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Spring 2003 | Volume 26, Number 2 | Campus
From Ecosystems to Administration, Congdon Accepts a New Challenge

ON JULY 1
, Professor of Biology Bruce Congdon shifts his attention from ecosys-tems to his new role as Seattle Pacific University’s dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). He replaces Joyce Quiring Erickson, SPU professor of English for 25 years and dean of CAS since 2000, who retires this spring.

Congdon came to Seattle Pacific in 1985 and began teaching a full range of ecology and biology courses. He has also directed the Blakely Island Field Station, a popular summer biology program based at SPU’s Blakely Island campus in the San Juans. Recently, he was the faculty champion for the University’s new state-of-the-art science building, helping to guide the project from wishful thinking to solid brick.

“We dreamed of a new building, but it seemed so impossible,” says Congdon, adding that the Miller Science Learning Center, which filled the need decades ago, had grown increasingly crowded and prob-lematic. Finally, President Philip Eaton challenged the science faculty to develop a vision for a new facility. Soon Congdon became the faculty representative for the emerging project, working closely with University faculty and facilities staff, architects and builders.

Recently selected as dean after an extensive national search, Congdon will use that same leadership know-how to lead 96 faculty members and 18 different departments in CAS. “Bruce is a highly respected CAS faculty member, a capable administrator and a person with great vision for the all the departments in the College of Arts and Sciences,” says Les Steele, vice president for academic affairs. “He is a person of integrity with the respect of his colleagues.”

With the science building ready to open soon, Congdon says he looks forward to his new leadership role, as well as con-tinued work with students. “My paradigm of undergraduate instruction includes involving students directly in the process of discovery,” he says. “As dean, this is one of the things I want to help facilitate.”

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From the President
Cultivating hope in the face of chaos is vital today. "This is the time for a Christian university to dig down deep into its formative foundations … and decide quite clearly what bread we have to offer,” says President Philip Eaton.

Volumes of Volumes
SPU Library resources will top 22 million items in 2003. Starting this summer, materials can be ordered online from the new “Orca” catalog through the Orbis Cascade Alliance. [Campus]

Homecoming 2003: The Weekend in Photos
From fast-paced hoops to class reunions where former classmates reconnected, Homecoming 2003 was a picture-perfect weekend. See the action here. [Alumni]

The World of Teng Chiu
Seattle’s Frye Museum spotlights an art collection owned by an SPU professor and her husband. Chinese artist Teng Chiu’s work has largely been forgotten, but Joanna Poznanska is helping to reintroduce him to the West. [Faculty]

Playing With Joy
After an incredible season, the unbeaten Falcon women’s basketball team lost the championship game but won the hearts of the Puget Sound fans. [Athletics]

My Response
“The soldier and chaplain are each unique callings fulfilled by those who respond to the call of the nation and to the call of God,” says Chaplain (Major General) Gaylord T. Gunhus, U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains.