Footnotes: News
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1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s
1960s
LOIS PETRIE SKANSE ’61, daughter of a Presbyterian minister, is a religion teacher at St. John’s School in Guam. In her 34th year of teaching, the music major helps lead the chapel music for the school and the music program at her church, and sings in the Guam Symphonic Chorale and Cantate. Lois also directs the handbell choir at St. John’s, an international college preparatory school for preschool through 12th grade. In teaching religion to the lower grades (in which about half the students are Christian), she also wrote the curriculum. Lois earned her MEd at the University of Portland in 1989. She now lives in Tamuning, Guam.
1970s
Physicist and Educator
Medallion honorees known for teaching, service
An award-winning physicist, Philip Marston ’70 has made contributions to the understanding of physics that have been called ground-breaking. As a Christ-centered educator, Trude Marston ’71 has impacted countless young minds and hearts. Together, the couple, who have continued to support SPU and stay connected to campus, was honored with SPU’s Medallion Award at Homecoming 2016.
It is one thing to understand the laws of physics, another to teach them, and quite another to harness them for the good of the nation. Philip has done all three. Besides a long and distinguished career as professor of physics at Washington State University, in 2003 he received the silver medal in physical acoustics from the Acoustical Society of America. At the awards ceremony, he was cited as being a “renaissance scientist, using experimental and theoretical techniques to uncover fundamental physical processes.” His experiments have been performed on NASA space shuttles and reduced-gravity flights in Houston and in Cleveland, Ohio. Much of his research has been funded by grants from NASA and the Office of Naval Research.
Trude Marston has made her mark on the young lives of students in grades 4, 6, and at the high school level. She has taught for more than two decades at Logos School in Moscow, Idaho, including classes in Bible, literature, and various electives. An active member of Pullman Evangelical Free Church, Trude has taught Sunday school for women and college students for more than 15 years. She also likes to host Asian students in the Marston home, students who spent their high school years at Logos and then stayed in the U.S. for college. Today, she receives letters from students all around the globe.
CLINT KELLY & BETH DOUGLASSRICHARD “RICK” ROOD ’72 is a hospital chaplain with the Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association and author of Our Story … His Story (Xulon Press, 2015). The book tells of the ways in which God carried Rick and his wife, Polly, through her 19-year struggle with Huntington’s disease. It illustrates how God works in the lives of his people in and through affliction. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, Rick cared for Polly at home until she required nursing home care. She died in 2003. Rick lives with his second wife, Li Lin, in the Dallas area.
ROBIN RUBBO-SCRANTON ’72 is retired after 43 years in various clinical and administrative positions with the U.S. Navy – Military Health System. Her contribution includes both active duty military and civil service. Robin received an MSA in health care administration in 2004, and has been a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality since 1994. She lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
DEB CARSTON ZENER ’75 is the Director of Business Strategies for AuDConnex, a collaborative hearing health care buying group. Additionally, she is the Owner and President of Carston, Beck and West, a consultative coaching organization. She has more than three decades of experience working with Fortune 500 companies, and is an alumna of Harvard Business School. She lives in Reno, Nevada.
MARK THOMPSON ’78, the managing director, head of consumer and retail, for Mizuho Bank, is also a member of the School of Business, Government, and Economics Executive Advisory Board. He has prior management experience with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, the Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan, and Transamerica Commercial Finance Corporation. Mark lives in Dyer, Indiana.
Supporter of Students
Corporate leader honored with Medallion Award
Thom Kroon ’72 was honored with SPU’s Medallion Award at this year’s Homecoming celebration for his leadership and
his dedication to helping students make their dreams of higher education a reality.
A military veteran and retired captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Thom also knows more than a little about discipline when it comes to business. The former CEO of the manufacturing firm of Thomas James International, he also has part or majority ownership in a Texas firm that recycles boats and ships, and a California firm that recycles airplanes.
When it comes to community service, the Kroons have gone the extra mile through Thom and Gwen’s family foundation. Their special passion is the fight against muscular sclerosis, helping develop one chapter’s major giving program, build the success of the Dinner of Champions, and draw others to the cause. Thom is a past trustee of the Greater Washington Chapter and with his wife, received the 2009 MS Hope Award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Thom believes that independent colleges and universities are vital to the community and worthy of outside support. He aligns with Seattle Pacific’s commitment to principles and ethics as foundational to a thriving culture. The Kroon foundation provides approximately a dozen SPU students with scholarships each year, and Thom actively supports the University’s Center for Integrity in Business and the annual Downtown Business Breakfast.
CLINT KELLY & BETH DOUGLASS
1980s
STEVEN HALL ’80 and his wife, BARBARA JOHNSON HALL ’80, walked for 32 days last September and October to complete the 500-mile pilgrimage walk of Camino de Santiago in Spain. The pilgrimage to the tomb of St. James the Great in the Cathedral de Compostela, the site where legend says the remains of Jesus’ disciple St. James are located, has been undertaken by thousands of Christian pilgrims for well over 1,000 years. During medieval times, it was one of the three most important Christian pilgrimages, in addition to those to Rome and Jerusalem. The Hall family is a multigenerational SPU family which includes their daughter, HANNAH HALL ’15. Steven and Barbara live in Seattle.
NANCY LUDEMAN LURKER ’80 serves on the national board of Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Her career began as a sales representative for Bristol Myers Squibb, before she became senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. From there, the biology and chemistry major served as president, CEO, and board director for PDI, a commercial services company in biopharmaceuticals. Nancy holds an MBA from the University of Evansville and lives in Peapack, New Jersey.
ROBERT MOORE-JUMONVILLE ’80 is professor of Christian spirituality at Spring Arbor University. He holds a master’s degree in divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a doctorate in the history of Christianity from the University of Iowa. An elder in the United Methodist Church, he has served for 17 years as senior pastor for three churches (in Illinois, Indiana, and now Pope United Methodist Church in Michigan). His wife, KIMBERLY MOORE ’81 teaches at Spring Arbor University as chair of the English Department and their daughter ANNESLEY is a sophomore at Seattle Pacific University in the University Scholars program. Robert and Kimberly live in Spring Arbor, Michigan.
1990s
VIRGINIA SAUERBRUN EVERETT ’90 is a retired licensed counselor who worked in the Public Health Department for Seattle and King County. She is listed in Who’s Who of American Women for her work with high-risk pregnant women. Virginia lives in Sarasota, Florida.
JILL JURRIES ’96, an Idaho attorney specializing in family law, child custody, and mediation, was appointed in December to the state’s Ada County bench, where she handles cases in family law. The political science major holds a law degree from the Pepperdine School of Law. Jill, who formerly served as a deputy prosecuting attorney and as a criminal investigator with the U.S. Secret Service, lives in Boise, Idaho.
HUSSAIN AL MAHMOUDI ’97 is currently the chief executive officer of American University of Sharjah Enterprises (AUS Enterprises), the commercial company of AUS. Previously he held the position of director general of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the United Arab Emirates. His experience includes corporate communications manager for the Emirates National Oil Company and director of marketing for Dubai Internet City. Hussain has also held several positions involving the exploration and development of gas, power, and markets within The Royal Dutch Shell Group. The winner of a 2013 Middle East CEO Award, Hussain lives in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
BRET OLSON ’99 is a broker with Velocity Retail Group. A former congressional aide, he has many years of experience in commercial real estate. He lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.
2000s
Madrazo Memorial Park
New park pays homage to SPU vet
A five-acre public park slated for construction this year in Bothell, Washington, will honor one of Seattle Pacific University’s outstanding graduates and a military veteran killed in action.
According to Bothell Parks and Recreation Director John Keates, the 1st Lt. Nicholas Madrazo Memorial Park will feature a multi-use sports field, two tennis courts, a basketball court, and a picnic shelter. Growing up in Bothell and an avid soccer player, Nicholas Madrazo ’05 took frequent advantage of the sports facilities in Bothell parks.
Madrazo was killed in 2008 by a roadside bomb while on patrol in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marines. The $1.2 million memorial park will incorporate a memorial to him in its design.
“The park is a fitting tribute to an outstanding individual and a true American hero,” says Jim Rand. The chair of the SPU Veterans Cadre and an executive in residence in the School of Business, Government, and Economics, Rand had Madrazo in his Management Operations course. “His academic ability was grounded in a sharp intellect and an excellent moral character.”
Firefighter and Marine veteran Hugh Moag led the park effort and approached the Bothell city council with the idea. Madrazo’s father, Joel, says his son wanted to do his duty to the country through military service. “He could have easily left SPU and worked,” Joel told the Bothell Reporter. “He didn’t have to choose (the enlistment) route.”
Rand is not surprised Nick made the choice he did. “He was proud to serve his country ... and loved a fastpaced environment.” The park, Rand adds, “will play a key role in keeping his spirit alive.” CLINT KELLY
MARCUS SHELTON ’00 is a tenor who sings opera, both dramatic (Daughter of the Regiment) and comedic (Midsummer Night’s Dream). He has been featured with a number of international companies, such as the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra and the Greek National Opera, as well as with Pacific Northwest companies, including Portland Opera, Seattle Opera, and Spokane Opera. Last fall, he performed at the Museum of Flight’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, accompanied on piano by music legend and record producer David Foster. A regular National Anthem singer for the Seattle Mariners and the Seattle Seahawks, Marcus lives in Seattle.
KATIE LOCKARD ’01 is coordinator of the Reedsport Main Street Program, helping revitalize the coastal town of Reedsport, Oregon, by strengthening the economy; improving the city’s aesthetics; preserving and promoting the town’s history; and fostering local pride and participation. Katie, a Reedsport native and SPU biology major, graduated in 2015 from the University of Oxford with a second bachelor’s degree in classics and English. She says the Main Street Program is her way of giving back to her hometown. Katie lives in Reedsport.
RYAN JABLONSKI ’04 is an assistant professor in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is a graduate of the SPU Political Science Department and former debate-team member. He specializes in the political economy of development, with much of his research focused on the politics of foreign aid and service delivery. Other areas of research interest include the politics of electoral violence, transnational crime, maritime piracy, and the political approach to patronage, or clientelism. His research has been published in a number of periodicals including World Politics, Journal of Conflict Resolution, and the British Journal of Political Science. Ryan lives in Surrey, England.
MICHELLE MOONS ’05 is a political writer and journalist for Breitbart News, a conservative news website. She has appeared as a political commentator for national television and radio including the Breitbart News Daily program on SiriusXM 125. In recent years, she operated her own business Michelle D. Moons Financial which has provided treasury services for political campaigns from the federal down to the local level. She has participated in mission trips from building homes in Mexico to aiding victims of Hurricane Katrina. Drawing on her experience in both public and private accounting and journalism, she is one of a team of authors who contributed to the book, Taxifornia 2016: 14 Essays on the Future of California (Landslide Communications Inc., 2015). Michelle lives in Carlsbad, California.
NATHANAEL VLACHOS ’05 is a Rice University doctoral candidate in anthropology and a full-time visiting assistant professor for spring semester 2016 at Wheaton College. He teaches Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Ethnographic Methods, Ethnographic Writing, and a class of his own design called Anthropology of South Africa: Race, Religion, and Ethics. Nathanael lives in Houston, Texas.
MELISSA POWELL KEENER ’06 is a registered dietitian and specialty sales representative with Allergan Pharmaceuticals. She and her husband, Andy, honeymooned in Bali and live in Seattle.
KIM GORSLINE ’08 owns Kimberlee Marie Interior Design, an interior design firm. Hers was a step of faith that set off a chain of exciting projects that grew her reputation, including the interior design of the home of a national sports figure, a feature about her on Zillow’s design blog, and the modern design for a home on Seattle’s tony Mercer Island that was photographed for Luxe Interiors & Design Magazine. As a result of being featured in Luxe last fall Kim was added to their 2016 Gold List of Designers and name one of HGTV’s “fresh faces of design.” Kim lives with her husband, TYLER GORSLINE ’08, a church pastor, in Seattle.
BRITTALISA GESS ’08 holds a bachelor’s degree in Islamic studies and sociology from SPU. She received a law degree from Hamline University School of Law and joined the Washington State Bar in 2014. Her husband, Douglas, has a bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish. They live in Seattle.
BRITT CARLSON ’09 is interim pastor at Community Church of Issaquah in Issaquah, Washington. She holds a master’s degree in divinity from Duke Divinity School, where she served as a pastoral intern at Palmyra United Methodist Church in North Carolina, and at La Iglesia Metodista El Shaddai in El Salvador. She also spent two years in Dallas, Texas, as a part of Wilshire Baptist Church’s pastoral residency program for young clergy. Britt lives in Carnation, Washington.
SARAH BARTON ’09 is a doctoral student at Duke Divinity School and a practicing pediatric occupational therapist. Last year, she was named a Doctoral Fellow by The Louisville Institute. Sarah lives with her husband, Andrew Phillips, in Durham, North Carolina.
2010s
KAREN SOINE, EDD ’11, is Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction in the Renton School District. The former elementary school teacher and instructional facilitator oversees teacher professional learning, as well as numerous K–12 content areas. She was also an instructor in SPU’s graduate teacher education programs. Karen lives in Seattle.
ANGELA FERRARA ’13 is the youth program director at the faith-based non profit Turning Point. She directs a free after-school tutoring program for low-income families and at-risk youth. Her community members set the agenda according to their needs and Angela and her team respond with resources. Among the offerings are a summer day camp and a community giving garden. Angela lives in Seattle.
KAILEE “KAI” TINDALL ’14, MA ’15 is a kindergarten teacher at Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary School in Woodinville, Washington. The daughter of long-time Falcon gymnastics coach, LAUREL ANDERSON TINDALL ’75, Kai is a former champion Falcon gymnast, actress, and sometime circus performer. In 2015, she combined all three as part of The Cabiri troupe and their show “EZID: Part 2 of the TEA Trilogy,” based on the culture of the Kurdish people and performed at the Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center. The show was one part play, one part Cirque du Soleil, including aerial work – not unlike a demanding day in the classroom. Kai lives in Brier, Washington.
CHELSEY ARMSTRONG ’14 is program assistant for the research, education, and advocacy program, as well as the refugee and immigrant program at The Advocates for Human Rights in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While serving as an intern at World Relief Seattle, she assisted in the refugee resettlement process. Her travels have taken her to Spain and Morocco to study Islamic feminism and the Arab Spring. She recently completed a year of service with AmeriCorps at King County Housing Authority. She lives in Minneapolis.
ALAN ERICKSON ’14 is with the U.S. Air Force stationed in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
NATHAN PUTNAM ’14 and MORGAN BRIDGMAN ’14 were married this summer, and now live in Colorado, where Nathan is a computer programmer, and Morgan is finishing her master’s in public administration at University of Colorado, Denver.