A message from Louise Furrow, vice president of University Advancement: On Saturday, May 20, Seattle Pacific University is presenting a “once-in-a-125-year” gala celebration at Fremont Studios to commemorate our anniversary and build support for the University. This multimedia experience will honor SPU’s past successes, and celebrate current accomplishments and contributions to our city and world. Most importantly, we will recognize the University’s strength and position to positively impact the future.

The evening will include a variety of inspiring stories featuring notable alumni such as Eugene Peterson (author of The Message), Jeff Hussey (founder of F5 Networks), Tim Hanstad (cofounder of Landesa), and Sharon Okamoto (principal of Seattle Urban Academy). You’ll also enjoy an exceptional dinner by acclaimed restaurateur Tom Douglas, and a performance by the band Joseph.

The key strategy for this special fundraising event is inviting persons of influence new to Seattle Pacific to come and learn about the University. However, we have saved a limited number of seats for faculty and staff as well. Tickets are $125 each (limit two per person) and go on sale beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 20. To purchase tickets, call Lynne Hall in University Advancement at 206-281-2108. Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. If necessary, a wait list will be kept.

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Dr. John M. Perkins, one of the leading evangelical voices from the American civil rights movement and a longtime partner with SPU, returns to Seattle for a series of events, including a special chapel and lecture on campus. The author of the new book Dream with Me: Race, Love, and the Struggle We Must Win is a powerful speaker whose stories of injustice and reconciliation are just as important today as when he started. He will speak in chapel on Tuesday, April 25, 11:10 a.m. in First Free Methodist Church.

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Don’t miss the 11th annual Social Venture Plan Competition, presented by the Center for Applied Learning. The winner of the $1,000 People's Choice Award will be determined by your vote! The competition is Thursday, April 20, 2-6 p.m. in Upper Gwinn Commons. The awards will be announced at 6:15 p.m. All voters, including faculty, staff, and students, will be entered into a raffle for one of many door prizes, including Amazon gift cards and MiiR water bottles. Please encourage your students to attend, too. Learn more online.

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University Communications needs help identifying outstanding students from this year's graduating class. This request is for undergraduate and graduate students. These students and their achievements will be pitched to media outlets prior to Commencement, as well as for promotional purposes. Please send the name(s) of the students and a short description about why you are recommending them. Examples would be students who overcame obstacles to graduate, were involved in community service projects, participated in innovative research, started a new venture, took a class that changed their career direction, or did something really interesting. Basically, anything that would make a good story! We will follow up with the student and get permission to use their profile. Send information by email to Director of Public Information Tracy Norlen at tcnorlen@spu.edu.

There are many pedagogies that a writing teacher might use: feminist, Marxist, process, post-process, structuralist, post-structuralist, to name a few. But is there such a thing as Christian composition? In the Library’s next Creative Conversations event, Assistant Professor of English and Director of Campus Writing Peter Wayne Moe will look at student writing in order to share what a Christian writing pedagogy might look like. The event is Thursday, April 20, 12-12:50 p.m., Ames Library Reading Room. Bring your lunch, and light snacks will be provided.

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The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is hosting hundreds of prospective and admitted students on campus with their families for SPU Friday on April 21. Prospective and admitted students and their 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.

The Celebration of Service event will be held on Thursday, April 27, beginning at 11:10 a.m. in Brougham Pavilion. Please join us as we celebrate the years of service of our colleagues across campus and recognize the Faculty of the Year, Exempt Staff Member of the Year, and Non-Exempt Staff Member of the Year. There will be a reception following the ceremony, and offices will be closed so everyone can attend.

If you need help updating information on your website, join us for the April brownbag on Thursday, April 20, noon to 1 p.m. in the Lower Weter large conference room. Bring changes you need to make and we will walk you through them. If you have a work laptop, please bring it. Feel free to bring your lunch, and we’ll provide munchies. If you plan to attend, email Kathy Henning in University Communications at kathy@spu.edu. Sitecore/Contribute brownbags occur the third Thursday of every month except December and July.

A message from Human Resources: Open enrollment begins May 1 through May 19 this year, and where there’s open enrollment, there’s the Human Resources annual Benefits Fair. The HR staff looks forward to having you join us on Tuesday, May 2, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. in Upper Gwinn for the Benefits Fair. Please take a few moments to come by and say hello, stroll around the fair, and enjoy some snacks with a friend. This will be an excellent opportunity to run some numbers with our dedicated Cigna team, as well as discuss any questions or concerns you may have. Presentations will be given about our medical plans, wellness plans, value-added programs, and more. Representatives from BAC (administrator for our health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts), Delta Dental, VSP (our vision plan), and many more will also be present.  These representatives provide information, answer questions, and bring giveaways. Don’t forget the prizes! We look forward to seeing you there. Reminder: Pay careful attention to all communications from HR, particularly during this open enrollment season.

As you begin to hire students for summer employment, please remember that on-campus summer housing is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please advise your student employees to complete an application in the Housing portal by Friday, May 5, if they are hoping to live on campus during the summer. If you have any questions, please contact University Services at 206-281-2188 or housing@spu.edu.

You have until 9:59 a.m. on Tuesday, May 2, to have stationery order(s) delivered on May 16. Stationery orders are delivered once a month. Orders made after 10 a.m. on May 2 will be delivered June 13. To see deadlines and delivery dates for the remainder of the fiscal year, visit the “Create an Order” stationery page in Banner. For more information, contact Hope McPherson in University Communications at hmcpherson@spu.edu.

In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, the School of Psychology, Family, and Community once again presents Voices of Autism: Individuals, Families, and Professionals. This free community event on Saturday, April 22, features a panel discussion, resource fair, and presentations from leading experts in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants will gain practical instruction, up-to-date insights, and new perspectives from others whose lives are impacted by ASD.

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As part of its 125th anniversary celebration, SPU has set a goal of 125,000 hours of community service. We will track individual or group volunteer efforts by faculty, staff, students, alumni, and parents in churches or communities, as well as include SPU events and organizations such as SPRINT, CityQuest, the Perkins Center, and Latreia. Track your hours and send them to us through the "Submit Volunteer Hours" webpage. Send along a photo as well, and it will be included alongside the other SPU community members who are doing their part to give back to the community and reach the goal.

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The Spanish Conversation Table will be available Spring Quarter to anyone who wants to speak with others in Spanish. Beginners are welcome. Meet your classmates and colleagues, make new friends, and improve your Spanish. If you want to get some help on vocabulary or figure out how reflexive verbs work, come see us. You don’t have to sign up ahead of time; just bring your lunch and join us. The table meets on Fridays, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. in Marston Hall, room 254. If you have questions, email adjunct faculty member Vilma Illanes at villanes@spu.edu.

We are currently in need of Vanshare riders who want to meet at King Street Station and share a van ride to SPU. If you’re looking for alternative commuting options, we have groups that leave King Street Station between 6 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. Contact Office Manager of Safety, Security, and Transportation Heather Eide at eideh@spu.edu with your work schedule to coordinate a ride.

Staff Council will host two Personal Safety Forums this month. The first forum will be a brownbag session led by Cheryl Michaels, associate director of safety and security, on Wednesday, April 19, 12–1 p.m.in the Library Seminar Room. All staff members are welcome to attend. The second forum (for women only) will also be led by Cheryl, and will be Thursday, April 20, 12–1 p.m. in the lower gym in Brougham Pavilion. Staff Council will be raffling off personal safety alarms and a highly recommended book, The Gift of Fear, by Gavin De Becker. Look for more information next week.

A message from Campus Dining: Let us know how we are doing. Take a quick Dining Services Survey and enter to win a $300 airline ticket, $50 in Falcon Funds, or $25 Falcon Funds. Take the survey online until May 3.

New daily specials at Einstein Bros Bagels: Visit Einstein's each day to find out what they are.

Tuesday, April 18: Taco Tuesday at Cocina Del Sol. Get a Taco for only $1.99.

Wednesday, April 19: Wild Wednesday at Cocina Del Sol. Receive 50 percent ff your favorite Jarritos soda with any order.

Friday, April 21: $5 Friday

Academic Perks and Common Grounds: Grande Chai and a Rice Krispy Treat
Cocina: Bowl with one protein and five toppings
C-Store: Three WOW cookies
Einsteins: Hummus Veg Out Sandwich
Bertona Street Pizza: Cheese pizza
Falcon Grill: Corn dog and a fountain drink

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, April 20. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, April 24.

Professors Hee-Sun Cheon, Paul Kim, and June Hyun are co-authors of an article recently published in the peer-reviewed journal, Mental Health, Religion, & Culture. The article, titled “Psychological Experiences of Korean Missionary ‘Kids’ (MKs): A Qualitative Inquiry,” explores the unique and shared experiences of children of Korean missionaries from a psychosociocultural-spiritual framework. Co-authors also include Liz Chang (Navos Mental Health Solutions) and David Yoo (Providence Hospice of Seattle). This project was fully supported by a Faculty Research Grant through the Center for Scholarship and Faculty Development at SPU. Hee-Sun Cheon is assistant professor of marriage and family therapy; Paul Kim is associate professor of psychology; and June Hyun is associate professor and chair of school counseling.

Rob McKenna, chair and associate professor of industrial-organizational psychology, was interviewed by WalletHub.com for a story about the best and worst states for millennials.

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