As we begin another academic year, I want to let you know about some changes in University Advancement and give you an update on our second Grand Reunion next month.

Bryan Jones, who has led Alumni and Parent Relations for three years, is moving back into full-time fundraising. He will focus his 16 years of university relationships in the area of endowments and gift planning, which is a strategic focus for Seattle Pacific. He will work with Marlon Sandlin, director of endowments and gift planning, who has served in this capacity for 17 years.

Since 2014, Bryan has worked to strengthen our connections with alumni, as well as partnering with our successful 125th anniversary celebration. Bryan has led us in thinking about how to strategically engage alumni in new ways. For example, more than 1,000 alumni and friends participated in last year’s inaugural Grand Reunion, one of the largest-attended events on campus. He also worked with the Center for Career and Calling to launch Switchboard, an online community with more than 1,000 SPU community members. I want to personally thank Bryan for serving as SPU’s main ambassador to more than 35,000 alumni around the world, as well as his deep loyalty to Seattle Pacific. We will launch a search for a new director later this year.

Amanda Stubbert, previously assistant director in Alumni and Parent Relations and alumna from the Class of 1995, will serve as interim director. She is a familiar face around campus and previously worked as assistant director for campus experience and events in Undergraduate Admissions.

In July we welcomed alumnus Gerdon Jones '15 as our student and GOLD alumni engagement coordinator. While at SPU, he worked as an office assistant in Multi-Ethnic Programs and was president of the Black Student Union. Since graduating, Gerdon earned a master’s degree at Seattle University in transformational leadership from the School of Theology and Ministry. Welcome back, Gerdon!

Rounding out the Alumni and Parent Relations staff is Jennifer Hunt, who heads up marketing and communications with a heavy social media presence. She just celebrated her first year with us. 

A week and a half after Autumn Quarter begins on September 25, we will host our second Grand Reunion, October 6-7. Last year’s inaugural Grand Reunion was a great success, and we are excited to have hundreds of alumni and their families back on campus again for two days of special events.

As always, faculty and staff are warmly invited to attend any and all events and catch up with former students and friends. Thank you to all department and affinity groups who are hosting alumni!

Finally, fiscal year 2017 was SPU’s third-strongest fundraising year ever, at over $9.1 million. We celebrate campuswide partnerships with deans and faculty members, which have led to recent significant gifts — thank you for your excellence and innovation. It is a pleasure to serve on behalf of this university.

Faculty and staff are invited to the Taste of SPU on Saturday, October 7, beginning at 5 p.m. in Upper Gwinn during Grand Reunion Weekend. Eat delicious food and experience the favorite traditions of SPU over the years through fun interactive stations. From the Autumn Harvest Festival and Shapadooah to Tradition and the Talent Show, bring the whole family, grab a map on your way in, and get a stamp at each station for a free prize. Learn more and get your tickets today at spu.edu/grandreunion. Tickets are $11 for adults, $7 for students, and $5 for children 8 and younger.

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From the Wellness Initiative: With a new school year approaching, students may begin to set goals and expectations for their performance. Unrealistically high anticipation or belief around being a “good” student can present itself as perfectionism. As students begin Autumn Quarter, it’s necessary to address the potential negative consequences of perfectionism and facilitate goals that are more realistic. Fortunately, self-compassion and resiliency-related behaviors may help mitigate undergraduate distress and depressive symptoms stemming from maladaptive perfectionism. To learn more, visit the Wellness blog.

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A message from Cynthia Johnston, student employment coordinator: This is an excellent opportunity to meet nearly 500 students who are seeking part-time jobs while attending SPU. This year's job fair will be on Thursday, September 28, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Students are looking for a variety of employment opportunities, and come with a wide array of previous work experience and classroom experience to suit your business needs. We have limited space this year, so register today. As an on-campus employer, you will receive a discount during registration. (If you have any part-time openings at your organization for current students, join us at the Fall Job Fair.) Register online, and select “Fairs” tab. If you do not already have a Handshake account, you will need to create one.

Graduate Admissions has moved from Demaray Hall to the second floor of 4 Nickerson Street. Prospective graduate students should be directed there to receive information about SPU graduate programs.

The women’s volleyball team and the men’s soccer team play home games this week, and the men’s and women’s cross country teams compete in Lincoln Park in West Seattle. Visit the spufalcons.com for all the latest information.

Thursday, September 14

Women’s volleyball vs Concordia-Portland, Brougham Pavilion, 7 p.m.

Men’s soccer vs Fort Hays State, Interbay Stadium, 7 p.m.

Saturday, September 16

Women’s volleyball vs Western Oregon, Brougham Pavilion, 7 p.m.

Men’s and women’s cross country, Sundodger Invitational, Lincoln Park, 9 a.m. 

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, September 14. The next Bulletin will be published on Monday, September 18. 

An article by Assistant Professor of Sociology Joshua Tom was published in Social Science Research with co-author Samuel Stroope of Louisiana State University. The article was titled “In-home Firearm Access Among U.S. Adolescents and the Role of Religious Subculture: Results From a Nationally Representative Study.” Read the abstract online.

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Joey Collins, assistant professor of industrial-organizational psychology, will travel to Washington, D.C., in October. He was selected to serve on a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and National Cooperative Highway Research Program panel, which will look at the current state of practice associated with the implementation of surface transportation workforce development strategies.

Rob McKenna, chair of the Department of Industrial-Organizational Psychology, was recently featured in the Best Christian Workplaces Institute blog. He spoke about the "5 Ways to Know the True Health of Your Leadership." Read the interview online. 

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Jaeil Lee, professor and director of the apparel design and merchandising program, taught an intensive course titled “Global Apparel Product Development” at Intermark (International Design and Marketing College) at Jian Quiao University in Shanghai, China, in June. Intermark is the international college of Jian Quiao University, focusing on design and marketing.

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

Eric Black, software systems engineer, Computer & Information Systems
Julia Block, graduate admissions counselor, Graduate Admissions
Thomas Coyne, security officer, Safety and Security
Teylar Greer, executive assistant, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Tammy Lee, assessment and data specialist, Institutional Research
Ruth Moon, editor of Response magazine, University Communications
Jessica Nguyen, undergraduate admissions counselor, University Recruitment and Admissions
Suzanna Ohlsen, assistant coach – women’s basketball, Athletics
Priscilla Ozodo, minister of worship, University Ministries
Matt Pfiffner, interim residence life coordinator, Residence Life

A research study by Associate Professor of Biology Cara Wall-Scheffler and alumnus Ryan Alcantara '15 was featured on Seattle ABC affiliate KOMO-TV (Channel 4) on August 28. The research was the first in-depth study of biomechanics and calorie expenditures when running with strollers. This segment was also shown around the country in other TV affiliates. The study was also featured in The New York Times Sunday magazine on August 27. Watch the KOMO story online.

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