The Edgar M. Carlson Award for Innovative Teaching was established by the Board of Trustees of Gustavus Adolphus College to honor the long and outstanding period of leadership that Dr. Carlson gave this college. Each year the award is given to a member of the faculty in recognition of outstanding teaching on this campus. The Carlson Award is made possible by an annual grant of $1,500 from a former member of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Arnold J. Ryden. This year, the award goes to Professor Arne Langsjoen of the Chemistry Department.
In a special way, Arne Langsjoen belongs to Gustavus. He grew up in Saint Peter as a “faculty kid”. Both Arne and his wife Carol graduated from Gustavus in 1942. A chemistry major, Arne continued his education at the State University of Iowa, receiving the Master of Arts degree in 1943. Following service in the United States Army, Arne returned to the University of Iowa where he received the Ph.D. in chemistry in 1948.
Arne and Carol returned to Saint Peter in 1948 and Arne joined his father, the beloved Professor N.P. Langsjoen, as a member of the Gustavus faculty. He has continued to serve this college with distinction for the past 29 years.
At this point, I am tempted to recount Arne’s many accomplishments as a chemist, author and researcher as well as his countless contributions as a leader in his profession, in his community and in his church. However, we honor Arne Langsjoen today specifically as a builder of a tradition of excellence and as an outstanding classroom teacher.
The quality of education at Gustavus today, especially in the natural sciences, is in considerable measure a monument to Arne Langsjoen and a small group of colleagues with whom he has worked over the years. He was chairman of the Department of Chemistry at the time it received accreditation from the American Chemical Society. He was instrumental in the planning of the Nobel Hall of Science. He was one of the primary authors of a proposal to the Research Corporation which, in 1966, resulted in the first major grant to be received by Gustavus for program and staff development in the sciences. This recognition and endorsement by a major national foundation was a turning point for the college and opened up a continuing line of support from other private sources as well as such government agencies as the National Science Foundation.
Finally, we come to Arne Langsjoen the teacher. By his own admission, Arne’s primary teaching strategies involve three things – a blackboard, chalk and patience. Is this the foundation on which one builds a reputation as an excellent and innovative teacher? It is indeed. Let me share two brief comments – one from a current student and the other from a longtime colleague.
The student says, “How is Dr. Langsjoen innovative? He is innovative in his attitude. He really cares about each one of us, and we know it! He brings experience, understanding and compassion to the classroom. He inspires the talented, encourages the unmotivated and urges us all on to our best effort.”
The colleague writes, “No doubt some student sometime has said something uncomplimentary about Arne, but I have never heard it. All I have encountered has been the deepest appreciation for his skill as a teacher, his unstinting efforts to have students achieve their very best and an over riding concern for their welfare.”
Arne – you have honored us as our professor and colleague. It is with pleasure that we present to you the Edgar M. Carlson Award for 1977.
Presented by John S. Kendall
Professor of Psychology
1973 Recipient of the Edgar M. Carlson Award
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