Presentation: 'The History of the Asian Studies Program at Augustana College'

Professor Emeritus of Geography Norm Moline, Ph.D., will present the Augustana Historical Society's spring program on April 17 at 7 p.m. in the college's newest building, the Peter J. Lindberg, M.D., Center for Health and Human Performance.

About the presentation

Dr. Moline's talk will explore the history of the Asian Studies Program at Augustana College. According to Moline, Asian Studies became "an important expansion of the college's program from one dominated by European perspectives to one with active curriculum and programs covering other regions." Moline is a cultural geographer who was long involved in coursework and study abroad opportunities in Asian Studies. He directed or co-directed all 13 East Asia fall terms between 1977 and 2013 and directed seven alumni trips, two basketball teams trips and one choir trip to that region.

To better understand the history of Asian Studies at Augustana, Moline combed through drawers of materials that he saved from the program's early years. He then reached out to other faculty members--both past and present--as well as people from organizations affiliated with the college. The result is a fascinating story about how Augustana College started, in the 1960s and 1970s, to look beyond Europe and the U.S., leading to popular trips abroad, expanded study in Asian languages, and the development of new courses about Asian nations, religions, histories and health practices.

About the Augustana Historical Society

The Augustana Historical Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of Augustana College's history. Since its founding in 1930, the society has told Augustana's story through publications and bi-annual presentations.