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We help Gustie students of all academic backgrounds identify ideas, projects, and processes that could be converted into value-creating enterprises. Through opportunities such as the Gustie Tank and the Seed Money grants, students conduct small scale experiments and collect feedback on their ideas. Students can also enter the Gustie Entrepreneur Cup, and form connections with our extensive network of alumni.

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.

Find event support, room reservations, games, equipment, Gus Bus shuttle info, and more at the Campus Activities Office and Info Desk—home of the Gus mascot too!

Dr. Laura D. Triplett began her Gustavus career in 2008 with a faculty appointment in geology. Now established in the department of Environment, Geography and Earth Sciences, she teaches courses related to earth surface processes, environmental geochemistry, hydrogeology and climate change. She has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications on topics as varied as reconstructing past water quality conditions in lakes and rivers, quantifying impacts of invasive species on freshwater geochemical cycling, and creating state-wide landslide susceptibility maps. In all her research, Dr. Triplett seeks out collaborations with community stakeholders. And, Dr. Triplett has involved Gustavus students in almost all aspects of her research program from designing preliminary studies, to executing major multi-year projects funded by external foundations and government agencies, to presenting findings at national scientific conferences.

Major/minor in Classical Languages (Greek and Latin) and you connect to an ancient, vibrant legacy relevant to today's world. It's language, and its history, culture, and literature, too. Check out sample courses and explore careers here. 

Nicolas teaches beginning and intermediate levels ceramics courses as well as sculptural foundations and design. Other responsibilities include managing the Studios and Department Programs. He was a two-year Resident Artist at the Archie Bray Foundation. He has exhibited regionally and nationally in small group and solo exhibitions at venues including Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Carnegie Art Center, Phipps Center for the Arts, Modlin Center for the Arts, and Mulvane Art Museum. Nicolas has recently received a McKnight Artist Fellowship and a Minnesota State Arts Board, Artist Initiative Grant.

Nicolas uses clay and press-molded multiples to build sculptural accumulations which investigate the confluence of society, geography, and memory. Regarding clay and the ceramic process, he reflects “…a material which is both intimately connected to our humanity and can be made to take any form, a companion to society, I feel it owns a historicity like almost no other.”

Dr. Kate Knutson began her Gustavus career in the Political Science department in 2005. Kate's areas of focus are U.S. politics and public policy, and she teaches courses on public policy, interest groups, Congress, women and politics, and child welfare policy. She is the recipient of the Edgar M. Carlson Award for Distinguished Teaching (2020) and the Swenson-Bunn Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence (2024). Kate’s research focuses on the role of advocacy groups in the creation of public policy. She is author of "Interfaith Advocacy: The Role of Religious Coalitions in Political Process" and a textbook, "An Introduction to U.S. Public Policy: Theory and Practice." Kate serves as the faculty advisor to Pi Sigma Alpha (the political science honor society), Building Bridges, and Proclaim.  Outside of Gustavus, Kate volunteers with Seeds of Hope, a faith-based summer camp for kids from southern Minnesota who are served by the social services system.

Toshiyuki Sakuragi is a professor of Japanese language and culture whose expertise draws from intercultural communication and cognitive linguistics. His research examines cultural influences on communication and language learning, addressing topics such as the relationship between attitudes toward language study and cross-cultural attitudes, the cognitive processes underlying classifier choice, and cultural influences on shyness. His research articles have appeared in journals such as the Journal of Psycholinguistic Research and the International Journal of Intercultural Relations.

Among his Japanese-language publications are two books. His single-authored book, 映画で異文化体験 (Experiencing Cultures Through Film), explores the use of film to promote intercultural learning. His co-authored college textbook, はじめて学ぶ異文化コミュニケーション (Introduction to Intercultural Communication), has been widely adopted in Japan and has gone through multiple printings.

Professor Sakuragi teaches Japanese language as well as courses on Japanese cinema and intercultural film. He has also led numerous travel courses to Japan and has taught in the Summer and Winter Japanese Language and Culture Program at Hosei University in Tokyo.

The process for moving into your campus housing room.

The process for moving out of your campus housing room.