As the SPU community mourns the loss of our friend and partner, John M. Perkins, SPU Stories reflected on his long association with Seattle Pacific. Read the article.
The John Perkins Center for Reconciliation, Leadership Training, and Community Development was established in 2004 through a partnership between Seattle Pacific University and the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation. Shaped by the vision of John M. Perkins, the Center focused on reconciliation, community development, and faithful service.
Today, the Center no longer functions as a staffed program hub, yet its legacy lives on across campus through ongoing opportunities for learning, dialogue, and community connection — including the annual John Perkins Lecture.
In 2025, SPU reaffirmed its partnership with the Perkins Foundation at the Perkins Legacy Celebration Dinner. During the event, President Deana Porterfield announced the John and Vera Mae Perkins Resource Center in Lower Weter Hall — a dedicated space for students to find opportunities for engagement, leadership training, and to learn more about the values of Christian community development.
Student programs previously associated with the JPC — including Urban Involvement and Learn and Serve (formerly SPRINT and Latreia), as well as the Perkins Lecture Series — are now housed within Student Ministries, alongside Multi-Ethnic Programs and Student Life.