Fall 2024 Symposium Day: Big Ideas

Olin Auditorium 

Presenters: Mike Egan, professor of education; Nathan Frank, professor of physics; Scott Gehler, associate professor of biology; Mike Schroeder, professor of education

Description: Counted Out investigates the biggest crises of our time—political polarization, racial and economic inequity, a global pandemic, and climate change—through an unexpected lens: math. In our current information economy, math is everywhere. The people we date, the news we see, the influence of our votes, the candidates who win elections, the education we have access to, the jobs we get—all of it is underwritten by an invisible layer of math that few of us understand, or even notice. But whether we know it or not, our numeric literacy—whether we can speak the language of math—is a critical determinant of social and economic power. Through a mosaic of personal stories, expert interviews, and scenes of math transformation in action, Counted Out shows what’s at risk if we keep the status quo. Do we want an America in which most of us don’t consider ourselves "math people"? Where math proficiency goes down as students grow up? Or do we want a country where everyone can understand the math that undergirds our society—and can help shape it?

Wilson Center

Presenters: David Schwartz, associate professor of communication studies and multimedia journalism; Allie Rial, Augustana junior and managing editor of the Augustana Observer

Description: The American public claims to champion free speech, yet it is increasingly hostile to opposing viewpoints. Hate groups and massive corporations find shelter and sustenance in a 45-word statement written 237 years ago—a statement that has never been revised to reflect cultural shifts, evolving demographics, and modern technologies. Thirty-seven percent of graduating U.S. high school students say they have never taken a class with content focused on the First Amendment. So, let’s ask the question others won’t: Is it time to re-think the First Amendment?

Old Main 28

Presenters: Morgan Schroeder, history and philosophy major; David Ellis, professor of history

Description: The Holocaust was a monumental event and preserving the memory of the atrocity requires big ideas. Over the past two years, Augustana student Morgan Schroeder studied how Germans and Americans both attempted to meet this challenge through monuments, museums, and public education. By comparing these different approaches, she learned about successful ways people can continue to depict the Holocaust for future generations, which she will share during this interactive session.

Lindberg 202

Presenters: Jeffrey Johnston, CEO of the startup Brightn, author, founder of The Living Undeterred Project, and host of The Living Undeterred Podcast; Jacob Spicer, senior student; Becki Arnold, professional faculty, costume shop manager and designer

Description: Jeffrey Johnston, CEO of the startup Brightn and founder of The Living Undeterred Project, shares his poignant story of pain and suffering after losing both a son and his wife to substance use and addiction. Learn how he chose the “better road” versus the “bitter road.” Be inspired and be encouraged to keep Living Undeterred.

Lindberg 204

Presenters: Maria Hannah, assistant professor of interpersonal communication

Description: The Relational Learning Collective (RLC) represents a big idea aimed at tackling disconnectedness on college campuses by fostering transformative, co-created, and mutually beneficial connections between faculty, staff, and students. This collective seeks to spark new ways of not only thinking about, but actively developing and maintaining, meaningful relationships in higher education. The spirit of the RLC initiative aligns with the belief that big ideas are essential in addressing the wicked problems we face, including feelings of isolation and disengagement on college campuses. Through collaboration, participants in the collective aim to build a truly connected, relational, and reciprocally empowering campus culture.

Lindberg 203

Presenters: Adam Kaul, professor of anthropology; Allison McPeak, English and theatre arts major; Paige Meyer, SOAN and WGSS major

Description: As a centuries-long conflict in Northern Ireland comes to an end, what lessons can the politically polarized United States learn from our neighbors across the pond? The reconciliation of opposing religious and political viewpoints in Northern Ireland's Peace Process might provide a new way forward for bridging the divide between our own differing viewpoints. Following a grant funded research trip to Belfast and Derry, Adam Kaul, Allison McPeak, and Paige Meyer share their findings and experiences from their ethnographic research.

The Gerber Center for Student Life, Gävle rooms
(Overflow space: Olin Auditorium)

Presenter: Dr. Roosevelt Montás, senior lecturer in American Studies and English at Columbia University and former director of Columbia’s Center for the Core Curriculum

Description: What is the value of a liberal education? Traditionally characterized by a rigorous engagement with the classics of Western thought and literature, this approach to education is all but extinct in American universities, replaced by flexible distribution requirements and ever-narrower academic specialization. Many academics attack the very idea of a Western canon as chauvinistic, while the general public increasingly doubts the value of the humanities. In Rescuing Socrates, Dominican-born American academic Roosevelt Montás tells the story of how a liberal education transformed his life, and offers an intimate account of the relevance of the Great Books today, especially to members of historically marginalized communities.

About the presenter: Dr. Roosevelt Montás is the author of Rescuing Socrates: How the Great Books Changed My Life and Why They Matter for a New Generation, a compelling account of how the Great Books transformed his life and continue to resonate with people from all backgrounds. His experiences as both a student and a teacher are beautifully captured in this work. Watch his introduction to the book.

Library, main (second) floor; 12-4 p.m.

Presenters: Garrett Traylor, research and instruction librarian and assistant professor; Anne Earel, research and instruction librarian and assistant professor; Kaitlyn Goss-Peirce, research and instruction librarian and instructor; Micaela Terronez, Special Collections librarian and instructor; Christine Aden, library head of circulation; Linh Tran and Castra Pierre, library outreach assistants

Description: Stop by Tredway Library between noon and 4 p.m. for an open house featuring a scavenger hunt for a legendary lost manuscript to learn more about library resources, services, and Special Collections. Groups of 3-5 that complete the scavenger hunt will be entered for raffle prizes.

The Gerber Center for Student Life, Gävle rooms

Presenters: Melissa Pepper '09, founder of the nonprofit Lead(h)er; Doug Tschopp, director of the Entrepreneurial Center (EDGE)

Description: Identifying a need in the community for advancing women, Melissa Pepper ;09 founded the nonprofit Lead(h)er to connect women with mentors. This session will focus on going from an idea to action, highlighting Melissa's journey to help QC women achieve the goals they set for themselves.

Olin Auditorium

Presenter: Stacy Barton, film program director

Description: Filmmaking at Augustana is a "big idea" that sits on the brains and backs of each student, who conceive their project before carrying it through multiple hard-fought technical and artistic stages. Celebrate the best student film productions created in 2023-24 Augie Film classes at our annual campus showcase and awards ceremony! We will screen an exciting and intriguing line-up of 13 short films in multiple genres, then honor the filmmakers with prizes, recognition, and lots of cheering! Choose your favorite film after the show by voting for the Audience Choice Award.

Wilson Center

Presenters: David Thornblad, associate professor of business administration; Mindy Mahon, assistant professor of business administration; Andy Shearouse, EDGE Center assistant director

Description: People and organizations transform the world through entrepreneurship every day. This session will highlight recent research by faculty and staff at Augustana on the topic of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education. Dr. Thornblad discusses how Swedish society, traditionally seen as more socialist than capitalist, encourages entrepreneurship in ways that the USA does not, and how Sweden has become a hotbed of innovation in the world. Dr. Mahon will discuss her research on the challenges of purchasing and growing a business an entrepreneur experienced while dealing with Covid. Andy Shearouse will share his insights from The Experiential Classroom Conference at Notre Dame and discuss big ideas he and the EDGE center hope to initiate to improve entrepreneurship education at Augustana.

Wallenberg Hall; 1-3 p.m.

Presenters: Erica Lee '06, director, Safer Foundation Quad Cities; Sharon Varallo, executive director of the Augustana Prison Education Program (APEP); T.Y. Stone, current student, communication studies major

Description: This fast paced reentry simulation mimics the struggles and challenges faced by individuals who are transitioning from incarceration back into society. Participants will gain an understanding of the significant obstacles faced by men and women upon their release from prison. Over the course of 2 hours, participants assume a fictitious identity or a returning citizen and will experience the first month of post-release life. Walking in the shoes of one who is returning home will develop empathy and understanding of all citizens.

The Gerber Center for Student Life, Gävle rooms

Presenters: Haley DeGreve '20, founder, Gray Matters Collective; Doug Tschopp, Director of the Entrepreneurial Center (EDGE)

Description: Find out how a college student at Augustana perceived a need, developed an idea, and then started a not-for-profit that serves the entire Quad City region. The Gray Matters Collective is an organization that brings mental health issues to the forefront of public conversation to build awareness and to affect public policy. Find out what it took for Haley to build this organization, what they are doing today, and how to get involved.

Old Main 28

Presenters: Khalil Andani, assistant professor of religion; Eric Stewart, professor of religion

Description: Come to learn about and debate how God's gender and pronouns appear in the religions of Christianity and Islam. The Bible, the Qur'an, and their interpretative traditions challenge our popular belief that God is primarily male and He/Him through their use of masculine and feminine imagery and both singular and plural pronouns for God. The fluidity of "God's pronouns" should humble us when thinking about an idea as big as God and cause us to rethink how we gender one another in this world.

Lindberg 202

Presenters: Michael Novotny, recruiter for ELCA Young Adult Communities; Pastor Melinda Pupillo, chaplain

Description: Ever wondered what it would be like to commit to a year of service? Looking for opportunities to live abroad? Come learn about Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM), a faith-based, social service organization that trains and supports 20-somethings serving internationally, as well as other gap year opportunities.

Hamann Concert Hall (Bergendoff 110)

Presenter: Rob Elfline, professor of music

Description: Tonality is perhaps the "biggest idea" in Western music in the sense that the tonal system reflects a shared practice so prevalent that many feel it to be synonymous with music itself, despite being just one of a seemingly infinite number of compositional systems. While the tonal system is as close to a common musical "language" as we have, its inner workings remain a mystery to many. The presentation incorporates piano performance!

Meet at the circle drive in front of Centennial Hall

Presenters: Meg Gillette, professor of English; and English majors Billy Adams, Zach Blair, Nicole Grafon, Allison McPeak, Dante Rinaldi, Mary Sabo, Aidan Smith, Lily Thomas, Ariel Wilcox, Megan Yarusso, and Amy Zeigler.

Description: Race through the pages of early Quad Cities writers in this literary version of the popular TV show The Amazing Race led by English SI students. Compete in teams, solve clues, and win prizes! Sign up as an individual or gather a team of 3-5 friends, and join us for this exciting off-campus event exploring the Quad Cities. Learn more about authors such as Alice French, Floyd Dell, and Susan Glaspell. Transportation is provided for up to 25 students.

→ Reserve your spot!

The Gerber Center for Student Life, Gävle rooms

Presenters: Kristoffer Kizer '18; Doug Tschopp, director of the Entrepreneurial Center (EDGE)

Description: A first-generation student, Kris graduated from Augie with a B.A. in Comm Studies and Psychology and a minor in Entrepreneurship. Since graduating in 2018, Kris has led brand innovation projects for Fortune 500 brands, has consulted with startup teams, nonprofits, and local businesses and now he helps invest and fund the next generation of innovators as a venture capitalist. You'll learn what venture capital is and how it can be the ultimate vehicle for wealth creation and societal change.

Wilson Center

Presenter: Brad Isbell, WAUG

Description: Citizen-powered communication directly addresses the digital divide by making messaging affordable for all. A simple digital radio transceiver can send messages at no cost, even in off-the-grid situations. In this session, we will build and configure the nodes forming the first Meshtastic network in the Quad Cities.

Note: Please bring a laptop to this session, if possible.

Lindberg 202

Presenters: Megan Havard Rockwell, associate professor of Spanish; Pastor Melinda Pupillo, campus chaplain and director of spiritual development; Mark Safstrom, associate professor of Scandinavian studies

Description: Henry David Thoreau said: "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach..." This big idea--the idea to unplug from a world of machines in order to learn to live simply and authentically with nature and in small communities--has gotten even bigger with the rise of anxiety and mental health concerns in our busy, frantic, wired world. Come hear why Augustana students go on the Camino de Santiago (Spain), to Holden Village (Washington State), and to Covenant Point Camp (UP Michigan) to unplug, recharge, and be well in mind, body, and spirit.

Brunner Theatre Center, Black Box Theatre

Presenter: Rebecca Wee, professor of English/creative writing; and students Nathan Almeda, Andrew Doughty, Josh Hendrickson, Adilene Hernandez, Deayden Jackson, Janey Locander, Marlee Oros, Diana Ortiz, Summer Pandey and Gaia Splendore

Description: "Things I Didn't Know I Loved" is the title of a catalog poem by the Turkish poet, Nazim Hikmet, who spent much of his life in prison for writing "radical" poetry that his government objected to. Poets pay attention, question, suggest, sing, warn, console, scream, recite, and celebrate ideas and emotions big and small. Join Augustana students as they share poems they've written or discovered by other writers. Bring some of your own to share.

Olin Auditorium

The 2024 Fall River Readings will welcome Tabish Khair. He will be reading from his latest novel, Namaste Trump. The event is free and open to the public. The River Readings series at Augustana brings literary artists to campus each year from around the country. These writers of poetry, fiction and literary nonfiction meet with students in class or other venues to discuss their work and careers.

→ See the full event description

The Gerber Center for Student Life, Gävle rooms

Presenter: Dr. Chris Hedlin, assistant director of the Sheedy Family Program in Economy, Enterprise, and Society at the University of Notre Dame

Description: Dr. Hedlin will help us consider questions that she also asks of her Notre Dame students: Can businesses be just? Is the vocation of business a meaningful one? How can Augustana students take full advantage of their liberal arts education to do good work in the world?

This presentation is part of a pilot for the new BESLA (Business Education Steeped in the Liberal Arts) program. Students majoring or planning to major in Business Administration should reserve their spot for the 5:30 p.m. dinner using this form. Dr. Hedlin's presentation begins at 6 p.m.