News Center
Augustana Oratorio Society to perform Handel's 'Messiah'
George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” will be performed by the Augustana Oratorio Society, conducted by Dr. Jon Hurty. Soloists are Michelle Areyzaga, soprano; Dashon Burton, bass baritone; Stephen Soph, tenor; and Jessye Wright, mezzo soprano. A professional orchestra will accompany the performance.
Augustana partners with local organizations to improve maternal care
Augustana's Center for the Advancement of Community Health and Wellness (CACHW) is partnering with Community Health Care (CHC), Iowa Black Doula Collective, and Akwaaba QC to improve maternal care in the region. A team of students and staff will design surveys, analyze data and assess outcomes for the project.
2025 in review
In 2025, Augustana received national recognition for innovation and affordability; expanded opportunities for students in business, health care and STEM; strengthened community connections in support of the Bold & Boundless strategic plan; and provided students with access to hands-on research and educational experiences abroad.
Studying a link between sleep and Alzheimer’s, dementia
The July 10, 2025, issue of Science, one of the world’s top academic journals, features Dr. Samantha Keil ’12 as lead author on an article that summarizes what research has revealed about how the brain’s glymphatic system may play a role in Alzheimer’s disease.
2026 MLK Day celebration schedule
Augustana College's annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy will take place Jan. 19-23. The theme of the event is "The Fierce Urgency of Now: Compassion in Action."
Augustana ranked No. 4 in enrolling international students
Augustana College once again moved up the ranks in the federal 2025 Open Doors Report among baccalaureate colleges for the number of international students it enrolls. Augustana's 2024-25 ranking is now #4 in the nation.
Celebrating 150 years in Rock Island
In honor of the 150th anniversary of Augustana’s first classes in Rock Island, the college’s unofficial historian Kai Swanson ’86 reflects on its early rural beginnings.
Triceratops gets star treatment in Swenson lab
A historic discovery is taking shape in the basement of Augustana’s Swenson Hall of Geosciences.
Q&A with Jacob Washington ’21, awarded for broadcast excellence
Emmy-nominated Jacob Washington ’21 was a producer for “It’s The Gateway to Baltimore: The Key Bridge Collapse,” which earned Baltimore’s WJZ-TV a regional 2025 Murrow Award for breaking news coverage.
When multiple majors lead to singular careers
Making connections is the beating heart of many careers: connecting one idea with another idea, a community with a service or solution, a vision with an audience. A liberal arts education builds this ability.
Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble to tour Washington and Oregon in March
Augustana's Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Michael Zemek, will embark on a performance tour March 20-23, 2026. The tour will kick off in Chicago, Ill., and then they will continue on to perform in Seattle, Wash., and Portland, Ore.
Class Notes
Alumni share their latest news and photos!
Augustana Choir to tour Scandinavia
The Augustana Choir, under the direction of Dr. Jon Hurty, will perform concerts in Norway and Sweden May 30-June 7, 2026.
Listening to the natural world with Amy Martin ’95
Fish, insects, elephants and the Augustana Choir all have their place in the natural world of sound, as explored by journalist Amy Martin ‘95.
’87 grad rocks with Mannheim Steamroller
Violinist Becky Kia ’87 actually said no the first two times Mannheim Steamroller came calling. But by 1990, she was ready. Kia accepted the invitation to join the ensemble’s backup orchestra for its Christmas concerts in Omaha, and today she is a touring conductor and solo violinist.
