Author: Luther College News

Coming off their first tour since 2019, the Luther College Jazz Orchestra will perform their Homecoming Concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, in the Center for Faith and Life on the Luther College campus. Hitting the road for the first time since 2019, the members of the band and their conductor, Juan Tony Guzmán, invite you to attend this high-energy performance. 

The Jazz Orchestra spring tour includes stops in Chatfield, Minnesota; Roseville, Minnesota; Annandale, Minnesota; Johnston, Iowa; and Menomonie, Wisonsin. 

Luther’s Jazz Orchestra is one of the premier collegiate instrumental ensembles in the United States and one of four major touring ensembles on campus. The group travels regionally each year and abroad every four years. Their spring tour repertoire includes highlights from Duke Ellington, Gordon Goodwin, Astor Piazzolla and Wynton Marsalis. Students from a variety of academic programs perform with the Jazz Orchestra and will be featured as soloists throughout the event.  

The concert is open to the public with no charge for admission. 

Luther is home to one of the largest undergraduate music programs in the nation, with five choirs, three orchestras, two bands and two jazz bands. One-third of all Luther students participate in music, including large ensembles, faculty-coached chamber groups, private lessons and master classes. Nearly 175 music majors study music theory, ear training, history, education, composition, jazz, church music, and performance. Learn more at luther.edu/music.

A Luther College professor will have his work featured on Wisconsin Public Radio this month. Beginning on Monday, March 14, WPR will feature “As the Twig is Bent: A Memoir” on its “Chapter a Day” program. The book, by Wallace Byron Grange, was co-edited by Joseph L. Breitenstein, Luther College professor of psychology.

“Along with my co-editor, Richard Thiel, an accomplished naturalist in his own right, we are honored that ‘Chapter a Day’ selected ‘As the Twig is Bent: A Memoir.’ This program has been a mainstay of Wisconsin Public Radio since it was first broadcast in 1931,” said Breitenstein. “When editing this book, Richard and I agreed early on that our main goal was to bring attention to Grange’s life work. His observations about saving the environment are more salient than ever, and we are very appreciative that WPR’s audience will be able to hear about this amazing man.”

            The memoir elicits admiration for a largely self-taught man whose early relationship with nature formed him into a pioneering conservationist, including leading the fight to ban DDT.

            “The book we edited is essentially a memoir of Grange’s childhood placed in the context of his entire life. The most important years of his childhood were spent in Northern Wisconsin where he lived at the nexus between pristine forests and devastation from clear-cut logging. How to nurture damaged land back to productivity became Grange’s life work,” said Breitenstein.

            This project allowed Breitenstein to channel his psychological interests in personal development, environmentalism and politics. He collaborated with other faculty experts at Luther College to gain necessary technical information including Mark Eichinger and Tex Sordahl of the biology department.

            Read by Norman Gilliland, “As the Twig is Bent: A Memoir” can be heard at 12:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on WPR’s Ideas Network Monday, March 14, through Friday, March 25.  Episodes are available online a week after being broadcast.

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

In recognition of Women’s History Month, Luther College will host the Sihler Lecture “Jingle Dress: Ojibwe People & Pandemics,” by Brenda J. Child at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall.

“I am very much looking forward to hearing Brenda Child’s lecture on Ojibwe people and pandemics,” said Anna Peterson, associate professor of history. “This is a chance to hear from one of the foremost scholars of American Indian history on an important and relevant topic. Her research on Ojibwe culture, music, dance and medicine as sources of healing offers a timely approach to understanding Indigenous epistemologies and responses to illness and disease.”

Born on the Red Lake Ojibwe Reservation in northern Minnesota and now a leading scholar of American Indian history, Child’s work focuses on topics such as the legacy of American Indian boarding schools in the U.S. and the role of Ojibwe women in the preservation of indigenous culture, education and history. She is the author of several award-winning books.

Child currently serves as the Northrop Professor of American Studies at the University of Minnesota and is the former chair of the departments of American studies (2016-19) and American Indian studies (2009-2012). She also served on the board of trustees at the National Museum of the American Indian-Smithsonian, and as president of the Native American & Indigenous Studies association from 2017-18.

            During her lecture, Child will discuss the history, tradition and evolution of the jingle dress dance.

“Ojibwe people believe in the healing power of music and dance. I’ve discovered that the jingle dress dance and tradition first emerged during a global epidemic of influenza a century ago, one that was devastating to Ojibwe communities,” said Child in a 2020 interview. “This was also a time when the United States outlawed ritualistic dancing, making the jingle dress dance a radical tradition from its beginning. More recently, jingle dress dancers were at Standing Rock to protest a pipeline project that threatens our water. The tradition is very much alive today, invigorated by the passion and creativity of a new generation of women.”

This event is sponsored by the Sihler Family Endowment which funds lectures with an emphasis on women in church music. Minnesota Public radio is also sponsoring the lecture. It is open to the public with no charge for admission and will be livestreamed with a link found at luther.edu/events.

 

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

Luther College’s Nordic Choir was selected to perform at the American Choral Directors Association conference held at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago on Feb. 18.

“In the choral music world, an invitation to perform at one of the ACDA conventions is one of the great honors,” said Andrew Last, conductor of Nordic Choir. “The convention itself is an opportunity for teachers/conductors from around the country to come and share ideas, learn from master teachers and perform for one another.”

The selection process for the prestigious conference is multifaceted. Choirs must anonymously submit three years  worth of audio recordings to a panel of judges. Invitations for various categories are based on the panel rankings. Being selected is an honor, and Last expressed the “huge sense of responsibility” that the ensemble felt in representing Luther College.

“This is an opportunity for choral musicians at all levels to get a first-hand look at the excellence of music at Luther,” said Last.

The theme of Nordic Choir’s program was “Our COVID Journey.” It featured five songs that aimed, in part, to reflect on emotions felt when students and faculty were sent home in 2020. The program also sought to inspire a sense of hope and community.

“There were definitely tears shed both on and off stage,” said Brenna Reiland, Nordic Choir member. “Knowing we got to share such real and raw moments with an esteemed audience was very cool. I am proud of how we conveyed the story, I am proud of the performance we shared, and I am proud to call myself a member of the ensemble.”

The theme of the Midwest ACDA conference was “Sing Together as One,” something this choir is happy to be doing again, on the road.

“It was a wonderful taste of the touring experience that we’ve been longing for since January 2020 and it made us feel much closer to each other,” said Rhylan Peterson, Nordic Choir member. “It was emotionally and physically draining, but we would all do it again in a heartbeat, for the message we gave and the friendships we strengthened.”

“The music we make feels like it is coming from our souls, in a sense. Everyone I have spoken to about the conference is just ecstatic about how it went. I cannot wait for more amazing opportunities like this,” said Reiland.

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 12, the Luther College Center Stage Series presents Goitse. Pronounced “gwi-cha,” Goitse is hailed as the leader of the new generation of traditional Irish ensembles. From classic countryside tunes to their own delightful compositions, the group delivers “music that is brimming with energy and creative zeal” (“Irish Music” magazine).

             “I’m so excited to have Goitse back at Luther College,” said Kristen Underwood, director of campus programming. “From the fiddle to the banjo and bodhrán, these musicians are hailed as masters of their craft with good reason. This is the kind of concert that puts a jig in your step and a song in your heart. I can’t wait.”

             Goitse’s name comes from an informal Gaelic Irish greeting meaning “come here” which speaks to their enticing and welcoming music. The group’s hallmark may be the sweet, charismatic, voice of their vocalist Áine McGeeney who was named the 2016 Best Female Vocalist by the Irish American News.

Goitse has released five critically acclaimed recordings and maintains a year-round touring schedule that includes performances throughout Ireland and the UK, Germany, France and the United States.

            The performance is sponsored in part by Winneshiek Medical Center and the Mayo Clinic Health System. For the safety of the community, guests will be asked to remain masked throughout the performance.

          Arrive early to enjoy the Sip and Shop in the Luther College Book Shop from 6-7:15 p.m. Present a “Goitse” ticket and enjoy a complimentary glass of wine while you browse.

            The highly creative and talented chefs on the Norse Culinary Team invite you to partake in the Center Stage Dinner Series before the show. The dinners feature a multi-course menu to complement each performance. A separate ticket is required. All meals begin at 5:30 p.m. in Peace Dining Room on the second floor of Dahl Centennial Union.

Both dinner and show tickets are on sale through Luther’s Ticket Office and online at tickets.luther.edu, by emailing [email protected], or by calling (563) 387-1357.

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

Luther College President Jenifer K. Ward and Provost Lynda Szymanski have announced promotions and grants of tenure for current faculty members.

            At its February meeting, the Board of Regents granted tenure to Melanie Batoff, music; Laurie Bouska, nursing; Mike Garcia, English; and Susan Schmidt, social work. Batoff, Bouska, Garcia, and Schmidt were also promoted to associate professor.

The tenure process occurs in the sixth year of a faculty member’s service. The process involves student evaluations, department evaluation, evaluation by a faculty committee, and approval by the provost, the president, and the Board of Regents.

The Board of Regents also announced the promotions of Carly Hayden Foster, political science; Rob Larson, management; Laura Peterson, environmental studies and chemistry; and Michael Smith, music, to full professor. The promotion to full professor involves student, department, faculty committee, provost, and president review.

“Each one of these faculty members has contributed to Luther College through their teaching, scholarship, and service,” said Provost Lynda Szymanski. “They are extraordinary teachers and mentors, innovative and accomplished scholars, and dedicated members of the Luther College community. We celebrate the well-deserved tenure and promotions of these faculty and thank them for their commitment to their students, disciplines, and Luther College.”

Melanie Batoff

Melanie Batoff has taught at Luther College since 2015. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Queen’s University, her M.A. in musicology from the University of Western Ontario, and her Ph.D. in musicology from the University of Michigan. Batoff teaches courses in music history and ethnomusicology and coordinates the senior projects for music majors. A specialist in medieval chant and liturgy, Batoff’s research centers on the Visitatio sepulchri (a sung enactment of the Gospel accounts of the Resurrection), exegesis, medieval religious experience, and the materiality of medieval manuscripts.

Laurie Bouska ’08

Laurie Bouska has been teaching in the Luther College nursing department since 2014. After graduating from Luther in 2008,  Bouska went on to earn her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Clarke University with a primary focus in nursing education and organizational leadership. Before teaching at Luther, she accumulated nursing experience at Mayo Clinic, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and Central Dupage Hospital. Bouska currently teaches the foundational-level courses in the nursing major. Her research examines the experiences of newly graduated nurses and workplace interruptions. She is also interested in nursing education research focused on integrating clinical judgment across the nursing curriculum.

Mike Garcia

Mike Garcia began teaching at Luther College in 2015. He received his Ph.D. in English, with a focus on composition studies, from the University of New Hampshire. Mike teaches Paideia, rhetoric, and professional writing, as well as the occasional literature course or first-year seminar. He is the writing director at Luther College; he directs the Nancy K. Barry Writing Center and collaborates with faculty who teach writing across disciplines. His scholarship focuses mostly on writing assessment and writing program administration.

Susan Schmidt

Susan Schmidt began teaching social work at Luther College in 2016. She studied philosophy, psychology, and Spanish at Houghton College before going on to pursue master’s degrees from Columbia University School of Social Work and from Boston University School of Theology. She earned her Doctorate in social work from the University of St. Thomas. Schmidt’s research focuses on unaccompanied minors traveling from Central America and Mexico and their reasons for migration. Prior to teaching, Schmidt worked for organizations such as the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. 

Carly Hayden Foster

Carly Hayden Foster joined the political science department at Luther College in 2015. She earned her Ph.D. in political science from the University of Kansas in 2005. Foster teaches courses on a variety of topics including law, social policy, health policy, gender, political theory, and the Iowa Caucuses. She also leads several courses in the Paideia program. Foster recently published a chapter in the textbook “Getting Real about Inequality: Intersections in Real Life” (Sage Publishers, 2021), which explores the ways that political rhetoric influences social policy toward Black and Latina women. She is currently the head of the political science department, as well as being an active member in both the Luther and greater Decorah communities. 

Rob Larson

Rob Larson came to Luther College in 2003. He earned his B.A. from Concordia College and went on to achieve his Master of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas. Larson’s teaching experience has included courses in marketing, investments, management, and accounting, as well as leading courses abroad in Australia. Larson’s research focuses on the relationships between the price of attending college, student debt upon graduation, and college enrollment. While at Luther, he served in an administrative role as executive director and later as vice president for communications and marketing from 2008 to 2017. Larson is also very involved in the Decorah community, serving on multiple boards and engaging in volunteer work.

Laura Peterson

Laura Peterson has been at Luther College since 2008; she teaches in the environmental studies program. She graduated from Carleton College with a B.A. in geology and went on to earn her Ph.D. in geosciences from Brown University. Peterson’s teaching interests include the climate system, Earth history, and the Anthropocene. She has conducted research on past climate change and soil health.

Michael Smith

Michael Smith has been teaching at Luther College since 2001. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, a Master of Music Education from McNeese State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Smith currently teaches applied low brass (trombone, euphonium, and tuba) and brass techniques for music education majors. He also conducts the trombone choir and tuba-euphonium ensembles and has performed recitals throughout the U.S. on euphonium and alto, tenor, and bass trombones. Smith has served as the bass trombonist with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra since 2007 and has published more than 50 original music compositions and arrangements for brass.

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

Luther College will celebrate the class of 2022 at Commencement at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 22. Addressing the in-person class and audience will be descendants of the 1896 Plessy vs. Ferguson landmark decision, Keith Plessy and Phoebe Ferguson.

The 1892 arrest of  Homer Plessy, an African American New Orleanian, seated in a ‘whites only’ train car led to the Supreme Court case. The higher court upheld Judge John Ferguson’s ruling that Mr. Plessy had violated the Separate Car Act of Louisiana and that his constitutional rights had not been violated. As a result, legalizing Jim Crow ‘separate but equal’ laws for the next 58 years.

Today, rather than Plessy VERSUS Ferguson, Keith Plessy and Phoebe Ferguson have established the Plessy AND Ferguson Foundation. Their mission is to educate the public about the legacy of the Plessy decision and its impact on African American life because “by understanding the past we are better able to work together and create a more just and equitable future.”

“Plessy and Ferguson have been steadfast in their work to seek justice for Homer Plessy,” said Luther College President Jenifer K. Ward. “Their work resulted in the November 2021 recommendation by the Louisiana Board of Pardons to clear Plessy’s name posthumously and in January of this year, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed an official pardon in a public ceremony. We are fortunate to have these two descendants of the key figures in a landmark case, as well as current champions for racial reconciliation join us at Luther as they celebrate this historic milestone, and as we ask our graduates to live out our mission to be enlivened and transformed by encounters with one another in the world.”

One encounter brought these two living legacies together and now, through their foundation, Plessy and Ferguson travel to spread their message that their mutual history can be a tool to create unity and understanding.

“We boil the case down for [students] to right and wrong. We have an amazing legacy to share, and we tell students that they, too, will have a legacy, and that it’s important to think about that while you’re young—that in your life you contribute your spirit, effort, and service in order to help make change, and that they, too, can be history makers,” said Phoebe Ferguson.

Commencement will take place in Carlson Stadium and will be a ticketed event. The event will be livestreamed and will be accessible to the public online at commencement.luther.edu.

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

At their February board meeting, the Luther College Board of Regents approved two new academic programs. Beginning in the fall of 2022, students will be able to major in law and values and minor in counseling.

            “These new interdisciplinary academic programs demonstrate our faculty’s innovative spirit and steadfast commitment to offering majors and minors that prepare students to meet the demands of today’s complex society,” said Provost Lynda Szymanski. “These offerings are distinct among our peers and will make students more competitive when applying for graduate schools and jobs. The law and values major will ground students in both theory and application and will empower students to become leaders in law, business, politics, civil service, and the nonprofit sector, while the counseling minor is designed to complement majors associated with helping professions.”

The law and values major

            The new law and values program at Luther College is rooted in the fact that most social problems have moral, legal, political, and economic factors. Luther’s experienced and knowledgeable faculty members in the areas of economics, political science, and philosophy will teach courses designed to help students understand the systems that shape society so they may effectively engage in important conversations of law, policy, and the common good.

            “I am really looking forward to the launch of this new major,” said Steve Holland, professor of economics. “My colleagues and I are excited about building a community of curious students interested in wrestling with big questions. While it is often easy to get discouraged by the current state of the world, this is the perfect time to start a new major that encourages our students to find creative ways to solve problems.”

Students majoring in law and values will be well-equipped for law school, graduate programs in public policy and similar fields, and for the workplace.

The counseling minor

            Luther College’s mission is deeply rooted in helping others. This new counseling minor was designed to complement a number of majors, specifically those that lead students into helping professions, medical careers, or graduate school.

“I am thrilled that we have been able to create a minor that is attractive to students in various majors at the college!” said Britt Rhodes, professor of social work. “The counseling minor will provide students with important knowledge and skill sets for advanced degrees in social work or counseling to meet the ever-growing need for practitioners to provide mental health services. At the same time, the counseling minor will also provide basic knowledge and skills to students in other majors for career success even if you aren’t planning to work directly in the counseling field.” 

The counseling minor is unique to Luther in that no other college or university in the region offers a similar minor. Faculty members from Luther’s psychology and social work departments teach the courses for this interdisciplinary program.

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

Katy Dane, Luther College class of 2003, has been named the 2022 recipient of the Music Educator Award by The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS).

Each year, the award goes to an educator who “gives students the opportunity to learn and participate in the joy and power that music education brings in uplifting the human spirit and fostering the wellbeing of society.” Dane currently teaches music at Benold Middle School in Georgetown, Texas. According to the BHS, “Dane’s impact on music students in the Georgetown Independent School District extends across multiple ensembles and schools, including choirs, a cappella ensembles, orchestras and vocal soloists. Colleagues praise her high quality instruction and the breadth of opportunities she provides students through festivals and trips.”

Dane was honored in a surprise presentation on Feb. 2.

“I was absolutely blown away by this recognition from NAfME and the BHS,” said Dane. “Apparently the surprise had been in the works for over a month! My symphony orchestra students and I were rushed out of the classroom by our assistant principal for what we thought was an evacuation drill! For a while, none of us knew what was happening, and then we saw the flowers, balloons and a plaque.”

As for what sets Dane apart, it goes beyond notes and harmonies. She focuses on creating a positive culture that supports a sense of belonging and helping students achieve individual success.

“When kids are successful, they are engaged and more motivated. We share good things and affirmations daily, we try to mix up our warm-ups, add in team-building, and I try to make connections to their other subjects. Half of the battle these past couple of years has been showing up for people and being a steady, positive impact in their life,” said Dane.

Dane has been particularly inventive in developing virtual learning environments made necessary by the pandemic. Her students remained engaged while at home and received personally tailored instruction online.

Dane is widely recognized throughout the barbershop community as a teacher, director and leader. She has directed the BHS men’s A Cappella Texas Chorus since 2017 and the Sweet Adelines International A Cappella Unlimited Chorus since 2011. She is president of SING! Texas, a non-profit arts organization providing a cappella education and performance opportunities for youth and young adults across the state of Texas, and is a clinician for vocal arts events in Austin and the surrounding communities.

When asked how her time at Luther College shaped her career as a music educator, Dane replied that while pursuing a double major involving her two passions (string instruments and vocal music) she felt supported and challenged by her professors and peers. Her hard work, passion and drive ultimately allowed her to graduate in four years with two degrees and countless experiences.

“I am forever grateful for the ensemble experiences I had at Luther, the trips and tours we were able to take together, the cross-curricular education and the breadth of music we were exposed to at Luther. I can’t tell you how many times I have used Weston Noble’s quote from our choral methods class and Messiah rehearsals, ‘All music must dance!’ Between all of my rehearsals each week, it is something that everyone ‘gets’ and feels, it transfers between generations and all ensembles,” said Dane.

After graduating from Luther, Dane went on to get her Masters of Music in Choral Conducting at Texas State University-San Marcos with Dr. Joey Martin.

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25, the Luther College Center Stage Series presents “Right in the Eye,” a multimedia production celebrating the films of George Méliès.

            “The silent films of Georges Méliès are quirky and surprising,” said Kristen Underwood, director of campus programming. “Add live, original music and they become magical and profound. Young and old will appreciate the experience on different levels but everyone will be moved and entertained.”

            Méliès was a cinematic pioneer in the late 1800s and early 1900s. As a French illusionist and film director, he is famous for his innovation in the early days of cinema. He popularized the use of special effects, substitution splices, time-lapse photography and other production elements still used today.

            “Right in the Eye” features 12 of Méliès’ highly imaginative works and pairs them with a live score of original compositions performed by three musicians on 50 instruments. Audience members will be completely immersed in the playful, poetic experience as inventive music brings wonder-filled silent cinema to life.

This performance is sponsored in part by Decorah Bank and Trust. For the safety of the community, guests will be asked to remain masked throughout the performance.

The highly creative and talented chefs on the Norse Culinary Team invite you to partake in the Center Stage Dinner Series before the show. The dinners feature a multi-course menu to complement each performance. A separate ticket is required. All meals begin at 5:30 p.m. in Peace Dining Room on the second floor of Dahl Centennial Union

Both dinner and show tickets are on sale through Luther’s Ticket Office and online at tickets.luther.edu, by emailing [email protected], or by calling (563) 387-1357.

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.