Congratulations to John Boonenberg (Faculty of the Month) and Anne Shinn (Staff of the Month)!
Each month, Concordia University Ann Arbor students are given the opportunity to nominate an outstanding faculty and staff member to receive this recognition. The awards took a break for January so our first nominees of the year are Dr. John Boonenberg, assistant professor of music, and Anne Shinn, undergraduate admissions counselor.
Learn more about them below!
Faculty of the month: John Boonenberg
“Our mission is so special because it keeps Christ at the center of our life together. To be able to live that out daily with our students is such a privilege, and it gives meaning and energy to our core values of helping students grow in mind, body, and spirit.”
What is your role at Concordia?
Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Church Music & Worship Arts & University Organist
When did you join CUAA’s faculty?
I joined Concordia’s faculty in fall of 2017.
In summary, how would you describe your role at Concordia?
I oversee all the chapel music ensembles, teach classes in the music department, teach organ lessons, and conduct the Concordia Choir and Arborsong.
What’s your favorite part about your role?
My favorite part of my role at Concordia is using God’s gift of music to teach, inspire, and unite our students and community.
Why is Concordia’s mission important to you?
Our mission is so special because it keeps Christ at the center of our life together. To be able to live that out daily with our students is such a privilege, and it gives meaning and energy to our core values of helping students grow in mind, body, and spirit.
Read the nominations from CUAA students:
John has taken the music department and has done so much to grow it in only a few months and very last minute with loosing a faculty member. I can’t think of another faculty member that deserves this more.
John has done so much for the music department over the last few and has really stepped up in our time of need. He really deserves all the appreciation.
John has gone above and beyond to make my experience here at Concordia nothing but the best. He has worked so hard to get Worship Arts to where it is today, and truly cares for all those involved.
John took over choir this semester and is making it such a fun and rewarding experience. It’s amazing what we were able to do under his direction for Musical Arts Day.
This semester, John took on teaching a lot of extra classes and took on many new responsibilities, on top of his work at St. Paul Ann Arbor and spending time with his family. This month, he spent two weekends in a row working like crazy for both Worship Arts Day and Musical Arts Day. He’s such a trooper and an amazing professor and program director in the midst of it all!
John pushes us to be better without being harsh, and encourages us!!
John has taken on so many roles it’s getting hard to name everything he does. He’s shown great leadership and dedication to every single one of his students and is constantly here after hours to make sure that the music department runs as well as it does.
John encourages us all and pushes us to do our best. He is a hard worker who pours into anyone. He sees the potential in everyone.
John is a passionate individual who keeps the best interest of his students in mind while pushing them to reach their full potential.
Staff of the Month: Anne Shinn
“When people are developed in body mind, and spirit, we are better equipped to go serve Christ and the Church in our world- which is so desperately needed in the world today.”
What is your role at Concordia?
Undergraduate Admissions Counselor with a focus in southeast Michigan and all Lutheran High Schools
When did you join CUAA’s staff?
I joined CUAA in September 2021
In summary, how would you describe your role at Concordia?
My role is to communicate with prospective students and their families. I answer questions they have about becoming a student here, show them around campus, connect them with faculty and coaches, and walk with them through the application and admissions process.
What’s your favorite part about your role?
My favorite part of my role is meeting with prospective students and their families, getting to know them, and hearing about their interests and plans for the future. I love sharing with them how Concordia is a community where they can achieve their goals and painting a picture of their future here at CUAA and beyond. I also appreciate that I get to interact with so many different people in their various roles on campus.
Why is Concordia’s mission important to you?
It is important to me because I truly believe in it. When people are developed in body mind, and spirit, we are better equipped to go serve Christ and the Church in our world- which is so desperately needed in the world today.
Read Anne’s nominations from CUAA students:
Anne has been amazing with tackling the influx in visits over the past few weeks! She has shown exceptional characteristic of being a hard working and providing support for the prospective students through our Admissions Office.
Anne goes above and beyond her job description.
Anne has been having high visit volume over the last month. Being the hard worker that she is, she has handled this influx exceptionally well while also receiving great feedback from families!
Anne has been going above and beyond for visit days and the potential students she comes in contact with even if they aren’t her assigned student.
Anne has amazing energy and work ethic. She successfully deals with all of our Lutheran students from an admissions side and does an exceptional job at it!
In case you missed it, check out the February 2021 Faculty and Staff of the month!
— Meg Hewitt is the Marketing Strategist for Concordia University Ann Arbor. She may be reached at megan.hewitt@cuaa.edu.
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