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Lisa Heldke teaches in the philosophy department and the gender, women and sexuality studies program, of which she was a founding faculty member. Among her favorite courses to teach are modern philosophy (which, believe it or not, focuses on the eighteenth century); aesthetics; and gender, knowledge and reality. But her real passion is the philosophy of food, which she holds in the teaching kitchen of the Nobel Hall of Science, where students can cook together each week.

The philosophy of food is not only a teaching passion, it has also been a focus of much of her service work on campus. She is the co-founder of the Kitchen Cabinet, an advisory committee to the Gustavus Dining Service that works to enhance the ways it serves the mission of the College. The committee includes representation from all the campus constituencies, including students.

Food is also the focus of Heldke’s scholarly research; she is one of the first contemporary philosophers to treat food as a serious philosophical topic. She is the author or editor of a number of books in the field, including Philosophers at Table: On Food and Being Human; Exotic Appetites: Ruminations of a Food Adventurer; Cooking, Eating Thinking: Transformative Philosophies of Food; and (most recently) Parasitic Personhood and the Ontology of Eating. Her research has led to her being invited to teach each year in a master’s program at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy, a kind of “liberal arts college of food” founded by the Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini. Her scholarly work has also garnered her awards from the Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society and the John Dewey Society.

For ten years, she served as director of Gustavus’s Nobel Conference, a role she described as being the “chief learner” for this science-and-ethics extravaganza which is a highlight of the Gustavus academic year, and has brought more than 100 Nobel laureates to campus.

Her newest book project bears the working title “Yurtitude is Experience”; it’s a philosophical exploration of her summertime life in a yurt on the coast of Maine where she lives (mostly) off the grid with her Siberian husky, writing, baking bread in a wood-fired brick oven, and kayaking and sailing in Eggemoggin Reach. Winter finds her and her husky skijoring in the Gustavus Arboretum whenever the snow cover allows. 
 

Learn more about Gustavus Dining Service, like the Kitchen Cabinet, dietitian consultations, and food allergen information.

Gustavus offers several ways for partners to engage with its students, including internships, part-time jobs, and research. Contact us for more details.

Gustavus Magazine – Gustavus Adolphus College Digital Publication
The official digital magazine and storytelling platform of Gustavus Adolphus College, produced by the Office of Marketing and Communication in partnership with Alumni and Parent Engagement. Historically called the Gustavus Quarterly because it was mailed four times a year, now you can get your Gustavus news online any time.

Gusties get involved with 100-plus clubs and organizations, small classes, and supportive mentors—plus time built in to explore passions beyond the classroom.

The Wind Studies program at Gustavus is a dynamic and creative program centered on the core ideals of the liberal arts. The Wind Studies program features a wide variety of ensembles with varying levels of time commitment and styles of repertoire. Our two large ensembles are the storied Gustavus Wind Orchestra, a flexible wind ensemble, and the Gustavus Wind Symphony, a traditional large symphonic wind ensemble.

At Gustavus, learning happens through both deep study and wide exposure. That's why we give our students more choices—from a large selection of majors to dedicated time for non-classroom study, be it athletics, art, research, and beyond. By merging classroom learning with hands-on education and real-world wisdom in one curriculum, we turn passionate students into confident leaders.

Peg O’Connor is the author of the forthcoming book on addiction and recovery titled, Recovering Character: Knowing How to Belong to Yourself. She is the author of three other books on addiction including Higher and Friendly Powers: Transforming Addiction and Suffering (Wildhouse Publishing, 2022), Life on the Rocks: Finding Meaning in Addiction and Recovery (Central Recovery Press, 2016), and The SoberPhilosopher Workbook for Exploring Addiction and Creating Recovery (Wildhouse Publishing, 2023). 

O’Connor is the author of the popular blog series, Philosophy Stirred, Not Shaken. The title of the series is a wink and nod to martinis. She has written opinion pieces for The New York Times, The Minnesota Star Tribune, USA Today, The Daily Herald, and Dallas Morning Herald. O’Connor has appeared on numerous television, radio, and podcast programs and has been quoted as an expert in publications ranging from The New York Times to Cosmo.

The Theatre and Dance Department produces four main stage plays, two dance concerts, and a variable number of student-directed plays and senior projects each year. For most productions, roughly half of the student participants are majors or minors. Dance students may audition for the Gustavus Dance Company and the Apprentice Company as well as for the two dance concerts. Main stage shows represent a variety of styles and time periods and are intended to entertain and challenge. In alternating years, the Department produces a major musical.

Mr. Tengwall is a visiting professor in the Department of Business & Economics, where he engages students on a range of topics including Management & Leadership, Business Models & Growth Strategy, Sales & Marketing, and Supply Chain/Operations Management. He also serves on the Boards of two companies and provides management consulting services to a range of businesses.

Previously, Mr. Tengwall had a 12-year career with the Marmon Group, a Berkshire Hathaway Company. During this time he was President of EcoWater Systems LLC (2019 – 2024), a leading North American manufacturer and marketer of residential and light commercial water softening and filtration systems. Prior to that, he was president of Marmon Food & Beverage Solutions Group (2013 – 2019), which was comprised of two different businesses, Marmon Link and Marmon Renew. Marmon Link (previous dba 3Wire Group Inc) is a provider of parts, training and service for foodservice and beverage dispensing equipment. Marmon Renew is a re-manufacturer of commercial beverage dispensing and related foodservice equipment.

Prior to his executive leadership roles with Marmon/Berkshire Hathaway, he had a 17-year career with Ecolab (NYSE: ECL). There he held several progressively more responsible leadership roles in the Institutional and Food & Beverage operating divisions. He led the marketing function for both business segments and engaged in multiple acquisitions as part of the overall business growth strategy.

Mr. Tengwall began his career as a microbiologist in the Sterilization Technology & Process Control Validation group at The Upjohn Company (now Pfizer). He then pivoted into marketing and business development roles with IMI Cornelius Inc., a subsidiary (at the time) of IMI plc.

Aaron was born and raised in St. Charles Minnesota, a small town between Winona and Rochester. He attended St. Mary's University in Winona Minnesota where he met his wife, Amanda. After St. Mary's he took some time off before enrolling in classes at the University of Minnesota. Aaron began working at Gustavus in 2007.

He has three children and enjoys listening to baseball games, reading a books, riding bike, putting puzzles together, and coaching soccer.

Since 2003, Kiki Harbitz has taught courses in the department of Biology, as well as the department of Health and Exercise Science. She specializes in anatomy and physiology, evolutionary biology, and animal behavior. She enjoys teaching students about their own bodies and helping them build upon the skills necessary to advocate for themselves and others in medical settings and situations. She spends her free time with family and friends, with pets (and foster dogs), gardening/landscaping, making art, being active, storm chasing, doing photography, and enjoying nature.