Search Gustavus

Rachel Flynn joined the Gustavus faculty in her current role as the digital liberal arts librarian in 2023. Her research and teaching practices focus on student-centered, inclusive information literacy pedagogy; student learning assessment; and the incorporation of digital technologies in the library and classroom. Rachel has collaboratively published and presented scholarship that promotes the development of information literacy skills both within academic disciplines and in students’ daily and civic lives. She works collegially with other faculty and staff in the library to build the library’s collection to support the curricular and extra-curricular needs of the campus community. 

Kyle E. Chambers is the Associate Provost for Institutional Research & Analytics. He leads a team focused on leveraging data to support strategic decision-making across the institution. Kyle oversees the development of data dashboards, research reports, and surveys that inform key areas such as student success, resource allocation, and program development. By collaborating with academic and administrative departments, he helps the college use data insights to enhance institutional effectiveness and foster a culture of informed decision-making that benefits the entire Gustavus community.

Kyle also serves chair of the Gustavus IRB (2020-present), and prior to joining the Provost's Office, he was the chair of the Department of Psychological Science (2017-2020). His research interests have been in cognitive development, typically focusing on issues related to language learning.

Dr. Karl Larson is a Professor and Program Director for the interdisciplinary major in public health and has been a member of the Gustavus community since 2005. He holds a doctorate in Community Health Education from Southern Illinois University, and the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES®) credential.  Dr. Larson is very active in the profession, having served on the board of several organizations including as the first president of the Minnesota chapter of the Society for Public Health Education. He has coordinated the National Case Study Competition in Health Education for more than 20 years. Dr. Larson is the author of three books and has been recognized as a national leader in mentoring young professionals. His research interests include pedagogy in education and issues affecting youth and adolescents. When not at the college, he is an avid golfer and a regular participant in community-based theater and music productions.

Kate Aguilar is an active part of the History Department (assistant professor of African American and Sport History); Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies; African/African Diaspora Studies; and Sport Management. She challenges students to consider not only what Black history is, but what it does in the world. Her public scholarship includes contributions to the Washington Post and TIME magazine, and she is the Film, Media, and Museum Reviews section editor for the Journal of Sport History. Her current book expands an understanding of the revolt of the black athlete into the 1980s. She is also a part of a broader community of scholars working on campus to learn more about, implement, and assess inclusive teaching pedagogies. 

Kim Frisch joined Gustavus as Vice President for Enrollment Management in 2023, where she leads Admission, Financial Aid, Marketing & Communications, and Student Accounts. With a background in organizational leadership, she brings decades of experience shaping mission-driven enrollment strategies at private institutions.

A nationally recognized enrollment management leader, Kim has been honored for innovation in marketing and enrollment planning with the Dorothy Durkin Award for Strategic Innovation by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association. She is known for her strong commitment to equity and inclusion and has a proven record of increasing student diversity, strengthening net tuition revenue, and building high-performing teams that elevate visibility and impact.

At Gustavus, she is currently driving major initiatives in enrollment growth, scholarship optimization, and web and brand transformation.

Kjerstin Moody (PhD) is an associate professor and chair of the Department of Scandinavian Studies. She teaches courses in English on contemporary Nordic society, politics, cultures, literature, film, and art, as well as beginning through advanced courses in Swedish. Her published scholarship and current research includes: 20th century and contemporary Nordic poetry, literatures of migration and the environment, women’s writing, and Nordic film. Service at the national level includes the Modern Language Association's CLCS Nordic Forum, Fulbright National Selection Committee, and American Literary Translators Association, as well as peer reviewer for numerous international and national scholarly journals. Affiliate faculty in Comparative Literature, Environmental Studies, and Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies at Gustavus. Her work has been supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Fulbright, American Scandinavian Foundation, and U.S. Department of Education.

Dr. Lauren Hecht is the Richard Martin, Timothy Robinson, and Barbara Simpson Endowed Professor of Psychological Science. She joined the faculty in 2010 and was the 2022 recipient of Gustavus’ Edgar M. Carlson Award for Distinguished Teaching. She is a cognitive psychologist whose primary research focuses on perception and attention, how they interact, and their influence on other cognitive processes. Her student-faculty collaborations have secured grant funding and resulted in presentations at regional and international conferences. As a First-Generation faculty who directed the First Term Seminar (FTS) Program and co-founded the Peer Mentor, Academic Leader, and Teacher (Peer MALT) Program, she regularly offers an FTS and supports students through their transition to college.

Maria Kalbermatten is a linguist whose teaching and research focus on how people use language to construct meaning, identity, and humor in Spanish-speaking contexts. Her areas of expertise include Applied Linguistics and Cognitive Linguistics, Conversation Analysis, and Discourse Analysis. She is particularly interested in verbal irony, political humor, and the intersections of language, culture, and ideology. At Gustavus, she teaches Spanish language, culture, and linguistics courses that build students’ communicative skills and cultural awareness.

Her recent scholarship examines verbal irony in Spanish, the role of political satire in Argentine media, and humor as a lens for understanding social and ideological polarization. She is especially proud of mentoring undergraduate researchers and contributing to inclusive and innovative pedagogical practices in her department.

Outside the classroom she enjoys cooking, gardening, traveling, taking photographs, and creating watercolor and urban sketching artwork.

Dr. Andrew Kendall serves as Associate Director of Choral Activities as well as Conductor of the Lucia Singers and the Choir of Christ Chapel. In addition to conducting his ensembles, he teaches courses in music education methods and conducting. Prior to his appointment at Gustavus, he served as Visiting Instructor and Conductor of The Gustavus Choir during the Spring 2023 semester. He earned his DMA in choral conducting at The University of Iowa, his MM in choral conducting at Louisiana State University, and his BA in music education from Gustavus Adolphus College. He has served as conductor of The Gustavus Choir, the LSU Chamber Singers, The University of Iowa Voxman Chorale, The University of Iowa University Choir, Musicorum, The St. John's Boys' Choir, and has held church music positions in Minnesota, Louisiana, and Iowa. He is a frequent choral clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator.

Emma Brunton ’19 is an instructor in the Health and Exercise Science Department. She recently returned to her alma mater after receiving her master's in Community Health Education from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Her professional expertise centers on preparing future health and physical education teachers and coaches through evidence-based, purpose-driven practices. Currently, her work focuses on athlete development, leadership training, and incorporating mental health and functional movement into sport. She has led important cross-divisional service initiatives, including the Mental Health Club and Hope Squad, to promote student well-being and support. Brunton received the Golden Apple Award in 2021 and the Section 1A Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2021 and 2025. Outside of academic work, she enjoys weight lifting, painting, reading, and spending time with her husband, family, friends, and dog.

Karrin Meffert-Nelson teaches clarinet, chamber music, and courses within the music education curriculum. She maintains an active performing career as Principal Clarinetist with the Minnesota Opera Orchestra and performs as a freelance musician with the Minnesota Orchestra, Northrop Ballet Orchestra, and in productions at the State and Orpheum Theaters. She has also performed with the St. Louis Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and has served as guest Principal Clarinet with both the Quad City Symphony and the Minnesota Orchestra.

A founding board member and clarinetist for Minnesota Winds, Meffert-Nelson contributes to the leadership of the professional wind ensemble. An experienced clinician, she regularly adjudicates regional solo and ensemble contests and works with the woodwind sections of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies. Dr. Meffert-Nelson holds a DMA from the University of Minnesota, an MM from Northwestern University, and a BM from St. Olaf College.

Thomas has over 35 years of international professional fundraising experience including 20 years at Gustavus. His career is marked with a successful track record of campaigns for a variety of non-profit organizations throughout the United States as well as overseas.  

The Advancement Office at Gustavus includes responsibility for the annual fund, major gift fundraising as well as alumni and parent engagement. As Vice President, Young led his team through two successful comprehensive campaigns for physical initiatives as well as endowment growth. The campaigns generated over $400 million of documented commitments to the College including the largest commitments in the history of the College.

His position at Gustavus includes responsibility for representing the College in Sweden and has been instrumental in maintaining the College’s relationship with the Nobel Foundation and the Royal Court. He has helped recruit three Board members from Sweden and raised nearly $5 million from Swedish sources.