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Categories for Alumni Relations

Timothy Pinnow
May 4, 2022

Finlandia University names Tim Pinnow as next president

Finlandia University has elected Tim Pinnow, Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Colorado Mesa University (CMU), as its 17th president following a unanimous vote by the University’s Board of Trustees. He will assume his presidency on July 1, 2022.

The Board’s selection of Finlandia’s President-elect follows a five-month nationwide search led by the University’s Presidential Search Committee, with professional support from the national executive search firm, Academic Search. The committee, chaired by board member Dr. Michael Nakkula, worked extensively with [...]

2022 Commencement
May 4, 2022

Finlandia honors graduating Class of 2022

On Sunday, May 1, Finlandia University held its annual Spring Commencement Ceremony honoring 84 graduates in the Class of 2022. There was standing room only in the Hirvonen Hall Auditorium with more than 700 in attendance.

In his greeting, President Johnson opened with Finlandia’s Land Acknowledgment:

“Finlandia University was founded as Suomi College by Finnish Lutheran immigrants in 1896 on land ceded by the Anishnaabe people in the Treaty of 1842. We seek to honor and respect the sacred and enduring kinship [...]

Hirvonen Hall
March 15, 2022

Finlandia College of Health Sciences announces plans for Towsley Foundation Grant

Since 1998, the Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation has partnered with Finlandia University in providing instrumental funding toward technology and equipment. The Foundation’s most recent expression came as a five-year $220,000 grant to provide a robust, state-of-the-art healthcare education for FinnU College of Health Sciences students at their new facility.

The project started with renovations made to the former Hancock Public Schools building, now named Hirvonen Hall in recognition of the lifetime legacy of leadership and generosity [...]

Frank Eld Finnebago
March 2, 2022

Bridge Feature: Eld delivers archive in ‘Finnebago’

Former Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC) director Jim Kurtti traveled to New England in the fall of 2019 and met with multiple donors who made gracious contributions of Finnish American archives to be preserved and shared with the Archive and Center’s visitors. Until now, the archives were stored in New England before they were able to be transported safely by none other than Frank Eld and his famed ‘Finnebego’. On a journey that started in New England, Eld transported [...]

125th Anniversary video thumbnail
February 2, 2022

Experience the 125th Anniversary

In December, Finlandia welcomed students, faculty and staff along with alumni, friends and family to a series of events in commemoration of the institution’s 125th anniversary. In honor of its Finnish and Lutheran heritage, Finlandia celebrated Finnish Independence Day for the 104th time at the Finnish American Heritage Center following a Sunday worship service at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock.

The anniversary celebrations didn’t stop on Sunday. In the week following, the Finlandia University Gallery held the 31st Annual Contemporary [...]

Participating artists in the 2020 ISAD Alumni Exhibit
January 27, 2022

Gallery announce dates for upcoming exhibit receptions, Feb. 3 & 24

Finlandia University Gallery is hosting two upcoming events on Feb. 3 and 24. Experience the 31st Annual Contemporary Finnish American Artist Series Exhibition live at the Gallery on Thursday, Feb. 3 from 7 to 8 p.m. The free, open to the public reception for the artist Natalie Salminen Rude will be featuring her exhibit, “in·ter·stice: (noun) a small intervening space”.

On Thursday, Feb. 24 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., alumni will discuss their artwork at a live reception of the Internation [...]

Seaton Center Rene Johnson
January 27, 2022

Bridge Feature: Embrace, Expand, Express

THE SEATON CENTER FOR VOCATION & CAREER LAUNCHES FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE

On Thursday, Sept. 23, the Seaton Center for Vocation & Career celebrated its official launch. Faculty, staff, Board of Trustees and community members were welcomed to an event showcasing the newly renovated space in Nikander Hall. At the Center, students can explore their vocational identity, access career services, and take part in a range of new programming. The event also served as an opportunity to express gratitude toward [...]

Finlandia Logo White Background
January 11, 2022

Finlandia Board of Trustees names Presidential Search Committee, national executive search firm

The Finlandia University Board of Trustees has made significant advancements in the search for Finlandia’s next president, announcing the establishment of the Presidential Search Committee and selection of a national executive search firm. The search follows the October announcement of current Finlandia President Philip Johnson, who is to step down after the 2021-22 academic year.

The establishment of the Presidential Search Committee follows approval by the Finlandia University Board of Trustees after an extensive review and deliberation, consisting of members [...]

Hirvonen College of Health Sciences in the winter with clue skies in the background.
January 4, 2022

Campus & Community: Together for Good

It is not taking long at all for the new name to catch on: Hirvonen Hall.

Named for Peg and Ray Hirvonen in recognition of the family’s legacy of extraordinary leadership and generosity, the iconic former Hancock Central High School building now delivers Finlandia’s gold-star accredited health sciences programs. Additional funding for the renovation of interior spaces and state-of-the-art technology was provided by many other friends and alumni whose support is recognized with named classrooms, labs and offices. Two foundations, the [...]

Alumni Board Textbook Justice Library Donation
December 20, 2021

Finlandia Alumni Board donates to student support initiatives

Student support initiatives at Finlandia University provide opportunities for alumni, families and friends to remove barriers and promote academic and spiritual success for all students. These initiatives are characterized by selfless devotion, endless generosity and support.

Raising a record $15,000 for Giving Day 2021, a fundraiser established by the Finlandia Alumni Board (FAB) to raise money for student textbook awards, the FAB realized an opportunity to share this expression with other on-campus student support initiatives. In doing so, the FAB [...]

FinnU will not enroll students for 2023-2024Learn More
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