A message from Vice President for Student Life Jeff Jordan: I want to let the SPU community know that Erin O'Connell has resigned after seven years as the athletic director. Her work and effort led to many changes that will benefit our student-athletes and community for years to come, and she represented SPU athletics well in many ventures for multiple programs. Before being named athletic director in 2009 (succeeding Tom Box), Erin worked 12 years on the SPU athletics senior administrative staff, the first five as the compliance director and senior woman administrator. We are grateful for her years of service, and wish her all the best. You can read more about Erin’s many accomplishments in the Athletics Department press release.

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From Conference Services: As a new academic year is about to begin and event requests are coming in, it’s a good time for a few reminders about requesting space on campus. All space requests for meetings and events can be made through SPU Room Finder. For general campus space (classrooms, meeting room, etc.) the typical response time for a request is two business days. Requests for Upper Gwinn may take a bit longer, as the space is in high demand and many times Conference Services needs to consult with other event requestors and service providers to confirm all event details before putting the space on hold. Once you receive a “Hold Email,” pay close attention to the deadline date of keeping or releasing the requested date as other clients may be waiting for the same date. Please remember to wait for an official confirmation before moving forward with the planning of any event. If you have questions, contact Conference Services at 206-281-2187 or conferenceservices@spu.edu.

If you are planning an event in Martin Square, Tiffany Loop, Fifth Avenue streetscape, SUB lawn, or other outdoor space on campus, reserve it through SPU Room Finder. Submitting an event through Room Finder allows you to book space and send the information to the SPU Master Calendar (if appropriate) at the same time. All events held on-campus can now be entered through Room Finder, and all SPU-sponsored events not on campus can be posted directly through the SPU Master Calendar by selecting “Submit an Event.”

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A message from Adam Finch, intramural and equipment manager: Monday and Wednesday soccer has been a huge success! We are continuing through summer and would love for you to join us. Summer is EXACTLY the time of year I want to be outside and enjoy these beautiful summer days, I hope you will consider joining us. Here are some of the details ― this is a very friendly game (all skill levels are TRULY welcome). We play a simple small-sided pickup game on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. with staff, faculty, alumni, and students on Wallace Field (as it’s available). If you would like to join us, contact me at acfinch@spu.edu and I will add you to the email list. I also help organize weekly basketball games, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays and sometimes on Fridays. If you are interested in this form of exercise and community, email me as well and I’ll add you to the list. I look forward to including more of you in these activities.

The Gwinn Commons dining hall summer hours are posted online. The hours will be updated daily for the upcoming week. Remember that dining hall hours are based on Conference Services clients and internal groups and are subject to change. Hours for the other campus dining retailers can also be found online. Contact conferenceservices@spu.edu if you have any questions.

The Office of Conference Services would like the SPU community to be aware of the many groups that visit campus during the summer for conferences, workshops, or annual meetings. The following groups will be on campus during the next several weeks. Please welcome these visitors when you see them. 

Summer Institute
Discovery Institute
Puget Sound Chamber Music (Music Center of the Northwest)
Brazil Science Mobility Program (A.C.E.)
Boy Scouts of America, Troop 481
Olathe College Church of the Nazarene
Washington Re-Education Association
A.C.E. York Program
South Tulsa Baptist Church
Baroque Northwest
University of Virginia Darden School Foundation

Prospective students and their families will be on campus Friday, July 24, for the next Undergraduate Admissions “Summer Visit Day.” Students and their families will take a campus tour, hear about the admissions process, learn about financial aid, and meet current students, staff, and professors. Please welcome them.

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There will not be a Sitecore and Contribute brownbag lunch this month. The next brownbag will be Thursday, August 20. If you have anything specific you need help with in the meantime, email Kathy Henning in University Communications at kathy@spu.edu.

The Office of University Communications will be closed July 20-22 for its annual in-house organization and planning. Although the office will be closed, the UC staff will be on-site and available to assist clients in the case of emergencies. If you have an urgent need, call Office Manager Julia Weir at 206-281-2051, and she 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 if you have questions or concerns. Thank you for helping us prepare for a new academic year.

During the summer, the Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published every other week. 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 23. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, July 27.

Assistant Director of Sports Information Mark Moschetti was named the 2015 winner of the Excellence in Communications Award for NCAA Division II by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Mark was an award-winning sportswriter in the Northwest and served as sports editor and writer for the Valley Daily News and King County Journal. He wrote for the Auburn Reporter before joining the SPU athletics staff in September 2008. Congratulations, Mark!

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Family and Consumer Sciences professors Raedene Copeland and Sharleen Kato attended the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences national meeting in Jacksonville, Florida, in June. Raedene was invited to lead an educational workshop titled “Fantastical Identities: The Lure of Social Media.”  Sharleen facilitated a roundtable session titled “The Life(span) of Pi: Integrating STEM Concepts When Teaching Lifespan Development”  and was an invited participant and leader in the summit workshop “Filling the Pipeline: Secondary FCS Teacher Shortages.”

SPU’s Master Gardener Jeff Daley will give a series of lectures at local nurseries on ornamental grasses. The events are free, and attendees receive a 20 percent discount coupon to use at the respective nurseries. The lectures are Sunday, July 19, 1 p.m. at West Seattle Nursery and Sunday, July 26, at City Peoples Garden Store in Madison Park.

The Office of Human Resources would like the SPU community to join us in welcoming the following new staff members. Contact information can be found on the online SPU White Pages.

Alyse Bradway, loans and collections coordinator, Student Financial Services
Kathie Delph, corporate and foundation relations officer, University Advancement
James Esparza, receptionist, School of Education
Alec Forsyth, security officer, Safety and Security
Jasmine Hairston, admissions counselor for multi-cultural outreach, Undergraduate Admissions
George Kourtev, security officer, Safety and Security
An Tran, advancement officer, University Advancement

A photo gallery from SPU’s Ivy Cutting on June 12 was featured at seattletimes.com. A photo from the ceremony also appeared in the print edition on June 13. View the photo gallery online.

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Program Coordinator for Disability Support Services Angela Tucker was recently interviewed by Anderson Cooper of CNN about the meaning of “transracial” in the adoption community. Angela, an African-American, was raised by a Caucasian couple in a large, multiracial family and is a frequent speaker on transracial adoption. You can view the interview online.

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Former staff member Raymond Maier passed away on June 8, 2015, at the age of 83. He held several positions at Seattle Pacific during the late 1950s and early 1960s, including business manager, vice president of development, and director of admissions. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 17, at Hillsdale Community Church, United Church of Christ, in Portland. More information can be found in his obituary in the Lake Oswego Review.

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