Contributors

Christopher R. Strunk
Christopher R. Strunk
Associate Professor of Geography, Chair; Coordinator of Latin American Studies
Allison Mirell-Heaton
Allison Mirell-Heaton
Student Counselor
Kent Barnds
Kent Barnds
Executive Vice President for Strategy and Innovation
rachel gustafson
Rachel Z. Gustafson
Senior Associate Director of Admissions
Debbie Blaylock
Debbie Blaylock
Editorial Director, Communication and Marketing
Wendy Kelley
Wendy R. Kelley
Senior Associate Director of Admissions
Courtney Wallace
Courtney Wallace
Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management
Ila Mostafa
Ila Mostafa
Student

Ila Mostafa is a neuroscience major at Augustana College. She hopes to work in a lab doing research on Parkinson's Disease. In her free time, Ila enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family. 

Madison Williams
Madison Williams
Student

Madison Williams '20 majored in multimedia journalism and mass communication at Augustana College. She was also a sports editor/reporter for the Augustana Observer student newspaper. She currently is pursuing a master's in sports media at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Krishna Marme
Krishna Marmé
Student

Krishna Marmé is a senior at Augustana. She's double majoring in Political Science and Public Health with a minor in Sociology. After college, she hopes to continue working within Public Health to promote the health and well being of her surrounding communities. Krishna from DeWitt, Iowa. In her free time, she loves to read and spend time with her family and dogs. 

On campus, Krishna is involved in the Phi Rho Sorority as the Diversity Chair, Risk Management Chair, and Member of the Constitution Committee. She's also the President of Omicron Delta Kappa, Secretary of Mortar Board Honor Society, a member of the Title IX Student Advisory Council, and a member of the Inclusion Committee. 

Rachel Hecke
Rachel Hecke
Student

Rachel Hecke is a junior from São Paulo, Brazil. She’s majoring in psychology, philosophy, and political science. 

On campus she’s involved with the Office of International Student Life, working as a Global Ambassador mentoring incoming international students. She’s also on the executive board for the Psychology Club and Psi Chi, the National Honors Society for Psychology. 

She works for International Admissions and the office of Public Safety, and volunteers with Búhos, a campus group which teaches English as a second language in the community. 

Hecke's also part of Heywire, the campus improv group .

Autumn Peele
Student

Autumn Peele graduated from Augustana College in May 2021. A geology major with a theatre minor, she has had a lifelong passion for paleontology. She plans to attend grad school and specialize in vertebrate paleontology. On campus, Autumn was the vice president of the Udden Geology Club and a student worker for Augustana's web services and new media department.

William Iavarone
William Iavarone
Director of Counseling
Fred Kurt
Fred Kurt
Director of Dining Services
Fatima Dominguez
Student

Fatima Dominguez '22 is from Poplar Grove, Ill.

Emily Graziano
Emily Graziano
Student

Emily Graziano is a senior from Arlington Heights, IL. She’s majoring in Communication Studies and Business Administration - Management. 

On campus she’s involved in Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble, Augie Catholic, Augustana Campus Ministries, Zeta Phi Kappa Sorority, Advertising Developers, Mortar Board honor society, and she’s a student working for the Office of Communications and Marketing and the Office of Admissions.
 

Jacob Wyco
Jacob Wyco
Student
Mary Isabel Sales
Mary Isabel Sales
Student

Mary is a Spanish, psychology and sociology major at Augustana College. She is a member of Chi Alpha Pi, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Camp Kesem, and Best Buddies. She works as a community advisor (CA) and as a tutor in the Reading/Writing Center. Mary is also a public relations co-chair on the executive board of Augustana’s chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, a national theatre honor society.

Brittany Hatlestad
Brittany Hatlestad
Student

Brit Hatlestad, a rising senior, is majoring in biology and neuroscience on the pre-occupational therapy track. Outside of the classroom, she is involved with the President’s Advisory Council, a Board of Trustees Fellow, and is president of the Phi Rho Sorority. This summer, Brit worked in Dr. Rodney Samaco’s lab where she validated the creation of an animal model that can be used to further research a rare genetic disorder, NGLY1-Congenital Disorder of Deglycosylation.

Justin Verlinden
Justin Verlinden

Justin graduated in 2020, double majoring in biology and neuroscience with a minor in creative writing. He conducted research at Baylor College of Medicine, where he investigated the use of several brain imaging scans to detect early structural and functional differences in young mice with Alzheimer's, with the hope of eventually developing an early diagnostic tool for the disease. He currently is pursuing a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience at the University of Kentucky.

Chelsea Meyer
Chelsea Meyer
Student

Chelsea Meyer is a senior from Roscoe, IL. She is double majoring in Communication Studies and Multimedia Journalism & Mass Communication while on the Pre-Law track. 

On campus she's involved with Greek Council as the service chair, a member of the Delta Chi Theta Sorority, and a member of the Women’s Golf Team.  
 

Sophia Gilmore
Sophia Gilmore
Student

Sophia Gilmore is majoring in neuroscience on the pre-nursing track class of 2022. She's originally from San Diego, California. On campus, she's a part of the Phi Rho sorority and is the fall 2019 Social Chair. In her free time she enjoys watching scary movies, listening to music and getting coffee with friends. 

Mikaela Ferrara
Student
Kathleen Fues
Katie Fues
Student

Kathleen Fues is a senior student at Augustana, class of 2020. She's from Crystal Lake, IL and came to Augustana as a transfer student from another four-year university during her sophomore year. She's studying secondary and middle grades education and English. She hopes to teach upper middles school after she graduates. 

During her time at Augustana, she's been a part of SAGA, HerCampus, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, and Chi Alpha Pi. She's enjoyed working the office of admissions as a student ambassador for prospective students and spending time working clinical placements in local schools. 

She is currently student teaching in Bettendorf.

Kayley Larson
Student
Patti Grod
Patti Grod
Student

Patti graduated from Augustana in 2020; she was a double major in communication studies and French, with a minor in entertainment and media studies. She is originally from Northbrook, Ill., but her family relocated to Henderson, Nev. Outside of academics, Patti was a member of the Vikings varsity swim team, director of PR and marketing for HerCampus, and a member of Delta Chi Theta sorority.

Maria Coulter
Maria Coulter

Maria Coulter, Class of 2023, is from Peoria, Ill. She's majoring in vocal performance and communication studies. On campus, she's involved in choir, Campus Ministries leadership team and Phi Rho sorority.

Mari Kelley

Mari Kelley (Class of 2023) is from Port Byron, Ill. She is majoring in history, with plans to minor in art history and geology. On campus, she works in the ticket office and participates in choir and Quidditch Club (which requires a lot of running). After graduation, Mari plans to work toward her dream job of working as a curator in a history museum. 

Rachel Forman
Rachel Forman

Rachel is a senior from Saint Charles, Ill., majoring in communication studies and business administration with a marketing concentration.

Jon Jaworowski
Jon Jaworowski

Jon Jaworowski, Class of 2023, is from Rockford, Ill. He is a vocal music education major and theatre arts minor. Jon is a member of the Augustana Choir, the Augustana Academic Chorus, and the Augustana chapters of NAfME and ACDA.  Jon is also involved in the theatre department at Augustana, and the Spotlight Theatre in Moline, Ill.  Jon also helps manage the Augustana Oratorio Society, works as a social media coordinator for the fine arts department, and is also a music librarian for the choir department.

Michelle Pacheco
Michelle Pacheco

Michelle Pacheco is a first-year student from Aurora, Ill., and one of the students traveling to Ecuador under the First Year Global program.

Hana Bui
Hana Bui
Student

Hana is a junior from Hai Phong, Vietnam, majoring in communication studies and international business-marketing.

Berenice Campos
Berenice Campos

Berenice Campos from DePue, Ill., is a senior majoring in business management, marketing and Spanish for professional use. She is involved in Chi Alpha Pi sorority, Camp Kesem and Buhos (ESL). Berenice is also an Admissions ambassador.

Lucy Buzea
Lucy Buzea

Lucy Buzea is a biology and Spanish major from Colona, Ill.

Chey Lawrence
Chey Lawrence

Chey Lawrence is a pre-med and neuroscience double major from Glasford, Ill.

Grace Hankins
Grace Hankins

Grace Hankins is a sociology and anthropology major from St. Louis, Mo.

bryn_gatz
Bryn Gatz

Bryn Gatz (Class of 2022) is from Sterling, Ill. She is majoring in creative writing and business administration. On campus, Bryn is involved in the Phi Rho sorority, Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority, and Her Campus.

Amanda Gravelle

Amanda is currently a sophomore majoring in Art History, Engineering Physics, and Environmental Studies. She's also involved in the orchestra as a cellist, is the vice president of the Augustana Physics and Engineering Society, holds a position in Sigma Pi Delta, am a member of the ALIVE program, and a member of the APS Idea mentoring program. 

Isabella_Gmitrovic
Isabella Gmitrovic

Isabella Gmitrovic is in the Class of 2023. She is a political science & communication studies major with a MJMC minor. She is also the admissions social media chair and an admissions student ambassador. 

hannah in paris
Hannah Knuth

Hannah is a rising senior majoring in art history and communication studies with minors in multimedia journalism and mass communications. 

Hailey Turner
Hailey Turner

Hailey Turner is a first-year student from Clermont, Fla., majoring in pre-veterinary studies.

Tobi Matter
Tobi Matter
Digital Content and Social Media Specialist
Georgi Feigley
Georgi Feigley

Georgi Feigley is a first-year student from Rock Island, Ill., planning to major in voice music performance and French.

Christopher Le
Christopher Le

Christopher Le is a senior computer science major from Tuy Hoa, Vietnam.

Genevieve Ryan
Genevieve Ryan

Genevieve Ryan is a first-year student from Rockford, Ill. She plans to triple major in Spanish, communication studies and political science on the pre-law track, with a minor in ethics.

Brian Thomas
Brian Thomas

Brian is a senior from Waukesha, Wis., majoring in English.

Brett Kuras
Brett Kuras

Brett is a senior from Batavia, Ill., majoring in political science and multimedia journalism and mass communication.

Jenny Dunder
Jenny Dunder

Jenny Dunder is a senior from Longmont, Colo., double-majoring in political science and business marketing.

Lauren Clarke
Lauren Clarke
Admissions Counselor

Lauren graduated in 2023 with majors in creative writing, multimedia journalism and mass communication, and theatre arts with a theatre history concentration. She is currently an admissions counselor at Augustana.

Hoang Trieu
Hoang Trieu

Hoang is a first-year student from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, majoring in economics and applied mathematics.

Adele Eberhardt
Adele Eberhardt
Student

Adele Eberhardt is a first-year student from Erie, Colo.