A message from Provost Jeff Van Duzer: I want to update you on two key national searches that are underway right now.

University Chaplain
Dr. Bo Lim has served as University Chaplain for the past four years, and will return to his faculty role in the School of Theology at the end of this academic year. Dr. Doug Strong, dean of the School of Theology, is chairing the eight-member search committee. You can find more information, including the University Chaplain position, online.

Dean, School of Education
Dr. Rick Eigenbrood has served as SOE dean for the past nine years, and will return to the graduate teaching faculty in the School of Education at the end of this academic year. Michael Paulus, University Librarian, is chairing the nine-member search committee. You can find more information, and SOE dean position posting, online.

It is widely known that some of the best candidates, with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, are best found by word-of-mouth from the people that know an institution best — you! Please explore your own professional and personal networks and help us spread the word about these two important positions within the life of our university. If you have any leads or suggestions on someone who might be a good candidate for either of the above positions, please let the search chairs know right away. They will then take the initiative to contact the individuals that are recommended. As always, we would covet your prayers for both of these search processes. 

This seminar is aimed at training and educating current and future leaders to build movements, change policies, and enact social strategies for the common good. Rev. Dr. William Barber from the Repairer's of the Breach and Poor People's Campaign and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove from the School for Conversion will lead the seminar. It takes place on Tuesday, February 27, 1:30–5:30 p.m. in Upper Gwinn Commons and is free for SPU students, staff, and faculty. Registration is required. For more information contact the Office of University Ministries at um@spu.edu.

Panel Discussion on Addressing and Preventing Homelessness
Wednesday, January 17
3–4:30 p.m., Demaray 150
Come hear a panel discussion on homelessness with area advocates and experts. The discussion is titled “Solving Homelessness: Best Practices for Addressing and Preventing Homelessness,” and participants include:

Sharon Lee, executive director, Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI)
Rev. Dr. Liz Mosbo VerHage, pastor of global and local ministries, Quest Church
Janet Pope, executive director, Compass Housing Alliance
Dr. Ron Ruthruff, associate professor of theology & culture, The Seattle School

Homelessness Advocacy 101
Wednesday, January 24
5:30–8 p.m., SUB Gazebo Room
Have fun learning how to influence policy and fundraising at the city, state, and federal level at this engaging workshop.

• Find out who makes decisions in Olympia.
• How does a bill become a law?
• What can regular people do that is effective?  

We’ll share information about key legislative proposals to create housing and shelter, increase access to services, and build a stronger Washington for us all. You’ll leave informed and inspired, with simple actions and sample messages you can really use (really!) to speak up and make a real difference. 

Poetry Workshop With Washington State Poet Laureate Claudia Castro Luna
Friday, January 26
9:30 a.m. –12 p.m.
Library Seminar Room
Participate in a poetry workshop with Castro Luna and TC3 residents exploring the idea of home.

A message from faculty members Jaeil Lee and Minhee Lee: The second SPU International Food Festival will be Friday, February 16, (Lunar New Year’s Day), 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. in Eaton Hall Lounge. Thanks for your wonderful participation and support last year. This year we are partnering with the Office of Global Engagement and we expect more fun. We would like to invite you to sign up to bring your favorite cultural dishes to share, and American dishes are also welcomed. This year, students can participate as well. Please sign up by Friday, February 2. It will be a wonderful time to get together and celebrate our beauty of diversity through our favorite cultural dishes.

A message from the Office of Safety and Security: Stalking affects millions of people and can result in serious violence. Each year, SPU's Office of Safety and Security participates in National Stalking Awareness Month in an effort to educate and provide resources to the community. As part of the gender-based violence prevention series, OSS’s next brown-bag lunch event will take place Tuesday, January 23, 11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. in the Library Seminar Room. The brown-bag lunch series provides an informal setting for students, staff, and faculty to learn, discuss, and ask questions of different speakers regarding aspects of gender-based violence. This month’s topic will focus on stalking: what it is, how to recognize it, and how to respond to it. Contact Jenna Fejervary in OSS at 206-281-2012 or fejerj@spu.edu with any questions or concerns. 

A message from the Office of Student Employment: Each year, colleges and universities across the country recognize the importance of the student work experience during National Student Employment Week. Part of this celebration is the recognition of outstanding student employees through the selection of Student Employees of the Year (SEOTY). We have some amazing student employees at SPU, and this is your opportunity to recognize them! 

How to Nominate Your Student

•       Fill out the SEOTY form on the Student Employment website by February 15. 
• Be sure to describe the student’s key attributes and impact on your office.

Student Eligibility

• Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible.
• Student must have worked at least six months.
• One on-campus and one off-campus student will be selected.

The first of two dates of the Distinguished Scholar Award competition, hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and University Scholars, will be Monday, January 22. Sixty of our top admitted students will be on campus competing for five, full-tuition scholarships. Please look for these students and their guests and make them feel welcome.

A message from Alumni and Parent Relations. Homecoming and Family Weekend is fast approaching! This year, we are calling it a “Family Weekend” to acknowledge that a student’s main support network isn’t always led by parents. We will have specific programming for families, including Student Support Sessions on Friday, February 2, and the Falcon Family Brunch on Saturday, February 3.

Faculty and staff are invited and encouraged to attend Homecoming events. All-access passes are available for individuals and groups and will get you in to all the regular programs, including:

• The annual Student Talent Show
• This quarter’s theatre production of Jane Eyre: The Musical
• Men’s basketball games against Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks
• And more!

Tickets for the Alumni Awards Dinner on February 3 at 6 p.m. are sold separately. Find more information and register online.

For the latest information on Falcon sports, visit the Falcons online.

Thursday, January 18
Men's basketball vs Montana State Billings, Brougham Pavilion, 5:15 p.m.
Women's basketball vs Alaska Fairbanks, Brougham Pavilion, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 20
Women's basketball vs Alaska Anchorage, Brougham Pavilion, 7 p.m.

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published every week during the academic year. If you have information or event news, send it as soon as possible to Bulletin editor Tracy Norlen at fsb-editor@spu.edu. Submissions may be edited for clarity. The next deadline is Thursday, January 18. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, January 22. 

Lisa Burhenn, coordinator of customer services in Conference Services, is leaving Seattle Pacific to pursue a master’s degree in school counseling. A farewell party is planned on Wednesday, January 17, 2–3:30 p.m. in Weter Lounge. Her last day in Conference Services is Friday, January 19.

Susan Okamoto Lane, dean of multi-ethnic and wellness programs, received the “Vision from the Mountaintop Award” during the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast in Seattle on January 15. This annual award recognizes a community, education, and business leader from the Seattle area "who demonstrates leadership and contributes in the community or business world for the furtherance of justice, reconciliation, and empowerment." Read more about Susan and her work on campus. Congratulations!

Kirsten Koetje, instructor and PhD student in the School of Education, was awarded the 2018 Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education (AILACTE) Graduate Scholar Award. Kirsten’s research proposal seeks to see if structured practice with video analysis in GoReact software improves teacher candidates’ instruction and analysis as measured by edTPA Task 2 scores. She will receive the award at the 2018 AILACTE conference in Baltimore. Congratulations!

Communications Specialist Clint Kelly was featured speaker of the January meeting of the Northwest Christian Writers Association at Eastside Foursquare Church in Bothell, Washington. This talk was titled "Is God or the Devil in Your Details?" He talked about how the Bible is rich in details, many of them quite specific, and the difference that makes to our understanding of Scripture. He also noted that winter can be the most productive season of a creative artist’s life, quoting the great American painter Andrew Wyeth on his own productivity: “I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape. Something waits beneath it; the whole story doesn't show.” Clint compared that to the bleakness of the tomb where Jesus lay. While it presented a stark picture to the disciples, that which was behind the stone, and beneath the grave clothes, was the spring burst of our salvation.

An article by Professor of Family and Consumer Sciences Sandra Hartje titled “Universal Design Improves the Quality of Life for Individuals, Families and Communities” was published in the December 2017 edition of the Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences.

School of Business, Government, and Economics professors Caleb Henry, Denise Daniels, and Bradley Murg attended the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) “Values and Capitalism” conference in San Diego last week. They presented their two book chapters recently published in a new AEI text on the contemporary university: "Whither Christian Higher Education? Past and Present Challenges,” and "Whither Christian Higher Education? Future Trajectories." The articles bring together the diverse expertise of the authors, combining political theory, management, and political economy to examine the challenges confronting the Christian university today.

Two book reviews by Professor of European History Alberto Ferreiro have recently been published.

1) "Constantino, ¿el primer emperador cristiano? Religión y política en el siglo IV." Actes del congrès internacional celebrat a Barcelona i Tarragona, del 20 a 24 de març de 2012. Josep Vilella Masana (ed.) Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona, 2015. Journal of Early Christian Studies 25 (2017) 653-654.

2) David Paniagua and M.A. Andrés-Sanz (eds.) "Formas de acceso al saber en la Antigüedad Tardía y la Alta Edad Media. La transmisión del conocimiento dentro y fuera de la escuela." Turnhout: Brepols Publishers, 2016. Exemplaria Classica 21 (2017) 473-463 [Universidad de Huelva, Spain].

The Office of Human Resources would like the SPU community to welcome Sylvia Monreal, a new career counselor in the Center for Career and Calling.