision for their lives that they never dreamed they could even have.”

��

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