About the Center: Meet the Staff
Tali Hairston
Director of the Perkins Center, Special Assistant to the President
(tali@spu.edu )
Born and raised in the culturally and economically diverse community of the Rainier Valley in South Seattle, Tali Hairston came to SPU in 2001 as assistant director for campus ministries.
Now at the helm of the Perkins Center, he is leading Seattle Pacific in a comprehensive initiative born out of a dream and a partnership between President Philip Eaton and the legendary reconciliation advocate Dr. John Perkins. He wants to see SPU contribute to the reconciliation movement in Seattle and the nation. Read the full story in Response.
Read Tali’s full biography.
Max Hunter
John Perkins Center Teaching Fellow
(huntem1@spu.edu )
Born and raised in Southern California, Max Hunter was an urban youth who had a transformative encounter with Christ. Once in Seattle, he attended and worked at Seattle Central Community College for 10 years. He has served in local churches, and he was a volunteer chaplain in the jail system. He is a recognized scholar at the University of Washington.
He then spent six years at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. While there, he studied in the Graduate School of Arts and Science, the Graduate School of Education, and Harvard Medical School. He has an A.M., Ed.M., and the certificate in bioethics from Harvard Medical School. He also worked in the Boston public school: teaching history to urban students at the Snowden International School, and serving as the secretary and promoter of the Race, Culture, Identity, and Achievement seminar series for the Center for Leadership Development. In 2007, he spent a year as a Wilcox Fellow at Concord Academy in Concord, Massachussets. Just recently, Max joined a pioneering committee of community bioethicists at Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Max joined the Perkins Center staff in 2008. He looks forward to advance the various initiatives of the Perkins Center and SPU's faculty.
When not working, Max and his wife, Risako, explore Seattle with their three small children, rediscovering the diverse food and church offerings that are so plentiful in the Northwest.
Caenisha Warren
Administrative Assistant and SPRINT Budget Manager
(warrec@spu.edu)
Raised in Seattle, Caenisha received a communications degree from the University of Washington. She enjoys travel and adventure, all of which she can find following the Professional Bull Riding circuit. She has also traveled throughout the world, visiting places in Europe and China.
Other areas of interest for her are people, art, and music.
She has worked as co-youth director at Interbay Covenant Church (now merged with Quest Church), utilizing her passion for encouraging young people. This passion has led her away from an earlier banking career and to the John Perkins Center at SPU. While working toward a master’s degree, she says her heart continues to seek personal understanding and development in matters of justice and reconciliation.
Owen Sallee
Coordinator for Urban and Global Involvement
(owen@spu.edu)
Owen is a Seattle Pacific University graduate who says he once naïvely vowed never to live in, or care about, the city. But then he participated in SPU's Urban Involvement program while an undergraduate student in 1995, and Owen eventually began advising the Urban Involvement and Latreia programs at SPU.
Trained under World Vision's Vision Youth Initiative, Owen has been a youth director for Choose Life Youth Ministries in White Center for 12 years, during and following his time as a SPU undergraduate. In 2006, he completed his master’s degree in school counseling at Seattle Pacific.
When he’s not at work, Owen enjoys spending time with his wife, Janiess, doing yard work, or tracking down the latest free Craig’s List treasure. Owen says he hopes to be the unofficial “minister for keepin’ it real” in the John Perkins Center.
Nikkita Oliver
Urban Youth Leadership Academy Program Coordinator
(oliven@spu.edu)
A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Nikkita Oliver moved to Seattle in 2004 to attend Seattle Pacific University. Nikkita graduated Spring 2008 with a B.A. in sociology and a minor in women's studies. During her time as a student, she worked in partnership with students, faculty, and staff as the intercultural director and mosaic advisor to pursue a vision of radical reconciliation.
In response to the Lord's call to incarnational ministry Nikkita, as a student, became an active member and resident of the Rainier Valley where she has served as a youth leader for Rainier Avenue Church and Emerald City Bible Fellowship for four years. Nikkita has worked with youth in the field of education for three years as the program coordinator and director of Mekong Kids through Urban Impact, a Christian community development organization located in the Rainier Valley.
Nikkita was a youth outreach intern for the Urban Youth Leadership Academy (UYLA) Summer 2007, and officially joined the John Perkins Center staff August 2008. She looks forward to being a part of such a dynamic team and furthering UYLA's mission to build communities that build leaders.
Liz Andes
Assistant Coordinator for Global and Urban Involvement
(lizandes@spu.edu)
Born and raised in Santa Cruz, California, Liz Andes moved to Seattle in 2005 to attend Seattle Pacific University. She graduated in June 2009 with a B.A. in Sociology. During her years at SPU, Liz served as a student leader in the John Perkins Center with SPRINT (Seattle Pacific Reach-Out International). After a SPRINT trip to Hyderabad, India in 2007 with the Dalit Freedom Network, Liz held the positions of Education Coordinator and Fundraising Coordinator on SPRINT Core. Liz also participated in the Urban Plunge program and volunteered with Urban Involvement at Sacred Heart Shelter.
Outside of work, Liz can be found exploring one of Seattle’s beautiful parks, holed up in a coffee shop with a good book, or volunteering at New Horizons Ministries, a drop-in center for homeless teens. Liz is honored by the opportunity to work in the John Perkins Center and looks forward to helping students reach their full potential, both emotionally and spiritually.
Perkins Perspective
Read up and sign up for the Perkins Perspective and get the latest news from the Perkins Center at SPU. 
