The College of Education and Human Development held its annual Dean’s Distinguished Alumni Awards event Thursday, Nov. 29. Among those honored by Dean Jean Quam was Sharon (Grossbach) Augenstein, a 1979 Family Social Science (then Home Economics) master’s alumna for her pioneering work as a woman in higher education. Interim Department Head of Family Social Science, Jodi Dworkin, represented FSoS at the event. (Click on any of the photos below to launch a slide show).

She served as president of Hennepin Technical College 1995 to 2005, providing leadership for the technical college system in a time of change. HTC recognized her with President Emeritus designation upon retirement.

Augenstein and her husband, Vince, retired to the Seattle area where she currently chairs the board of the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank. An active volunteer, she has also served the North Bend Senior Center, The Boeing Classic and Lake Washington Institute of Technology, among others.

Established in 2010, the College of Education and Human Development Distinguished Alumni Award honors alumni who have brought distinction to their professions and communities. Learn more.