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The Music Department at Gustavus Adolphus College has announced the winners of the 2024 Concerto/Aria competition.

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. 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.

Laura Burrack is a Professor of Biology. Her area of expertise is in microbiology and molecular genetics. Professor Burrack has an active research program at Gustavus with undergraduates that focuses on better understanding how fungal pathogens, such as Candida albicans, an organism that causes infections in humans like thrush and candidemia, evolve resistance and tolerance to antifungal drugs. 

Professor Burrack has contributed to eighteen peer-reviewed scientific papers and has co-authored multiple research papers with Gustavus students. She recently won the Janet Anderson Award from the Midstates Consortium for Math and Sciences for her work mentoring students in undergraduate research. 

She teaches classes in the Biology department such as Cellular and Molecular Biology, Microbiology, and Cancer Biology. She was the Program Director for the Challenge Seminar Program from 2022—2025 and is currently the Chair of the Biology Department. 

When not in the classroom or the lab, Professor Burrack enjoys experimenting in the kitchen with cooking and baking.  

Laura Burrack CV