Profile of Dr. Paul C. Pribbenow
Dr. Paul C. Pribbenow is the 10th president of Augsburg College, a private liberal arts college set in the heart of Minneapolis’ most vibrant and diverse neighborhoods. The College offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate degrees to more than 4,000 students of diverse backgrounds. The trademark of an Augsburg education is its emphasis on direct, personal experience. Guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, Augsburg educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. Pribbenow is chair of the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership to bring together education and medical institutions to strengthen communities along the light rail line between downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul.
A Citation for Honorary Fellow Dr. Paul C. PRIBBENOW
Dr. Paul C. Pribbenow is a widely recognised spokesman for liberal arts education in the US. He is also an immensely engaging commentator and teacher on ethics and philanthropy, and American public life. Since 2006, he has served as president of Augsburg College. Before that, he held a number of important offices, including president of Rockford College in Rockford (Illinois), research fellow for the Center of Inquiry in the Liberal Arts at Wabash College (Indiana), dean for College Advancement and secretary of the Board of Trustees at Wabash College, vice president of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and associate dean of the Divinity School of the University of Chicago.
Dr. Pribbenow received a BA from Luther College (Iowa), and an MA and PhD in social ethics from the University of Chicago. The honours he has been awarded include the Distinguished Service Award from Luther College (2008) and the William Burke Award for Presidential Leadership in Experiential Education (2012).
Dr. Pribbenow serves on Board of Directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, on the National Campus Compact Board of Directors, and on the Oslo Center US Foundation Board of Directors. Locally, he is chair of the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership and serves on the Executive Committee of the Minnesota Private College Council (MPCC). In his role as a leader in MPCC, he has continued to enhance collaboration between Augsburg College and UIC ever since the inception of our college.
As president of Augsburg College, he has enhanced the College's role as an active community partner in its urban setting, raising public consciousness on the importance of cultural diversity and respect for difference. Under his leadership, the College earned the prestigious Presidential Award for Community Service, the highest honour awarded for service work. It was the first such honour conferred on a higher education institution in Minnesota.
Dr. Pribbenow has authored numerous articles on philanthropy, ethics and not-for-profit management. He publishes a bimonthly email newsletter titled “Notes for the Reflective Practitioner,” in which he pleads for the importance of joining word and action, among other things. In a recent issue, he identifies education as the highest public priority and the values of education as central to the well-being of mankind. The same message was echoed in a speech he made on our campus when he visited us in 2013. In the High Table Address titled “Who in the world is my neighbour?” he posed the question: “What do we owe each other as human beings, as fellow citizens of the world, as neighbours in this most expansive sense?” To him, the ability “to see living as common work rather than simply [a] personal project” is a core aspect of a whole person, liberal arts education in the 21st century. This belief also echoes the traditional Chinese axiom of “nurturing commonality along with individuality.” I am sure all of us here at UIC share the same vision.
Mr. Chairman, in recognition of Dr. Paul C. Pribbenow's outstanding accomplishments in promoting liberal arts education and social ethics as well as in appreciation of his support for this College, it is my privilege and honour to present him to you for the award of Honorary Fellowship.
