A group of St. Olaf students considering careers in medicine recently traveled to Tanzania as part of a service-learning program that prompted them to think about the meaning of vocation and the importance of serving others.

In addition to his recent performance at Shanghai Times Square, St. Olaf Assistant Professor of Music Jun Qian led a master class for university students in Taiwan and premiered a new piece by renowned Taiwanese composer Mei-chun Chen.

A familiar face in a photo on the St. Olaf digital archives Web site prompted Vivian Engebrit to donate a treasure trove of historical photos and documents to the college, some of which even Associate Archivist Jeff Sauve had never seen before.

St. Olaf Professors of Philosophy Charles Taliaferro and Gordon Marino are helping bring the art of philosophical thinking to the masses with their contributions to the Web site AskPhilosophers. "It can be amusing and entertaining, but can also have a very serious side," says Taliaferro (left) of his work with the site.

President David R. Anderson '74 shares his take on three books he recently read — Nicole Mones' The Last Chinese Chef, Stieg Larsson's The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, and David Ebershoff's The Danish Girl — with MinnPost.

As part of a new exchange program, Siri Smithback '12 and Kelsey Solum '11 spent three weeks this summer taking in the sights and culture of Snåsa, Norway — the birthplace of St. Olaf College founder Bernt Julius Muus.

As one of three students selected nationally as a Rossing Physics Scholar by the ELCA Foundation, Michael Wineman '11 will receive a $10,000 scholarship.

John Schantzen '10, a four-year starter for the St. Olaf football team and a national champion shot put specialist for the track and field team, was recently awarded a postgraduate scholarship from the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Participants in St. Olaf's McNair Scholars Program, like Fatima Omar '11 (left), are spending the summer conducting research projects that provide hands-on learning and preparation for graduate school. McNair is part of the federally funded TRiO program that serves underrepresented students.

Professor of Social Work and Family Studies Mary Carlsen '79 will participate in a series of Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) workshops that aim to help women in higher education develop leadership and management skills.

Lloyd Gunderson '53, professor emeritus of classics, died July 4 at his home in Northfield. "He was a complex person who had a love of many things," Provost and Dean of St. Olaf James May told the Star Tribune.

More than 160 scholars from around the globe converged on St. Olaf this week to analyze the work of 19th-century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, making it likely the largest meeting of Kierkegaard scholars in history.