Endowed Faculty Chair Positions
Through the generosity of alumni and friends of the college, a wide range of endowed chairs have been established at Augustana. These positions recognize faculty for their academic accomplishments while providing the resources necessary for student and faculty growth in the chair's area of expertise.
Such positions represent an investment in the future of the college. Endowed chairs allow Augustana to attract high-quality professors and sustain excellence in its academic program while the generosity of donors is recognized in perpetuity.
Paul A. Anderson Chair in the Arts
Robert W. Beart Endowed Chair in Chemistry
Earl H. Beling Chair in Mathematics
Conrad Bergendoff Chair in the Humanities
William A. Freistat Chair for Studies in World Peace
Fritiof M. Fryxell Chair in Geology
S. James Galley Endowed Chair in Accounting
Edward Hamming Chair in Geography
Stuart Lee and Virginia Talbott Harbour Chair in Economics
Violet M. Jaeke Chair of Family Life
Lutheran Brotherhood Chaplaincy Endowment
Dorothy J. Parkander Chair in Literature
Frank Strohkarck Chair of Business and Economics
Richard A. Swanson Chair of Social Thought
Florence C. and Dr. John E. Wertz Chair in the Liberal Arts and Sciences
Paul A. Anderson Chair in the Arts
Dr. Catherine Carter Goebel, Art History
The Paul A. Anderson Chair in the Arts was established in 1994 by a bequest from the estate of the late Paul A. Anderson, Augustana alumnus, former member of the Augustana Board of Trustees and successful Chicago Board of Trade commodities broker.
The chair is held by Dr. Catherine Carter Goebel, chair of the art history department. Dr. Goebel oversees collaborative research and publication of faculty and student essays related to Augustana College Art Museum exhibitions. One example of this is her recent work to coordinate Origins of Modernity, a project that integrated first-year studies with essays from the Augustana community and an elaborate art exhibit and catalogue, as well as a community convocation event. She has also developed an original kindergarten through fifth grade art history program used at local schools.
Robert W. Beart Endowed Chair in Chemistry
Dr. Pamela Trotter, Chemistry
This endowed professorship is made possible by the family of the late Robert Beart, a 1939 Augustana graduate who majored in chemistry and later earned a degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law. An expert in intellectual property law, he spent the vast majority of his professional life with Illinois Tool Works.
Dr. Trotter has been a leader in student-faculty collaboration at Augustana College, having organized summer research programs involving students from the departments of biology, pre-medicine, chemistry and education since 2002. She will use her position as the Beart Chair to expand programs such as student-faculty research and opportunities to attend conferences.
Earl H. Beling Chair in Mathematics
Dr. Tom Bengtson, Mathematics
The Earl H. Beling Chair in Mathematics was established with a gift from the estate of Earl and Lucille Beling. Earl Beling was a civic, business, and education leader from Moline who founded Beling Engineering Consultants. Beling also served a two-year term as president of the Illinois Association of School Boards.
Dr. Tom Bengtson of the mathematics department is the Beling Chair. Dr. Bengtson uses opportunities provided by the chair to mentor 4-5 students, designated Beling Scholars, in research projects in mathematics. These students present their research at state and national mathematics conferences, as well as the Augustana Celebration of Learning. Dr. Bengtson also presents lectures on various topics in mathematics.
Conrad Bergendoff Chair in the Humanities
Dr. Karin Youngberg, English
The first endowed chair in the history of the college, the Conrad Bergendoff Chair in the Humanities was established in 1983 in honor of Dr. Conrad Bergendoff, a graduate of the class of 1915 and president emeritus of Augustana College. It is to be held by a person whose scholarship and teaching embrace all of the humanities disciplines and who will act as the symbol and advocate of broad as well as intensive humanities study at Augustana.
Dr. Karin Youngberg joined the English department in 1967, and in 1980 became the first woman elected to chair the Faculty Senate. The Phi Beta Kappa Augustana graduate has a long association with East Hall Press, which gives students hands-on experience in book publishing.
William A. Freistat Chair for Studies in World Peace
Van Symons, History
Established in 1992, the Freistat Chair for Studies in World Peace was established by William A. Freistat, Augustana alumnus and retired Kaiser Industries executive. The Freistat Chair supports multi-disciplinary involvement in peace studies and furthers the development of the Peace Studies program at Augustana through research, seminars, lectures and forums. It is held through sequential appointments of faculty members, each for a specified term.
Dr. Van Symons joined the Augustana College faculty in the fall of 1978 after completing a Ph.D. in Asian History at Brown University and a four-year teaching stint at Whittier College in Southern California. As a Chinese historian, specializing in Qing dynastic history, Symons teaches survey courses in East Asian history and upper level courses in Chinese and Japanese history. He has also worked with colleagues to develop the Asian Studies Program at Augustana, and often teaches in the college's unique 11-week long East Asian International Term.
Fritiof M. Fryxell Chair in Geology
Dr. William Hammer, Geology
The Fritiof Fryxell Chair in Geology was established in 1985 in honor of Dr. Fritiof M. Fryxell, nationally known geologist and founder of the Augustana College geology department. It is the second endowed chair in the college's history.
The Fryxell Chair is held by Dr. William Hammer, best known for his field research in Antarctica, where he has twice discovered the fossilized remains of dinosaurs. In January 2004, Dr. Hammer led a research expedition that resulted in the discovery of a dinosaur that lived as long as 200 million years ago, ancient even by the standards of paleontology. It is only the second dinosaur discovered on the earth's southernmost continent (Dr. Hammer discovered the first in 1991). While his field work takes place 10,000 miles from Augustana's campus, his achievements have had a direct impact on his students, as they view and even handle specimens in Dr. Hammer's research lab and in Augustana's Fryxell Museum of Geology.
S. James Galley Endowed Chair in Accounting
Dr. Pamela J. Druger, Accounting
The S. James Galley Chair in Accounting was established in 1996 by gifts from friends and former students of the late S. James Galley, who taught in Augustana College's accounting department for 34 years and worked in the development office following his retirement from teaching. The Chair was recently enhanced by Duane Swanson, '61, who is an alumnus of the accounting program.
Ms. Druger joined the Augustana faculty in 1987, having completed a master's degree at the University of Iowa. She is regarded by her students as a fine teacher and outstanding mentor and advisor. In recent years she has worked effectively to rebuild enrollment in accounting, while continuing the department's tradition of placing students in strong graduate schools and excellent jobs.
Edward Hamming Chair in Geography
Dr. Norm Moline, Geography
The Edward Hamming Chair in Geography was established in honor of Dr. Edward Hamming, who founded Augustana's geography department in 1949 and taught in it for 31 years.
As Hamming Chair, Dr. Moline's interests range from the nearby shores of the Mississippi River to the Great Wall of China. Dr. Moline and his students consider local issues - such as levees, land use and development - as well as development and resource issues in Japan and the People's Republic of China.
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Stuart Lee and Virginia Talbott Harbour Chair in Economics
Dr. Richard J. Ballman, Economics
The Stuart Lee and Virginia Talbott Harbour Chair in Economics was established by a gift from the estate of Stuart and Virginia (Talbott) Harbour. Mr. Harbour was a 1943 graduate of Augustana, after which he earned a master's degree in business administration from Georgetown University and enjoyed a lengthy career as an analyst with the Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C. Virginia Harbour taught in the Fairfax County school system where she helped establish courses in home economics. The holder of this chair is to offer academic coursework in practical economics for non-economics majors.
Dr. Ballman was appointed as Harbour Professor in fall of 2008. He earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a doctorate at the University of Iowa. He joined joined the Augustana faculty in 1972. Ballman chaired the department for almost 20 years and served six years as the chair of the Division of Business and Education.
Violet M. Jaeke Chair of Family Life
Dr. Larry McCallum, Psychology
The Violet M. Jaeke Chair of Family Life was established in 1987 by Harold T. Jaeke, Augustana alumnus and retired Oscar Mayer & Co. executive and board member, in memory of his late wife, Violet Jaeke, a former teacher in the Moline, Ill. school district. In addition to a professorship, the gift supports programming in the field of family studies. The Jaekes also provided funding for the Harold T. and Violet M. Jaeke Awards for excellence in service among Augustana faculty, staff and administration.
The Jaeke Chair is held by Dr. Larry McCallum, chair of the psychology department. As chairholder, Dr. McCallum oversees the Jaeke Family Life Program at Augustana College. This includes community outreach programs in the Quad Cities and collaborative research with Augustana students in current family issues. Among Dr. McCallum's current initiatives is a collaborative project with the Search Institute, United Way of the Quad Cities, and local municipalities and school districts.
Lutheran Brotherhood Chaplaincy Endowment
Richard Priggie, Chaplain
Formed by the Lutheran Brotherhood, a fraternal benefit society headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., the Chaplaincy Endowment supports the activities of Augustana's Office of Campus Ministries. The endowment was established in 1996 under the Lutheran Brotherhood's Chaplaincy Challenge Grant program whereby half was contributed by the college and half by the fraternal group.
Under the leadership of Pastor Richard Priggie, the campus ministries program provides students with spiritual guidance and opportunities for worship, learning and service. The endowment also helps support efforts to create future lay leaders for churches by giving student workers a chance to contribute in the daily tasks involved with running a successful ministry.
Dorothy J. Parkander Chair in Literature
Don Erickson, English
The Dorothy Parkander Chair in Literature was established in 2001 in honor of Dr. Dorothy Parkander '46, professor emeritus of English, who was a member of the Augustana English Department for 49 years.
Dr. Don Erickson attended Lake Forest College (B.A., 1964, Phi Beta Kappa) and the University of Chicago (M.A., 1965) before joining the Augustana faculty. He left to continue graduate study at Washington University from 1968-71, completing his Ph.D. in 1975. His dissertation was on 18th century English satirists. He has been a Professor of English at Augustana since 1989; he has served as Chair of the Division of Language and Literature (1989-95), Chair of the English Department (1996-99), and president of the college's Phi Beta Kappa chapter (1995-2000).
Frank Strohkarck Chair of Business and Economics
Dr. Janis Lonergan, Business Administration
The Frank Strohkarck Chair of Business and Economics was established in 2002 through the estate of Frank Strohkarck '30. Strohkarck served as vice president and director of research with the Curtis Publishing Company in Philadelphia for 30 years.
The Strohkarck Chair is held by Dr. Janis Lonergan, professor of business administration. Dr. Lonergan joined the Augustana faculty in 1976 after earning her master's degree in economics from Southern Illinois University, where she also earned her Ph.D . shortly after beginning her career at Augustana.
Richard A. Swanson Chair of Social Thought
Dr. Peter Kivisto, Sociology
The Richard A. Swanson Chair of Social Thought was established in 2002 in honor of Richard Swanson '54, who served as Augustana's director of college relations, dean of college ministries and campus chaplain from 1966 to 1999.
A member of Augustana's sociology department for more than 20 years, Dr. Peter Kivisto holds the Swanson Chair. His eclectic research, which has taken him to Finland and Sweden, involves a range of topics including immigration and multiculturalism. Dr. Kivisto is also the editor of The Sociological Quarterly, a journal devoted to cutting-edge research and theory in all areas of sociological inquiry.
Henry Veld Chair in Music
Dr. Daniel Culver, Music
The Henry Veld Chair in Music was established in 1987 by gifts and commitments from former students and friends of the college in tribute to the late Henry Veld, founder of the widely respected Augustana Choir, conductor of the Handel Oratorio Society and long-time faculty member.
The Veld Chair in Music is currently held by Dr. Daniel Culver, professor of music. Dr. Culver is conductor of the Augustana College Symphony Orchestra and teaches classes in conducting, orchestral literature, history and theory. Every three years, he takes a small group of students to Vienna for a three-month study of history, literature and music of Vienna.
Florence C. and Dr. John E. Wertz Chair in the Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dr. Kathy J. Jakielski, Communication Sciences and Disorders
The Florence C. and Dr. John E. Wertz Chair in the Liberal Arts and Sciences was established in 2008 in honor of Florence Wertz, a 1944 Augustana graduate who made her career in speech pathology, working especially with children with developmental disabilities in the Twin Cities. Her husband, the late Dr. John Wertz, taught chemistry at Augustana in the 1940s.
Dr. Kathy J. Jakielski, professor of communication sciences and disorders, is the inaugural holder of the Florence C. and Dr. John E. Wertz Chair in the Liberal Arts and Sciences. While students have shared how inspirational they find Dr. Jakielski's teaching, she is also committed to engaging them both as a guide in research and as a mentor in their professional development. She joined the Augustana faculty in 1998 after completing her Ph.D. at the University of Texas, and since coming here she has been especially effective in involving students in research, and including student co-authors in her publications.
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