Join President Ehretsman, current students, alumni, and other friends of the college for Knights to Know, a series that explores the amazing work Wartburg graduates are doing out in the world. The theme this year is Visionary Voices. Each virtual session is free.
For more information, contact the Wartburg College Alumni & Parent Engagement Office at 319-352-8491 or alumni@wartburg.edu.
2024-25: Visionary Voices
Living the Mission: Leading and Serving in Guatemala
Join us for this special Knights to Know event where Dr. Rebecca Ehretsman, Wartburg’s 18th president, will talk about her mission work in Guatemala.
Thursday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. Central
Dr. Rebecca Ehretsman
Civil Discourse
Tune in to hear from Eric Hanson ’96, anchor at KCCI; Jesse Kielman ’17, communication and media manager at the ACLU of Kansas; and Maribel Lopez ’10, head of PBS Digital Studios. They’ll be joined by President Becky and a student to discuss how we talk to each other, share information, and change minds in an increasingly divided world.
Thursday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. Central
Eric Hanson
Jesse Kielman
Maribel Lopez
Tech for Good
Hear from Victor Thu ’97, Carly Nuehring ’17, and Sushant Dhakal ’08 about the work they’re doing in the tech space, including topics like machine learning, artificial intelligence, e-commerce, international security, and what it’s like working in Silicon Valley.
Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. Central
Sushant Dhakal
Carly Nuehring
Victor Thu
The Business of Finance
Join us for the next Knights to Know event on Wednesday, Jan. 29, as we look at the Business of Finance! President Ehretsman will host alongside student body president Alex Crawford to learn more about the world of business and finance from Jodie Carlson ’07, finance chief of staff at Transamerica; Patrick Smith ’03, senior vice president for retail banking at First Bank; and Kirk Vogel ’83, a portfolio relationship manager at HSBC Bank USA.
Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. Central
Jodie Carlson
Patrick Smith
Kirk Vogel
Leaders in Athletics
What does it take to put on a professional sporting event? What happens behind the scenes of your favorite sports teams? Find out from Alyssa Kozak ’17, associate producer at NASCAR; Hannah Onken ’19, director of stadium operations for the Nashville Sounds; Luke Shanno ’09, vice president of corporate communications for the Kansas City Chiefs; and Trevor Shannon ’99, vice president of finance and controller for Minnesota Sports and Entertainment (Minnesota Wild).
Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. Central
Alyssa Kozak
Luke Shanno
Hannah Onken
Trevor Shannon
2023-24: Women of Wartburg
Spotlight on STEM
Join a panel interview with Kerri Blobaum ’94, a materials scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Erica Gallant ’99, technology strategy and partnerships leader for electrification of heating at Trane Technologies; and Dr. Jennifer Kurtz ’99, director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Energy Conversion and Storage Systems Center.
Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. Central
Kerri Blobaum
Erica Gallant
Jen Kurtz
Spotlight on Service
Hear from Liza Gashi ’13, deputy minister of foreign affairs and diaspora in Kosovo; the Rev. Emily Harkins Norris ’08, founder of The Dwelling, a ministry focused on those who are unhoused; and Alexis Oberdorfer ’93, vice president of community engagement and partnerships at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, about their work serving the needs of others.
Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. Central
Liza Gashi
The Rev. Emily Harkins Norris
Alexis Oberdorfer
Amplifying Black Excellence
Hear from Felecia Boone ’93, ’23 MA, a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant for Hennepin County; La Toshia Burrell ’07, owner of Redefine & Reveal Massage Therapy & Bodywork; and Azzie Forbes ’10, director of the social work program at York College, about the amazing work they’re doing!
Wednesday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. Central
Felecia Boone
La Toshia Burrell
Azzie Forbes
Spotlight on Health Care
Hear from Lt. Linette Ewing ’02, assistant professor of pediatrics and pediatric clinician, and Dr. Shannon Neale ’87, family medicine practitioner and professor, about the joys and challenges of working in health care.
Wednesday, March 13, at 7 p.m. Central
Lt. Linette Ewing
Dr. Shannon Neale