Reflections of a Scholar-Administrator in a World of Extremes

Place Matters

Abstract

This reflective essay draws on nearly two decades of leadership and practice at the Augsburg Health Commons in Minneapolis, exploring how place-based engagement can foster knowledge development and institutional commitments. The model of care that grounds the Health Commons, rooted in hospitality and accompaniment, is described, along with reflections on how these experiences shape students and faculty. A critical reflection of lessons learned as a scholar-administrator working in the hyperlocal community is also shared.  The essay further interrogates the tensions of community engagement in times of crisis, ultimately arguing that universities can serve as an antidote to divisions and discussing the role of the scholar-administrator in advancing the public purpose of higher education.