News Archives - 2003

Spotlight on Garry Hesser

Sociology professor Garry Hesser has been in the sociology profession for more than 30 years, coming to Augsburg in 1977. Not only is he a popular professor who has been named for both the "Teacher of the Year" and "Distinguished Faculty" awards at Augsburg, Hesser initiated service learning at Augsburg in 1979 by arranging for and sponsoring eight Augsburg students who created the first intergenerational living program in a Minneapolis senior citizen high-rise apartment building.

Active in numerous state, regional and national organizations, Hesser is the past president of the National Society for Experiential Education and of the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs. He has led workshops on service-learning and experiential education on more than 40 campuses and professional meetings, and is a Minnesota Campus Compact Fellow collaborating on "Multicultural Education for Social Change."

Recently the Sociologists of Minnesota named Hesser for the 2002 Distinguished Sociologist Award.
" My favorite quote, which I adapt slightly, comes from futurist Robert Theobald, who said ‘Privileged and fortunate people are those who are growing and helping others to grow.’ All of us in the sociology profession are immensely privileged, I think, to have a vocation and a discipline that enables us to make a living ‘growing and helping others to grow.’"