Enjoy an evening of fun and laughter for the whole family featuring the Taproot Theatre improv team in Tiffany Loop on Wednesday, July 24, at 6 p.m. Sponsored by First Free Methodist Church, this event includes a bake sale, benefiting the Queen Anne Helpline. Grab a picnic dinner and enjoy lawn games and the bake sale at 6 p.m. The improv performance begins at 7 p.m.

Bloodworks Northwest will host a blood drive on campus Friday, July 12 , 9 a.m.–3 p.m. near the entrance of Tiffany Loop. Schedule an appointment online.

A message from Mailing Services: As we all begin our summer schedules, please let us know if your office will be closed on any particular day, week, or month, or will be consistently closed at a certain time. We would be happy to hold your mail until your return. Thank you so much, and may your days be filled with warmth and much sunshine.

Do you know someone who’s considering teaching abroad? Invite him or her to join the 2019 summer cohort to earn TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification in just four weeks. Candidates will learn in a hands-on learning environment while completing 12 graduate-level credits. The Center for Professional Education is partnering with Interlink International Institutes to provide candidates with practical experience in an ESL classroom where “students are developing superior English and academic skills, as well as cultural sensitivity and understanding.” Those who complete the program are eligible to apply credits toward a K–12 ELL endorsement. For more information, visit the program page.

To prepare for the upcoming academic year, the Office of University Communications will be closed July 8–10 for its annual in-house Organization Week. Although the office will be closed, the UC staff will be onsite and available if needed. If you have an urgent request, call Office Manager Mik Roque at 206-281-2051, and he will connect you with the appropriate staff member. If you are currently working with UC on a project, your communications specialist will ensure that the closure does not cause any delays. Please call your communications specialist or Mik if you have questions or concerns.

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 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 18. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, July 22.

Staff Council is honored to announce the July Staff of the Month — Jake Carlson, associate director of undergraduate programs in the School of Business, Government, and Economics! Jake was nominated by his peers and selected by Staff Council as the July Staff of the Month in recognition of his attentive presence with and generous service to students, staff, and faculty. We invite you to join us in thanking and congratulating Jake! 

Learn more about Jake and nominate a colleague for recognition on the Staff Council website.

Poems by Christy Barnes, endorsement and marketing coordinator in the Center for Professional Education, were recently published in the latest issues of Prairie Schooner and Cream City Review.

Associate Professor of Education Kris Gritter and her research group are the recipients of the 2019 TAR Editors Award for Column Excellence. Across the 11 columns published in this fifth volume year, the article “‘Not Everyone’s Darling’: Censorship and Knowledge Construction in Habibi” was deemed by the selection committee as most impressively demonstrating excellence in writing and making a significant contribution to the field of young adult literature. 

An article by Assistant Professor of Education Robin Henrikson titled “Using Online Lectures to Promote Engagement: Recognising the Self-Directed Learner as Critical for Practical Inquiry” was published in the Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning. JOFDL is the official journal of the Flexible Learning Association of New Zealand.

Master Gardener Jeff Daley will lead a free workshop titled “Ornamental Grasses for the Modern Garden” at Swanson's Nursery in Seattle on Sunday, July 14, at 11 a.m.

The Office of Human Relations would like to welcome the following new employees:

Boma Andrew-Jaja, certification specialist, Administrator & ESA programs, School of Education
Courtney Hollander, events coordinator, University Advancement
Lauren Pattie, church communications and ethnographic research lead, Theology
Mik Roque, office manager, University Communications

The Office Human Resources would like to congratulate the following staff members on their new appointments:

Carlie Curlee, senior counselor, Student Financial Services
Sharon Barr-Jeffrey, director, Student Counseling Center
Serena Manzo, director, Multi-Ethnic Programs
Annie Reed, budget and office manager, Student Financial Services

Christianity Today magazine features a cover story written by School of Business, Government, and Economics professors Bruce Baker and Tom Parks. Their article is titled, “The Gleaner’s Edge: How an Old Testament practice can transform the way we do business today."

An op-ed by Brad Murg, assistant professor of political science and director of global development studies, titled "Sihanoukville Tragedy and China: Time for a Serious Discussion" was published on June 27 in the Phnom Penh Post. Brad was also interviewed and quoted by the Asia Times as to potential future trajectories of U.S. foreign policy in East and Southeast Asia in light of recent developments at the U.S. Department of State and in the White House. While in Phnom Penh, Brad was also appointed "visiting professor of political science" at Paragon International University where he is currently teaching a summer course on Chinese politics to a class of Cambodian political science undergraduates.