The SPU community is invited to a special Easter Celebration service in Martin Square on Tuesday, April 7, 11:10 a.m.-12 p.m. Bethany Community Church Senior Pastor Richard Dahlstrom is the guest speaker. After the service, the Sharpen ministry invites all SPU community members to brunch in Martin Square from 12:10 p.m. to 2 p.m. The service is part of the weekly Gather services held every Tuesday in First Free Methodist Church. Gather, hosted by University Ministries, is an opportunity for staff, faculty, and students to join together in worship each week. 

A world-renowned expert in cybersecurity will give a special public lecture at SPU on Thursday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in Royal Brougham Pavilion. Keith Alexander, former director of the National Security Agency and a retired four-star Army general, will talk about “hackers, spies, and freedom.” The lecture is free and wheelchair accessible.

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More than 300 admitted students and their guests will be on campus April 9-10, as well as prospective students and families visiting campus each day this week. Please look for these students and their guests to say “Hi” and make them feel welcome to our campus. Learn more about the Admitted Student Preview.

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The School of Psychology, Family, and Community is hosting a special event on Saturday, April 11, for those interested in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This event will feature a Community Resource Fair, lectures from leading experts in the field of ASD, and a panel discussion among older adolescents and young adults with ASD.

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A message from Danielle Richmond, student employment coordinator: “Student employees are key to keeping SPU running. Show your appreciation next week to your student employees and encourage them to attend the Student Employee Appreciation Event hosted by the Office of Student Employment on Wednesday, April 16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Martin Square. The Office of Student Employment will provide popcorn, and students can enter to win one of 40 gift cards from local businesses such as the Woodland Park Zoo, the Space Needle, Trader Joe’s, Café Ladro, Sodexo, and more  Here are a few ideas for ways to show appreciation in your office: take them out to lunch, throw a party hosted by your staff, give them a gift card, purchase some SPU swag from the Bookstore, or write a letter thanking them for their contributions to your team.”

Dr. John Perkins, one of the leading evangelical voices to come out of the American civil rights movement and co-partner in SPU’s John Perkins Center, returns to campus for his 10th annual lecture on Tuesday, April 21, 11:10 a.m. in First Free Methodist Church. The program features SPU Talent Show winners, Either/Or.

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SPU is hosting the second annual Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW) Ethics Bowl on Friday, April 17, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Fine Center of First Free Methodist Church. The Ethics Bowl is a day-long competition among student teams from all 10 ICW colleges, and is intended to showcase student knowledge of applied ethics. To prepare for this event, student teams have spent months researching 12 real-life ethical cases written by volunteers. Last year, the SPU student team took 4th place. Rounds of competition will be held throughout the day, and guests are welcome to attend some or all of the rounds. The Ethics Bowl is free and open to all SPU faculty, staff, and students.

The student Speech and Debate Team is hosting a public debate on legalizing physician-assisted suicide on Tuesday, April 7. 7 p.m. in Otto Miller Hall 109. Following the debate, commentary will be offered by Lorie Wild, dean of the School of Health Sciences, and Leland Saunders, assistant professor of philosophy.

The 10th of each month is the last day to make changes to your upcoming payroll check. Do you need to add or remove your spouse and/or children from your health care plans? If so, contact Human Resources (HR) to complete the appropriate form. Changes might include events that are expected to impact your benefits and deductions, such as your spouse or children gaining or losing coverage due to employment, birth, marriage, etc. Additionally, any changes you wish to make to your 403(b) account contributions must be made by the 10th of the month. For changes to your 403(b) account, contact Transamerica Retirement Solutions at 1-888-676-5512 (5 a.m.-6 p.m. PST), or 1-800-755-5801. If you have any other benefits-related changes, call Mardeth Hughes in HR at 206-281-2816.

Bloodworks Northwest (formerly the Puget Sound Blood Center) will be on campus this week for blood donations. The bloodmobile will be on campus April 9-10, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. near the Tiffany Loop entrance on Third Ave West. Sign up for an appointment, or drop by to donate blood.

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A message from Kim Karstens, general manager, Campus Dining Services: “Dining Services and the Office of University Services is interested in learning more about your dining preferences as they make long term plans to enhance our program and consider possible new dining venues on campus as a part of SPU’s master planning process. The Food Preference survey is different from our twice annual satisfaction survey. The survey takes 20 minutes to complete, and all survey takers have the option of entering a drawing for a chance to win a roundtrip airline ticket up to $500 anywhere in the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii). You will receive an email soon further explaining the survey, the drawing, and providing a link to participate. We hope all faculty and staff will take the survey.”

Will Messenger, executive editor of the Theology of Work Project, will give a presentation on “Strategic Initiatives in Faith, Work, Business, and Economics” on Tuesday, April 14, 4-5 p.m. in Eaton 112. Faculty and staff members are welcome to attend. The event is sponsored by the Center for Integrity in Business.

Have you been trained in Sitecore or Contribute but keep putting off making changes to your site? Join members of the University Communications Web Team this Thursday, April 16, for our monthly brownbag Q&A. Sitecore/Contribute brownbags occur the third Thursday of most months, 12-1 p.m. in the Lower Weter large conference room. If you have changes you need to make to your site and are nervous about making them on your own, bring them with you and we’ll walk you through them. If you plan to come, email Kathy Henning in University Communications at kathy@spu.edu.

The Center for Applied Learning presents its annual Social Venture Plan Competition showcase on Thursday, April 16, 2-6 p.m., in Upper Gwinn Commons. This competition is designed to encourage SPU students from all majors to develop entrepreneurial projects that can make a difference, locally and globally. Faculty and staff are invited to attend. Everyone who votes for a People’s Choice winner will be entered in a raffle for dozens of door prizes, including Amazon gift cards and MiiR water bottles.

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In partnership with ScholarLeaders International and the John Perkins Center, the Center for Biblical and Theological Education is hosting a conference featuring interdisciplinary conversations – led by scholars, visionaries, local leaders, and SPU faculty and staff – exploring stories, theories, and practices of being a reconciled people. The conference, ”For Such a Time As This: The Challenges and Hope of Reconciliation” is April 23-25, 2015, on the SPU campus. The conference is free for SPU faculty, staff, and students, but registration is required.

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If you live on the Eastside, drive across the 520 bridge, and would love to save more than $300 per month on tolls, gas, and car maintenance, we want you! Our Eastside vanpool needs more riders. Van pools are 100 percent paid for by the SPU Commute Trip Reduction program, so it won’t cost you anything. We currently meet at the South Kirkland Park and Ride (right off 520) at 7:20 a.m., and arrive at SPU by 7:45 a.m.; we leave SPU at 4:50 p.m. and arrive at the Park and Ride by 5:20 p.m. or so. If you are interested (even part-time), email Lynn Anselmi in University Communications at lynnnanselmi@spu.edu.

Do you know of an interesting story happening with faculty, staff, students, or alumni of SPU? Please share your story ideas with Response magazine and the University Communications team. The next issue’s features will focus on those in the SPU community who are working to combat human trafficking. However, story ideas on all topics and from all academic disciplines are welcome. Send your ideas to response@spu.edu.

The John Perkins Center will co-host audience discussions following productions of Taproot Theatre’s Best of Enemies. The play is based on the true story of racially segregated schools in the 1970s in Durham, North Carolina. When a Ku Klux Klan member and a civil rights activist are forced to work together to solve the problem, they learn about humanity and the surprising gifts that come with change.

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Have you seen them? New SPU billboards are standing proud all over the Seattle area, and new bus advertisements are zooming up and down Seattle and Eastside streets. This campaign is intended to motivate a prospective student to decide to enroll at SPU and to enhance engagement and connection with our regional alumni. If you see one, take a picture and post it on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and be sure to include #isawSPU. Each week for the next several weeks, one lucky photographer will win a free Seattle Pacific license plate frame or water bottle. At the end of the contest, one of those weekly winners will also win the grand prize: two tickets for a ride on the Seattle Great Wheel on the waterfront. Be ready! Those buses move fast. (Caution: Taking pictures while driving can be dangerous. Please pull over before you take pictures.)

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, April 9. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, April 13.

The School of Psychology, Family, and Community is pleased to announce that Instructor of Psychology Tom Carpenter recently published a paper titled “Social Support, Stress, and Suicidal Ideation in Firefighters” in the American Journal of Health Behavior. Tom would like to recognize his co-authors: current Portland State University graduate student Grace Stephanie Carpenter; Dr. Nathan Kimbrel with the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Dr. Claire Cammarata with the New York City Fire Department Counseling Services Unit; Dr. Rose Zimering and Dr. Barbara Kamholz with the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System; and Michelle Pennington, Elisa Flynn, and Dr. Suzy Gulliver with the Baylor Scott & White Warriors Research Institute.

Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Instruction Julie Antilla gave a workshop at the National Migrant Education Conference recently held in Seattle. The workshop, “Migrant Education Program (MEP) Speech and Debate Tournaments: Supplemental, Enriching, and Achieving Common Core State Standards,” provided an overview of five years of empirical research on the MEP speech and debate tournaments in California.

Professor of European History Alberto Ferreiro gave three talks at Blessed Sacrament Parish in March to the Confirmation Youth Group. The topics were papacy, Mary, and the Eucharist. Discussions involved historical and theological background and personal reflections.

Instructor of Nursing Carol Redfield presented two research posters at the Building Elder Friendly Futures Locally and Globally UW Gerontology Conference held in October at the University of Washington. The first research poster, titled “International Intergenerational Interaction to Enhance Aging Well-being and Student Learning,” was co-authored with 2014 gradates Ting-Chun (Addison) Lin and Megan Busek; and Valorie Orton, SPU instructor of nursing. The second poster, “Changes in Interpersonal Goals and Well-Being Across Social Interactions Between Nursing Students and Older Adults,” was co-authored with senior students Melissa Aust and Jason Jay; doctoral student Adam McGuire; and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology Thane Erickson.

The Office of Human Resources would like the SPU community to join us in welcoming Laurie Roberts, program coordinator in the Art Department.

From SPU Master Gardener Jeff Daley: “Each plant, shrub, and tree has something special or fun that catches our eye. Here is an early blooming spring deciduous shrub that is not seen often. It is Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora', commonly called the Easter rose because the flowers typically bloom around Easter. I love the double yellow flowers that glide gracefully across the plant's arching branches like little pompoms waving in the breeze. Perhaps the flowers resemble the mop-top hairdos of Dr. Seuss' crazy characters. Regardless, this plant will grow best in well-drained, loamy soils with partial afternoon shade. A word of caution ― Kerrias bloom on the previous year's wood, so any pruning should be done in spring after flowering. This will allow the rest of the growing season for the plant to produce flowering wood for next year. It doesn't have serious insect or disease problems to speak of, and deer don't care for it.

Many of the plants we enjoy in the Pacific Northwest are native plants from China, Korea, and Japan. This is one of many plants found by plant hunter and horticulturist William Kerr, who worked in East Asia collecting for the Royal Botanic Gardens in the early 1800s. Its Japanese origin is why we call it Kerria japonica. Select the link to see more photos.

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