It’s Life After College Week! Tell your students and come to any of the 18 sessions, including the session with Assistant Professor of Family and Consumer Science Raedene Copeland, who will share tips on how to Dress for Success. Other workshops include an opportunity for a professional headshot for LinkedIn profiles, plus alumni speaking on Gap-Year Experiences and Green Careers. Our keynote speaker on Friday is Aaron Hurst, a social entrepreneur and author of The Purpose Economy. For more details and a complete list of the week’s events, visit the webpage.

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Don’t miss this special evening featuring SPU music faculty and Choroloco, a Seattle-based acoustic ensemble specializing in vintage Brazilian jazz from Rio de Janeiro, on Friday, January 27, 7:30 p.m. in Nickerson Studios. The ensemble will be joined by faculty members Mary Kantor on clarinet and Julian Catford on guitar.

Professor of History Bill Woodward will give a lecture at the Pacific Science Center on Wednesday, January 25, titled "Rails & Roads: How We Got Here." This is part of the Center’s “Science in the City” lecture series. Bill will explore Washington's history and how different people exploited different modes of transportation to shape the Pacific Northwest. 

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A message from Office of Student Life: Students consistently tell us that the reason they apply for campus leadership positions is because someone told them they thought the student would be a good fit. This is your chance to encourage a student to get involved by taking one minute to fill out a nomination form. Students will receive an email inviting them to apply for the 2017-18 ASSP officer and senator roles (applications are due February 13). Nominations will be accepted until Friday, February 10, at 5 p.m. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership at OSIL@spu.edu. 

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Staff Council invites all staff to a bring-your-lunch event focused on the new SoulCare initiative on Wednesday, January 25, 12-1 p.m. in the Library Seminar Room. Program Director Celeste Cranston will share about these new UFDN 1000 small groups, which impact all first-year students at SPU. Learn how you can support and pray for students participating in these groups, and perhaps even consider how this Wesleyan-style small group might be implemented in your own church community.

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A message from Margaret Brown, director of the Center for Scholarship and Faculty Development: The annual Marston Lecture is rapidly approaching! This year we will be learning about “Classics and Popular Music.” Please encourage students to attend on Tuesday, February 7, 3-4 p.m. PM in Demaray 150. Our own Associate Professor of Classics Owen Ewald is the speaker. Owen has taught Latin, Greek, classical literature, ancient history, and art history at SPU since 2001 and was named to the C. May Marston Professorship in 2005. His lecture will examine the popular music of the last six decades, which has been inspired by classical literature in surprising ways. Four ancient genres — epic, tragedy, philosophy, and historical writing — have the most influence on English-language music in all styles, from Bob Dylan to Sarah Dougher. Learn more online.

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A message from Response Contributing Editor Colleen Steelquist: To expand Response magazine’s ongoing coverage of SPU faculty and student research, we’re adding a new section of short pieces focused specifically on research. If you have interesting research or research-related stories to share, please contact me at steelquistc@spu.edu.

Attention all faculty and staff commuters. Would you like to have less stress from your commute? Get to know other SPU staff and faculty while commuting and help save gas and fuel emissions by ride-sharing. We have some current available spots in our Vanpools and Vanshares, specifically on the Eastside! If you are interested in finding out more about one of our valuable commuting options, contact Transportation Coordinator Heather Eide at eideh@spu.edu for more information.

A message from Intramural Manager Adam Finch. Skip traffic with intramural fitness classes. Give it a try with ZUMBA on Mondays or Thursdays or R.I.P.P.E.D. (a new class combining strength training, music and dance) on Wednesdays. All classes begin at 5:15 p.m. in Brougham Pavilion Lower gym. Just show up and sign in at your first class — it’s free!

The Wellness Initiative is hosting “Seeing Double: Separating Substance Use Fact From Fiction” — a one-day program on Tuesday, January 24, that will provide information about alcohol and marijuana use. Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend and bring their classes. “Test Your Vision” with interactive activities and get questions about alcohol and drug use answered from an expert panel. Learn the latest science behind alcohol and marijuana use during the evening keynote address by Dr. Jason Kilmer, a leading researcher on substance use on college campuses. To learn more, visit the Wellness blog.

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The SPU Study Abroad program is hosting its annual Study Abroad Fair on Friday, January 27, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. in Weter Lounge. Encourage your students to attend. SPU faculty leaders and program representatives will be present for every program offered. It’s the perfect one-stop-shop to find out about all of the options. Students will not want to miss this. 

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Faculty and staff are invited to the next School of Business, Government, and Economics Dean’s Speaker Series event on Tuesday, January 24, 12:50 p.m. in the Library Seminar room. Metropolitan King County Councilmember Larry Gossett will share his story and discuss the challenges of public policy and administration. Space is limited, so RSVP the Center for Applied Learning at cal@spu.edu.

A message from Campus Dining. Here are the dining specials this week. 

All month: Make sure to enter this week's Cocina del Sol Raffle! Three winners will be chosen to win a free burrito or bowl.

Monday, January 23: Happy Monday! Head to Einsteins and add an egg to your bagel at Einsteins for $0.99.

Wednesday, January 25: It's Hump Day! Receive 50 percent off nachos at Cocina del Sol.

Friday, January 26: It's $5 Friday! Here are today's specials for $5:

Cocina del Sol: Tacos with a choice of protein and 5 toppings

C-store: 3 Cliff Bars of your choice

Academic Perks and Common Grounds: Grande mocha and pastry

Einsteins: Chorizo sandwich and a coffee

Falcon Grill: Hot dog and fries

Bertona: Caesar Salad pizza

Subway: Veggie sandwich

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is hosting hundreds of prospect and admitted students on campus with their families for Falcon Night and SPU Friday, January 26-27. Students will stay the night in the residence halls and attend programming all over campus. All guests will be dining in Gwinn, attending informational sessions, visiting classes, taking tours, and more. Look for these students and families and make them feel welcome.

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Maida Chen, University of Washington professor of pediatrics and director of the Sleep Disorder Center at Seattle Children’s Hospital, will give a lecture on campus about adolescent sleep challenges (and opportunities) across the developmental spectrum. The lecture is Tuesday, February 7, 7-8:30 in Demaray Hall 150. The event is presented by SPU’s Initiative for Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the School of Psychology, Family, and Community Advisory Board. Please let others know who might be interested.

Seattle Pacific University and the Alumni Association are pleased to announce the 2017 alumni award recipients — Alumnus of the Year Jeff Hussey '83; GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Alumnus of the Year Jerrell G. Davis '14; and Medallion Award Honorees Sheila Houston '02, Jennifer Best '94, and Eric Best '95. We invite you to attend the presentation of awards and hear their inspiring stories at the Alumni Awards Luncheon during Homecoming and Parents Weekend on February 11, 11:30 a.m., in Upper Gwinn Commons. Get your tickets today!

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You are invited to join the SPU community February 10-11 for Homecoming and Parents Weekend. Participate in all the favorite Homecoming traditions, plus gather for a special celebration of Falcon athletics. There is now a new and much easier way to register! Purchase an ALL ACCESS PASS for yourself or an ALL ACCESS FAMILY PASS for up to six family members and enjoy all of what Homecoming and Parents Weekend has to offer. For one low price, an ALL ACCESS PASS includes: Talent show, parent sessions, tours, academic sessions, one play performance, double header basketball game, Homecoming choir concert, and the All Athletics Reunion. Falcon Hall of Fame Induction Brunch and Alumni Awards Luncheon sold separately. See the whole schedule of events and register today.

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For the latest information on Falcon sports, visit the website.

Thursday, January 26
Men's basketball vs Alaska Fairbanks, Brougham Pavilion, 7 p.m.

Friday, January 27
Indoor track & field, Seattle Pacific at University of Washington Invitational, Dempsey Indoor at UW, 5 p.m.
Women's gymnastics vs Hamline, Brougham Pavilion, 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 28
Indoor track & field, Seattle Pacific at University of Washington Invitational, Dempsey Indoor at UW), 9:30 a.m.
Men’s basketball vs Alaska Anchorage, Brougham Pavilion, 7 p.m.

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The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published weekly 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 26. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, January 30.

Nalline Baliram, assistant professor of teacher education, gave a presentation at the Hawaii University International Conference on January 4. Her focus was on “Reflective Assessment, Feedback, and High School Achievement.”

Associate Professor of Counselor Education Munyi Shea is the co-principal investigator of a grant from the American Psychological Association (APA), funded by the APA Public Interest Leadership Conference Health Equity Dissemination Award. The project aims to develop a resource guide on bullying prevention among Asian American and Pacific Islander students, and disseminate it to parents and teachers through workshops and websites, as well as through Asian American Psychological Association and other professional conferences. In addition to English, the bullying prevention resource will be translated into Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

Assistant Provost and Professor of Psychology Margaret Brown’s co-authored article titled “Service Learning and the Psychologically Literate Citizen” was published in January’s Psych Learning Curve. This is the official blog of the American Psychological Association’s Education Directorate. Since its debut in 2016, the blog has garnered over 100,000 views.

Jeff Keuss, professor of Christian ministry, theology, and culture, presented a paper titled “A Call to Monastic Activism with Abraham Heschel, Martin Buber, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Thomas Merton” at the American Enterprise Institute/ CCCU Faculty Retreat in San Antonio, Texas, January 13-15.

Associate Professor of Management and Information Systems Ryan LaBrie, along with alumna Gauri Anantha (MS-ISM 2016), recently presented a paper titled “A ‘Look’ into the IS Discipline through the Lens of MIS Quarterly: A Visual Examination of Scholar Characteristics” at the 50th annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, held in Waikoloa, Hawaii.

An essay by Professor of Dogmatic and Constructive Theology Daniel Castelo was published in Constructive Pneumatological Hermeneutics in Pentecostal Christianity. The essay, titled "Diakrisis Always En Conjunto: First Theology Understood from a Latino/a Context," takes the Latino/a context of community and its  experience of the Spirit's presence as a way of orienting the theological task at its most basic level — what is called "first theology." Daniel highlights the themes of transformation within the "everyday," or lo cotidiano, as part of that work.

An article by Professor of European History Alberto Ferreiro titled “Quia pax et caritas facta est: Unity and Peace in Leander’s Homily at the Third Council of Toledo (589)” was published in Annuarium Historiae Conciliorum 48 (2016) 1-23. This is a paper that he gave at the Konzil und Frieden Conference in September 2016 at Humboldt University in Berlin.

Julie Pusztai, assistant professor of nursing, presented a poster at a University of Washington conference titled "Elder Friendly Futures: Multiple Voices Shaping our Communities." Her poster was titled "As They Are Living It: The Experience of Meaning and Purpose for the Oldest-Old." She also recently gave a presentation at the 2016 International Qualitative Health Research Conference in Kelowna, Canada.  Her presentation was titled "When the Body Speaks: Living with the Aging Body in Oldest‐Old Age."

Research conducted by Valorie Orton, instructor of nursing, and Carol Redfield, former instructor of nursing, was recently published in the Journal of Nursing Education. The article was titled “Shifts in Attitudes, Knowledge, and Social Goals in Nursing Students Following Structured Contact with Community-dwelling Older Adults.” Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology Thane Erickson was a co-author for the paper.

From SPU Master Gardener Jeff Daley: I have been thinking through the question - should we be worried about protecting our plants in this freezing cold weather we have been experiencing?  I’m of the persuasion that the majority of trees, shrubs, and perennials in our Pacific Northwest gardens will be fine. Especially the well-established plants that have experienced colder winter weather in past years and, of course, any native plant or tree would come through in good shape.

That being said, there is the 'exception' gardener, myself included, who might have a tropical bent in their choice of plant material such as bananas, bougainvillea, brugmansia, and a few not-so-hardy jungle exotics. These would definitely need protection or even need to be potted-up and brought inside the house for a couple months. Even though horticulturists and nursery people love to call our area “Mediterranean" in climate, there are some plants that cannot handle our cold December and January temperatures. Understanding the cultural requirement for the plants you choose to plant in your garden is important.

Here are a couple of my cold weather tips:

Leave any accumulation of snow on plants as it acts as an insulator from the cold winds. In the process of brushing snow off, branches have the potential to break, thereby damaging the plant or tree.

Winter desiccation damage is something to watch for. This is where a plant's natural ongoing repertory function of water uptake from the roots is released through the plants leaves or needles. In a frozen situation, roots are not able to absorb water and yet the plant is still releasing moisture. This causes the plant to dry out quickly, especially when dry winds draw moisture from the leaves. Signs of desiccation damage will show up as brown leaves and needles on the plant. These damaged branches can be pruned, and hopefully new growth will sprout in the spring. If not, the plant might be a candidate for the compost pile.

Containers are the most susceptible to the cold and often freeze solid, leaving plants vulnerable to desiccation. Plants growing in containers need to be of the more hardy variety. Containers could be wrapped with an insulating material, or moved to a more protected area near the house, under the eaves or in the garage. Moisture levels in containers need to be monitored throughout the winter months.

Mulches around the root crown of plants, like roses, help to add some protection. A layer of insulating mulch over perennial beds is also beneficial to protect from winter's chill and adds extra nutrition to the soil come spring.

Mostly, relax and don't worry, let winter run its course. This might be the best time to look at some garden books with beautiful pictures for inspiration, and consider changes you might want to make to your garden when the ground thaws out. (Select the link for seasonal photographs of the Weter Hall courtyard.)

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