Our first "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) session last month was a lively conversation with more than 40 faculty and staff in attendance. I hope you will be able to join me as we engage once again in discussion regarding the present and future of SPU at the next session on Wednesday, April 15, 3:30-4:30 p.m., in the President’s Dining Room in Upper Gwinn.

In case you missed the last one, these sessions are a chance to ask questions regarding our work together at SPU. It could even be a question exploring something you have always wondered about at SPU or find curious in some way. It is possible we will have to note the question and find an answer after the session if I do not know it at that moment. Either way, it will be a great opportunity to seek clarification, understanding, or gain awareness about current operations or something related to our future. I believe the sessions will be enjoyable conversations about a place and people we believe in.

Here are just a few of the topics we discussed at our first session:

• The new music building on Nickerson Street, and future plans for property purchases.
• What are students excited about right now?
• The possibility of a health center for faculty and staff.
• What is the University doing to address increasing diversity within the faculty?
• Current technology initiatives on campus.

The last AMA session will be Thursday, May 28, 9-10 a.m. (location TBD)

I hope to see you on April 15 or May 28. 

Drawing from scholarship on the sect-church process, Professor of Sociology Jennifer McKinney will explore the intersection between Christian gender theologies and culture. Jennifer is this year's Winifred E. Weter lecturer. This annual lecture is presented by an SPU faculty member selected by the Faculty Affairs Committee.

More

A message from staff member Lori Brown, co-chair of the SPU 2015 United Way Campaign. “Spring has sprung, and so has SPU’s United Way Campaign. We are off to a great start with 15 faculty and staff already leading the way with donations. Thank you. Please join your colleagues by making a donation to support the great work that United Way is doing with hundreds of local nonprofits. United Way makes sure that 98 percent of every dollar goes to services for the most vulnerable in King County. Take a quick peek to see the ways United Way is investing these resources in our communities. Did you know you can choose to designate your gift to an organization that is meaningful to you? You can even designate your gift to Tent City by writing in “Share/Wheel–Tent City.” Visit the website and make donation today. 

More

In 2014, book designer Adam Lewis Greene launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund Bibliotheca, a project which gives the Bible fresh expression as a multivolume set of elegant, traditionally designed books conducive to enjoyable reading. He surpassed his goal 40 times over. Come hear his story at the annual Friends of the Library event on Thursday, April 23, 7:30–9 p.m. in Upper Gwinn Commons. The event is free and open to the public.

More

A record-breaking 70 employers are coming to the Center for Career and Calling’s annual Career Fair on Wednesday, April 15, 12-3 p.m. in Upper Gwinn Commons. Students have a chance to meet alumni and recruiters from Amazon, F5 Networks, KING-5 TV, Fluke Networks, Marriott, Nordstrom, PATH, Port of Seattle, Seattle BioMed, Tesla, Volt (recruiting for Gates Foundation), World Vision, Zillow, and many others. Please let your students know so they can take advantage of this great opportunity to meet recruiters, build their professional network, and land a great career or summer position. Also, there will be a free photo booth from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for students, staff, faculty, and alumni who want a better profile picture for their LinkedIn page.

More

“Born Identity" is a visual and interactive exhibit that seeks to highlight the nature of white privilege in our society, how it has developed over many years, and what we can do in response. This annual exhibit will be shown April 14-16, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., in the Emerson Hall Lobby. Daily guided tours are offered, or you can walk through the exhibit at your own pace. In conjunction with the exhibit, two student clubs will host forums in order to provide more ways for students to engage with these topics. On Tuesday, April 14, 6-7 p.m., in Hill Hall lounge, the Black Student Union will host a forum on “Media Portrayals of African Americans.” On Wednesday, April 15, 6-7 p.m. in Arnett Hall lounge, the Biology Club will host a panel featuring nursing, theology, and biology professors speaking about the social and biological constructs of race.

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.

At a special event on Wednesday, April 15, two Israeli defense forces veterans will share their personal stories of serving during missions in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank, The event is 12:30–1:30 p.m. in Eaton Hall 112, and is hosted by the SPU Veteran and Military Support Cadre. 

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.

More

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.”

SPU’s Director of Bands Danny Helseth will perform on the euphonium and trombone during this special concert on Thursday, April 16, 7:30 p.m. in First Free Methodist Church. The repertoire includes “Three Romances” by Robert Schumann, “Bluebells of Scotland” by Arthur Pryor, “Three Euphonics for Solo Euphonium” by Howard Bus, and several other selections. Accompanying Danny will be Asta Vaičekonis on piano. The concert is free and wheelchair accessible.

More

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.

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.

On Friday, April 17, the Undergraduate Admissions Office will host prospective students and their families on campus for a visit day. We encourage all faculty and staff to welcome these visitors when they see them around campus. If you have questions, contact Amanda Stubbert, assistant director for campus experience and events, at amandas@spu.edu. Learn more about the SPU Friday campus visit events.

More

Have you thought about commuting by bicycle, but do not know where to start? Have you wondered how to fix a flat tire? If you answered “yes” to either of these, come to a Cascade Bicycle Club Bike Commuting workshop on Thursday, April 23, 12-1 p.m. in Weter 201. Light refreshments will be provided. This workshop will cover the basics of biking for commuting and utility trips as well as how to fix a flat tire. Other topics include:

• Selecting a bicycle and making basic fit adjustments
• Planning your bike route
• Clothing, helmets, and gear
• Removing the tire from the rim and reinstallation
• Tools to carry for a speedy repair

The workshop is sponsored by the Office of Safety and Security as part of the Commute Trip Reduction program. Please RSVP online by Monday, April 20.

More

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.

More

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.

More

The Office of Safety and Security is offering a women’s self-defense class for staff and faculty on Wednesday, April 29, 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Demaray 353. The class will cover basic mental and physical techniques designed to apply to day-to-day lives and experiences. No RSVP is required. The class is part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a national campaign to bring awareness and education to communities about the realities of gender-based violence. For more information, contact Jenna Fejervary, safety and special investigations officer, at fejerj@spu.edu.

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to a weekly prayer meeting on Wednesdays at noon in the Lower Weter large conference room. For more information, email Kathy Henning in University Communications at kathy@spu.edu.

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.

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 16. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, April 20.

A paper by Associate Professor of Nursing Christine Hoyle was published in the journal, The Nurse Practitioner. Her paper, “Building Skills in Organizational and Systems Change: A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)-Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Clinical Curriculum,” is coauthored with Gail Johnson, NPR, APRN, FNP, from the University of Washington. The article is part of a special DNP issue of the journal.

Professor of Russian/TESOL Katya Nemtchinova gave a presentation at the International Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) convention, March 24-28, in Toronto. She was part of two panels highlighting topics of relevance across interest sections. The first one, “Intersection Non-native English Speaking Teachers (NNEST): Program Administrators Working With NNESTs,” and the other was “Assessing the Development of Linguacultural Competence in English as a Second Language/English as a Foreign Language.” Also, Katya’s article titled “Developing Information Literacy in the Beginning Language Classroom: A Case for WebQuests” was published in Russian Language Journal, 64, 83-109.

Theatre Chair Andrew Ryder's article "Comic Catharsis: The Power of Pacifist Performance” was published in the 2015 issue of the Western States Theatre Review. The issue is available online.

More

Professor of European History Alberto Ferreiro has published an article in Spanish titled “Prólogo: Simón Mago: Mago, Hereje y Antagonista de San Pedro,” in Simón Mago, George N. L. Hall, traducción y bibliografía complementaria de Domingo Saura Zorrilla. Coord. Raúl González Salinero. Mikrá, vol. 8. Madrid-Salamanca: Signifer Libros, 2015, pp. ix-xx. This was an invited prologue to this volume he wrote during Spring Break. It brings up-to-date Simon Magus research, and offers an overview of patristic and medieval sources that promoted the image of Simon Magus as magician heretic and antagonist of St. Peter. Alberto is also currently working on an invited chapter for another volume on an image of Simon Magus in the church of Saint Pere de Terrassa in Barcelona that he researched onsite during the summer of 2013.