New Faces in the

CEL and New Web Resources

Our web pages now feature new content for faculty and staff, including examples of academic collaborations, fuller program descriptions, and tools for facilitating experiential learning. We invite you to click the links at left and explore the resources therein.

Diana Dargen

Diana is in the unique position of sharing her time between St. Olaf and Carleton.  She is the Community-Based Work-Study Coordinator, a previous VISTA position that is now supported by the two colleges. She works with students and community groups to identify off-campus work-study opportunities.  Community groups provide a portion of the student work funding and the federal government provides the remainder.  Diana also recruits and supervises tutors for the Northfield “Reads and Counts” Program.  She will divide her time between the CEL office and Carleton’s ACT office.

With a B.A. in Psychology from Western Connecticut State University, Diana began her career in education as a special education teacher in New Fairfield, CT.  Since moving to Northfield, Diana has served as site specialist at Greenvale Park Elementary School and as assistant cross-country coach at Northfield High School. Diana engages her multiple interests through volunteerism in environmental areas and pursuing activities with people with mental and physical disabilities.  She loves outdoor sports and activities such as running, skiing and camping.  She hopes to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Kristine Estenson

Kris fills a new position in the CEL, that of Social Entrepreneurship Coordinator.  This part-time position was created when Sian Muir assumed expanded teaching responsibilities within the Management Studies Program.

In addition to her work in the CEL, Kris is an adjunct faculty member at Minnesota State University-Mankato (MSU), in the Clinical and Field Experience Department.  She previously taught in the Apple Valley-Rosemount-Eagan School District. Kris has a B.A. from Gustavus Adolphus College and an M.A. from MSU in Curriculum and Instruction.  She is currently pursuing an Ed.D. from Hamline University. Kris serves on the advisory board for Northfield's 5th Bridge, WINGS (Women in Northfield Giving Service), and the Northfield Booster Club.  She is also actively involved with youth and outreach activities at Northfield United Methodist Church.  She enjoys family vacations, attending her son and daughter's sporting events, water skiing, rollerblading, reading and camping.

Nathan Jacobi

Nate joins the CEL as Assistant Director, Civic Engagement.  He comes to St. Olaf after five years at Regis University in Denver where he served as Social Justice Program Coordinator in the Office of University Ministry.  In that role he directed a variety of service-learning and social justice education programs that helped students develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become effective student leaders and social change agents.

Nate holds a B.S. in psychology from Iowa State University and an M.A. in Nonprofit Management from Regis University. He previously served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps working in homeless services in the St. Louis area. A newcomer to Northfield, Nate enjoys reading, traveling (with a special interest in Latin America), camping, photography, and almost any sport.  He welcomes invitations to ultimate frisbee or disc golf.

In addition to these regular positions, the CEL welcomes two faculty members as Lilly Fellows.  These two individuals will work with the Civic Engagement program to advance the inclusion of vocational reflection into service learning and community education programs.

Don Ostrom

A Visiting Professor in the Political Science Department, Don teaches introductory and advanced courses in American Politics.  He has previously taught at Gustavus Adolphus College and, as an early Peace Corps Volunteer, at the University of Nigeria. He also served as Visiting Professor at American University in Washington and at the University of Minnesota.  Don was a congressional aide in Washington and has been actively involved in local politics as school board chair. Most notably in this regard, Don served four terms as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Don grew up in Chicago and graduated from St. Olaf. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Washington University in St. Louis.

Don will work part-time in the CEL during the fall semester.

Eric Fure-Slocum

A Visiting Assistant Professor in the History Department at St. Olaf, Eric teaches a U.S. history survey course and has offered first-year seminars in grassroots politics, ethnicity and immigration, and recent American history. He has also taught in the American Racial and Multicultural Studies program at St. Olaf. Before going to graduate school to study history, Eric worked for a decade as a community organizer in Minnesota and California.

He completed his Ph.D. in History at the University of Iowa in 2001. He received an M.A. in History from San Francisco State University, an M.A. in Public Policy from Duke University, and a B.A. from St. Olaf (History major). Eric is currently revising his first book project (City Liberalism: The Politics of Class and Race in Cold War America) for publication. His next project (Losing Hope?: Workers and Cynicism in Metropolitan America), focuses on the problem of public cynicism and political disengagement in post–World War II cities and suburbs. Eric and his wife (the Chaplain at Carleton College) have two children.

Eric will work part-time in the CEL during the spring semester.