In conversation with Adam Hamilton, the timing of his Commencement visit is not going to work out. Adam and I will continue to look for a time for him to join us on campus to speak at a future date. Given this change, I’m pleased to announce that SPU alumnus and former Board of Trustees member Chi-Dooh “Skip” Li ’66 has graciously agreed to speak to our Class of 2019 graduates. Skip is a longtime supporter and active alumnus, having served as the master of ceremonies for several Downtown Business Breakfasts and the recent 125th anniversary gala. He is a partner with Ellis, Li & McKinstry PLLC in Seattle, and founder of Agros, a nonprofit organization which helps break the cycle of poverty and creates paths to prosperity for farming families in rural Latin America. I’m delighted he is able to share his wisdom with our graduates

As previously announced, we look forward to hearing from Chitra Hanstad, executive director for World Relief Seattle, at the Graduate Commencement ceremony, and Dr. Frank Spina, professor of Old Testament, at Ivy Cutting.

As you read in the February Board Report, Seattle Pacific has a new University seal. The 2019 high ceremonies are the first to bear the new seal, and you will see it take a more prominent place in academic ceremonies going forward.

This year’s Undergraduate Commencement ceremony will mark the inaugural use of the University Mace, which bears the new seal. Representing the authority of the president, the mace always precedes the president in academic high ceremonies. Each year, the past Faculty Chair will serve as the official mace-bearer. For this inaugural year, we are pleased to announce that Dr. Daniel Castelo will bear the University Mace.

A reception for the Visual Communications senior show “EVOLVE” will be Thursday, May 30, 5–7 p.m., in the SPAC Gallery in the Seattle Pacific Art Center at 3 W. Cremona. The show, featuring the work of 16 visual communications graduating seniors, closes June 7. Gallery hours are Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Fall/winter reservation requests are now being taken for Faculty/Staff House at the Camp Casey Conference Center on Whidbey Island for full-time faculty and staff. The dates of stay are September 30, 2019, through January 6, 2020. Reservation requests are due by June 5, 2019. The fall/winter requests are selected by lottery and are not affected by summer stays at Casey. Please remember: If you will be away from your SPU email over the summer, provide an alternate email to contact you, should your name be drawn.

Visit the Camp Casey website to request a reservation. Questions? Contact Camp Casey at 866-661-6604 or campcasey@spu.edu. We look forward to seeing you this winter or sooner!

Nearly 5,100 SPU parents and family members recently received the May 2019 In the Loop parents e-newsletter, which included news about this year’s retiring faculty, the School of Theology’s book celebration, information about summer jobs for students, the upcoming Camp Casey open house, and more.

The SPU Spring Percussion Concert is scheduled for Tuesday, May 28, 7:30 p.m., in the E.E. Bach Theater in McKinley Hall. The concert will feature the SPU Percussion Ensemble, Ethnic Drum Ensemble, and selected student soloists. Works by Lynn Glassock, Mitchell Peters, Scott Ward, Michael Dooley, Robert Muczynski, Daniel Sabanovich will be featured along with drumming of the Bambarra Ethnic Group of Mali, West Africa. Admission is free and the concert is wheelchair accessible. The concert will be livestreamed.

A message from the Center for Applied Learning: Do you know SPU students with entrepreneurial instincts? Or recent alumni who would like to launch a small business? Encourage them to look into the new SPU Launch Fund, a pool of grant money designed to help SPU entrepreneurs get their ventures off the ground. Awards can be for as little as $250 or as much as $2,000, and the next round of grants will be given out this June. Interested parties can learn more and find out how to apply on our website. Questions? Contact the Center for Applied Learning at cal@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.

Your last opportunity to order stationery items in this current fiscal year is 9:59 a.m. on Tuesday, June 4. Order by June 4 and your stationery order will be delivered Monday, June 17, and billed in this current fiscal year. Orders made after 10 a.m. on June 4 will be delivered July 15, and billed in the next fiscal year. For more information, contact Hope McPherson in University Communications at hmcpherson@spu.edu.

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, May 30. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, June 3. Beginning June 10, the Bulletin will be published every other week during the summer. 

A paper by Associate Professor of Physics Kara Gray titled, “Drawings of Energy: Evidence of the Next Generation Science Standards Model of Energy in Diagrams,” was published in the journal Physics Review Physics Education Research. The paper was published with several colleagues, including former faculty members Stamatis Vokos and Rachel Scherr. 

A paper by Assistant Professor of Urban Studies Kate Nesse titled, “Quality of Life in Potential Expansion Locations Is Important to Craft Brewers,” was published in the Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy.

Mischa Willett, instructor of English and writing, had his article “Can You Really Do Humanities Research With Your Undergraduates?” published in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Al Erisman, professor emeritus of business, was recently in Mongolia and led a discussion with senior government officials on the subject of ethics and corruption. Ed Moy, former director of the U.S. Mint, was also on the trip and participated in the discussion. The team met with the president of the country, the speaker of parliament, and other government leaders on May 2. Then they gave a seminar for about 100 senior government leaders on May 3, followed by another seminar for 200 more government leaders on May 4. While in the country, Al and Ed Moy also spoke to business, student, and pastor groups, a seminary, and two churches. The Mongolian visit was sponsored by CBMC (Connecting Business & the Marketplace to Christ) International.

Additionally, a paper by Al and Tripp Parker (Amazon) titled “Artificial Intelligence: a Theological Perspective” was published in Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, a journal of the American Scientific Affiliation, Volume 71, Number 2, June 2019, pp. 95–106.