The annual campus Memorial Day service will take place online on Thursday, May 27, 10:30–11 a.m. The 30-minute service includes prayer, a short history, time for sharing, and the playing of "Taps." To participate, join spu.zoom.us/j/97992754660. 

Memorial Day Tree: Whether or not you are a veteran, you may have a connection to someone who was killed in action (KIA) or missing in action (MIA) while serving this country. Some of us may have a connection to a veteran who died by suicide. This year during May and in honor of Memorial Day on Monday, May 31, we invite you to add the name, photo, and/or brief story about fallen service members who have impacted your life on the Memorial Day Tree.

The School of Psychology, Family, and Community's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee invites you to hear Dr. E.J.R. David, professor of psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage and director of Alaska Native Community Advancement in Psychology program, for a lecture titled, “Spotlights and Magnifying Glasses: Some Complexities to Anti-Asian Racism” on Wednesday, May 26, at 5 p.m. 

The recorded lecture, with an opportunity to interact with each other using chat, will start at 5 p.m. (alternatively, the same lecture will be available for viewing on our website all day on May 26). Following the lecture, Dr. David will join us for a Q&A/discussion session, 6:15–6:45 p.m. Presentation and Zoom link will be posted on May 26 on the SPFC website events page.

Do you want to make an impact on this campus? Are you interested in planning events and finding new ways to recognize your fellow SPU staff members? Your voice matters, and we want you to serve on Staff Council! Fill out an application by May 28 to let us know you’re interested. Manager approval required before joining.

Fall/winter reservation requests are now being taken for the Faculty/Staff House at SPU's Camp Casey Conference Center on Whidbey Island for full-time faculty and staff. The dates of stay are Sept. 13, 2021, through Jan 3, 2022. Reservation requests are due by June 4, 2021. These requests are selected by lottery and are not affected by summer stays at Casey. Please visit this link to request a reservation. If you are curious how the lottery works or how to stay at Camp Casey with discounted faculty and staff rates, checkout the new HR wiki. Questions? Contact Camp Casey at campcasey@spu.edu.

The Office of Student Involvement and Leadership (OSIL) is seeking returning undergraduate students interested in serving as Orientation leaders this September. Orientation leaders are responsible for a group of new students throughout the Orientation program, and they must possess strong leadership, collaboration, and communication skills. If you have a student to recommend, contact OSIL Campus Program Coordinator Alli Bautista at bautistaa@spu.edu.

If you’ve been using Microsoft Teams and feel comfortable with messaging and calling, this training session is for you. RSVP here to join CIS on Thursday, May 27, 1–1:45 p.m., for an overview of the advanced features this platform has to offer, plus time to have any of your questions answered. Become a Teams power user by using Teams’ collaboration features: Create your own teams, manage communications, file sharing, shared notebooks, and more. This session will be recorded so you may watch it at a later date if you’re unable to attend. Contact CISTrainings@spu.edu with any questions or to let CIS know you want to be notified when the recorded session is available. In the meantime, find more information on the CIS Training Program.

Nearly 6,000 SPU parents and families received the May In the Loop parents newsletter this week. They read about Autumn Quarter’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement, were reminded of the free course for graduating seniors through Tuition Reimagined, learned about the 19 Falcon rowers named to GNAC’s All-Academic Team, and more.

The SPU Art Department is pleased to announce this year’s Illustration/New Pictures Senior Exhibition "Dawning" featuring the work of students Jessica Brown, Verity Gritter, Elly Ha, Emily Lembke, Daniel Lilly, Caitlyn Olexer, and Sabrina Waller. Due to COVID-19, instead of celebrating this work on display at SPAC Gallery on campus, you can view the student projects in their online galleries.

College Cafe, hosted by First Free Methodist Church, is a space for the SPU community to take a break and be served by our FFMC neighbors. Every Monday, 9–11 a.m. (except Memorial Day, May 31) at College Cafe, you can get an espresso drink — just bring your SPU ID, and, if you are able, a $2 donation would be appreciated to sustain the ministry. Entrance is at First Free under the sky bridge. The cafe will continue through finals week.

Take a 10-minute break and join Sharpen or UMin’s Instagram page for a guided time of communal “Breath Prayer.” Join us on Monday, May 31, at 12:30 p.m.

All faculty and staff who come to campus must complete an online self-screening to attest that they meet certain criteria for being on campus (e.g., not exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms). SPU has developed a campuswide tool through Banner (login into Banner and select Personal Menu) to report a daily COVID-19 self-attestation for faculty and staff working on campus (including Camp Casey and Blakely Island). A link to the self-attestation form is also available on the Stay Smart website, which is now highlighted in the top banner on the SPU homepage.

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published weekly during the academic year. Due to the Memorial Day holiday, the next Bulletin will be published Tuesday, June 1, and the deadline is Thursday, May 27. If you have information or event news, send it as soon as possible with an image or graphic to Bulletin editor Tracy Norlen at fsb-editor@spu.edu. Submissions may be edited for clarity.

From the Office of the Provost: We have four faculty retirements at the end of this academic year. Each week in the Bulletin, we will highlight one retiring faculty member.

Christine Hoyle, DNP, ARNP, FNP-BC, associate professor of nursing; associate dean for graduate programs, seven years of service

When Dr. Christine Hoyle began at SPU, she brought 34 years of experience and expertise in nursing practice to her role as associate dean of graduate programs for nursing. As a family nurse practitioner, she had provided primary care to a diverse, multiethnic, low-income, and homeless population with complex medical, mental health, and social needs. In addition, Christine had a depth of experience as a nurse educator, with 23 years of teaching experience at the University of Washington.

Shortly after her arrival in January 2015, it became clear she would be integral in the development and implementation of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Under her leadership, the SPU Nursing graduate programs are considered among the best in the region. She has cultivated faculty members who are clinical experts and devoted to teaching. Christine has made it her goal to help facilitate a rewarding graduate educational journey for her students as they gain knowledge and skills to become the next generation of nursing leaders.Christine’s scope of services to the community has included remaining in clinical practice one day a week at the International Community Health Services clinic in Shoreline, where she continues to serve and care for the underserved families in the community.

Christine has been active in the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, the only organization specifically devoted to promoting high-quality nurse practitioner education. Upon her retirement, Christine looks forward to spending more time with her family and grandchildren. We are sure she also will give back to the nursing community through her nurse practitioner practice, teaching, and other volunteer roles.

Randy Beavers, assistant professor of finance, was one two financial experts who provided insight for readers of ValuePenguin’s findings and article, “Car Insurance Companies Are Charging the Most Disadvantages Drivers the Highest Prices.” 

Scott Edwards, MFT department chair and associate professor, presented at the Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy’s 16th annual Mentor Day on Saturday, May 8. 2021. Edwards presented to early professionals on “Supervision Context for Associates,” as well as “Mentoring and Networking.” Interestingly, when he served as president-elect of WAMFT  in 2005, he developed the inaugural “Mentor Day” conference. He was recognized by current leaders for his role and efforts in creating an important event that still continues today.

A chapter by Sara Koenig, professor of biblical studies, titled “Solomon in Reception History” (p. 511-525) was published in The Oxford Handbook of the Historical Books of the Hebrew Bible. Edited by Brad E. Kelle and Brent A. Strawn. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020.

Alberto Ferreiro, professor of history, attended (virtually) the 56th International Congress on Medieval Studies, May 10–15, 2021, at Western Michigan University. He presided and led discussion in the session, “Medieval Sermon Studies IV: Index, Impact, and Interpretation.”

Jeff Jordan, vice provost for student formation and community, and Nate Mouttet, vice president for enrollment management and marketing, were quoted in the May 20, 2021, Christianity Today online article, “Evangelical Colleges Consider Vaccine Requirements for Fall.”

Touching This Leviathan by Peter Moe, assistant professor of English and director of campus writing, has been included on Seattle Met’s “A Big Seattle Reading List.”