MDFL Alumni

The following MDFL Alumni have kindly agreed to have their names and work experiences listed below. ALUMNI, please update your information!  Contact Professor Scott Fish.

ADEN, Rebecca., 1999 (Chemistry & French). Completed an M.A. in French Linguistics at Indiana University. Rebecca was also a substitute teacher of French at O'Gorman Junior and Senior High Schools in Sioux Falls, SD.

ALLEN, Wendy J., 1981 (French & Political Science), Highlands Ranch, CO. Currently the Chief of Operations Systems Division at the Aerospace Data Facility in Aurora, Colorado. Wendy also completed an intership at the American Chamber of Commerce in Brussels, Belgium.

BOAZ, Sarah J. (Irby), 1983 (Business & Spanish), Omaha, NE. Currently a homemaker and part-time small business consultant. "[Spanish] has been useful in all my jobs": Burlington Northern Air Freight International Documentation, Schering Plough Animal Health International Documentation, and business manager for a church.

BOURNE, Deidra, 2001 (Accounting & French), Chicago, IL. Currently an International Tax Consultant for Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP.

BRAY, Gretchen (Morrow), 1981 (German & Music), St. Peter, MN. Lives in with her husband Alan, a 1971 Augie grad, where she has her own piano teaching studio; is also a church musician.

BRINKMAN, Shannon, 1992 (English, Mass Communications & Spanish), Chamberlain, SD. Currently a secondary Spanish & English teacher; completed an internship with Intercambio Exchange program; has done translations for sheriff's dept.

BRUGGER, Susan Shay, 1980 (Criminal Justice & Spanish), Pierre, SD. Currently a lawyer/partner for Adamski & Brugger, LLP. Susan also used her Spanish as a Deputy State's Attorney, and in her position as Instructor of Spanish at a community college.

CHRISTOPHERSON, Cynda, 1997 (Biology & German), Rochester MN. Currently a Nuclear Medicine Technologist in Rochester.

COLON, Megan, 2002 (French & International Studies), Washington, D.C. Currently a staff assistant for South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson.

DORRIS, Susan, 1992 (English & German), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Taught English in Germany for one year; currently works for Eastgate Services, an international relocation company.

D'SOUZA, Andre, 2004 (Computer Science & French; minor in German), Austin, TX. Currently a graduate student in French and computer science at the University of Texas at Austin.

DUFFEY, LISA, 1994 (Government/International Relations & MFL; minor in Russian Studies), Belgrade, MT. Currently part of Administrative Support Staff for the College of Agriculture at Montana State University.

DUNHAM, Danielle, 1998 (Government/International Affairs & Spanish), Ankeny, IA. Currently works as a Staff Assistant for US Senator Tom Harkin; helped in various Spanish immigration cases.

EGGE, Carmyn, 2003 (Government/International Relations, Spanish, International Studies; minor in Psychology), Watertown, SD. Currently working on Tom Daschle's Campaign. Translated legal documents for a law firm and currently working with Spanish-speaking voters in order to help register them and educate them about the laws/policies of South Dakota.

ELLWEIN, Marcine, 1999 (Biology & German), Brookings, SD. Currently a medical student at the University of South Dakota. After graduation, Marcine hopes to become a pediatrician.

FAUTECK, Jessica, 1999 (Government & Spanish), Sioux Falls, SD. Currently a Spanish teacher in Vermillion. Jessica completed a Masters in Teaching at Augustana College, and in spent the 2003-2004 school year teaching English as a foreign language in a Hungarian high school.

FLEMING, Anne, 2003 (Elementary Education & Spanish; Middle School Endorsements in Language Arts and Math), Castle Rock, Co. Currently teach Spanish to 7th and 8th graders at Sierra Middle School in Parker, CO. While a student at Augustana, Anne taught Spanish to in MDFL's after-school world language clubs, and to elementary students in the Unique Learning Experiences program in the Sioux Falls School District.

GASOW, Miranda, 2003 (German & International Studies), Pella, IA. Currently the Study Abroad Coordinator and Advisor for Central College Abroad.

GRAFF, Sarah, 2001 (French & International Studies), Sioux Falls, SD. Sarah completed her M.B.A. at the University of Sioux Falls, and now works for Sanford Hospital.

HAHN, Paula, 2000 (Education & German; minor in Music), Hutchinson, MN. Currently a teacher of German in Hutchinson School District. Paula also lived in Germany for 18 years.

HANSEN, Christina M., 2004 (Biology & French). Omaha, NE. Currently a patient care technician at The Nebraska Medical Center.

HANSON, Liann M., 2000 (Coaching, Elementary Education & Spanish), Northglenn, CO. Currently a third-grade bilingual teacher, and high-school volleyball and basketball coach.

HERMAN, Patricia, 1990 (German & Geography), Sioux Falls, SD. Completed a Master's Degree in urban and Regional Planning in 1997 at Ball State Univ. in Muncie, IN. Currently working for Minnehaha County Planning and Zoning Dept.

HONSBRUCH, Megan (Schrunk), 2001 (Chemistry & Spanish), Layfayette, IN. Currently a graduate student in Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Purdue University. Megan works as a teaching assistant for organic chemistry lab, and speaks Spanish with co-workers and students in the program.

HYSLOP, Lois (Boe), (French), Sioux Falls, SD. After graduating from Augustana College with a degree in French, Dr. Lois Boe Hyslop completed a Ph.D. degree in French at the University of Wisconsin. She served on the faculties at Susquehanna University and Skidmore College before joining Pennsylvania University, University Park, in 1948. She was the first woman named a senior fellow of the Institute for the Arts and Humanistic Studies. Dr. Hyslop published works on Henry Becque (1972) and Baudelaire (1964, 1969, 1980 and 1990). Dr. Hyslop passed away in 2003.

IVERSON, Benjamin, 2004 (International Studies & Spanish), Bodø, Norway. Currently the International Studies Coordinator at Bodø University College in Bodø Norway. Ben also used his Spanish while working as a Customer Service Representative for Wells Fargo Bank in Sioux Falls.

JAHNER, David, 1988 (German & History), Decature, GA. Currently the Foreign Language Coordinator for Guinnett County Public Schools. David also taught German for 7 years at Brookwood High School in Guinnett County Georgia.

LECOCQ, Keldon, 1998 (Business Administration & French), Richfield, MN. Currently works as an Implementation Specialist for the Retail department of Green Tree Financial; recently traveled to Paris and Normandy.

LEE, Bethany, 2001 (International Studies & Spanish), Benson, MN. Currently a restaurant manager.

LEMS, Amy, 2004 (Biology & Spanish), Omaha, NE. Currently a medical student at Creighton University. Amy served as Spanish translator for the All Women Count program through the Sioux Falls Multi-Cultural Center.

LIMBURG, David James, 1984 (English & German), Greensboro, NC. David is Assistant Professor of German at Guilford College and has taught German since 1985, first at The Ohio State University and then Guilford College.

LINDELL, Karin, 1987 (French, History & Religion), Sioux Falls, SD. Currently an Administrative Assistant at Augustana College.

LINDELL, Lisa, 1987 (English, German & Math), Brookings, SD. Currently a Catalog Librarian at the Briggs Library, South Dakota State University.

LINDQUIST, Heidi, 2000 (Spanish & Psychology), Eau Claire, WI. Currently a graduate student in pyschology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Following graduation, Heidi hopes to use her Spanish language skills when working with Hispanic students in schools.

LOECHER, Stuart Michael, 1997 (English & Spanish), Minneapolis, MN. Currently an Advisor/Representative for American Express Financial Advisors and a print model contracted to various agencies.

LONE, Cecilie, 1997 (Journalism & German), Oslo, Norway & Strasbourg, France. Recently completed an M.A. degree in Society, Science and Technology from the University of Oslo in Norway and Université Louis Paster in Strasbourg, France. She now works as an information officer in Corporate Communications with DNV (Det Norske Veritas) in Oslo, Norway. DNV is a global company with 300 offices in 100 different countries.

MACKEY, Jennifer, 1997 (Business Administration & Spanish; minor in Art), St. Louis, MO. Currently an Analyst--International Cash Management--for May Department Stores International; Jennifer notes that her double majors helped to provide her with a strong international business foundation.

MAY, Kristine (Haberling), 1984 (English, French & Education), Chicago IL. Currently does ESL and EAP tutoring from her home. Taught ESL language courses for Arthur Anderson International from 1989-1990.

MARTINEZ-SAVLEDO, Jesse, 1997 (Education & Spanish; minor in Economics), Sioux Falls, SD. Currently an Operation Analyst for Dial Bank-Wells Fargo Corporation; is in charge of the Spanish portfolio that covers the Southwest region of the United States.

MEESTER, Shanna, 2001 (Spanish & Psychology), St. Louis, MO. Currently student in medical school. Shanna communicated with Spanish speaking families while conducting fieldwork: "It was rewarding to ease some of their fears concerning their children in the neonatal intensive care unit by communicating [in Spanish] personally versus through an interpreter."

MERRILL, Lisa, 2004 (Accounting & Government), Potsdam, Germany. Currently a teacher's assistant in Germany an the Evangelisches Gymnasium in Hermannswerder Potsdam. Lisa writes, "I use German on a daily basis to communicate with students and others."

MUNK, Katie (Doyle), 2000 (French; minor in History), Fort Worth, TX. Currently a middle-school French teacher (7th and 8th grades).

NEDELSKY, Sergey M., 2001 (Modern Foreign Languages, minor in Classical Studies), Munich, Germany. Sergey completed the M.A.L.A. (Masters of Arts in Liberal Arts) degree in 2003 at the Graduate Institute at St. John's College in Annapolis, MD. He then received the degree of M.Th. (Master of Theology) in 2006 from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theology Seminary; his dissertation was entitled "Palamas in Exile: The Academic Recovery of Monastic Theology." He taught at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary from 2003 to 2006, and now resides full-time in Munich, Germany. Sergey advises, "My advice to students at Augustana: If you want to be taken seriously as scholars, you simply must learn at least one modern foreign language and one classical language, and ideally more."

NORMAN, Beret L., 1991 (English & German), Boise, ID. Currently a German Professor at Boise State University. Beret participated in a one-year teacher exchange program in Potsdam, Germany.

OLIVER, Faye, 1999 (French & Government/International Affaires), Minneapolis, MN. Currently a case manager at Borene Law Firm. Faye notes that "we have quite a few French-speaking clients so we get to translate documents [and] interact with people from all over the world."

OYOS, Matthew, 1984 (German & History), Abingdon, VA. Currently an Assistant Professor of History. Matthew found knowing German helped in his research as a graduate student and now as a professor.

PARTRIDGE, Jeff, 1992 (Business Administration & Spanish), Folsom, CA. Currently a Regional Sales Manager for Scrantron Service Group; has used some Spanish on his job. Jeff noted: "I would say that I am utilizing my [Spanish] major quite well in technical sales as it relates to understanding people and where they come from. My training in 'speaking a different culture' has helped here."

POPPINS, Brenda, 2007 (Communications & Spanish). Currently works for the Boy Scouts of America in Sioux Falls as a District Executive of Soccer and Scouting.

POSPIL, Jackie, 1992 (Business Administration & MFL). Currently works as an information technology specialist; translated various computer manuals (English to French); occasionally translates insurance claims in current job.

PUSCHER, Monika, 1993 (Geography & German; minor Biology), Culpeper, VA. Monika has a M.S. Environmental Studies from Ohio University (1996) and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia.

ROBERTSON, Cassandra., 2005 (French & International Studies). Cassandra is an linguistic specialist in the U.S. Army.

ROBINSON, Jennifer, 2000 (Spanish), Madison, WI. Jennifer completed an M.A. degree in Spanish at the University of Wisconsin where she is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Second Language Acquisition and works as an Editorial Assistant for the Modern Language Journal.

ROGNESS, Jonathan, 1998 (Computer Science, German & Math), Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany. Currently an Assistant Professor of Math at the of Minnesota. Jonathan is a past recipient of Fullbright scholarship to study in Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.

SAYLOR, Kamden, 1998 (English & German, with HS and MS teaching certification), Vermillion, SD. Currently teaches German at Vermillion High School.

SCHAFFER, Michele, 2000 (Art & French), Paris, France. Michele completed her Master's degree at the Sorbonne in Paris, and continues to pursue her interest in art and photography. She worked as an English teaching assistant in France in 2003-2004.

SCHMIDT, Monique, 1998 (Communications & French), Syracuse, NY. Monique completed a two-year term with the Peace Corps in Francophone Bénin, Africa, and then graduated with an M.F.A. from the Creative Writing Program at Syracuse University. She is currently on a Fullbright in Togo, Africa.

SESTAK, Tim, 2004 (Government and International Affaires & MFL), Wiesentheld, Germany. Currently an Assistant at LSH Steigerwald in Germany. Tim has used his knowledge of German to translate contracts.

SKOGBERG, Cari, 1996 (Secondary Education, English & MFL), Boulder, CO. Cari taught Spanish II, III and IV at Spearfish High School where she was named 2001-2002 Spearfish School District Teacher of the Year. She is also a Nationally-Certified teacher of Spanish. Cari was an Instructor of Spanish at Augie for two years, and has completed her Ph.D. degree at the University of Colorado.

SKOOG, Karina M., 2000 (Biology & Spanish), Omaha, NE. Currently a medical student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Karina has also volunteered at a student-run clinic to help communicate with Spanish-speaking patients.

STAPELA, Sandra, 1975 (German), Hamburg, Germany. Currently a teacher of commercial and business English, and German as a second language. Sandra also serves and an examiner for the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce English commercial correspondence qualifications.

STEEN, Lanae, 2002 (French & International Studies), Minneapolis, MN. Currently an assistant project manager at International Language Services.

STEIN TRIVITT, Sarah, 1994 (Government/International Affairs & French), Puyallup, WA. Currently works as a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines.

SWENSON, Angie, 1993 (German & Music Education), Luverne, MN. Currently works as a German teacher.

SWENSON, James, 1995 (Math & Spanish; minor in Computer Science). Currently a graduate student in math.

THRUSTON, Julie, 2001 (Business Administration & Spanish), Sioux Falls, SD. Currently works for Trade Media Group as a Marketing and Research Assistant. While working at Security Bank, Julie used her foreign language skills to answer telephone calls from Spanish speakers. Julie has also worked as a Spanish Tutor.

UHLER, Jennifer L. (English & Spanish), Slovakia. Currently a Peace Corps Volunteer. Jennifer used her Spanish while working for Lutheran World Relief in New York city.

VANDER WAL, Rebecca L, 2000 (German & Government/International Affairs), Vermillion, SD. Currently a law student at the University of South Dakota.

VISTE, Solveig, 1983 (Computer Science, German & Math), Cary, NC. Currently raising twin girls; has translated German banking documents.

WILLIAMS, Maren, 2003 (English & French), Urbana, IL. Maren completed an M.A. in French at Bowling Green State University where she also recieved a scholarship to complete her first year of graduate work at the Université François-Rabelais in Tours, France. She completed a Ph.D. in library science at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.

WOLBRINK, Chad, 1998 (English & French), New York, NY. Currently the Financial and Operations Manager for the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.

WOLLE, Megan, 2003 (Business, International Studies & Spanish), Minneapolis, MN. Currently an International Banking Specialist with U.S. Bank.

WOODFORD, Angela J., 1999 (Communication & German Education), Marshall, MN. Currently a junior-high and high-school teacher of German and World Cultures.

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