The SPU Art Department is pleased to kick off our 2023 Senior Exhibition series with the Photography/Studio Art Exhibition, "resid[u]e." This culmination of study features capstone works by students Patricia Fong, Kayla Ketchum, Taylor Schmidt, and Jordan Hayward. Spanning media including photography, printmaking, drawing, video, sculpture and installation, the exhibition represents the range of skills achieved by these students in the last four years. More than this, works in the exhibition explore themes such as memory, lament, joy, and embodiment, inviting us all to consider more deeply what it means to be human.

Please join us for a public reception with refreshments on Thursday, April 20, 5–7 p.m. at SPAC Gallery in the Seattle Pacific Art Center. The exhibition will be on view through April 28.

Student teams will pitch their ideas for socially innovative businesses and organizations that make money and make a difference. Come and vote for your favorite projects. Your votes will decide the winner of the $1,000 People’s Choice prize. Check out the website now, and don’t miss the event on Wednesday, April 19, 2–6 p.m. in Upper Gwinn!

The 2023 Perkins Lecture Series is hosting Dr. Jemar Tisby and Rev. Dominique Gilliard. Join us for the 17th Perkins Lecture with Dr. Tisby on Monday, April 24, and for a panel at the Perkins Chapel on Tuesday, April 25, with Rev. Gilliard, Dr. Tisby, and Dr. Joyce del Rosario. See the Perkins Center website for the full schedule, including the Sunday, April 23, services at which Jemar and Dominique will preach.

A few Christians in the 19th century — particularly those connected with Oberlin College — acted boldly and courageously to end slavery and promote racial equality. Those who did so grounded their activism on Holiness Theology and devotional practices derived from the Wesleyan tradition. The Walls Lecture this year will be a panel presentation given by four professors who have been engaged in a scholarly project known as the “Dialogue on Race and Faith.” The goal of the project has been to study this historical movement and to draw out implications for the Christian church today.

Walls Lecture 2023
“Holiness Abolitionism: Christians Modeling Racial Justice”: A Dialogue on Race and Faith
Tuesday, April 25
7–9 p.m.
Upper Gwinn (Third Floor)

Human Resources will host a series of upcoming events designed to get you ready for retirement. Whether retirement is a distant dream or just around the corner, these events are designed for you!ming soon.

Retirement Ready Seminar
Tuesday, May 9, 4 p.m. 
Hendricks Falcon Club, Royal Brougham Pavilion
Seasoned professionals in the retirement industry will discuss investment strategies, and estate planning. Whether retirement is years or decades away, a smart strategy begins now! 

Light refreshments will be served. You are welcome to bring a guest. Sign up here!

Social Security 101 Virtual Workshop
Wednesday, May 17, 1 p.m. 
Watch for specific webinar link to come!
Speaker: Kirk Larson, Washington State Public Affairs Representative, Social Security Administration. 

Kirk has over 30 years’ experience in Social Security Administration, including published articles and media appearances discussing Social Security topics. Prior to attending the workshop, go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount to create a my Social Security account and print out your Social Security statement.

Get Ready to Retire Webinar
Tuesday, May 23, 1 p.m.
Webinar link.

Speaker: Join Transamerica Consultant Ronee Dakin for an informational webinar to learn about strategies for transitioning into retirement and the questions you should be asking now to prepare.

Transamerica Individual Appointments
Tuesday, May 23–Thursday, May 25, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Human Resources Conference Room

Our Transamerica Consultant Ronee Dakin is back on campus for the first time since COVID. Seize this opportunity to discuss your personal retirement investment strategy or to get your plan started. Sign up here!

A message from SPU Dining Services: Come to Gwinn Commons for dinner and celebrate Earth Day with the SPU Sustainability Club and University Ministries on Thursday, April 20. We will feature a vegetarian-forward and sustainable menu for this special event!

From the Office of Human Resources: SPU’s Transamerica retirement plan offers complimentary access to our retirement planning consultant who can review your personal retirement strategy and discuss any other financial goals you’re working toward. Ronee Dakin, our Transamerica Retirement Planning Consultant, is coming to campus Tuesday–Thursday, May 22–24. Even if retirement is years — or decades — away, having a smart strategy starts today.

Schedule a no-cost, no-obligation appointment at a time convenient for you here.

Tuesday–Thursday, May 22–24
8 a.m.–5 p.m.
HR Conference Room

From SPU Dining Services: Until Friday, April 21, you can take the Dining Preferences survey to let us know more about your meal preferences and habits here at Seattle Pacific! All completed surveys will be entered in a sweepstakes to win a roundtrip airline ticket within the United States. Your feedback is important to us, and we would greatly appreciate your input. Find the survey here!

A message from the Office of Safety and Security: Each year, Seattle Pacific participates in Sexual Assault Awareness Month to raise awareness about gender-based violence on campus. Denim Day is Wednesday, April 26, and we hope to have campuswide participation by students, staff, and faculty to “wear jeans with a purpose” to dispel myths about sexual violence. This event was started in the 1990s following an Italian Supreme Court ruling that overturned a rape conviction after the judge ruled that the victim must have consented because she was wearing tight-fitting jeans. If you’re department would like to participate, OSS is distributing pins that say, “Ask me why I’m wearing denim.”

Additionally, to commemorate Denim Day, OSS is sponsoring a “Denim, Cookies, and Consent” event, which will take place on Wednesday, April 26, in Cremona 102, 6:30–8:30 p.m. We will play games, eat Girl Scout cookies, and talk about consent. This event is open to everyone. If you would like more information or awareness pins for your department, contact Christina Traverso, Title IX/special investigations officer, at traversoc@spu.edu.

The annual “Elephant in the Room” campaign features a life-size elephant in the middle of Martin Square to raise awareness of the problem of sexual assault on campus. Our community is welcome to write words of support and encouragement on the elephant throughout the scheduled times. Resources will also be available for students who want to know more about consent and support resources.

University Communications needs help identifying outstanding students from this year’s graduating class. This request is for undergraduate and graduate students. These students and their achievements will be pitched to media outlets prior to Commencement, as well as used for promotional purposes. Please send the name(s) of the students and a short description about why you are recommending them. Examples would be students who overcame obstacles to graduate, were involved in community service projects, participated in innovative research, started a new venture, took a class that changed their career direction, or did something really interesting. Basically, anything that would make a good story! We will follow up with the student and get permission to use their profile. Send information by email to Director of Public Information Tracy Norlen at tcnorlen@spu.edu.

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published weekly on Mondays during the academic year (or Tuesday if Monday is a holiday). The next deadline is Thursday, April 20, and the next issue will be published Monday, April 24.

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.

Gary Karns, professor of marketing, was chosen as the 2023 recipient of the MEA Marketing Lifetime Achievement Award by the Marketing Educators’ Association. This award recognizes superior and sustained contributions to the academic field of marketing, and Gary's selection as this year’s selection was unanimous.

Mischa Willett, assistant professor of English and writing, had his essay, “Shape-Shifter: the Native American Iconography of Preston Singletary,” published in Image journal.

An article by David Anderson, professor emeritus of music, titled, “There is sweet music here;" The Overlooked Part-song for Mixed Voices in the United Kingdom and the United States 1850–1926,” was published in The Choral Journal. The article reviews the qualities and merits of important historic repertoire written primarily for the amateur choir movements of the 19th century, but has been mostly forgotten. The article summarizes information that David gleaned from research started while still teaching at SPU (aided by a Faculty Research Grant), and continues as a retirement hobby.

The research has unearthed over 1,800 choral pieces including nine arrangements in an 1882 manuscript by eminent composer Charles Villiers Stanford (1852–1924) that have never been published or performed. A first performance is pending. The over 600 composers range from famous to obscure, including over 40 Victorian women. The article also presents the website that David developed as a free resource for this choral genre. New score editions of all these pieces may be downloaded and used by any choir. Sound files for reference are also available.

Alberto Ferreiro, professor emeritus of European history, had his article accepted for publication, “Die Sancti Iohannis: St. Vicent Ferrer on the Feast of John the Baptist in a Catalán Sermon,” in Gregorianum 105, 1 (2024). This the third Vicent sermon on John the Baptist that will be published by Alberto. It is a sermon that highlights Zachariah and Elizabeth as models of holiness and the miraculous events surrounding John’s birth. The Gregorianum is published by the renowned Gregorian University in Rome.

Please join the Office of Human Resources in welcoming new SPU staff member Karen Bravo Garcia, communications officer/dispatcher, Office of Safety and Security.