Author: Luther College News

DECORAH, IOWA—Luther College will celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage and contributions in April with a series of lectures, as well as performances and a fashion show put on by Luther students. The college will host a residency for a Chinese musician, calligrapher and martial artist. While May is widely recognized as the national AAPI month, Luther will celebrate in April. 

Jaye Hobart, class of 2011, will give the Don Kemp Memorial Lecture in Social Work at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, in Baker Commons. Hobart’s lecture will focus on her non-traditional social work journey through the nonprofit sector. Among her many board affiliations, Hobart serves the HANA Center, a Chicago-area nonprofit that aims to meet the needs of Korean, Asian American and multi-ethnic immigrants; and the Korean Adoptees of Chicago organization.

Luther will host a residency for Master Wu Zhongxian, an accomplished Qin player, calligrapher, and martial artist, from April 9–28. He’s also a Daoist practitioner. He’s offering a variety of workshops throughout April that are open to the public; to sign up for events, email Scott Hurley at hurlsc01@luther.edu. 

• Chinese Calligraphy Workshop: 1–3 p.m., Sunday, April 15, in the Center for the Arts 215, $25 for the public. 
• Qigong and the Earth Workshop: 5:30–7 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, in the Center for the Arts Studio One, free to the public. 
• Chinese Medicine for Health and Longevity: 5–7 p.m., Wednesday, April 24, at Decorah United Church of Christ, $25 for the public. 
• Tea and Qin Music: 5–7 p.m. Friday, April 26, at Ryumonji Zen Monastery, $25 for the public.

“Master Wu Zhongxian’s visit provides the community with opportunities to experience classical Chinese art forms such calligraphy, music and martial arts, as well Chinese religion and medicine,” said Scott Hurley, associate professor of identity studies. 

The ISAA fashion show in 2022.

Luther’s International Student Association and Allies (ISAA) in collaboration with the Asian Student and Allies Association (ASAA) will host their annual Fashion Show at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 13, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall. The show will feature a wealth of talent and diversity. Tickets are available to purchase online and all proceeds from the show will be donated to Human Concern International to help the children of Gaza. 

“For me, this is a time I get to shine a spotlight on my heritage and my community. Often, people in minority communities have a hard time seeing themselves represented in the media, in leadership roles, doing things we dream about,” said Adrianna Tam, assistant professor of music and faculty advisor to ASAA. “Dedicating time to celebrate people – as we do for other heritage and history months – hopefully means that folks feel seen and worthy of being seen, with more curiosity, conversation, and compassion.”

Venerable Chao Hwei, a Taiwanese Buddhist nun and activist, will give a talk from 7:30–9 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, via Zoom. The talk will focus on her social justice activism, which includes advocating for LGBTQIA rights and gender equality. 

Sara Docan-Morgan will give a talk based on her book, In Reunion: Transnational Korean Adoptees and the Communication of Family, at 5 p.m. Monday, April 22, in Olin 102. She will discuss interviews with Korean adoptees who’ve reunited with their birth families, which reveals the complexities of family and identity, as well as how people define culture, family and self. 

Small Island, Big Song, a collective of renowned First Nation artists from across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, will perform music for Luther College’s Center Stage Series at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23 , in the Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall. Small Island Big Song is a music, film and performing arts project that unites artists from islands across the Pacific and Indian Ocean through artistic collaboration. Tickets are available to purchase online. 

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 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.

DECORAH, IOWA—Luther College’s Center for Ethics and Public Engagement (The CEPE) will celebrate the 25th anniversary of David Lynch’s “The Straight Story,” with a free screening and discussion with one of the film’s stars in early April. The film is based on the true story of Alvin Straight of Laurens, Iowa, who rode his lawn mower tractor across the state and part of Wisconsin to reunite with his estranged brother. 

James Cada, left, and Susanne Egli.

The CEPE will host a screening of “The Straight Story” at 7 p.m Thursday, April 4, in Olin 102. At 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall actor James Cada, who played Danny Riordan in the movie, will be on campus to discuss the film. Along with Susanne Egli, associate professor of communication and leadership at St. Mary’s University, the two will also discuss the role of art as part of the public good. 

“The brilliance of ‘The Straight Story’ is that its complex characters and narrative positivity speak to audiences of all ages. And for folks living in this part of Iowa and the Midwest, it’s a rare chance to consider how our lives and values get represented on the silver screen,” said Andy Hageman, associate professor of English at Luther and director of the CEPE. “That helps us explore the values that may connect us in this part of the world, and it helps folks recognize that every identity represented in films shapes attitudes for good or ill.” 

Lynch, director of “Eraserhead” and “Blue Velvet,” surprised Hollywood and audiences by directing a G-rated film produced by Disney that is set in rural Iowa. The film stars Richard Farnsworth and Sissy Spacek along with Cada. It captures the feel of rural Iowa with the landscapes and dialogue. 

Cada and Egli, who has a theater career spanning around the U.S., will reflect on actors and artists who are based in the Midwest, but connected around the globe. The two will also share insights on the recent strike by SAG-AFTRA (the actor’s union) and the future of acting. 

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 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.

DECORAH, Iowa – Patti (Schroeder) Hetrick, class of 1984, from Minneapolis was named the vice president for finance and administration at Luther College, President Jenifer K. Ward announced this week.

The native of nearby Caledonia, Minn., and graduate of Luther brings a wide range of governmental, public sector and corporate experience managing large and complex operational infrastructures.

Patti (Schroeder) Hetrick

“Patti has a deep love for Luther College and a skill set developed over a long career in finance and administration in a variety of sectors,” Ward said. “Given the pace of change in higher education, we will be well served by her fresh perspective coupled with her genuine investment in the vitality of her alma mater.”

Hetrick will begin on May 1 on a half-time basis then full-time in June. Luther budget director Andrew Bailey will continue as the interim VPFA until May.

“Luther College has had a significant impact on my life, and I’m excited to return to the places and spaces I call home,” said Hetrick. “My studies at Luther College gave me a sense of grounding in a big world, and the skills to work with our community to ensure that Luther continues to thrive for generations to come.”

She joins Luther after three years as the chief financial officer of the Hennepin County Library System in Minneapolis where she oversaw the budget, contracts, personnel management, capital projects and operations for the 41 libraries which served 1.2 million county residents. In her position as CFO, she also worked as needed with the Hennepin County Library Board, Hennepin County Administration and the county’s Board of Commissioners.

Prior to the Hennepin County Library, Hetrick spent 13 years as the budget director for the Anoka County government, also in the Minneapolis metro area. She managed a $341 million budget along with operational tasks and providing updates to a wide range of constituencies. In this role she worked with the county administrator and the overall management team which provided services to the approximately 363,000 residents of Minnesota’s fourth-most populated county.

During her tenure, she also gained additional leadership experience as the interim library director for Anoka County, steering the facility through the Covid-19 transition of services.

Before joining Hennepin County, she had a similar position of budget director for Sherburne County, Minnesota, and its $80 million budget for the county. She also had her own consulting business for the decade before joining civic government.

Following her graduation from Luther, she started her career in corporate America working first with internal audit at Cargill in Minneapolis. She advanced to director of internal audit and special projects at G&K Services, a publicly traded corporation also in Minneapolis, for a decade.

With family nearby, Hetrick will be relocating to Decorah later this spring.

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 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.

DECORAH, IOWA–Grace Lawrence, a senior at Luther College, is majoring in social work because she wants to help vulnerable populations. She’s spending her last semester in Washington, D.C., learning more about the social work field through an internship. 

“What I like about Luther’s social work program is the amount of field experience it offers,” Lawrence said. “Luther prioritizes real-word experience, and the courses are focused on applying the coursework in practice.”

Grace Lawrence

As part of her coursework, Lawrence is interning in D.C. through the Lutheran College Washington Semester, a personalized program for students at Lutheran-affiliated colleges to take advantage of academic and professional opportunities in the nation’s capital. 

She’s interning for the National Community Action Partnership, a nonprofit membership organization that provides training and resources to community organizations to alleviate poverty within communities. 

Her duties include creating materials to promote the connection between community action and social workers. March is National Social Work Month, which celebrates social workers and their contributions to society, and she’s created social media posts to celebrate the month. 

After graduation, Lawrence plans to attend graduate school to earn her master’s degree in social work and eventually work in the hospice care field. Broadly, the hospice field focuses on caring for people at the end of their lives. 

“I’ve always wanted to help people,” Lawrence said. “With social work, there are so many ways you can help vulnerable people.” 

Before interning at the National Community Action Partnership, Lawrence was part of Luther’s Social Impact Research Fellowship last summer, an 8-week program where students partner with a community-based organization to fill a need. 

Britt Rhodes

She promoted an online chat system for Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation, which provides assistance and support for families with limited resources.  The goal of the fellowship is to connect students with the organization to problem solve within the organization. Lawrence worked to promote the chat system through a variety of channels including newsletters and social media posts. 

“Grace’s persistence, hard work and curiosity led her to apply for the Summer 2023 Social Impact Research Fellowship program where she could connect what she had learned in her social work and liberal arts courses to a community-based setting,” said Britt Rhodes, head of the social work department. 

“Through the fellowship, I was able to meet a lot of program directors and frontline staff which sparked my interest in the Community Action organization and is what ultimately led me to my internship in D.C.,” Lawrence said.

Luther College’s social work major aims to meet the demands of the social work field and prepare students for a variety of professional settings. The program offers rigorous courses, internship opportunities and student organizations like the Social Work Association. Lawrence’s advice to incoming students is to take as many social work courses as possible. 

Her other piece of advice  is to take advantage of the college’s counseling minor, which combines courses in psychology, counseling and social work. 

She also enjoys the small size of Luther, which offers personalized experiences throughout college career. 

“There are so many hands-on experiences in Luther’s social work courses,” she said. 

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 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.

Christine Cruzvergara, chief education strategy officer, Handshake

DECORAH, IOWA—Christine Cruzvergara, chief education strategy officer at Handshake, will give the 2024 commencement address at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 19, at Luther College’s Carlson Stadium. Cruzvergara leads Handshake’s partnerships with the higher education community, which includes more than 15 million students from more than 1,500 higher institutions, to connect students with career and internship opportunities.

Cruzvergara is recognized as an agent of change and an expert on strategies that create equitable student career success outcomes. Handshake, based in San Francisco with offices across the U.S. and the globe, connects students enrolled in four-year institutions, community colleges and bootcamps with more than 900,000 employers. Employers on the site include Fortune 500 Companies, public school districts, healthcare systems and nonprofit organizations.

“I met Christine at the Midwest Roundtable on Talent,” said President Jenifer K. Ward. “I knew I wanted to bring her to Luther — not only because we use Handshake in our Career Center, but because she is an engaging speaker who shows how career aspirations start with self-knowledge, sense of purpose, laying groundwork, and the creative use of networks, from family to friends to more traditional influencers.”

Handshake aims to accelerate students’ careers and democratize access to opportunities. Because of her work, Cruzvergara is regularly referenced in media, such as the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Forbes Magazine, Fortune and Inside Higher Education.

Prior to joining Handshake, Cruzvergara was the associate provost for career education at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, where she received the 2017 Career Services Excellence Award from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and the 2017 Innovation Award from Eduventures.

She has also held senior level positions and board roles at George Mason University, Georgetown University, The George Washington University, NACE and the American College Personnel Association (ACPA).

No tickets are required for the outdoor commencement ceremony. The event will be livestreamed. More information is available at commencement.luther.edu.

DECORAH, Iowa – Sheri Brenden, author of “Break Point: Two Minnesota Athletes and the Road to Title IX,” will speak at Luther College on April 11 at 7 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall, along with her sister, Peg Brenden. The book covers Peg’s involvement in a landmark civil rights case to allow equal access to sports for women. Both Brenden sisters graduated from Luther College and participated in sports during the early Title IX era. 

The talk is hosted and sponsored by the English department at Luther College, with additional support from the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement (CEPE) and from the law and values program.

In the early 1970s, Peg Brenden sought to have the same opportunity to compete for her St. Cloud, Minn., high school in tennis as male athletes, and during her senior year filed a lawsuit against the Minnesota State High School League and her high school. Her action was joined with runner Toni St. Pierre into a 1972 lawsuit claiming a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

The book recalls the courtroom battle before Federal District Court Judge Miles Lord and the subsequent appeals to the Eighth Circuit. The ruling opened the way for Peg to compete as a senior for her high school. In their talk, the Brendens will weave together both their family’s and broader women’s history to remind the audience of the wider implications for female students.

Peg Brenden, left, and Sheri Brenden, right

The book had its genesis when Sheri Brenden, Luther College class of 1981, became concerned that an important story about women in sport risked being lost. She drew on skills learned as a Luther English major, one-time reporter for the St. Cloud Daily Times, and research librarian for two of Minnesota’s largest law firms. To preserve the history, she interviewed teammates, coaches, lawyers and others associated with her sister’s gender-equity case.

During her Luther career, Peg Brenden played first singles on the Luther tennis team. She is a member of the Norse Athletic Hall of Fame. Following graduation at Luther in 1976, she completed her law degree at the University of Minnesota. She is a retired Minnesota Workers Compensation judge. Sheri competed at Luther in tennis and field hockey, and also served as an editor for CHIPS, the Luther student newspaper.

The talk is free and open to the general public. A reception will follow.

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About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 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.

DECORAH, IOWA—Luther College raised more than $1.2 million during the ninth annual Giving Day on March 7. The money raised on Thursday will support and enhance the Luther experience at the college through the Luther Fund, Luther’s unrestricted current fund that supports all students, faculty, staff and community endeavors on campus. 

“Together we had the biggest Giving Day ever, both in the amount raised and in the notes and stories about the impact Luther College has had on the lives of those in our community,” said Luther President Jenifer K. Ward. “Gifts came from all 50 states and over a dozen countries, and from lifelong supporters to first-time contributors. There is no “thank you” big enough to express our gratitude.”

Luther students wrote thank you notes to donors for Giving Day.

Giving Day capped off “Luther Gives!”, a weeklong campus event celebrating the generosity of Luther alumni, donors and campus community. Students wrote thank you notes to donors who funded their scholarships, sent Norse Notes valentines to anyone on campus who made a difference in their lives, and posted reasons they love Luther on the walls of the Dahl Centennial Union. 

This year’s Giving Day also included the first Luther Day at the Landing, where 100% of all sales made at Justin’s and The Buzz at the Landing Market were matched with an equal gift to the Luther Fund.

“It’s been great to double down on our partnership with Luther College today,” said Terry Ramlo, class of 1986 and manager of the Landing. “It was fun to see so many people stop by the Landing today. We’re glad to contribute to Luther and the Decorah community, especially on Giving Day.”

Mark your calendars for next year, as Giving Day returns on Thursday, March 6, 2025. 

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 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.

DECORAH, IOWA—Lydia X. Z. Brown, director of public policy at the National Disability Institute, will give the Price Distinguished Lecture in Women’s Leadership at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall. The event is co-sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio. 

Lydia X. Z. Brown

Brown, a queer, disabled and East Asian advocate, organizer, attorney, strategist and writer, will give a lecture entitled “Until We Are All Free: Disability Justice Interventions in Queer, Trans, Feminist Movements,” which is part of Luther’s Women’s History Month events through March. ASL interpretation will be provided. Attendees should refrain from wearing any fragrances to this lecture. Childcare is available during the lecture. 

“After I heard Brown speak in Rochester, I knew I wanted to bring their expertise to Luther.  Brown isn’t advocating for disability rights but disability justice,” said Char Kunkel, head of the identity studies department at Luther. “We fundamentally need to change the systems of oppression, not just add in the various identity groups to achieve limited individual rights. We need societal transformation of the many intersecting oppressive systems so that all people can thrive. Justice for all means all, hence why the lecture is titled ‘Until We Are All Free’.” 

Brown has spoken and consulted throughout the U.S. and the world on topics such as disability rights and justice, especially at the intersections of race, class, gender and sexuality, as well as publishing scholarly and community articles on related topics. Their work addresses how ableism is tied to other forms of systemic oppression and marginalization. Brown’s work can be found on their website.

Brown is the founding executive director of the Autistic People of Color Fund. They hold a lecturer appointment in the women’s and gender studies program and the disability studies program at Georgetown University. Brown is also an adjunct professorial lecturer in American studies in the department of critical race, gender and cultural studies at American University. 

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 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.