Pederson and Matt Haines suggested Ithink about biostatistics, a field thatwould combine biology and math. I knew Iwould have to go to graduate school, butat that point I hadn’t even thought aboutit,” she says.In the summer be<strong>for</strong>e her junior year,Robertson participated in a short-termstudy program to examine the biodiversityand environmental politics of NewZealand. She also conducted researchwith biology professor David Crowe in theURGO summer research program.“I was new to that type of research, butI was ready and willing to learn,” she says.“David was a very good mentor, alwayswilling to help and always told me when Iwas doing a great job.”The URGO program presented a newchallenge <strong>for</strong> Robertson, who says she wasshy and had extreme anxiety about givingpresentations. “Giving reports about myresearch in front of my fellow URGO peopleduring roundtable discussions wasawful <strong>for</strong> me,” she says, “and I didn’teven want to think about the final oralpresentation.”But working with Crowe gave Robertsonthe confidence in herself as a scientist anda scholar. Shafer recalls the change shesaw in Robertson throughout the summerand her enthusiasm about presenting herresearch in a graduate school interview. “Tosee her go from <strong>this</strong> quiet girl who couldbarely talk with other students to graduateschool … what an accomplishment.”Robertson continued her research withCrowe during the academic year and alsobegan, with Shafer’s help, the process ofapplying to graduate school. Betweenschool, work, and personal issues, Robertsonsays there were many times shewanted to give up and put off graduateschool <strong>for</strong> a year. “But I told myself tokeep on with the help of mentors, friends,family, and counseling support. I thoughtif I didn’t get in to any programs or didn’tlike the places, at least I would havetried.”She applied to five programs, both master’sand doctoral in biostatistics and biology,and she was accepted to all five.Currently Robertson is studying on a fullscholarship in the molecular biosciencesprogram at Montana State University inBozeman.From first day tograduation dayThere is <strong>more</strong> to student success thannational scholarships and fellowships. Forsome students, whether they are 18 or 38years old, the greatest achievement is simplyto have arrived at <strong>Augsburg</strong>. In fall2010, <strong>Augsburg</strong> welcomed the largestfirst-year class and the largest graduateschool class in the <strong>College</strong>’s history.Within <strong>this</strong> student body is the potential<strong>for</strong> many stories of students who overcamethe odds to get to college and toobtain a degree. <strong>Augsburg</strong> has an impressivehistory of assisting students whomight not otherwise be successful in college—first-generationstudents includingchildren of immigrant families, students inrecovery from addiction, students withcognitive disabilities as well as physicaldisabilities, and nontraditional-aged studentswho are returning to college to completea degree.Rich Osborn is an older-than-averagestudent who found success through<strong>Augsburg</strong>’s weekend program. At the ageof 69, Osborn completed his first bachelor’sdegree and was one of the oldest<strong>Augsburg</strong> <strong>for</strong> Adults students to graduate.Read his story at http://bit.ly/djx2nN.Not only is <strong>Augsburg</strong> attracting a largerstudent body—the <strong>College</strong> is keeping studentsand helping them persist to graduation.<strong>Augsburg</strong> can boast an impressive86% retention rate in the day college programfrom fall 2009 to fall 2010. That isan increase of 3% from last year and significantlyhigher than the national averageof 73% <strong>for</strong> four-year private colleges anduniversities.All of <strong>this</strong> success is reason <strong>for</strong> <strong>Augsburg</strong>to celebrate and to share the stories of studentsuccess. Whether it’s the announcementof another Fulbright recipient, aNational Science Foundation grant, or publicationin a scholarly journal, these storiesserve as inspiration and motivation <strong>for</strong> otherAuggies to pursue their goals.Melissa Robertson ’10 is completing a master's degreein molecular biosciences at Montana State University.Kelly Gorham/MSU28 <strong>Augsburg</strong> Now
A U G S B U R G C O L L E G EA N N U A L R E P O R T T O D O N O R S2 0 0 9 - 2 0 1 0Fall 201029
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