Dear Luther Alumni,
Greetings from your
Alumni Council
co-presidents—Denise and Willie! We’re pleased to welcome you to this inaugural edition of the Luther College Alumni E-Newsletter. The plan is for this to be a monthly communique to all Luther alumni, to keep us connected to each other and informed of what’s happening at the college. All of us are experiencing uncertainty and unfamiliarity as we navigate the changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, but let’s keep one thing certain—we’re all part of the Luther College community, and we can rely on each other for strength and camaraderie. We’re in this together! Let’s stay connected—and helpful—to each other. Let us know if there’s anything we can do for you, and please stay healthy and safe.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms! And Go Norse!
Denise '82 and Willie '84 Davismckennie
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Willie '84 and Denise '82
Davismckennie
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Michael Osterholm '75, Public Health
‘
Rock Star
’
We are blessed and extremely grateful for the expertise of Dr. Michael Osterholm, Regent Professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair, and the founding director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. He is helping to guide world leaders through the current health pandemic—and he communicates on a regular basis with President Jenifer Ward. Frequently invited by journalists to share his insights regarding the COVID-19 virus, Mike has also made numerous appearances on major television network news shows, produced podcasts, and published articles. In April his second book,
Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs
,
was listed in the
New York Times
top-fifteen best seller list for hardcover nonfiction. The
Luther Magazine
Spring 2017
issue also featured Mike’s book. Mike graduated from Luther in 1975 and currently serves on our Board of Regents.
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Perspectives on the Coronavirus
Luther’s
Center for Ethics and Public Engagement (CEPE)
has reached out to faculty, staff, and alumni for their understanding of the pandemic, as it relates to their disciplines and work. Many thanks to Sameer Dixit '94, Martha Oldenburg '09, and Mike Osterholm '75 for sharing their views. Click
here
to watch a series of short video presentations on the impact of COVID-19 as viewed from various perspectives. To keep up to date on Luther's response to the pandemic and the impact for students, faculty, and staff, click
here
.
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Jacki Wright
'75
, Associate Professor in Health Promotion/Exercise Science
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CELT Helps Faculty Shift to Online Learning
No one could have predicted in September, when the
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
(CELT) opened, how valuable it would be in helping the college make the shift to online learning in March. Directed by Associate Professor of Art History Kate Elliott, CELT quickly assembled a team to help faculty make the switch. Using video training, written instructions on how to make the most of digital tools, and course delivery guidelines to keep students engaged, the team empowered faculty to create a new kind of classroom. The CELT team also offers in-person training for faculty with specific needs and help to troubleshoot software issues. To read more about the transition to online learning, please click
here
.
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Grit, Grace, and Gratitude
Luther seniors have shared many traditions over the years, but the current health pandemic has upended many of these plans. Madeleine Ross '20 and Ashalul Aden '20 share the grief and emotions surrounding their loss of the opportunity to experience these senior traditions, and to celebrate a traditional commencement with their classmates. The college is proud of Asha, Maddy, and all of our seniors, and we welcome them to the extended Luther alumni family with open arms and caring hearts! Click to read
Maddy's
and
Asha’s
stories on our Ideas and Creations blog. The college will celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2020 in a
virtual commencement ceremony
that will launch at 10:00 a.m. CDT on Sunday, May 24th.
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Luther Senior Housemates
Asha Aden '20
is second from the right.
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Video Conference Virtual Backgrounds
Show your Luther pride with a virtual background photo of the college. Jazz up your Zoom video conferences with your colleagues, friends, and family by downloading one of these awesome
backgrounds
created by our Marketing team and share the Norse spirit! Click
here
for instructions.
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Starting Soon: Luther College Virtual Book Clubs
Luther College alumni, parents, and friends are invited to join one of our Virtual Alumni Book Clubs. Aptly named “Paideia III,” the clubs are intended to engage constituents with faculty emeriti and with one another. The clubs are free, but you will need to purchase your own book ahead of time at your local book store or online, and you will need a computer capable of joining a weekly Zoom meeting. Each club has a limited enrollment of 30, first-come; first-served. Weekly book club Zoom discussions will be moderated by volunteer faculty emeriti, alumni, and Luther staff. There will be a Facebook group established for members to engage with one another during the week after the Zoom discussions. More book groups and new titles will be available later this spring and summer. For more information and to register, click
here
.
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BOOK #1
Educated
by Tara Westover
(first meeting is Wednesday, May 20th)
Moderators: Professor Emeritus of Communication Studies Alan Lerstrom and Professor Emerita of French Ruth Caldwell
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BOOK #2
China Men
by Maxine Hong Kingston
(first meeting is Tuesday, May 26th)
Moderators:
Professor Emeritus of English Peter Scholl and Professor Emerita of Classics (Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill.) M. Jane Borelli (Luther faculty; 1971–82)
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March 5th Giving Day Was a Huge Success!
THANK YOU! We have the most wonderful AND generous alumni, family, and friends and we are grateful for your support of
#LutherGives20
.
On Giving Day 2020, the college raised $948,933 (including challenges and matching gifts) from 2,164 donors representing all 50 states and 11 countries. You certainly did go big AND go gnome!
Giving Day 2021
Blue Thursday, March 11th
Our goal is a million dollars!
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Luther’s Music Tradition Continues Online
A sure way to take your mind off the stress and worry of our new “stay at home” lives during the pandemic is to sit back, relax, and enjoy the beautiful music of these recent virtual Luther choir performances. While singing together virtually cannot take the place of creating music together in person, we continue to be thankful for these moments to unite us together as a community.
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more than 200 alumni, students, and faculty joined together to create a virtual choir singing the
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Thank You, Medical and Essential Workers
Thank you to all who are serving on the frontlines of COVID-19 in essential services. This includes healthcare workers, first responders, grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, postal employees, delivery drivers, auto mechanics, and many more. Not only are you ensuring we have essential care, supplies, and services, but you are often doing it while interacting with members of the public who could potentially make you ill. We are tremendously grateful to you for your service. Thank you from Luther College! Share your pandemic frontline experiences with us by emailing
alumni @luther.edu
.
We would love to hear from you!
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Left to right: Haley Jensen '17, Andrew Wannigman '07, and Kadie Jo Hutton '10
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At Luther College, we learn actively, live purposefully,
and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact.
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