News Center
Newell selected as Augustana College’s director of choral activities
Augustana has appointed Eric Newell as director of choral activities beginning fall 2026. Dr. Newell’s duties will include conducting the Augustana Choir, succeeding longtime conductor Dr. Jon Hurty, who is retiring in June 2026.
Discovering careers in health care – the Augie way
Data shows that Augustana does an outstanding job of preparing students for successful health care careers of all kinds — not just medical school.
Augustana’s annual Christmas music celebration set for Dec. 6-7
The Augustana College Department of Music will present Christmas at Augustana at 2 p.m. on Dec. 6 and 7 in Centennial Hall, 3703 7th Ave., Rock Island.
Augie NAMI is nationally recognized for its hard work
Augie NAMI, Augustana College's student-led mental health club, is receiving national recognition for promoting mental wellness among students. National NAMI staff came to campus to feature Augie NAMI in a promotional video.
Augustana's Department of Theatre and Film presents 'The Mousetrap'
The Augustana College Department of Theatre and Film will present “The Mousetrap” Nov. 13-16 at the Brunner Theatre Center, located at 3750 7th Ave., Rock Island, Ill.
Empen '26 named Lincoln Academy student laureate
Augustana College senior Ian Empen, a double-major in geography and psychology from Rock Island, was named a student laureate by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. Student laureates are seniors who have excelled in curricular and extracurricular activities during their college careers.
Strategic by design: Liberal arts as the smartest strategy in a skills-driven age
At the fall launch of Augustana’s Futurist Thinking Series, faculty, alumni and civic leaders gathered to confront one of higher education’s most urgent questions: Do the liberal arts still matter in a world driven by microcredentials, AI and marketable skills?
Augustana Board of Trustees elects new members
Augustana College announces five new members of the college’s Board of Trustees. The trustees were selected during the college's May and October meetings of the board, and their terms officially started this fall. The new trustees will serve a term of four years.
At Augustana, these triplets found it all — and one shared goal
Antione, Trevion and Luniah Gilford wanted a lot from their college choice: strong athletic programs, generous financial aid, a welcoming environment and the majors they each had in mind. After considering all options, the trio from Plano, Ill., decided to make Augustana College their new home.
Augustana invites Quad Cities communities to partner in solving regional challenges
Augustana College invites local governments and nonprofits to share their biggest problems, and the college will bring the students, faculty and expertise to help solve them. Applications are due Nov. 15, 2025.
Symposium Day 2025 expresses voice and vision
This year’s Symposium Day theme, Voice and Vision, invited projects that explored how people speak and see, literally and metaphorically, across all disciplines. Speakers and participants illuminated what it means to speak boldly and see clearly.
Festival of Sankta Lucia set for Dec. 1
Augustana's annual celebration of the Festival of Sankta Lucia on Dec. 1, 2025, will commemorate the holiday with traditional Scandinavian Christmas carols, lessons and poetry.
Homecoming and Family Weekend 2025 in photos
About 2,000 alumni, friends of the college, students and families gathered on campus Sept. 26-28 for Homecoming and Family Weekend. Bingo was a hot ticket for alumni of the last 10 years, and QuadFest connected Vikings and guests of all ages.
Class Notes
Alumni share their latest news and photos!
Cooper partners with alumni to bring ‘Rag Doll’ to the stage
Shelley Cooper, an associate professor of musical theatre and two-time Off-Broadway award-winning solo actor/playwright, tapped into the skills of her former students to help create and produce her latest solo musical.
