Augustana Professor Emeritus of English Sandra Looney had a year of travel adventures including in Germany, Scotland, Norway, and Hungary. She was joined by family, friends, and Augie alums on her international wayfaring. Sandra has two married children. Anja and her husband, Chris, daughter and son live in Kansas City. Aaron and his wife, Judith, two daughters, and son, live in Germany.
Maddie Todd is a singer-songwriter and 2017 Augustana graduate with a BA in Religion and Sociology. In 2018 she followed a dream by advancing to Hollywood Week on American Idol. Maddie Serves the real estate investment community as Director of Technology at Real Property Management Express. Maddy and her wife, Chelsea, enjoy spending time with their two dogs, Amelia and Rory.
Co-founder and Executive Director of The Hub SD, a non-profit committed to gaining susstainable business and professional resources for the success of BIPOC entrepreneurs and business professionals, Julian Beaudion spent twelve years as a SD law enforcement officer. He is also the current ED of the SD African American History Museum and the president of Juneteenth Sioux Falls. Originally from Louisiana, Julian and his wife, Del'Inkka have been enthusiastic Sioux Falls residents for nearly fifteen years. Together they own Swamp Daddy's Cajun Kitchen and have three daughters.
South Dakota Teacher of the Year for 2024, George Hawkins teaches American Experience and Government at Jefferson High School. After graduating from Augustana in 2004, George attended law school and practiced law before discovering his passion for teaching, focusing on project-based learning. George and his wife, Stacy, have a son, Simon.
Cindy Hoy earned her MA in counseling and MA in Divinity at Sioux Falls Seminary in 1994 and was ordained with the United Church of Christ. Beginning in 1995 she served as Director of Spiritual Ministry and Pastor with the Good Samaritan Society. From 2003 until she retired in 2022 she was Director of Spiritual Care at Sanford Medical Center. Cindy continues to serve the SD Conference of the UCC with occasional preaching and mentoring others preparing for the ministry. Tom Hoy graduated from Augustana in 1979 and began his role as an administrator of care facilities for the Good Samaritan Society for more than twenty years across five states, along the way completing a MA in Public Administration from the University of North Texas. After leaving Good Sam, Tom accepted a position as SD Director of Medicare information overseeing the recruitment and training of volunteers to provide Medicare information statewide. Having been married 40 years, Cindy and Tom are active members of Spirit of Peace UCC. They relish traveling and exploring the world, meeting new people, camping, reading, and "hanging out" at their cabin in northern Minnesota.
Emeritus professor of Sociology at Augustana, Susan Schrader began her career at the university as Assistant Dean of Students. While a member of the faculty Susan engaged in a number of research projects including one that involved interviewing South Dakota centenarians and collecting their stories. Susan and her traveling partner, Margot Nelson, enjoy hitching their camper and hitting the open road for adventures whenever possible.
A passionate solo traveler, Katherine Cedeño Torres first experienced international traveling as a student at Augustana, from which she graduated in 2016. As a nurse and volunteer working with Midwest Street Medicine, a nonprofit committed to low barrier, whole-person care for people experiencing homelessness, Kat provides critical support to the vulnerable in our community. Kat and her husband, Will, serve as a Friendship Family for Augustana's International Program office and enjoy traveling together.