The Augustana Admission staff looks forward to assisting you in your college search. Contact your admission counselor at their email address (below), email admission@augie.edu, call 800.727.2844, or fax 605.274.5518.

International student inquiries should be directed to Ben Iverson (ben.iverson@augie.edu) or Donn Grinager (donn.grinager@augie.edu).

Transfer students should contact Adam Heinitz (adam.heinitz@augie.edu).

Nancy Davidson
Vice President for Enrollment
nancy.davidson@augie.edu
605.274.5502

Territory/Responsibility: Sioux Falls O'Gorman, southeast South Dakota, Twin Cities area Minnesota, AL, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MS, NC, OH, SC, TN, VA, WI

Nancy attended Hamlin High School in South Dakota and is a business administration & management graduate of Southwest Minnesota State University. She has been on the admission staff since 1990.

Amazing colleagues and Augustana’s great professors and students make this her dream job. In addition to being an Augieholic, she is addicted to chocolate, Coke, and running. Among her most memorable Augustana experiences:  traveling to Germany in 2000 and India in 2008 with Augustana's Distinguished Scholars.

Adam Heinitz
Director of Admission
adam.heinitz@augie.edu
605.274.5529

Territory/Responsibility: Transfer students

Adam attended Brandon Valley (South Dakota) High School and graduated with honors from Augustana in 1999. He taught fifth grade at Lincoln Elementary School in Fargo for one year and joined the staff in 2000. In 2004, he completed an M.A. in educational leadership at the University of Sioux Falls.

Adam and his wife, Sandra '97, are the proud parents of Ella, Maya, and Jake. A former Augustana football player, Adam is a sports enthusiast and especially enjoys watching the Augustana Vikings in action on Saturdays. In his very limited free time, he also likes to hit the road for a run. Augustana has taken Adam many places, including China, Germany, Great Britain, and Ireland.

Melissa Dykstra
Campus Visit Coordinator
melissa.dykstra@augie.edu
605.274.5516

Melissa (Engel) graduated with honors from Augustana in 1991 with majors in English and Communications. She is thrilled to have returned to Augustana and loves welcoming prospective students to her alma mater and setting up their ideal day.

Melissa and her husband, Darin '91, are the proud parents of Matthew and Ellie. Matt is a student at Augustana and will graduate in 2015. Ellie attends Harrisburg Middle School and hopes to "Go Viking" in a few years. Melissa's siblings and in-laws are all proud Augustana graduates.

When not working, Melissa enjoys reading, watching movies at home with her family, and spending time with her other family "members"...a toy poodle and a miniature dachshund. Melissa is originally from Kasson, Minnesota.

Carley McMacken (formerly Roach)
Assistant Director of Admission
carley.mcmacken@augie.edu
605.274.5506

Territory/Responsibility: Northeast South Dakota, Sioux Falls Christian, ND, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY

Carley graduated from Augustana in 2008 with a major in sport management. A native of Brookings, South Dakota, Carley was a standout member of the Viking women's golf team.

When asked to list her hobbies, Carley simply replied, "Target." An avid shopper, Carley is always on the lookout for the best deals. Carley also loves watching sports, particularly the Minnesota Vikings. She continues to compete on the amateur golf circuit in South Dakota.

Kristin Flessland
Assistant Director of Admission
kristin.flessland@augie.edu
605.274.5504

Territory/Responsibility: Greater Minnesota, CT, DC, DE, MA, ME, MD, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, WV, U.S. Students Living Abroad

Kristin graduated from Luther College in 2009 with majors in anthropology and Scandinavian studies. She is originally from Hutchinson, Minnesota. As a student, Kristin studied abroad in Tanzania and Norway.

Most recently, Kristin worked with AmeriCorps and the Admission Possible program. In her spare time, she likes to knit, play her mandolin, read, and spend time with her friends and family. 
 

Amanda Kjelden
Admission Counselor
amanda.kjelden@augie.edu
605.274.5505

Territory/Responsibility: Sioux Falls Roosevelt, IA, AK, AR, CA, HI, LA, MO, OR, WA
 

Amanda graduated from Augustana in 2010 with a major in Sport Management. Prior to finding a home at Augustana, she attended Iowa State University and the University of South Dakota, where she completed a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. She is originally from Hopkins, Minnesota but has lived in South Dakota for seven years.

Amanda previously worked for Sioux Falls Park and Recreation with individuals ranging from toddlers to seniors. In her free time she enjoys watching and playing sports, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. Go Vikings! (Both the Augustana and Minnesota kind.)
 

Kasey Nikkel
Admission Counselor
kasey.nikkel@augie.edu
605.274.5501

Territory/Responsibility: Sioux Falls Washington, western and south central South Dakota
 

Kasey is a Minnesotan who graduated from Tracy Area High School before attending Southwest Minnesota State University.  At SMSU, she majored in studio art and marketing while playing collegiate volleyball.  She was also active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Art Club and was an Admission Ambassador.

From 2009-2012, Kasey served as the assistant volleyball coach and an instructor in HPER at Augustana. She earned a master’s degree in sports administration and leadership from Augustana in 2011.  Her husband, Bryan, is a familiar face at Augustana as he is a baseball coach for the Vikings.  In her spare time, Kasey enjoys eating, doodling, shopping and watching Seinfeld re-runs as well as watching Vikings volleyball and baseball (for obvious reasons).
 

Isaac Krueger
Admission Counselor
isaac.krueger@augie.edu
605.274.5519

Territory/Responsibility: Sioux Falls Lincoln, Brandon Valley, CO, NE, AZ, KS, NM, OK, TX
 

Isaac graduated with honors from Augustana in 2012 with a major in Business Administration and an emphasis in Marketing. He is a native of Sioux Falls and a Lincoln High alumnus.

While attending Augustana, Isaac was a one-year starter on the tennis team and was a member of the Augustana Band. He also helped start Augustana's Dance Marathon group and is an avid Augieholic. In his spare time he likes to attend Augustana athletic events and do anything that involves being outdoors.
 

Ben Iverson
Director of International Admission and Advising
ben.iverson@augie.edu
605.274.5250

Territory/Responsibility: International Students

Ben, a native of Willmar, Minnesota, graduated from Augustana College in 2004 with majors in international studies and Spanish. Ben was a pitcher on the Vikings baseball team and spent a semester studying in Spain. After graduation he worked as an international coordinator at Bodoe University College (now Nordland University) in Norway. He joined the admission staff at Augustana in 2005. Ben had the opportunity to lead the Distinguished Scholars International Travel Experience in Greece with Dr. David O'Hara and Dr. Jeff Johnson in 2009. Ben's travels have also taken him to Nicaragua.

This adventure seeker now travels regularly to Latin America, Africa, and Asia to meet with prospective students. The countries he visits most often are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Hong Kong, Mexico and Vietnam. Among the many cultural topics (Minnesota culture, that is) to discuss with Ben are Minnesota Twins baseball, hunting, and the outdoors.