Through Truth to Freedom: Reconciling a University's Past, Present, and Future

The central claim of this volume is that higher education institutions that seek to educate their students for freedom and liberation―the idea behind the liberal arts―must be prepared to embrace the truths they pursue and to lean into the reconciliation demanded by those truths. In other words, they must journey through truth to freedom, but only by way of reconciliation.

For Augsburg University, the truths interrogated delve deep into the heart of its faith tradition, academic mission, and commitment to social justice. Through appreciative and critical inquiry, the truths discovered demand reconciliation with the past so as to be freed for the work they are called to do as “informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders”―Augsburg’s mission! These essays offer a compelling example to other institutions about the important work of connecting past, present, and future―of seeking truth through freedom by way of reconciliation―work that is foundational to an institution’s mission, identity, and future planning.

Perfect for courses such as: Place Matters: Colleges and Universities as Anchors in their Communities; Introduction to Interfaith Learning, Leadership, and Living; History of Higher Education in America; Foundations of Democratic Engagement and Higher Education; Introduction to Experiential Education; Foundations of Higher Education Leadership

Paul C. Pribbenow, Ph.D. is the 10th president of Augsburg University, an institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and located in heart of Minneapolis. Since joining Augsburg in 2006, Pribbenow has enhanced the College’s role as an active community partner in its urban setting and has led a comprehensive strategic planning process known as Augsburg150, which names the university’s signature commitments to equity, inclusion, and community engagement. Pribbenow also has led unprecedented fundraising efforts at Augsburg, including $55 million to build the Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, a signature academic building; and $129 million in the Sesquicentennial “Great Returns” campaign.

Pribbenow serves on the national boards of Campus Compact and the Coalition for Urban and Metropolitan Universities. He also is active in the Anchor Institutions Task Force. Locally, he chairs the Cedar-Riverside Partnership and serves on the Executive Committee of the Minnesota Private College Council. Before coming to Augsburg, Pribbenow served as president of Rockford College (now Rockford University) in Rockford, Illinois. He also has served as 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.

Pribbenow holds a BA from Luther College (Iowa), and an MA (1979) and PhD (1993) in social ethics from the University of Chicago. He received the Distinguished Service Award at Luther College in 2008; the William Burke Award for Presidential Leadership in Experiential Education in 2012; the Professional Fundraiser of the Year from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) in 2019; and the University of Chicago Divinity School Alumnus of the Year Award in 2025.

Green Bouzard is a freelance musician and editor. She formerly worked at Augsburg University in the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship.