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augHISTana update #1 (August 2022)

Hello from the Department of History at Augustana College!

In an effort to improve communications amongst folks in the history community at Augustana, including students, faculty, and alumni, we’re planning to send you semi-regular updates about happenings in the history department.

In each update you’ll find notes about student experiences, faculty research, and alumni achievements. If you have something you’d like to share, then feel free to send an email to current department chair Brian Leech. If you’d like to suggest a better name for this kind of message, feel free to let me know! 

Although most students are only now trickling onto campus, the college’s new President, Dr. Andrea Talentino, has already been with us for a couple of months. Although her specialty is Political Science, we’ve chosen not to hold that fact against her…plus, what is politics without history (or vice versa)? Her formal inauguration will be held during Homecoming – on October 15th – an occasion that will truly be historic, as she will become the ninth (and first female) president in the college's 162-year history. 

Elizabeth Lawrence and senior Brittany Murphy

Dr. Elizabeth Lawrence and senior Brittany Murphy in Hawaii.

The end of the spring was quite busy for students and faculty. With support from a Freistat Center Student-Faculty Research Fellow grant, Dr. Elizabeth Lawrence and senior Brittany Murphy traveled to Honolulu to conduct research for a project titled "Encountering Legacies of Japanese Militarism."

During the spring break trip, they visited the Moir Reading Room of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the Hawaii State Archives, the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, and the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites. They also attended the Association of Asian Studies Annual Conference.

Dr. Lawrence and Brittany Murphy also travelled to the annual ASIANetwork Conference in Geneva, New York, where Lawrence presented two papers and Murphy presented a poster co-authored by History minor Rosalie Looijard. 

End of the year celebration and awards

In May, the history department had a chance to recognize a wonderful group of seniors. To fit COVID regulations, we held an outdoor event to celebrate the end of the year.

At that event we gave out our department’s traditional awards.

The Daughters of Founders and Patriots Award for Outstanding Achievement in American History went to Lauren Hall, the Cletus Melchior Award for Outstanding Future Educator went to Sarah Schwarm, the Mark Schwiebert Spirit of History Award went to Clarice Brown, and the OF Ander Award for Outstanding Student was earned by Brittany Murphy.

If you’d like to read more about them or about some of our other excellent recent graduates, please click on their names, which will bring up “More Than I Imagined” profiles for Fatima Dominguez (majors in history and political science), Rosalie Looijaard (majors in philosophy and political science, minors in history and Asian Studies), Alondra Ochoa (majors in history, French, and political science), and Matt Payton (history education).

history celebration
At left, the trivia competition during the end-of-the-year history outdoor event, May 2022. At right, award winners Lauren Hall and Clarice Brown (along with Dr. Brian Leech) from the college honors event in May 2022.

This summer has meant summer jobs for some students, research opportunities for others, and great internships for still others. Since this first Update is running long, I only have room to highlight two student internships, but stay tuned in the future to hear more about the great things our students are doing.

Jack Beemsterboer, a rising Augustana College senior, found an internship at the Swenson Center for Swedish Immigration Research, which he discusses in "A Summer Intern's Reflection."

Meanwhile, recent graduate Brittany Murphy enjoyed an internship at the Japanese American Service Committee’s Legacy Center in Chicago, where she created a podcast about Japanese American incarceration.

I’m off to finish preparing for a busy fall. Stay tuned for the next update! 

Brian Leech
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of History

 

Patrick McNally

Vikings and opera – beyond the cliché

Athleticism and the arts are a natural at Augustana, especially in opera. Football lineman Spencer Warfield  ’23 and fencer Soryn Richter  ’26 take the stage in “Amahl and the Night Visitors” on April 21 and 23.

Red Rocks, Nevada

How J-term classes impact the student experience

During January term, students take a break from their 15-week semester schedule to engage in a month-long period of intensive learning. Here are four students' J-term stories and photos from several classes.

Old Main

Augustana’s Simonsen contributes to Emmy-winning documentary

Dr. Jane Simonsen, professor of history, was a contributor to the documentary “Jean Seberg: Actress Activist Icon,” winner of a Mid-America Emmy® Award in the historical documentary category.