59 | Carol Miller Hammarberg, Philadelphia, PA, retired as the planned giving manager at KenCrest and now sits on the board of directors there.
60 | James Olson, Mendota Heights, is retired from the U.S. Bureau of Mines and is now active in the Swedish Genealogical Society of Minnesota. He also volunteers at the Minnesota History Center.
64 | Kathleen Felsted Matson, Brooklyn, NY, is a retired educator and volunteers at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.
68 | John Ahlstrom, St. Paul, published The First Book of John in September 2022, available by contacting him at johneahlstrom@yahoo.com.
69 | Steve Eckman, Maple Plain, has retired from his law practice with Eckman, Strandness, & Egan, PA, but is still running steam engines and farming.
71 | Marge Aasness Schaffer, Eden Prairie, is a retired nurse educator and volunteer ambassador for Mental Health Connect with All Saints Lutheran Church in Minnetonka.
72 | Vern Hedlin, Farwell, is a Synod Authorized Minister in the Northwest Minnesota Synod and serves part- time for three congregations. Bob Radl, Sagamore Hills, OH, has served as a mentor to the Bhutanese Community in Akron for 11 years and was profiled as an “Unsung Hero” by the Akron Beacon Journal in 2019.
74 | Bruce Bostrom, St. Paul, retired from his position as a pediatric oncologist at the University of Minnesota and Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.
75 | Mary Anne Elder Block, St. Joseph. After being a cardiac care nurse and then working in city administration, she has started a new career as a reporter for the St. Joseph Newsleader and the Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader. Marcia Watson Ernst and Gary Ernst, Dassel, are licensed hemp growers and sell vegan gummies through the website jollyjesterhemp.co. Marcia also won third place in the 2022 Daughters of the American Revolution yearly art contest for her carved clay candleholder.
76 | Ted Kunze, Saint Peter, wrote a series of 16 short devotions that were published in the October-December 2023 edition of Christ in Our Home.
79 | Ronald Furnival, Marana, AZ, retired in the fall of 2020 from the University of Minnesota Medical School as a professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine.
81 | Mary Rolf Bodin, Roseville. After retiring from a nursing career, she now spends volunteer time as a master gardener. Terri Quale Cope, Victoria, is the president and founder of Mojo and is on the Board of the American Marketing Association, Minnesota Chapter.
82 | Kevin Kramer, Emily, who is a senior marketing representative for Federated Insurance, was awarded The Federated Chairman’s Career Award. This award is presented to only one marketing representative in a given year for exemplary service.
83 | Catherine Tucker, Gainesville, FL, is a full professor of anthropology and Latin American studies at the University of Florida, Gainesville. She recently conducted sabbatical fieldwork with coffee growers and cooperatives in Honduras. 84| Paul Nelson, Plymouth, is an Allstate agency manager located in Golden Valley.
86 | Barb Jones Dorn, Nicollet, serves as the director of leadership development and executive search at the Minnesota School Boards Association since 2019. Jeff Lunde, Rochester, is a psychology and geography teacher for Rochester Public Schools.
87 | Lee Glenna, Long Lake, is managing director at BTIG in Minneapolis, an institutional equity trading firm.
88 | Kari Anderson Miyano, Osaka, Japan, is a volunteer with Moms in Prayer International. This group impacts children and schools worldwide for Christ by gathering mothers to pray.
89 | Steve Mau, Brainerd, became president of the American Rental Association in February 2023. He will become Chairman of the Board this February. Heather Miller-Cink, Brooklyn Park, is the new principal at Brookings High School in Brookings, SD.
91 | Gregg Aamot, Victoria, is the managing editor of Southwest News Media, which runs six weekly newspapers and a website in the southwest Twin Cities suburbs. Jaren Johnson, Savage, is an attorney/partner and real estate property law specialist for Johnson Law Office PLLC in Edina. Ingrid Nyholm-Lange, St. Paul, was recently named chief operating officer for the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. Jean Eliason Tubbs, Friendswood, TX, is the assistant director of child nutrition purchasing and compliance at Alvin Independent School District.
92 | Eric Espeland, Baltimore, MD, is a senior director, pipeline project management for GSK.
94 | Travis Armstrong, Blue Earth, has been named activities director/dean of students at Blue Earth Area High School. Kris Koehler Vogel, Jenks, OK, is the principal product consultant for Health and Wellbeing for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
96 | Adam Nachand, Burnsville, is a clinical pharmacist at Prime Therapeutics in Eagan. Valerie Ruha, Plymouth, is the owner of Very Organized by Valerie, a professional organizing company.
97 | Jill Buhse Anderson, St. Michael, has been named head of home entertainment sales & partner management for Lionsgate. She has been with the company for 20 years, previously overseeing the digital home entertainment and packaged media sales teams. Martha Malinski, Minneapolis, is serving as the interim executive director at Women's College Coalition. April Valentine, Hammond, IN, is the assistant director for immigration at Purdue University Northwest. Carmen Westerberg, Austin, TX, is a professor of psychology at Texas State University, San Marco.
98 | Shane M. Thielke, Fergus Falls, is the high school assistant principal, middle school activities director, and varsity baseball coach for Fergus Falls School District.
99 | Julie Moberg Gilbert, Saint Peter, who is an associate professor for the academic library at Gustavus Adolphus College, won the 2023 Best Indie-Published Young Adult Fiction Author Award for her novel, Cemetery Songs. The award recognizes the best independently published books by Minnesota writers. Kevin O’Laughlin, Minneapolis, is a certified financial planner for Cahill Financial Advisors. Heather Boyd Marx, Blaine, was named by Minnesota Lawyer magazine as a “Top Women in Law.” She was also spotlighted by the Hennepin County Bar Association in Hennepin Lawyer magazine, with a standing column entitled “10 Questions.” She is vice-chair, office managing partner of Cozen O’Connor’s Minneapolis office. She also serves as vice-chair of the firm’s Customs, Imports & Trade Remedies practice, one of the only full-service trade practices outside the nation’s coastal hubs.
00 | Heather Nelson Weinreich, Wilmette, IL, was recently promoted to associate professor with tenure in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
01 | Liz Ackert, Goleta, CA, was recently tenured as an associate professor of geography at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Erin Cederlind, Dulles, VA, was chosen as the community liaison officer of the year by the American Foreign Service Association. Erin works in the CLO office at the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti. Debbie Holte, Minneapolis, is a drafting technician at VAA. Kris Watson Mullins, Cottage Grove, is a licensed school counselor at Harding High School. Christian White, Bloomington, is a captain with Delta Air Lines.
02 | Jen Brandenburg, Minneapolis, is the pharmacy manager at Hy-Vee in Savage. Annie Holland, Owatonna, is a training specialist for Federated Insurance in Owatonna. Amy Brown Schlegel, Columbus, OH, is associate professor of clinical pediatrics, division of neonatology, and associate division chief at The Ohio State College of Medicine, as well as medical director, neonatal intensive care units at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
04 | Kristi Beck Wahlman, Minnetonka, a former accountant, is now the owner and a baker at The Beancounter's Sweets.
05 | Steph Handahl Benson, Minnetonka, is vice president of strategy and innovation/chief of staff at UnitedHealthcare in Minnetonka. Ben Eklo, Chaska, is chief financial officer for UnitedHealthcare in Minnetonka. Andrea Tish Fish, Eagan, is the assistant director for strategy and operations for the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. Britt Forsberg, St. Paul, is a community science fellows coordinator at Thriving Earth Exchange in Washington, DC. Lesli Huettl Gregory, Lawrence, MI, owns and operates Glampin’ Around Michigan, and gives private music lessons. David Myers, Stockholm, Sweden, is chief financial officer of Retiree Solutions for UnitedHealth Group, Medicare & Retirement. Alysen Farran Pratt, Mound, is vice president of performance management for UnitedHealthcare. Shawna Weaver, Duluth, has written a book, Climate Grief, From Coping to Resilience and Action, from Lantern Publishing. Kari Leif Wynnemer, Minneapolis, is the vice president, technical product management for UnitedHealth Group.
06 | Andy Imes, Duluth, is the business lead– electronic certificate of Real Estate Value Project for the Minnesota Department of Revenue. He is also the owner and operator for SUPerior Paddle, a paddle board rental and outfitter business. Amanda Johnson Luecke, Maple Grove, is owner and cookie artist of Minnie’s Cookies.
08 | Jonathan Peasley, St. Paul, is an English instructor teaching literature and ESL courses at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault. Laura Vannelli, Burnsville, is an attorney and was promoted to chair of the Employment Practice Group with the Mayo Clinic Legal Department.
09 | Kavan Rogness, Bloomington, who is the discipleship director for Faith Covenant Church, Burnsville, recently published his first novel, God’s Other Children.
11 | Allie Birdseye-Hannula, Columbia Heights, has published her first book, How to Talk to Porcupines: A Youth Worker's Communication Field Guide.
12 | Breanne Ceranske, Wausau, WI, who was crowned Mrs. Wisconsin, was recently named a semi-finalist in the Mrs. America Pageant held in Las Vegas, NV. Elizabeth Coco, Minneapolis, is deputy director for the Rondo Community Land Trust working to repair a historic Black neighborhood and convert a beloved community cafe into a worker-owned coop. Amy Hughes Collura, South St. Paul, is an extension educator, civic engagement and leadership at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Youth Development.
13 | Ashley Hansen Asuncion, Savage, is an environmental protection specialist for the U.S. Department of Transportation. Courtney Farland Johnson, Bloomington, is an anticoagulation RN at M Health Fairview in St. Paul. Laura Purdham, Fridley, is a licensed clinical psychologist at Great Lakes Neurobehavioral Center in Edina. Jacie Richmond, Mankato, is an associate pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mankato.
14 | Laura Dack Enright, Northfield, is a family nurse practitioner for St. Luke’s Community Care Team in Duluth. Maddie Randall Sullivan, White Bear Lake, is a care coordinator for UCARE Minnesota.
16 | Kelsey Berryman, St. Paul, is a social psychology PhD student at Loyola University, Chicago. Joe Breen, Edina, is an insurance agent for State Farm Insurance. Patrick Rosvold, Chaska, is an associate wealth management advisor for QA Wealth Management.
17 | Maddie Jentink, Madison, WI, is an interventional radiology resident at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics.
18 | Leigh Todd Lestina, Lincoln, NE, graduated from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and is a clinical pastoral educator. Thanh Binh Pham, Daytona Beach, FL, is the Anaplan Manager at Okta. Jacob Skold, Rochester, graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law, passed the Minnesota bar exam, and is now working as a law clerk for Judge Jacob Allen in Olmsted County.
19 | Abby Fischer Breen, Edina, is the coordinator of membership, fellowship, and special events at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church. Hank Walter, Robbinsdale, is a senior financial analyst at Optum.
20 | Max Aufderheide, Minnetrista, is an associate attorney in mergers and acquisitions at Fredrikson & Byron in Minneapolis.
21 | Amber Forrester, Shakopee, graduated in May of 2023 from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine with an MPH in social, behavioral, and population sciences and is now working at the Minnesota Department of Human Services as a Family First Prevention Services Act research and evaluation consultant. Llana Rojas, Hopkins, an Army veteran now serving in the Air Force, is the owner of an activewear and jewelry shop in Eden Prairie called Let’s Roar. Rachel Studer, Maple Grove, completed her master’s in statistics and data science from University of Wisconsin-Madison and is employed as statistician II at Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention.
22 | Andrew Gasperlin, Chicago, IL, is a graduate student at the University of Illinois, Chicago in the urban planning and policy program. Olivia Janovy Meyer, Minneapolis, is a graduate student in clinical psychology at Nova Southeastern University. Reed Kottke, Eden Prairie, is an accountant for the City of Robbinsdale. Sydney Stumme-Berg, Oconomowoc, WI, co-authored along with Gustavus faculty Lisa Ortmann, a paper published in the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy titled “Developing Responsive Disciplinary Literacies for Student Teaching in Social Studies.”
23 | Joshua Beiswanger, Mankato, is a graduate student at Minnesota State University Mankato, earning a master’s in exercise physiology. Jackson Berlage, Ridgeway, IA, is pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering at the University of Iowa. Tessa Bierbaum, Eagan, is a graduate student at Iowa State, earning a PhD in genetics and genomics. Katelyn Espe, White Bear Lake, is a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, earning a PhD in physics. James Hunt, Cross Plains, WI, is a graduate student in the library and information studies program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Aaron Johnson, Sioux Falls, SD, is a graduate student at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, earning a PhD in climate and space science. Haley Jostes, Lake Elmo, is a graduate student at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, earning a PhD in analytical chemistry. Matthew Kallestad, Blaine, is a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, earning a master’s in counselor education. Anna McGeeney, Rochester, is a student at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Morgan Mellum, Edina, is earning a PhD at the University of Texas, Austin, Jackson School of Geosciences. Sophia Nelson, Minneapolis, is a graduate student at Northwestern University, earning a PhD in applied mathematics. Lauren O’Connell, Buffalo, is a graduate student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at St. Catherine University. Emma Barret Safina, Manly, IA, is a registered behavior technician at Caravel Autism Health in Iowa City while attending graduate school through Baylor University. Zoe Schuck, Glenwood, is a graduate student at Colorado State University, earning a master of arts in political science with a focus in power, justice, and democracy. Callie Sellner, Shakopee, is a graduate student at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN, pursuing a doctor of optometry degree. Jessa Waligoski, Waconia, is a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, earning a master’s in counselor education.
WEDDINGS
Camren Saxton and Iliana Ramon ’22, 07/22/23, Truman.
Robin Klein ’82 and Brian Heyer, 09/23/23, New Brighton.
Ben Haddorff ’98 and Molly Bruegger, 07/16/23, West Bend, WI.
Emily Helliwell ’04 and Laszlo Szidonya, 10/15/23, Portland, OR.
Erin Belpedio ’11 and Mike Borell, 09/23/23, Maple Lake.
Aleksi Moran ’14 and Kelsey Berryman ’16, 08/26/23, Saint Paul.
Nathan Friedley ’15 and Carl Seagren, 9/30/23, Arden Hills.
Carly Klass ’15 and Zachary Dilger ’15, 09/30/23, Richfield.
Joe Breen ’16 and Abigail Fischer ’19, 06/25/22, Edina.
Emily Marquette ’16 and Samuel Endres ’16, 08/25/23, Minneapolis.
Paget Pengelly ’16 and Alexander Luing ’16, 06/24/23, Shorewood.
Jami Hansen ’18 and Lucas Tomhave ’20, 08/26/23, Minneapolis.
Paul Dahlen ’19 and Laura Martin ’18, 08/12/23, Chatfield.
Nathan Dull ’19 and Britta Lundgren ’21, 09/02/23, Shakopee.
Nathan Ackerman ’22 and Addison Lokken ’19, 09/15/23, Kasota.
BIRTHS
Hazel, to Joe Pike ’02 and Megan Pike, in April 2023.
Rock, to Michelle Wiebusch Skow ’04 and Jesse Skow, in June 2021
Sophia, to Matt Swenson ’06 and Sara Swenson, in September 2023
Hudson, to Ashley Hendrikson ’07 and Nickolas Hendrikson ’01, in October 2023
Trevor, to Kat Coughlin Coda ’09 and Nathan Coda, in June 2023
Isabella, to Ashok Jethwa ’09 and Anemarie Jethwa, in May 2023
Cora, to Bryan Lindner ’09 and Rachel Lindner, in September 2023
Ellis, to Hannah Wunsch Ryan ’09 and Peter Ryan, in March 2019 and Avery in May 2021.
Emma, to Amy Collura ’12 and Colby Collura, in June 2022
Margaret, to Tom Einberger ’12 and Megan Walker, in August 2023
Sophia, to Katie Schroeder Greiner ’12 and Thomas Greiner ’11, in July 2023
Olivia, to Ashley Hansen Asuncion ’13 and Timothy Asuncion, in February 2022
Bergen, to Courtney Farland ’13 and Kevin Johnson, in October 2021 and Sylvie, in August 2023
Tatum, to Sydnie Graff ’13 and Jared Graff, in September 2023
Maeve, to Maddie Sullivan ’14 and Ryan Sullivan, in May 2022
Molly, to Kristin Holst Olson ’15 and Nathan Olson ’13, in August 2023
Caden, to Cameron Cropsey ’15 and Addy Nelsen Cropsey ’16, in April 2023
Claire, to Madeline Johnson Apolloni ’17 and Michael Apolloni, in October 2023
Louie, to Hubert Ngabirano ’18 and Kathryn Ngabirano, in November 2023
Elena, to Cory Weston ’19 and Samantha Weston, in October 2020, and Olivia in June 2023
