Four alumni selected for Augustana's Board of Trustees
Augustana College welcomes four new members to its Board of Trustees. Elected during the board’s recent meetings, the new trustees began their four-year terms this fall.
Don Erickson ’93
Don Erickson ’93 is the U.S. chief auditor for BMO Financial Group and is responsible for leading a team of audit professionals, identifying insights into current, emerging and potential issues; trends; and opportunities that will enhance efficiency and effectiveness of control processes.
Most recently, Erickson served as the managing director for U.S. Corporate Audit, accountable for the U.S. Regulatory and Enterprise AML audit teams while also coordinating various strategic initiatives for the division.
Erickson received his B.A. in accounting and computer science from Augustana and an M.B.A. from the
University of Tampa.
He offers a brief story to explain his gratitude for Augustana and what the school represents to him:
“When cleaning out my parents’ home after their passing, I found a handwritten letter from my father to the school asking for help when funds were tight,” Erickson said. “A solution was provided unbeknownst to me; perhaps my board service can be a small step to ‘paying it forward’ and honoring the school for its generosity and kindness to my father then and to my family now.”
Jeffery Scarpinato ’85
Jeffrey Scarpinato ’85 is an executive whose expertise is in networking, contracts, negotiations and forecasting. Since 2018, he has been the executive vice president of Regenexx Corporate, based in Sherrard, Ill.
After earning a B.A. in humanities from Augustana, Scarpinato received an M.S. in health care administration from College of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill., graduating with academic distinction. While at Augustana, he played linebacker for the Vikings football team that never lost a regular-season game and captured the Vikings’ first two NCAA DIII National Championships, in 1983 and 1984.
“I owe so much to Augustana,” Scarpinato said. “In addition to the excellent education and life experience it provided me the four years I was on campus, it introduced me to the Quad Cities, a place that I have called home now since 1981. Being able to give back to Augustana at the board level is an unbelievable honor and privilege.”
The Rev. Kyle Severson ’09
The Rev. Kyle Severson ’09 serves as lead pastor of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Park Ridge, Ill., where he began serving in March 2024. He earned his B.A. in music education at Augustana, an experience that helped shape his vocation as an educator, musician and pastor.
He has remained connected to the college through service on the President’s Advisory Council and now joins the Board of Trustees with deep gratitude for the formation he received there and a strong commitment to the college’s mission.
Before entering ordained ministry, the Rev. Severson served as choral music educator and director of choirs for the Iroquois West School District in Gilman, Ill. He later earned his Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and a certificate in nonprofit administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
“Augustana’s Lutheran identity, campus ministry and arts programs were deeply formative for me, shaping not only my vocation in the church but also the kind of civic leader I have sought to become,” he said. “As a trustee, I am excited to help steward what is distinctive about Augustana as we strengthen its commitment to forming students in faith, character, curiosity, service and a deep sense of responsibility for the world around them.”
Dr. Kit Sundararaman ’93
Dr. Kit Sundararaman ’93 recently retired from Fortune 200 corporate life, and is actively building her next chapter, which includes new product entrepreneurship, film production and podcasting.
During her 13 years at Edward Jones, Dr. Sundararaman launched the firm’s venture arm, Edward Jones Ventures, deploying over $30 million in capital to accelerate client and advisor experience innovation and financial outcomes. She previously built and scaled the firm’s Experience organization from a three-person Insights team to a 325+ person function spanning Client and Advisor Experience, UX, Design, Research and Measurement. Her leadership helped drive 35% client growth, 113% asset growth, and the firm’s rise into the Fortune 200.
After earning a B.A. in speech communication and rhetoric at Augustana, she earned an M.S. in
communication from Illinois State University and a Ph.D. in mass communication with an emphasis in psychology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
“Augie gave so much to me ... a career path I had never considered, the education and support to make it happen, not to mention the lifelong friendships and experiences that shaped who I am today,” she said. “I’m grateful to the faculty and administration, and the board members and donors that made all of that possible for me and thousands of others. Given this opportunity to do the same for current and future generations — it wasn’t even a question.”