Class of 2015 Fall 2019 Letter

Fall 2019

Dear Friends of the Class of 2015,

We hope this letter finds you well. Homecoming this year was sure a great time, but we have our sights set on Fall 2020 for our five-year reunion, Saturday, October 10th! Be on the lookout for fun ways you can be involved throughout the year to help us have a wonderful celebration.

It promises to be an exciting year for Luther. In November, the college inaugurated its eleventh president, Dr. Jenifer K. Ward. President Ward joins the Luther community with more than three decades of experience as an educator, scholar, and academic leader after serving, most recently, as provost and dean of the college at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana. Prior to joining Centenary, President Ward served in several leadership roles at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington, including dean of the college, interim provost, and associate provost. She was also a faculty member at Gustavus Adolphus College, where she taught German.         

In a message to the Luther community, President Ward said, “Our work together must be strategic, collaborative, creative, and—most importantly—must articulate what it means to be both grounded in Decorah, Iowa with a face to the world, and set goals for how we can adapt Luther’s past and present for a sustainable future.”

A self-described extrovert and lover of art, film, and literature, President Ward started her duties at Luther July 1, and her official inauguration took place November 1–3.

Learn more about President Ward—including her thoughts on food, art, Twitter, Decorah, and higher ed—on Luther’s YouTube channel (youtube.com, then search “Luther College President Ward”) or in the fall issue of the Luther Magazine: luther.edu/magazine.

Also, while you’re at it, use this checklist to up your Luther social media game:

❏     Follow Luther College on Twitter: @LutherCollege
❏     Follow Luther College on Instagram: @LutherCollege
❏     Follow the Luther College Alumni Facebook page: @facebook.com/luthercollegealumni

And, finally, keep in mind that Christmas at Luther takes place December 5–8. This year’s theme is Whom Angels Greet with Anthems Sweet. Luther would be happy to see you there!

Warm regards,

John, Maggie, and James

 

John Dahl
5705 Clinton Avenue
Mpls. MN 55419-1455
612-270-8682
[email protected]

Maggie (Steinberg) Hagen
151 Q Street NE, Apt. 3422 Washington DC 20002-2290
503-706-0702
[email protected]

James Odegaard
3251 Stonecreek Drive #207
Madison WI 53719
563-380-9558
[email protected]

 

CLASS NOTES 

Tiffany Ackerman earned a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She is personnel director at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah.

Kalle Akkerman is choir director at Austin (Minn.) High School.

Caitlin Almer teaches second grade for the Littleton (Colo.) Public Schools.

Cale Austin is equity plan administrator at United Fire Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

Taylor Baloga of St. Paul, Minn., earned a master’s degree in music therapy from Augsburg College.

Ryan Barrett is an accountant for Furniture Row Companies in Denver.

Jordy Barry of Las Vegas, Nev., earned a master’s degree from Rutgers University in international relations with emphases in UN and global studies - international law & institutions and women & politics. She also earned the IC CAE certificate in intelligence and national security. 

Carl Bates is a logger for American Radio Works at American Public Media Group in St. Paul, Minn. 

Mullen (Wacker) Beisker of Waukon, Iowa, is owner and leader at Agnes & Dora By Mullen.

Emily Betts is senior manager of operations at Waxing the City in Woodbury, Minn.

Audrey Bird is director of planning and special project marketing at Gingrich Productions in Arlington, Va.

Sadie Botine is a youth development outreach volunteer for the Peace Corps in Swaziland.

Thomas Bottem is an audio specialist at Midwest Energy Association in Eagan, Minn.

Sarah Brandt of St. Paul, Minn., is executive assistant at Salem Media Group and front of house manager at Artistry.

Taylor Bremer is an occupational therapist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Anna Burke earned a master’s degree in human rights and international politics with distinction from the University of Glasgow and is pursuing a juris doctorate at the University of Iowa College of Law, in Iowa City, Iowa.

Ryan Castelaz is a barista at Discourse: A Liquid Workshop coffee shop in Sister Bay, Wis.

Brianna Clancy is a private voice instructor for Allen (Texas) Independent Schools.

Mariah Crotty is associate veterinarian at Colonial Terrace Animal Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa.

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

Kyrie Dailey is clinical research coordinator at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Denver.

Isaac Davis is software developer team lead at Epic in Verona, Wis.

Courtnee DeMuth earned a master’s degree in school counseling from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.

Adriana DePaolis of Excelsior, Minn., is a human resources generalist at Honeywell.

Katherine Dick is assistant county attorney at the Linn County Attorney’s Office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Gabe Dorn is a physical therapist at Grand River Health in Rifle, Colo.

Jessica Dorsey is director of annual giving and events at Depaul USA in Chicago.

Renae Eddy of Hopkins, Minn., is an ecommerce analyst at Lifetouch Portrait Studios.

Erik Ehresmann is a business operations analyst for Epicor Software Corporation in Minneapolis.

Carly Ellefsen of Minneapolis is communications manager at Self Esteem Brands.

Emily England is a curator for the Swedish American Museum in Chicago.

Kaitlyn Fillmore is project coordinator, client services at Pearson Education in Iowa City, Iowa.

Alexandra Fitschen is a MackinMaker specialist at Mackin Educational Resources in Burnsville, Minn.

Sarah Fox is a prepared foods cook at The Wedge Community Co-op in Minneapolis.

Caleb Freund is an installation specialist at Custom Builders of Tipton in Tipton, Iowa.

Emily Hagen is director of social services at Good Samaritan Society - Comforcare in Austin, Minn.

Katie Hale of Minneapolis is production editor at Red Line Editorial.

Emily Hasher is assistant project manager at Snap Install, Inc. in St. Paul, Minn.

Darren Hill is a business solutions specialist at Ultimate Staffing in Minneapolis.

Dylan Hinton is a special education paraprofessional for the Bloomington (Minn.) Public Schools.

Katherine Huska is project manager at Trillium Works! in Duluth, Minn.

Phillip Johnson of Cambridge, Wis., earned a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. He is an administrative fellow for Mercyhealth Wisconsin and Illinois.

Henry Jungbauer is a sales associate at Morrie’s Automotive Group in St. Paul, Minn.

Sophia (Ristau) Jungbauer is a CADD technician at Meyer Group Architecture in Duluth, Minn.

Bailey Kampa is a sales support specialist at Securian Financial Group in St. Paul, Minn.

Cody Kliethermes is an associate at JPMorgan Chase in Chicago. (PHOTO)

Hanna Knutson is marketing manager at Colored Organics in Minneapolis.

Casey Liveringhouse earned a doctor of medicine degree from the University of Southern Florida. He is a resident physician in radiation oncology at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Fla.

Jenna Lemieux and Philani Mkhwanazi ‘17 live in Slayton, Minn. She teaches music at Murray County Central School District, and he is a data analyst at Western Mental Health Center.

Alexandra Lohrbach earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota and is program associate with Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative for the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore.

Kurayi Mahachi earned a master’s degree in public health and is a doctoral student in

epidemiology at the University of Iowa.

Sarah Matthiesen earned a doctor of physical therapy degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and is a physical therapist at Allina Health in Minneapolis.

Connor Mattison is relocation coordinator at Plus Relocation in St. Louis Park, Minn.

Rebecca (David) Messerschmidt is a teacher with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Cole Reedy is an accountant I, health plan accounting at Centene Corporation in St. Louis.

Arturo Rico is superintendent at Try Blue Collar in Chicago.

Scott Senko of Minneapolis, won first place in the 2019 Young New Yorkers’ Chorus Competition for Young Composers in New York City.

Andrew Sharot is an integration specialist at EBM Software in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

Sarah Simons is a registered nurse at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Rachel Skinner is marketing manager at Academic Programs International in Austin, Texas.

Rachel Skolaski is an optometry intern at Atwater Eye Care Center in Bloomington, Minn.

Lydon Smit of Johannesburg, South Africa, is dean of students at Sagan Centre and director of Educlined and Educlined Junior.

Robert Starr is technical account coordinator at Epsilon in Westminster, Colo.

Maria Thompson is a client service associate at New Heights Solutions, LLC.

Alison Vuolo is general music and choir instructor at Upper Mississippi Academy in St. Paul, Minn.

Casey Waterman is business development manager at Spring Grove Soda Pop in Spring Grove, Minn.

Nicole Wink is bookkeeper/inside sales at Spahn & Rose Lumber Company in Monticello, Iowa.

Lindsey (Bjorge) Winrick is a post market surveillance analyst at Abbott in St. Paul, Minn.

Dylan Winston is a technician at Affordable Electrical Repair in Crown Point, Ind.

Sofi (Kragness) Wyers is talent partner I at CorTalent in Minneapolis.

 

MARRIAGES

SHELBY BABCOCK and Drew Shuster, Aug. 11, 2018

DANI BASCHE and RYAN READINGER, Sept. 8, 2018

DANIELLE BORDER and Shane McKim, July 28, 2018

RACHEL BRUMMOND and GAGE DYKEMA, Jan. 7, 2017

COLE HOCKER and BREANNE PIERCE '16, Aug. 18, 2018

DEVON HOVEY and COLE PUFFER, Sept. 29, 2018

PAIGE JOHNSON and CHARLES MARTIN-STANLEY '14, July 29, 2018

SOFI KRAGNESS and Nick Wyers, Oct. 6, 2018

MATT KNUTSON and MAGGIE HELMS '16, August 4, 2018

ELIZABETH REED and Nathan Wiese, June 30, 2018

KATELYN WAGNER and DAN GIBSON, Sept. 23, 2017

 

BIRTHS

SYDNEY (GEHRT) '16 and ALEX HAIN welcomed a daughter, Autumn May, in October 2018.

ALLI (KEPHART) and ANDREW TJOSSEM '13 welcomed a son, Henrik Philip, in November 2018.