I want to let faculty and staff know that we are now seeking applicants for a vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion (VPDEI). As I mentioned in my February BOT report, the decision to seek this new member of our community reflects the next phase in the continuing development of diversity and reconciliation work that has been ongoing for nearly two decades at SPU. Our hope is to have this new Senior Leadership Team member hired within the 2016-17 academic year.

The main role of the VPDEI will be to provide vision, leadership, coordination, and strategic planning in a collaborative manner for the design and implementation of institution-wide efforts to ensure diversity, inclusion, equity, respect, and the promotion of reconciliation in the SPU community. The primary goal is that SPU will model inclusion and equal opportunity for achievement.

The current members of the VPDEI Search Committee are:

Bo Lim, University Chaplain, (Chair)
Debra Sequeira, Dean of Arts and Humanities
Dave Stewart, Chair and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology
Jorge Preciado, Assistant Professor of Education; Chair of Special Education
Raedene Copeland, Assistant Professor of Textiles & Clothing
Caenisha Warren, Budget Manager, Coordinator for Events and Student Ministries, John Perkins Center
Susan Okamoto Lane, Dean of Multi-Ethnic and Wellness Programs
Lola Sosanya, ASSP President

I’m grateful for Bo’s leadership on the committee, and I would ask for your prayers for them, the search process, and the candidates as we move forward.

SPU is honored to host the 2016 Free Methodist Bible Quiz finals on our campus from Monday, June 27, through Friday, July 1. Hundreds of young students and their families will participate in the competition during the day, as well as take part in various on- and off-campus activities each evening. Please look for these guests and make them feel welcome.

A message from Alumni and Parent Relations: Let your car display your Falcon pride — while supporting SPU student scholarships! Seattle Pacific has begun the process to create an official SPU Falcon Washington state license plate. Before the Department of Licensing considers the SPU plate series, it requires at least 3,500 intended license plate purchases from Washington state vehicle owners. Each license plate purchase will contribute $28 to support SPU student scholarships. Help make it happen by signing the online signature form.

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Bloodworks Northwest will host a blood drive on campus Friday, July 15, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. near the entrance of Tiffany Loop. There’s an extra need for donations during the summer, so encourage friends and family members to stop by and donate. Schedule an appointment online.

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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.

Here are retail dining specials for the week of June 27-July 1.

Common Grounds: 20 percent off any grande drink

Subway: 20 percent off any footlong sandwich

C-store: Silk milk (Chocolate or Vanilla) for .49 cents; Kar Trail or Nut mix for 25 cents; Chex Mix Honey Nut or Chocolate Caramel mix for 25 cents; and two 28-ounce Gatorade beverages for $3.33.

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published every other week during the summer. 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, July 7. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, July 11, 2016. 

An article by Max Hunter, assistant professor of biology, titled “Gene Editing, Race, and the Social Contract,” was recently published in The Christian Century. The article is co-authored with biochemistry graduate Dylan Marashi ’15.

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An article by Professor of History Michael Hamilton titled “Whoring After the Gods of Babylon? Or Pining for the Fleshpots of Egypt?” was recently published in the peer-reviewed Fides et Historia 48:1 (Winter/Spring 2016): 115-126. This article contributes to a decade-and-a-half-long conversation in the pages of the journal about the nature of Christian scholarship in the discipline of history.

School of Education professors Art Ellis and John Bond are the authors of a new book, Research on Educational Innovations. This is the fifth edition of the book, but the first time John has joined Art as co-author.

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Robert Chamberlain, professor emeritus of communication, passed away June 23. He was a member of the SPU faculty from 1978 to 1999 and was twice chair of the faculty. He graduated from Cascade College in 1961. Affectionately labeled “Dr. Bob” by his students, he presided over the Department of Communication and Journalism for 15 of his 21 years. He was known as a storyteller, speech maker, professional baker, and master carpenter. Please pray for his wife, Betty, and family. Services are pending. Bob was featured in Response magazine upon his retirement in June 1999.

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Pat Burris, wife of the late Professor Emeritus of Computer Science Chuck Burris, passed away June 9 after a long battle with cancer. Chuck passed away earlier this year on February 12. Prayers of support for daughter Dr. Krista Burris Kim ’91 and her family are appreciated.