The 2023 Perkins Lecture Series is hosting Dr. Jemar Tisby and Rev. Dominique Gilliard on campus this week. Join us for the 17th Perkins Lecture with Dr. Tisby on Monday, April 24, 7 p.m., Upper Gwinn Commons, and for a panel at the Perkins Chapel on Tuesday, April 25, 11:10 a.m., Upper Gwinn Commons, with Rev. Gilliard, Dr. Tisby, and Dr. Joyce del Rosario. See the Perkins Center website for the full schedule.

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)

Celebrate your colleagues and express your appreciation for their committed years of service during the annual Celebration of Service. The Professor of the Year and Staff Members of the Year will also be announced. The event will be held in Royal Brougham Pavilion on Thursday, May 11, at 11:10 a.m. There will be a community reception immediately following the event. All offices are closed during the celebration so faculty and staff can attend.

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.

Visit the SPAC Gallery in the Seattle Pacific Art Center to see the exhibition through April 28.

From Hope Evans, director of marketing and communications in University Communications: “We’d like to give a special thanks to the faculty who participated in the making of our "Enduring Commitments" video about SPU’s core values and beliefs. Thank you for giving us your time and energy. We appreciate you.” You can watch the video here.

Join us on Tuesday, May 2, 4–5:30 p.m., in the Fine Center at First Free Methodist Church (adjacent to campus) as we celebrate books recently published by School of Theology faculty and hear reviews from local pastors on each book.

• Workshop of the Holy Spirit: An Invitation to Theological Education by Doug Strong
• The Radiance of God: Christian Doctrine Through the Image of Divine Light by Doug Koskela
• Making Christianity Manly Again: Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, and American Evangelicalism by Jennifer McKinney
• AI, Faith, and the Future: An Interdisciplinary Approach by Michael Paulus and Michael Langford

From the Faculty Life Office: Are you a faculty member preparing for a third-year review, tenure, or promotion? Join the Status Committee for a File Building Workshop on Wednesday, May 3, 4–5 p.m., or on Thursday, May 4, 11:10 a.m.–12:10 p.m. Both sessions will be in the Library classroom.

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.

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 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!

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

Now on SPU Voice podcast: Peter Choi came to SPU as an international student from Korea to study journalism. His career took off immediately after graduation, working as an international correspondent for the Korean National News during the pandemic, which left Peter and his new wife quarantining on opposite sides of the globe. They were recently reunited when Peter became a local multimedia reporter for KXLY-TV in Spokane. Listen to the podcast or read the transcript online here or wherever you get your podcasts.

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.

After two years in the SPU homepage global header, the Stay Smart webpage has moved to the Health Services website and updated to reflect the post-pandemic campus COVID-19 policies. You can find it here.

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 27, and the next issue will be published Monday, May 1.

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.

Lynn Ernsting, director of University Services, has received the 2023 NACCU Outstanding Volunteer Award. Lynn has volunteered for the National Association of Campus Card Users since joining the organization in 2016. Since then, she has served on the Membership Committee, Awards Committee, Ambassadors (currently as the chair), and she has volunteered as a session moderator, conference host, webinar presenter, and blog contributor. She has also worked to bring in new institutions to NACCU membership and co-initiated (with Gonzaga) a Washington State Carding Group for other four-year institutions’ campus card offices. Said Lynn, “It’s an organization I feel strongly about and have poured many hours into because of how much it has benefited myself and our campus community.” Congratulations, Lynn!

Katherine Douglass, associate professor of educational ministry and practical theology, had her article, “Holy Disorientation,” published in the Journal of Youth and Theology. 

Please join the Office of Human Resources in welcoming new SPU staff member Alter Calubana, technology support analyst II, Computer and Information Systems.

Karen Snedker, professor of sociology, was quoted in the April 16, 2023, article “Is homelessness a threat to public safety in Clark County?” in The Columbian.