Download the Summer 2004 PDF - Augsburg College

A LEGACY OFINSPIRED GOVERNANCE (CONTINUED…)During Tunheim’s three terms as chair,the institution successfully added manynew programs and partnerships,established a branch campus inRochester, embarked on its first majorcapital campaign, reached new highs inenrollment at both the undergraduateand graduate levels, and more fullyengaged its alumni—something she hasworked toward from the moment shetook a seat on the board. “It should notbe lost on our alumni, by the way, thatup until Jean Taylor’s recent election asboard chair, the past six chairs have allbeen non-alumni,” Tunheim said.RAISINGEXPECTATIONS OFAUGSBURG“When I first joined the board, I thinkthe College was ranked lowest amongthe ELCA colleges in terms of alumniphilanthropy. So my goal was to find away to help change attitudes and set acollective expectation of ourselves asstewards of the school. I wanted alumnito think in terms of giving back: servingon the board, being partners in all thatwe needed and wanted to do.“I remember having breakfast in1998 with the woman who was thenchair of the College’s alumni association.I could clearly see she was frustrated, soI asked her, ‘What is it that you wantfrom the College?’ Her answer was clearand immediate: ‘We want a degree fromAugsburg to be more valuable in thefuture than it was when we got it.’Together, I think we’ve been committedto ensuring that we create that future—and we all agree how important theCollege’s alumni are to making ithappen.”Tunheim noted that when peoplelook across the nation and point out thestrongest higher education institutions,they are always the ones that haveengaged, passionately loyal alumni.“Augsburg has a lot of passionate andloyal alums,” she said, “but in the pastwe didn’t always find a way to engagethem. But now, especially with Jean’selection, there are some great role modelsin terms of what alumni can and shoulddo for their school.ATTRACTED BYMISSION ANDVISION“Having said that, I also want to point outthat non-alums like me have seensomething in Augsburg that attracted us tothe mission and vision. That’s a tribute toAugsburg and its past leadership. Mymessage about Augsburg to themarketplace is this: Augsburg College willbe more important in the future landscapeof higher education than it has ever been,because its strengths will serve the futureneeds of the community so well. Butinstitutionally, we’re not ready to meet allthe needs that will come to us—financially,or in terms of buildings and infrastructure.Our responsibility is to make sure that theCollege IS ready to serve as it is called toserve.”Tunheim, who is a graduate of theUniversity of Minnesota and CEO ofTunheim Partners, a leading Twin Citiespublic relations firm, first came toAugsburg in the late 1980s to talk abouthow the Collegemight improve itsrelationship with thecity of Minneapolis.At the time, the cityseemed to be courtinginstitutions like St.Thomas, whileAugsburg, alreadywell-established andinvolved in the city,was being ignored.“I was struck bythe many fineprograms the Collegehad and how little was known aboutthem. As a professional in public relations,I was intrigued by what might be done toshare that story. That’s what first attractedme to the board.” When President CharlesAnderson decided to step down due to anillness, she was asked to lead the searchcommittee for the new president, butdeclined initially, citing businessobligations. But neither Anderson norBarbara Gage, who was then board chair,would take ‘no’ for an answer. “Barbaratold me that this is what I needed to do,that when you’re asked to do somethingfor which you’re a good fit, you need torespond to the call.”Other highlights of her three terms,she said, were developing a betterunderstanding and working relationshipwith members of Augsburg’sCorporation—the four Lutheran synodsthat “own” the institution; establishing theRegents’ Committee, a group that hasbeen key to evaluating who is on theboard, what their expectations are, andhow new board members are recruited;and working with the president on settinga clear vision of what the College is andwhere it wants to go.“I was honored to be asked to serve onthis board, and then to serve as chair, butI’m also extremely excited about wherethis College is now heading,” she said.“While other schools are working todiscern their uniqueness or their future,Augsburg is already there. The lightcoming from Augsburg is inspiringalready—I have no doubts about itsstrength and constancy.” ■8 Spring/Summer 2004