Hamline Newsroom

Maureen Erickson-Robertshaw ’22 wants to help rural Minnesota families navigate complex family situations. By finishing her bachelor’s degree in psychology online from Hamline University, she’s taking the first step toward that drea

With a Master in the Study of Law, Brian Tolkkinen ’21 can communicate more effectively with his company’s attorneys and bridge gaps between teams.

On Tuesday, May 31st, Hamline University, Minnesota, and the world lost a treasure: Alexandra “Sandy” Klas LHD ’08 (hon.).

Mitchell Berg’s PhD in Management and Public Service is pushing his career—and the communities he serves—to new heights.

Hamline University is taking part in the U.S Department of Education’s COVID-19 Vaccine Challenge announced by the White House on Wednesday, June 2, 2021.

The Center for Justice and Law’s Birth Behind Bars conference gathered hundreds from around the world to share stories of justice-impacted parenthood and to discuss advocacy and solutions.

In a statement issued the morning of Tuesday, May 25, 2021, Hamline University President Fayneese Miller echoed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s call for 9 minutes and 29 seconds of silence to honor George Floyd.

Laura Dougherty, an assistant professor of theatre arts, has been accepted to the Mellon School of Theater and Performance Research, a summer program at Harvard University.

Head Lacrosse Coach Karen Heggernes and senior Ashley Hessler speak on the women’s lacrosse team’s fourth NCAA tournament appearance and the hard work that it took to achieve.

Communication studies major Mien Le ’23 describes the struggles of being an international student during Covid-19. Yet despite the struggles, she managed to make Hamline her home away from home.

Twenty-two undergraduate students from Hamline participated in the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in April 2021.

The Dean of Students Office is pleased to announce that there are four undergraduate recipients of the 2021 John Wesley Leadership and Service Award.

Starting this fall, business leaders can learn to protect their organizations—and gain in-demand skills—with Hamline University’s Managing Cybersecurity Risk certificate.

Green Corps member Karl Hahn is promoting sustainability on campus through storytelling.

President Miller has issued a statement about the outcome of the trial of Derek Chauvin.

Through the Hamline School of Education and Leadership, current and future teachers can specialize with an initial teaching license as an academic behavioral strategist or focusing on autism spectrum disorder.

Alumna Raie Gessesse ’20 has been awarded a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. Chosen from a pool of 2,445 applicants, Gessesse is one of 30 outstanding individuals selected for their potential to make significant contributions to the United States.

Angela Pelster-Wiebe, a professor who teaches nonfiction writing in the Creative Writing Program, is one of four Minnesotans to receive a 2021 McKnight Artist Fellowship for Writers Loft Award for Creative Prose.

The Hamline University Board of Trustees recently granted tenure and promotion to five faculty members and promoted one faculty member to the rank of professor.

Through a residency with actor, director, and choreographer Austene Van, Hamline students gained hands-on experience while creating a theatre production showcasing the challenges of 2020, from the pandemic to racial injustice.

There is no bigger issue in Minnesota – or for that matter, the United States – than police reform. Now, a Hamline associate professor has an opportunity to have a significant say in how Minnesota law enforcement officers are trained.

JoJo (Jokeda) Bell ’07 majored in Spanish and history at Hamline University. After completing her graduate studies, Bell returned to Minnesota to fill a gap in what is known about Black American history by founding the African American Interpretive Center of Minnesota (AAICM).

President Miller condemned the horrific shootings in Atlanta and sent a message of support to Asian-American community members and Hamline students.

When budget cuts due to the pandemic caused the Hamline University Mock Trial program to be suspended, students came up with a different plan and now the Pipers are heading to the opening round of the undergraduate mock trial championship series.

Sound Like Trapped Thunder, the 2020 Deborah Tell Lyric Essay Book Prize by MFA alum Jessica Lind Peterson, will be celebrated with a virtual launch reading this Thursday, March 18 at 7 pm CT.

Hamline’s School of Business is no stranger to trailblazing and Marketing Instructor Sonal Gerten has applied that spirit of adaptation and innovation to her teaching.

On March 3, Natalie Darwitz, coach of the Hamline University women's hockey team, scored another recognition for her many accomplishments on the ice when she was inducted into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame with the class of 2020.

After weeks of preparation, students in Professor Susi Keefe’s Public Health, Justice and the Law class advocated for tobacco use prevention legislation at the Minnesota capital with elected officials.

Based on Dana Thompson’s experience at an entry-level job on a research project involving elementary-aged children, she knew that she wanted to work with students and families who are usually marginalized by mainstream education practices. Programs from Hamline University's School of Education fit her values, ambitions and career needs.

When faced with the new reality of not being allowed back on stage in person last year, the Hamline University theatre program faculty and students brainstormed ways to continue their work remotely. It was difficult, but soon enough they jumped at the chance to make a short digital film.

The new Marketing Analytics Clinic from the School of Business signed AmeriSave’s wholesale mortgage division as its first client.

Hamline’s Master of Public Administration helped Sack Thongvanh MPA ’06 figure out his career path—which, in turn, opened doors to driving change in Minnesota communities.

Davu Seru ’07 teaches English courses at Hamline and maintains a successful career as a musician and composer.

Effective immediately, the Hamline University COVID-19 shift plan level has been dropped to Level 2 from Level 3.

Faculty and alumni from Hamline University’s Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults (MFAC) program had a productive and successful 2020, including major awards for two faculty members.

Hamline University School of Business recently launched a Marketing Analytics Clinic (MAC) to employ students as associate consultants for small to mid-sized businesses and nonprofits on projects at the intersection of marketing and business analytics.

A new anthology edited by Hamline students Emma Harrington ’22 and Abby Doty ’21 and recent grad Madelaine Formica ’20 captures the unique challenges of coming of age in a pandemic and beyond.

Hamline University will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a livestreamed commemoration program on Tuesday, January 19 at 4 p.m. followed by community service opportunities on various dates in January.

When Emma Harrington ’22 didn’t find an internship that fit her interests, she did the next best thing, or perhaps something better: She forged her own path.

President Miller issued a statement on the terrible and tragic events of Wednesday, January 6, 2021 in Washington D.C.

A total of 107 Hamline students were named to the School of Business Dean's List and 663 undergraduate students were named to the College of Liberal Arts Dean's List for the Fall 2020 semester.

Hamline School of Education Professor Michelle Benegas and Director of the English Learners in the Mainstream (ELM) Project Amy Stolpestad have received the Harold B. Allen award from Minnesota Teachers of English to Students of Other Languages (MinneTESOL).

In the spring of 2020, Anthropology Professor Brian Hoffman knew that his fall class “Excavating Hamline History” would go forward despite COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

Rebecca A. Neal, an associate professor in the Hamline School of Education and director of the Center for Excellence in Urban Teaching (CEUT) and alumnus Dr. Stanley Brown ʼ07 have been awarded the Ron McKinley “All My Relations” Award by the Minnesota Education Equity Partnership (MNEEP).

Hamline students and professors Keefe and Cadieux anchor a new USDA-funded collaboration to support food access efforts on local campuses.

There is time to prepare for Finals Week! Learn tips from the leader of CASA and explore the resources available for students who want support.

Hamline University will continue its proud tradition of national leadership within the National Collegiate Athletics Association in January when President Fayneese Miller assumes leadership of the NCAA Division III President’s Council.

During the COVID-19 pandemic Hamline University athletes are persevering despite an unprecedented change in routine.

A new EPA grant will allow a team of students to collaborate with Professor Lifeng Dong on a design project to build an instrument to detect lead in drinking water.

The Hamline School of Business (HSB) was a finalist for curriculum delivery in the MBA Roundtable Fast Track Curriculum Innovation Award competition for successfully adapting the MBA Capstone for distance learning.

On Monday, November 2, the Hamline University Physics Department took delivery of a state-of-the-art ZEISS EVO 15 environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM).

Creative Writing Professor Angela Pelster-Wiebe's debut essay collection Limber named one of the best nature books of the 2000s.

Hamline Votes hopes to increase voter turnout and create another national record for student engagement in this election.

Through Hamline’s MBA, Samantha Hudson ‘20 gained the confidence and up-to-date skills to leap back into the working world through coursework and interaction with classmates.

According to Hamline School of Education Assistant Professor Patty Born and other environmental education experts in Minnesota, it is time to teach outdoors.

Jon Curry MPA ’15 knew he wanted a postgraduate degree, and had a good idea of where he wanted to go with his life and career. But coming to Hamline University to obtain a master’s degree in public administration changed those goals — and changed Curry along the way.

Alicia D. Williams MFAC ’13 celebrates oral storytelling through her upcoming picture book biography of Zora Neale Hurston.

Hamline School of Business students took first and second place in the economic communication category during the annual undergraduate competition sponsored by the Minnesota Economic Association (MEA).

Hamline University has released a civility statement that serves as a guide for conversation and debate among the campus community.

The October 2019 Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation trip connected members of the Hamline community to our mission of inclusivity.

Learning about the school-to-prison pipeline is eye-opening for Hamline students, sparking additional research and action outside the classroom.

The Hamline University Board of Trustees and President Fayneese Miller have announced that David Schultz has been named Distinguished University Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies.

The Hamline University Board of Trustees met during Homecoming and Alumni Weekend with a new chair and two new members — all three of whom graduated from the university. In addition, Bryce Doty ’88 and Cindy Gregorson ’81 were re-elected and will return to the board after a break in service.

Hamline University has been honored by Washington Monthly as one of the top master’s universities of its size in the United States.

Hamline is increasingly gaining attention for providing hands-on research opportunities for undergraduate students. One example is the student team who work for Jillian Peterson, Ph.D., professor of criminology and criminal justice, conducting research that impacts the national conversation on gun violence/mass shootings.

On Friday, September 25, Hamline University’s Food Resource Center hosted a one-year anniversary party outside of the Anderson Center.  The campus community was invited to attend this celebration of a remarkable year of challenges, successes and growth.

Hamline University has received the top rating among Minnesota regional universities in findings issued Monday by U.S. News and World Report.

Associate vice president and athletic director Jason Verdugo, one of only a handful of Latino athletic directors in the country, speaks about how his personal and professional journey informs his work on diversity and inclusion in athletics at Hamline.

Hamline University students and faculty have wrapped up their Summer Undergraduate Collaborative Research projects and students are preparing to present their findings at the annual September research symposium.

Hamline University School of Education recently secured a $250,000 Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER Fund) grant from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE).

A new Hamline program will prepare teachers to empower adult learners with an initial or additional Adult Basic Education license.

Jim Juaire ’20 thought he’d graduate from his MBA having all the answers. Now, he’s instead gained another skill: the ability to ask better questions.

Students Lue Her, Haileigh Lenz, Victor Tymecho, D'Angelo Perez and alumnus Tristan Contreras ‘20 worked with visiting faculty member Urvashi Gangal, Ph.D. to determine how to use cold plasma to inactivate pollutants in drinking water.

Hamline’s new Educational Specialist degree provides educators the expertise and credentials to lead innovation in classrooms and schools.

What can be done about a widely used chemical that might be harmful to the environment? Dean Young learned there might be a bacterial solution to the problem!

Scientific research is more than dreaming up hypotheses and finding conclusions. For senior Caleb Rosenthal, it was about building a database tool for others to use.

As the pandemic shifted education online, students and faculty made the best of a difficult situation.

Starting in fall 2020, graduate students can enroll in Hamline’s new Master of Management and Leadership to gain the skills to lead effective, adaptable teams in organizations.

In addition to enjoying the summer, senior Ashley Robinson is trying to solve a biochemistry mystery

New data on victims, guns and mental health provides deeper insights and avenues for data-driven prevention.

Spencer Larson's biology research project on zooplankton has brought new meaning to the Minnesota term 'Lake Life'.

Mike Max '87 combined sports, news and humanity in nationwide coverage of Minneapolis protests.

Chris Montana JD '13 uses his business to do all the good he can in new way.

Hamline adjunct instructor is on the front lines to earn justice for George Floyd.

Read highlights from a recent Hamline University Leo Lecture titled “Working, Living and Coping in a World with COVID-19” with Jodi Metz, director of Health Services, and Hussein Rajput Ph.D., director of Counseling Services. During the live stream conversation, Hamline experts answered questions about health and wellness during the global pandemic.

A number of Hamline University students earned academic recognitions for work during the spring semester.

As a liberal arts institution that values civic engagement, Hamline University embraces a diversity of viewpoints and experiences among its students, faculty and alumni. In the wake of the Memorial Day officer-involved killing of George Floyd, Pipers donated, volunteered, marched, and protested. Some have also taken the lead in the media.

A number of Juneteenth celebrations will be taking place in and around the Twin Cities. The Hamline community acknowledges the significance of this day, particularly at a time when unity, awareness, and education are essential for change.

The U.S. Department of State announced the selection of Professor Betsy Parrish for a six-month virtual English Language Specialist project on developing handbooks for establishing Communities of Practice in Vietnam with the National Foreign Language Project of the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training.

The Hamline University community is bound together by the values of John Wesley to do all the good we can. 

President Miller's remarks on the memorial of George Floyd.

A message for the Hamline University community from President Miller on May 29, 2020.

As a community, we offer heartfelt condolences to the family of George Floyd. We ask for support and compassion to all searching for answers and justice.

Professor Mike Reynold offers his hot take on literature and crises. He also suggests a few pandemic-worthy books for our reading pleasure.

This spring Kaori Kenmotsu and the dance ensemble embraced the challenge of taking an embodied physical art form into a digital space. In collaboration with seniors Jackson Cobb and Helen Maclay, they created a piece called “In Transition” that is now available to view online.

Members of the Hamline Track and Field and Cross Country teams ran backward and uphill to raise over $600 for The Link, a shelter for youth run by alumna Beth Holger ‘98 Master of Nonprofit Management ‘04. 

This year, the “Honors Convocation” was renamed: “The Awards and Honors Ceremony.” Like other similar celebrations of students’ successes in the spring of 2020, it was online. It was recorded and is now available for viewing.

Staff from residential life collaborated with the student programming board to make life more bearable for students living on campus during the Minnesota Stay Home Order.

For students like Paige Pettit ’21, an on-campus bachelor’s degree was never an option. With Hamline’s Online Degree Completion pathway, she can earn her degree while balancing family life and work schedules.

Hunter Holten, a rising junior majoring in Computational Data Science, is the first Hamline University student to receive a Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) scholarship from the Department of Defense (DOD).

Molly Isaacson analyzes data for the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. During Minnesota’s Stay at Home Order, she’s been crunching numbers at home but has still found time to assist the Red Cross by donating blood.

Dealing with the impacts of COVID-19 is a marathon, not a sprint. And while it is important to practice the social distancing that will keep many more people safe and healthy, it is also important to realize the toll this situation places on our mental health.

The staff at the Career Development Center (CDC) offer personalized career assistance for all Pipers while they're in school and for three years after graduation.

Professor Serena King is teaching Hybrid General Psychology, Cross-Cultural Psychology and Applied Health Psychology this semester. She recently took time from her schedule to offer her take on the enormous impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the field of psychology and people's mental health.

Sheila O'Connor was named the recipient of 2020 Minnesota Book Award in the Novel & Short Story category for her book Evidence of V: A Novel in Fragments, Facts, and Fictions. O'Connor also won the Minnesota Book Award in this category in 2004 for her novel Where No Gods Came. 

Hamline Professor of Political Science David Schultz shared a few thoughts on the effects of COVID-19 could have on the next election.

Sophie Warrick’s work for the New Student Programs (NSP) office earned her a professional leadership award from the regional chapter of the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education.

Kate Meyer of the Global Engagement Center turned her energy from keeping Pipers safe while abroad to sewing face masks that will keep communities safer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hamline School of Business’s Sonal Gerten offered a quick take on what marketers can expect moving forward.

Education Minnesota announced ten finalists for Minnesota Teacher of the Year and three are graduates of Hamline University.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed all aspects of our community. Hamline University School of Business professor Jeannie Fox offered a quick take on what nonprofit professionals can expect moving forward.

First-year Hamline University student Emily Hilderbrand received the Presidents’ Student Leadership Award from Campus Compact. The award recognizes an individual student or a student organization that models a deep commitment to civic responsibility and leadership.

Leaders from Hamline’s Wesley Center offer words of wisdom and support as significant holidays are celebrated by those of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim religions this April.

Dieu Do, a junior, has been named a Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, a Boston-based non-profit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education.

While Pipers stay home to help slow the spread of COVID-19, Hamline Exercise Science professors Lisa Ferguson-Stegall and Jen Robb encourage physical exercise to boost immune function, improve cognition, maintain fitness and support mental health.

Hamline University will end the Spring 2020 undergraduate classes online. The faculty have transitioned their classes and the Canvas learning tool is ready for students. In anticipation of this change in format, Lisa Nordeen of the Center for Academic Success and Achievement has compiled tips to help students during the transition to a new learning environment.

Hamline University has implemented two significant changes to its admissions policies. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hamline University has moved the enrollment decision day from May 1, 2020 to June 1, 2020. The second change is that Hamline University will not require the ACT or SAT for admission.

On March 1, 2020, the Hamline University Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution officially welcoming people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, formally affiliating the university with Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN).

The theatre department had a strong showing at the 2020 Region 5 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in January. Hamline students and recent alumni received seven honors for productions in the Anne Simely Theatre over the last year.

A new initiative has been funded as part of Hamline’s Take the Lead Campaign. The Hamline Leadership Scholars Program was created with the goal of increasing student retention and graduation outcomes.

Student leaders discussed the future of Hamline University with trustees at the “100 Who Influence” Luncheon, an event dedicated to giving students an opportunity to speak directly with institutional decision-makers.

For the second time in two years, a team of MBA students from the Hamline School of Business finished second in the Association for Corporate Growth regional competition for its prestigious ACG Cup. The event was held on Thursday, February 13 at the Carlson School of Management.

Hamline President Fayneese Miller and City of St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter shared the stage, some serious moments and a few laughs in front of a crowd in Sundin Music Hall during the noon hour on Wednesday, February 12, 2020.

Bishop Karen P. Oliveto from United Methodist Church Mountain Sky Area will deliver the Spring 2020 Mahle Lecture entitled "Imago Dei in an Age of Selfies, Separations and Schisms" on Tuesday, February 25 at 7 p.m. in Sundin Hall. She will be on campus and in community in the days before and after her keynote as well. Bishop Oliveto is the first openly LGBTQ+ Bishop in the United Methodist Church.  

Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams, MFAC alumna ‘13 receives a Newbery Honor, the Coretta Scott King Award, and is a finalist for the William C. Morris Award.

Kris Norman-Major, professor and director of public administration programs in the Hamline School of Business, has been awarded the Joan Fiss Bishop Award by the American Society for Public Administration, Section on Women in Public Administration.

Hamline University Professor Emerita Nancy Jean Holland passed away on Saturday, January 25, 2020. Professor Holland was a faculty leader in the philosophy department who taught from 1981 until her retirement in 2017. There will be no service in accordance with her wishes.

Each year Hamline comes together for Scholars Day to welcome top incoming high school students to learn about the university’s honors program and the diverse opportunities and experiences that await them in the fall.

Assistant Professor Valentine Cadieux, who also directs Environmental Studies and Sustainability at Hamline, is part of a team that created The Holding Shanty for the Art Shanty Projects, a three-week winter public art event that runs Saturdays and Sundays through February 9, 2020 on Bde Unma/Lake Harriet.

The Hamline Undergraduate Student Congress (HUSC) had a busy fall semester, making policy changes that will impact the campus community in many ways.

Hamline University’s School of Education Center for Excellence in Urban Teaching (CEUT) was one of five Minnesota institutions to receive a 2020 grant as part of Minnesota’s Collaborative Urban and Greater Minnesota Educators of Color (CUGMEC) program.

Hamline University will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a community Commemoration and Day of Service on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.

Ten Pipers will be spending 3 weeks of J-Term in Thailand where they’ll report and produce environmental stories with the help of prominent and experienced journalism mentors.

Calonna Carlisle, Mariana Cervantes, and Evelyn Humphrey are the latest Pipers to be named to Minnesota Governor Walz’s Young Women’s Cabinet. Senior Raie Gessesse was previously appointed and remains a member. 

Senior Nicholas Jenkins jump-started a career in community leadership with his recent appointment by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan to the Governor’s Council on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday for 2020.

“Humanize My Hoodie”, a movement led by Hamline University adjunct instructor Jason Sole and his collaborator Andre Wright, recently released their biggest project to date: The “Humanize My Hoodie Book” and the “Road to New York Fashion Week Documentary.”

Current MFA Student Jessica Lind Peterson Wins 2020 Deborah tall Lyric Essay Book Prize

Hamline alumnus John A. Downing ‘73 has been elected a 2019 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his contributions to water health.

Hamline University’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Campus Center (TRHT) took its unifying mission to Washington D.C. in October.

Hamline alumnus Dr. Robert Mikulak ‘64 was one of three recipients of the Hague Award from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) during the first day of the Twenty-Fourth Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Hamline students were key team members on the publically released mass shooter database, the most comprehensive database of mass shooters in the United States.

On Saturday, November 9, Hamline juniors Andrew Argeros and Lindsey Hawk with their teammate Lindsay Steiger, a senior, successfully competed and won second place in the fourth-annual MinneMUDAC Student Data Science Challenge.

The Violence Project, a nonpartisan think tank led by Jillian Peterson of Hamline University and James Densley of Metropolitan State University, have publicly released the largest, most comprehensive database of mass shooters in the United States.

Hamline University named David Chun to the role of Chief Information Officer (CIO), a leadership position at the Associate Vice President level.

Hamline students' participation rate was 63.3 percent in the 2018 midterm election and as a result the the university was awarded a platinum seal for having the overall highest voting rate among peer institutions nationwide.

Earlier this month, Hamline alumni Michael Abata ‘05 and Brent Reykdal ‘08 gathered with other Target representatives to officially unveil the new soccer mini-pitch constructed in Hamline Park.

Hamline’s personal training certification class is helping students to become smarter in the classroom and in the gym too.

Each fall, the Hamline community comes together for Homecoming, a week packed with festivities and celebration. As midterms approach, here’s a recap of some of the fun on campus during the week of October 7.

The School of Business celebrated the new Wells Fargo Finance and Analytics Room with a ribbon cutting event.

Hamline University mourns the passing of Carol E. Anderson '46, a life trustee, institutional benefactor and strong believer in the power of education.