Highlights Summer 2023
Student Highlights
Makayla Adams and Chloe Dahn traveled to Puerto Rico to work with LCMS world missions at the CARD house in Mayaguez.
Sarah Armbrust accepted a position at Stephen Joseph in Lubbock, TX as a surface designer and illustrator.
Seniors Alyssa Barnhouse, Hannah Eatherton, Madison Owen, Ariana Sauder and Rebekah Stadler were the first students to shadow an early childhood director as part of their learning experience in Dr. Annette Anschutz’s EDUC 452 Early Childhood Program Organization and Management course. The experience provided opportunities to learn skills that assisted them in building on course instruction and gain a better understanding of the qualities of exemplary leadership in early childhood programs.
Rachel Battershell, biology, chemistry and exercise science major, received the Dr. Jeffery Vessely Memorial Scholarship Award from Phi Epsilon Kappa, a national professional academic honorary society for students pursuing careers in health and human performance professions. This award recognizes one student from our local chapter that exemplifies strong leadership qualities, service-related activities, engagement in professional development activities and a high GPA.
Rachel Battershell was accepted into the Ph.D. program in physiological sciences at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, as well as the Ph.D. program in integrated physiology and molecular medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha campus, Omaha, Nebraska.
Zachary Bennetts, biology and exercise science major, was accepted into the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha campus, Omaha, Nebraska.
Emily Black completed music therapy practicum experience at Barkley Speech Language and Hearing Clinic, and Boystown National Research Hospital Center for Childhood Deafness, Language, and Learning.
Brynna Bruxellas was awarded a graduate assistantship in the Crop Science program, with an emphasis in GIS and Data Science, at North Carolina State University.
Eleanor Clausing and Emma (Noel) Ruwe (Elementary Education and ESL Endorsement majors) developed English language teaching curriculum that was used by Mission of Christ Network volunteers to teach six weeks of English lessons on the Fruit of the Spirit to high school students in Parrita, Costa Rica. This initiative is part of the Mission of Christ Network Lighthouse Parrita ministry run by Concordia alumni Ethan and Amanda Hutton, Zach Barz, and Ruth Moon.
Hannah Cmeyla earned first place in the Classical 7B (College Senior Women) Class for the state of Nebraska at the National Association of Teachers of Singing – State and Regional Student Auditions.
Chloe Dahn, Kalie Dalen, Madison Ellis, Susan Goehmann, Rachel Johnson, Christina Lee, Lydia Schultz, Rosanna Scott and Calli Terrell joined Julie Johnston Hermann and Rebekah Freed at the annual Beautiful Feet Mission Conference, Nov. 3-5, 2022, at Concordia University, Irvine.
Kalie Dalen completed music therapy practicum experiences at St. Croix Hospice and Seward Middle School.
Drew D’Ercole (recreation & sport studies), Erin Mapson (exercise science) and Josie Puelz (physical education) were honored by SHAPE Nebraska (Society of Health & Physical Educators) as Outstanding Majors of the Year for Concordia University on November 6th.
Roxana Dynes, Ian Fiala, Kylie Freudenburg, Rebecca Gebhardt, Emily Morse, Garrett Nokelby, Seanna Patterson, Reece Snodgrass and Halee Steffensmeier traveled to Amatitlan, Guatemala, May 2023 on a health and medical mission trip.
Haleigh Fitzsimmons and Hannah Watt co-directed a production of NO BODY LIKE JIMMY at Olde Glory Theatre in January 2023. The production featured current and former Concordia students as actors and technicians.
Callum Goldsmith secured a position as a Research Assistant with Dr. Gaelle Doucet at Boys Town National Research Hospital for Spring 2023. He will be conducting data analysis on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data.
Madee Hall completed music therapy practicum experiences at Gateway Vista, Barkley Speech Language and Hearing Clinic, and Lasting Hope Recovery Center.
Annah Heck with her co-authors, Gabrielle Luehr, Hayley Steinbauer, Abi DeLoach, Tabitha Ristvedt, Megan Garbe, Caleb Gierke, Cecilia Minchow, and Jonah Weyand, submitted the manuscript, “Misery Loves Company, but Only if It’s Funny: The Relationship Between Perceived Dark Humor and Depression” to the Journal of Psychological Inquiry.
Matthew Holmes was accepted into the University of Michigan Law School.
Ian Kollipara, computer science major, was awarded a Research Assistantship at University of Nebraska-Lincoln and will begin his Ph.D. studies in computer science in summer 2023.
Megan Kroeker completed her music therapy internship at Truman Medical Center.
Kadyn Lane, exercise science major, was accepted into the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Northern Arizona University, Phoenix campus, Phoenix, Arizona.
Erin Mapson received the R.R. Schrieber Distinguished Service Award from Phi Epsilon Kappa, a national professional academic honorary society for students pursuing careers in health and human performance professions. This award recognizes one student from our local chapter that exemplifies service-related activities to the chapter, strong leadership qualities and a high GPA.
Nathaniel Mars, senior church music major, performed an organ recital at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kimball, Nebraska, on March 18.
Renata Peperkorn, senior church music major, performed an organ recital at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Chico, California on March 5 and at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sacramento, California, on March 7.
Joel Rathe and Camden Sesna, with Dr. Joe Gubanyi, discovered a very dark American kestrel, an unusual bird in Seward County. They wrote and submitted an article to the Nebraska Bird Review, published by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union. It was published in the December issue (Volume 90 June 2022 Number 2).
Laura von Kampen exhibited her photography work at Neutral Grounds in Seward, Nebraska, in May and June of 2022.
Bethany Zeckzer received the Richard Hillert Award in Student Composition from the Center for Church Music at Concordia University Chicago for her SATB choir anthem “An Evening Prayer.”
Concordia’s A Cappella Choir represented the university at the Nebraska Music Education Association conference on Nov. 18. The choir performed a half-hour set, “The Emerald Isle: Inspirations of Ireland” to music educators and attendees of the conference at St. Paul Methodist Church in Lincoln.
Concordia Handbell Choir gave a handbell performance at the Performing Arts Center in Central City, Nebraska, on October 23rd, 2022. This performance was sponsored by the Merrick Arts Council. They were directed by Jessica Kite, Concordia's director of handbell choirs and adjunct professor of music.
In Spring 2023, Concordia Handbell Choir performed a concert as part of the Pacific Hills Lutheran Church Concert Series in Omaha, Nebraska, under the direction of Prof. Jessica Kite.
The Concordia IMPROVables performed an improv show as the evening entertainment for the Midwestern Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference in Lincoln in March 2023.
The Concordia Theatre Department inducted six new members into its Omega Lambda chapter of the Alpha Psi Omega national theatre honor society in May 2022: Grace Babbitts, senior; Rose Grothaus, senior; Caleb Jalas, sophomore; Faith Jonas, junior; Brett Mueller, senior; and Adam Prince, sophomore.
The Concordia Theatre Department performed their spring mainstage production of 12 ANGRY JURORS in Weller Hall at the end of March 2023.
Education majors Jaelyn Adler, Elizabeth Ascher, Lauren Dawson, Hannah Eatherton, Rhaya Kaschinske, Kayla Loesche, Stephanie Mashuga, Teagan Meyer, Hannah Mundt, Mary Pennekamp, and Shelby Timmerman were selected as inaugural participants in the C.A.S.E. (Concordia Ambassador Students in Education) association. Dr. Shanna Opfer and Dr. Vicki Anderson serve as faculty sponsors for this group.
Professor Ryan Burger's BUS 422 Auditing class performed a "Benchmark Ratio Analysis: A Learning Project for Not-For-Profit Auditing." Using Excel, charting data from IPEDS, and using other relevant data; the students were able to calculate and analyze financial statement ratios for Concordia Nebraska relative to other Concordia institutions and evaluate indicators of financial strain and financial strength.
Students in Concordia’s Writing Club, sponsored by Sigma Tau, the English honor society, published Potpourri 2022, a volume of creative writing from Concordia students, edited by Caleb Gierke.
Students in Dr. Kathy Miller’s Family class went to Greene Place Assisted Living Community in Seward. They shared donuts, coffee and conversation with some of the residents. Students listened to the residents talk about their lives, their family and interests.
Faculty and Staff Highlights
Dr. Vicki Anderson, associate professor of education and program director for Master of Education in TESOL, gave the following presentations at the Concordia Mission Institute in Concordia, Missouri, on July 12, 2022: “Building Ministry Motivation in a World of Constant Change” and “Scripture Engagement, Long-Distance: Overcoming Student ‘Virtual Fatigue’ in Online Bible Teaching.”
Dr. Vicki Anderson gave the following presentations at the MIDTESOL (MidAmerica TESOL) annual conference in Kansas City on September 23, 2022: “Online ESL Curriculum Building: Lessons Learned from and with ESL Teacher Candidates” and “Building English Learner Self-Efficacy though Self-Reflective Feedback Opportunities.” Dr. Anderson also serves on the MIDTESOL Board as Communications Director for the organization.
Dr. Vicki Anderson gave a presentation at the Lutheran Educators Association Convocation in Milwaukee on October 7, 2022, entitled “Academic Success through Academic Vocabulary Acquisition.”
Dr. Vicki Anderson traveled to Ethiopia in October 2022 on behalf of Mission of Christ Network to conduct a viability study to investigate the potential of developing an English Language Resource Center and intensive English program for students and faculty at the Mekane Yesus Seminary in Addis Ababa. Dr. Anderson provides ESL teacher training and teacher support and consultation for Mission of Christ Network new mission partners and mission partners stationed throughout the world.
Dr. Annette Anschutz, professor of education and early childhood program director, was advanced in rank to full professor in January 2023.
Dr. Annette Anschutz presented to a variety of audiences at the following conferences; Iowa Districts East and West, Missouri District, Lutheran Education Association (LEA), Messiah Lutheran Church, Hays, Kansas, National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Kansas Association of Independent and Religious Schools (KAIRS) Early Childhood Workshop, and the Indiana Early Childhood Conference.
Tobin Beck, assistant professor of journalism and political science, recorded a half-hour podcast on Nov. 2 for Concordia Publishing House on how we can practically respond and critically reflect on cultural issues as Christians.
Dr. Jeffrey Blersch, professor of music, published three new collections and compositions with Concordia Publishing House for their 2022 catalog: “Look With Eyes that See Forever,” an SATB choral anthem on a text by CUNE alum Lisa Clark, “Sunset and Dawning: Organ Settings of Hymns for Evening and Morning” and “Piano Duets for Christmas.”
Dr. Jeffrey Blersch had his collection “Sunset and Dawning” selected to appear on the Editor’s Choice list by J.W. Pepper.
Dr. Jeffrey Blersch was commissioned by Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Saginaw, Michigan to compose a hymn concertato on “O Day Full of Grace” in honor of the ministry of music director George Frank.
Dr. Jeffrey Blersch was commissioned by Concordia Publishing House to compose a piano setting of the hymn “Soul, Adorn Thyself with Gladness” to be included in the latest volume of the “Hymn Prelude Library.”
Dr. Jeffrey Blersch had two new publications released by Concordia Publishing House: the tenth volume in his series, “Hymn Introductions, Accompaniments, Harmonizations, and Interpretations” and “Piano Duets for Easter” – a collection of five arrangements based on Easter hymns for piano, four hands. This is the sequel to his volume “Piano Duets for Christmas” which was released last year.
Dr. Jeffrey Blersch was commissioned by Concordia Publishing House to compose two pieces to be included in their Piano Hymn Tune Library based on the hymn tunes “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You” and “Christians, to the Paschal Victim.”
Dr. Jeffrey Blersch led a hymn festival based on themes found in the book of Romans at Zion Lutheran Church, Wausau, Wisconsin in November 2022, St. John Lutheran Church, Seward, Nebraska, in February 2023, and Zion Lutheran Church, St. Charles, Missouri, in March. Both festivals were comprised of his own arrangements.
Dr. Jeffrey Blersch completed his book “25 Strategies for Organists to Practice Hymn-Based Improvisation.”
Dr. Jeffrey Blersch and Carla Blersch, adjunct professor of music, recorded Dr. Blersch’s piano four-hands arrangement of “Angels We Have Heard on High” for release on digital media platforms.
Dr. Jeffery Blersch and Dr. Elizabeth Grimpo recorded Dr. Blersch’s piano four-hands arrangement of “On Christmas Night All Christians Sing” for release on digital media platforms.
James Bockelman, professor of art, Seth Boggs, associate professor of art, Justin Groth, assistant professor of art, Aaron Nix, assistant professor of art, and Don Robson, professor of art, each presented recent artwork in the Marxhausen Gallery of Art as part of the Concordia Art Faculty Exhibition. The show ran from January 12, 2023, to February 21, 2023.
James Bockelman, professor of art and director of the Marxhausen Gallery of Art, completed a sabbatical during the second semester of the 2021–2022 academic year. Living in Berlin for six months, Bockelman produced three new drawing portfolios, as well as photo/video work that documented his residence in Germany. In May, Bockelman participated in the Open Studios, Art Spring Festival and later was invited to participate in a group exhibition titled, High Bunga Low: Focus on Abstraction, held at Milchhof Pavillon, Berlin. His work was also reviewed by Art Tours Berlin, a cultural project that connects local communities to Berlin’s contemporary art galleries and artist studios. In July, Bockelman presented a selection of his drawings in a one-person exhibition titled Duet: Zaunkönige und Strassenköter at Galerie Inga Kondeyne. In March 2023, four of Bockelman’s paintings will be presented at the Stockholms Auktionsverk in Hamburg, Germany. As a capstone for a semester–long research project studying original prints from Concordia’s Permanent Collection, Bockelman’s Luke Scholars class curated the exhibition “A Spectacle and Nothing Strange: A Modern Art Exhibition” held at the Marxhausen Gallery of Art.
Seth Boggs, associate professor of art, recently completed a large-scale mural on the exterior wall of Jimmy John’s in Seward, Nebraska.
Ryan Burger, adjunct professor of business, led his BUS 422 Auditing class in performing a "Benchmark Ratio Analysis: A Learning Project for Not-For-Profit Auditing." Using Excel, charting data from IPEDS, and using other relevant data; the students were able to calculate and analyze financial statement ratios for Concordia Nebraska relative to other Concordia institutions and evaluate indicators of financial strain and financial strength.
Rev. Dr. David Coe, associate professor of theology, had his article, “Law and Gospel, Distinction and Dialectic: Walther, Kierkegaard, and the Rich Young Ruler,” published in the Kierkegaard Studies Yearbook 2022, edited by Heiko Schulz, Jon Stewart, and Karl Verstrynge, Berlin: De Gruyter, 2022.
Rev. Dr. David Coe presented his book, Provoking Proverbs: Wisdom and the Ten Commandments, at the LCMS Theology Professors Conference (May 2022).
Rev. Dr. David Coe presented his paper, “Anfechtung: Luther and Kierkegaard’s Inheritance of Theologia Deutsch” for the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge, UK, for their conference, “Kierkegaard and Mysticism” (June 2022).
Rev. Dr. David Coe was the keynote speaker for the LCMS Nebraska District Convention in Kearney, NE (June 2022).
Rev. Dr. David Coe had his article, “Justification and Sanctification: Luther, Arndt, and Kierkegaard’s Inheritance of Theologia Deutsch,” accepted for publication in Kierkegaard and Mysticism: Contemporary Theological Explorations in Mysticism, Routledge Publishing.
Rev. Dr. David Coe will present his paper, “Aristotle and Lutherans: Don’t Throw Out the Baby with the Bathwater,” at the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education summer conference at Concordia University, Nebraska (July 2023).
Rebekah Freed, director of student development, completed a master’s degree from Liberty University in May 2022 studying Discipleship in the context of Crisis Response and Trauma. She presented content from her research at the LCMS Youth Gathering in July 2022 and at various LCMS district level gatherings and conferences this fall.
Rev. Dr. Brian Gauthier, assistant professor of theology, philosophy, and Biblical languages and director of pre-seminary and pre-deaconess programs led eight students on a mission trip to Santiago, Dominican Republic, May 9-16, 2022.
Rev. Dr. Brian Gauthier served as the keynote speaker, presenting “In the Spirit of Teaching: The Christlike Shape of Lutheran Education,” for the LAKC Educator’s Day Conference (Trinity Lutheran, Atchison, Kansas) on August 4, 2022.
Rev. Dr. Brian Gauthier reviewed “Introduction to Spirit Christology” by Leopoldo A. Sánchez M., in Logia Fall 2022.
Rev. Dr. Brian Gauthier taught “Exégesis de los Salmos y los Profetas” as a guest lecturer for Seminario Concordia El Reformador (Santiago, Dominican Republic) from September-December 2022.
Rev. Dr. Brian Gauthier served as the keynote speaker “This is Most Certainly True: Thinking through Visitation and Evangelism from a Catechetical and Creedal Framework” for the Pipestone Circuit Church Leaders Retreat (St. Paul Lutheran, Pipestone, Minnesota) on February 18, 2023.
Dr. Amanda Geidel, Richardson Professor of Education, education department chair and special education director, used the funds provided through the endowment to secure an adjunct instructor to teach a course for her so that she could spend time in a K-12 school setting. For six hours each week, Dr. Geidel visited Seward Elementary school to work with special education teachers and their students, gaining invaluable and current K-12 classroom experience. This time refreshed Dr. Geidel’s knowledge of current practices and situations in the school setting which will serve her well as Special Education Director and Education Department Chair.
Dr. Amanda Geidel presented at the 2022 Lutheran Education Association Convocation held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The title of her presentation was “The ABCs of Classroom Adaptations.”
Dr. Elizabeth Grimpo, professor of music, was a featured presenter at the Texas Lutheran Music and Worship conference at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas in September, leading a session on using the piano in the life of a congregation and giving one of the keynote addresses titled "The Music Behind the Enduring Words."
Dr. Elizabeth Grimpo was the guest artist for Piano Day at South Dakota State University in October, giving a masterclass and performing a solo recital.
Dr. Elizabeth Grimpo had Hymns of the Season, vol. 4: Life From Heaven (graded piano settings of the hymns), published by David's Harp - A Center For Musical Development in November.
Dr. Gabriel Haley, professor of English, was elected as President-Elect of board for the Association of Lutheran College Faculties (ALCF). Dr. Haley will subsequently serve as President of the ALCF from 2023-24, leading up to the 2024 ALCF conference hosted by Concordia University, Nebraska.
Dr. Gabriel Haley presented a paper, “Petrarch’s Solitude: From Curiosity to Contemplation,” at the Rocky Mountain Medieval and Renaissance Association annual conference in July 2022.
Dr. Gabriel Haley served on the editorial board for The Classical Lutheran Education Journal, co-editing two volumes in 2022.
Dr. Gabriel Haley presented a talk, “Ad fontes, non ad stagnata: A Theory of Reading Great Books,” at the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education Conference, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in July 2022.
Dr. Gabriel Haley represented Concordia University, Nebraska, as a vendor at the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education conference, promoting the new Classical Liberal Arts programs and the Luke Scholars programs.
Dr. Gabriel Haley was interviewed by KFUO Radio on the topic of the liberal arts and the Great Books.
Dr. Gabriel Haley served as the keynote speaker at the LCMS Wyoming District Homeschool Retreat in Casper, Wyoming, in July 2022. He led three sessions: “Educating for a Life well Lived: Life after high school graduation,” “Arts or Sciences: Literature Unifying the Disciplines for Life-long learning,” and “Christian Piety & Imagination: Literature supporting Life-long Christian Piety.”
Dr. Gabriel Haley was invited to be the keynote speaker at Memorial Lutheran High School’s annual fundraising dinner in Houston, Texas, in January 2023. Dr. Haley’s talk was titled, “Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?”
Dr. Gabriel Haley attended the thirteenth annual Eighth Day Symposium on the theme “Be Not Afraid,” held in Wichita, Kansas, in January 2023.
Dr. Gabriel Haley served as part of the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education’s accreditation team visit to Immanuel Lutheran School in Alexandria, Virginia, in March 2023.
Dr. Gabriel Haley and Dr. Dennis Brink represented Trinity Academy at the Nebraska Christian Home Educators Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska, in March 2023.
Dr. Gabriel Haley gave a talk, “Tolkien’s Modern Mythmaking,” as part of the Lord of the Rings Marathon, held at the Rivoli Theater in Seward, Nebraska, in March. Three Concordia undergraduate students--Gwen Gaunt, Timothy Mars, and Zach Johnson--also participated in a discussion panel about the movies.
Dr. Nolan Harms, chair and associate professor of health and human performance, completed a postdoctoral research fellowship during the fall 2022 semester at the Nebraska Athletic Performance Lab on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Cheryl Haun, graduate adjunct professor, is leading Dr. Annette Anschutz and six other early childhood specialists in preparing a series of five training modules for the Lutheran Education Association. The modules will equip early childhood directors with practical strategies to promote the integration of the Christian faith into classroom environments, curricular experiences, and into the homes of the school families. The modules present what could be considered best practice in teaching the faith in the early childhood environment with the goal of implementing teaching practices that encourage a growing, vital faith for the young learners in our Lutheran early childhood programs. A gracious grant from the Northern Illinois District of the LCMS is supporting the work and initial launch of this professional development opportunity for consultants/directors is expected in late spring or early summer.
Dr. Joel Helmer, professor of geography and chair of the department of history, geography, intercultural studies and modern languages, and Holly Helmer, catalog librarian, are leading a student trip to Peru and Machu Picchu on May 23-June 1.
Dr. Joel Helmer successfully completed his Part 107 exam to become a FAA certified small Unmanned Aerial Systems (drone) pilot.
Dr. Joseph Herl, professor of music, delivered a paper, “Old or New: Borderline Cases of Originality in Hymn Tunes,” at the joint meeting of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada and several other professional societies in July in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Joseph Herl’s hymn tune “Olden Time” was matched with Herman Stuempfle’s text ‘When Jesus walked beside the shore” in 366 Hymns & Devotions for the Church Year, by Chris Fenner and Brian G. Najapfour.
Dr. Joseph Herl’s piano composition “Consider How the Birds Above” was published in the Piano Prelude Series from Concordia Publishing House.
Dr. Joseph Herl’s chapter “The Latin Liturgy and Juvenile Lutheran Instruction in Sixteenth-Century Germany” was published in December in the book Athens and Wittenberg: Poetry, Philosophy, and Luther’s Legacy (Leiden: Brill).
Dr. Joseph Herl’s chapter “Worship,” in A Companion to Lutheran Orthodoxy, edited by Joar Haga and Sascha Salatowsky, is scheduled for publication this year in the series Brill’s Companions to the Christian Tradition.
Dr. Joseph Herl has contributed a chapter, “The Most Widely-Used Hymnal of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries: Johann Crüger’s Praxis Pietatis Melica, 1640–1736,” to “A New Song Is Begun”: Celebrating the Half Millennium of Lutheran Hymnals 1524–2024, edited by Robin A. Leaver (Fortress Press, forthcoming).
Dr. Joseph Herl’s feature article “Church Music at Concordia University, Nebraska” appeared in the Fall/Winter 2022 issue of CrossAccent: Journal of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians.
Dr. Joseph Herl’s review of Bettina Varwig’s book Rethinking Bach will appear in the Summer 2023 issue of Lutheran Quarterly.
Dr. Joseph Herl served on the award committee for the 2022 Raabe Prize in Composition, a biennial prize awarded by the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians.
Dr. Joseph Herl continues his work as director of the Hymn Tune Index, a research project at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and as a member of the editorial board of CrossAccent.
Julie Johnston Hermann, director of global opportunities, Dr. Robert Hermann, professor of physics and natural science department chair, and Dr. Erica Lamm, associate professor of communication, MBA program director and assistant director of forensics, took two students, Chloe Dahn and Makayla Adams to Puerto Rico to work with LCMS world missions at the CARD house in Mayaguez.
Julie Johnston Hermann, Director of Global Opportunities and Rebekah Freed, Director of Student Life accompanied nine students to Concordia University, Irvine to participate in the annual Beautiful Feet Mission Conference. The conference was held Nov. 3-5, 2022, at Concordia University, Irvine, with the theme, Into His Harvest, based on Luke 10:2.
Dr. Jen Janousek (along with two medical providers, Jill Beisel and Dr. Sarah Matthias) led a group of students on a health and medical mission trip to Amatitlan, Guatemala, May 2023.
Dr. Keith Kerschen, assistant professor of education, co-authored the article, “The Impact of a Summer Intervention Focused on Foundational Concepts of Number Sense for Early Learners” which was published in the journal Investigations in Mathematics Learning in September 2022.
Dr. Keith Kerschen presented a session at the Lutheran Education Assocation (LEA) Convocation in Milwaulkee, Wisconsin, on October 7th, 2022. The presentation was titled, “Discourse, Questioning, and Productive Struggle in the Mathematics Classroom.”
Dr. Keith Kerschen presented a session at the School Science and Mathematics Association (SSMA) Convention in Missoula, Montana, on October 28, 2022. The presentation was titled, “Supporting Preservice Teachers for the Mathematics edTPA.”
Dr. Erica Lamm, with colleagues from other universities, presented their paper on teacher listening at the National Association for Gifted Children in November 2022.
Dr. Carol McDaniel, adjunct professor in music, spoke at a Women’s Advent Tea held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Norfolk, Nebraska in December 2023.
Dr. Carol McDaniel developed and presented a two day Bible Study Retreat called “Take Heart!” for over 80 women in southern California in January 2023.
Dr. Mark Meehl, professor of theology, completed his book, “Taanach II: The Iron Age Stratigraphy.” The book will be available in summer 2023.
Dr. Kathy Miller, professor of sociology, and students in her Family class went to Greene Place Assisted Living Community in Seward. They shared donuts, coffee and conversation with some of the residents. Students listened to the residents talk about their lives, their family and interests.
Bryan Moore, professor of communication and theatre, completed his 2-year term as president of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA) and transitioned to the position of Past-President. He helped coordinate the organization’s annual conference this past July 2022, which included asynchronous online content, a 1-day synchronous virtual conference, and a 3-day in-person conference in Philadelphia.
Bryan Moore participated in two theatre events in Omaha summer 2022, serving as director of a PlayLab staged reading at the Great Plains Theatre Commons New Play Conference, and as dramaturg for OTHELLO and THE TEMPEST for Nebraska Shakespeare.
Bryan Moore directed a production of THE MOUNTAINTOP at Lincoln Community Playhouse, which performed in late January and early February 2023.
Aaron Nix, assistant professor of art, was selected as a quarter-finalist for the 2022 Faith in Film International Film Festival for his feature screenplay “Old Friends.”
Aaron Nix was selected to the top 10% of applicants for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ highly coveted Academy Nicholls Fellowship for his feature length screenplay “Old Friends.”
Aaron Nix and Emma Brand ’20 co-wrote and co-directed the short film “Good Afternoon” for the 2022 Omaha Film Festival 48 Hour Competition. The film won honorable mention for best cinematography.
Aaron Nix was invited as lecturer in cinema production at the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for the Fall of 2022.
Dr. Shanna Opfer, associate professor of education and director of elementary education, presented “Globally Networked Curriculum Projects—a 21st Century Approach to Learning and Engagement” at the Lutheran Educators Association Conference in October.
Brian Peters, adjunct professor or Criminal Justice, and Dr. Daniel Zieg, adjunct professor and chief deputy county attorney for the Civil Division in Lancaster county, hosted a mock search warrant interdiction at the university’s crime scene house, located directly behind the Jonathan dorms on campus. Members of Concordia’s Law and Justice Club were invited to attend the event to gain insight on real world experiences.
Dr. Jerrald K. Pfabe, professor emeritus of history and Spanish and university archivist published “The Seward County Home Front in World War I, 1917-18” in Nebraska History, Spring 2023, and “Lutherans, Loyalty and Language: The Experience of Lutherans in Seward County, Nebraska, During World War I” in Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, Winter 2022.
Don Robson, professor of art and art department chair, had artworks, “Sacrifice,” “Worth” and “Regret” accepted for inclusion in the Northwest Arts Center’s INT'L All Media 2022 exhibition.
Don Robson’s “Worth,” was chosen as Best of Show by juror Sarah Justice in the INT’L All Media 2022 exhibition. Robson will present a solo exhibition at the Northwest Arts Center’s Walter Piehl Gallery during the 2023-25 exhibit seasons. He will present as a guest artist holding workshops and working with students at Minot State University in Minot, North Dakota.
Don Robson presented SENSORY PERCEPTION: WHERE MUSIC MEETS ART a workshop for high school students as part of the Norfolk Art Center’s Artist Driven program in Norfolk, Nebraska. Students learned to compositionally express a relationship among features of music such as rhythm, emphasis, harmony (consonance/dissonance) and amplitude as they relate to visual interpretation and the elements of timbre/color, texture, form and time.
Dr. Dylan C. Teut, Executive Director of the Plum Creek Literacy Festival, has been invited to keynote the August 2023 Iowa District West and Iowa District East LCMS Early Childhood Conference. Dr. Teut will present sectional experiences focused on Best New Books for Our Youngest Readers; Bringing Read Alouds to Life in the Classroom and Home; and The Basic Building Blocks: Sounds, Letters, and Words among the Science of Reading News.