On September 23, SPU Board of Trustees Chair Cedric Davis sent an email to campus with updates on the work of consulting firm Ventures International and the presidential search process.

A message from Human Resources: Open enrollment is coming Oct. 20–Nov. 5 for the benefit plan year that begins Jan. 1, 2022. This is your opportunity to make changes to your benefit elections — including medical, dental, vision, and flexible-spending accounts for the 2022 benefit plan year. To help you with your benefit decisions, Human Resources will host a Virtual Benefits Webinar Series in October and early November. This will give you an opportunity to hear from benefit providers and receive answers to your questions or concerns. Dates and times will be announced soon.

Please remind students about the Night Against Procrastination on Tuesday, Oct. 5, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The evening is a late night study hall with pizza, snacks, and raffles! There will be many student services there, as well –– study tables, librarians, and tutors from the Research, Reading, and Writing Studio.

The History Department invites you to attend “The War on Terror at 20 Years: Lessons Learned" — a discussion about the impact that the War on Terror has had on the U.S. and on the world. The panel will feature the research of Sara Shaban, assistant professor of communication, Mohammad Qadam Shah, assistant professor of global development, and Alissa Walter, assistant professor of history. The event will be held in Upper Gwinn, Thursday, Sept. 30, 5–7 p.m. and livestreamed at youtu.be/nzMOgJtpsqE.

Seattle Pacific University recently enhanced continuing education offerings to include career accelerators specifically designed to build workplace skills. Students can extend their marketability with a variety of courses, including Project Management, Leadership in Healthcare, Financial Success and Professionalism, Foundations of Data Analytics, and more. Designed for busy professionals, you can begin developing your skillset with SPU through self-paced curriculum led by respected industry experts. Learn more and review all the career accelerator courses.

FLAGG Community Groups for People of Color

Through these FLAGG STAFF/FACULTY Community Groups, we will continue to consider how to facilitate and create spiritually formative places and spaces of connection and community. Groups will meet about three times per quarter online.

• FLAGG Asian/Asian American Community Group: Sign up.
• FLAGG Black/African American Community Group:  Sign up.
• FLAGG LatinX Community Group: Sign up.

FLAGG Catholic Community Group

Gather together with other Catholic STAFF/FACULTY online. We will continue to consider how to facilitate and create spiritually formative places and spaces of connection and community. We know it is helpful to know there are places of support, being known and engaging with one another. This group will meet about three times per quarter. Sign up

The Office of Inclusive Excellence invites you to join us Thursday, September 30, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. for Diversity 101: Exploring the What, Why, and How of Diversity at SPU. Learn more and sign up online. This workshop is required for all new employees.

Go Birds! chronicles Seattle Pacific University sports and how they evolved over time — from the origins of men's competition in 1930s-'40s to the expansion of women's sports in the 1970s. The history is told through stories, beginning in 1950 and extending through SPU's 125th anniversary year in 2016–17. From golden goals to buzzer beaters, the pages are filled with engaging anecdotes and statistics about Falcon players, coaches, and teams. It's a book for Falcon fans, former players, and anyone who appreciates the impact SPU sports have made on the Seattle community and beyond. 

The book was compiled by John Glancy, retired staff member and former director of SPU's 125 anniversary celebration; Wes Lingren, professor emeritus of chemistry and former tennis coach; Frank MacDonald, former SPU sports information director; and Adrienne Meier, University Archivist.

Go Birds! is available on Amazon.com.

From Staff Council: It’s time to get SPOOKY! Come decorate a pumpkin and be entered for a chance to win a $15 gift card to Two Kick Coffee! Winners will be chosen for each category: Spooky, Cute, Falcon Spirit, and Most Creative. Staff Council will provide all art supplies as well as pumpkins while supplies last; you just need to supply that creative spirit! Join us Thursday, Sept. 30, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., in Martin Square. 

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published weekly during the academic year. The next deadline is Thursday, Sept. 30, and the next issue will be published Monday, Oct. 4. 

If you have information or event news, send it as soon as possible with an image or graphic to Bulletin editor Tracy Norlen at fsb-editor@spu.edu. Submissions may be edited for clarity.

Peter Moe, associate professor of English and writing, had his article, “Teaching as a First-Time Reader,” republished on the National Council of Teachers of English blog. His article was first appeared in the May 2021 issue of Teaching English in the Two-Year College. 

Jeffrey Overstreet, assistant professor of English and writing, was a guest in late August on a webinar hosted by Renovaré (a nonprofit founded by Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline). Hosted by musician and recording artist Carolyn Arends, the webinar focused on “Formational Films” — films that have influenced personal faith. Jeff and Carolyn were also joined by film scholar Catherine Barsotti and Renovaré President Chris Hall. Watch the webinar on YouTube.

Please join the Office of Human Resources in welcoming Jason Harris, graduate program advisor/coordinator, School of Business, Government, and Economics.

Robert McIntosh, former vice president for University Advancement, emeritus director of the Seattle Pacific Foundation, former SPU Board of Trustees member, and SPU alumnus, passed away Sept. 25, 2021.

Bob’s long devotion to SPU was marked by vision, leadership, wise counsel, and encouragement. After graduating from SPU in 1964, he held a variety of business positions in real estate banking, property management, and real estate development. He served on the SPU Board of Trustees for 11 years before becoming vice president for University Advancement in 1996. As vice president, his responsibilities included all aspects of donor relations, parent and alumni relations, fundraising strategies, capital campaign management, and utilization of alumni for national and international positioning of the institution. He also worked closely with the chief financial officer and the SPU Foundation for management of real estate assets acquired and owned by the institution. He retired in 2008.

He served on the Seattle Pacific Foundation Board of Directors for 16 years, and he also served as chair of the Foundations’ property committee. A 2016 resolution recognizing his long service stated Bob “is known throughout the business and investment communities for his Christian ethics and his sincere concern for following God’s leadership in his life …”

Please keep his wife, Donna, children Kimberlee and Kevin, and the entire McIntosh family in your prayers. Details on a memorial service will be shared at a later date.

Twenty years ago, on September 25, 2001, Emerson Hall officially opened as SPU’s newest residence hall. Emerson’s suite-style living spaces and contemporary Northwest architecture landed it on the front page of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "No Milk Crates or Beanbags in These Swanky New Dorms," as the centerpiece of a larger story on new residence halls opening at universities around Washington state.

Despite a higher price tag for students than rooms in other residence halls, Emerson proved to be a popular residence for SPU students, who appreciated the private bathrooms, exercise room, lounges, sitting patio, and prayer chapel.

Learn more about Emerson Hall in the SPU history wiki.