Join us for the Day of Common Learning on Wednesday, Jan. 24, beginning with the keynote address at 10 a.m. in Royal Brougham Pavilion. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Kate Ott, is professor of Christian social ethics and the director of the Stead Center for Ethics and Values at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. She will set the tone for the day in her keynote address on "Digital Discernment: Navigating Life, Faith, and Technology." The day also features breakout sessions at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. around this topic.

Classes before 3 p.m. are canceled so the community can come together around this important topic. Classes from 3 p.m. onward will take place as usual. For the complete schedule, including the Faculty Luncheon with Dr. Ott, visit the Day of Common Learning website.

On Saturday, Feb. 3, the Faith Formation Project, led by Dr. Katie Douglass, associate professor of educational ministry and practical theology, will partner with Bethany Community Church to host the Thriving Conference. This is open to anyone who has adolescents in their lives and wants to hear from expert speakers and engage in meaningful conversations around important topics. Learn more and register online. There will be four SPU professors leading breakout sessions: Dr. Jenny Lee Vaydich, Dr. Paul Kim, Dr. Brittany Tausen, and Dr. Thane Erickson. If you are a parent of an adolescent or work with teens in some capacity, this will be a great resource for you! Please share widely with your networks.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author, historian, and theologian Dr. Ronald C. White will be on campus to share about his new book on Joshua Chamberlain, the famous Civil War general who was also a committed Christian and abolitionist. This latest release is an important companion for his previous books on Lincoln, Grant, and the social gospel. Enjoy significant conversations around issues of racial justice and Christian participation in war. His talk is co-hosted by the School of Theology and the History Department. This event is free and no registration required.

"On Great Fields: The Life and Unlikely Heroism of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain”
Thursday, January 25, 2024, 7–9 p.m.
First Free Methodist Church (Fine Center)

A message from University Ministries: Save the dates! Come join us for our winter All-University chapels on Tuesdays, 11:10 a.m. in First Free Methodist Church. These should be office closure chapels, so please look for Chaplain Lisa’s email for “Office Closure” signs for each chapel. Hope to see you there!

Jan. 30 – Sermon on the Mount Series focusing on prayer with Rev. Dr. Brian Lugioyo, Dean of the School of Theology
Feb. 13 – Sermon on the Mount Series focusing on Life in Christ with Rev. Kelsey Rorem, Associate Chaplain, University Ministries
Feb. 27 – Invitation to Lent with Scott Erickson, artist, author, speaker, and visual curator for spiritual stuff

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published every Monday during the academic year, or Tuesday if Monday is a holiday. The next deadline is Thursday, Jan. 18. The next issue will be published Monday, Jan. 22.

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.

In recognition of his service to the SPU community, Fernando Ornelas, lead communications officer/dispatcher in the Office of Safety and Security, was nominated by his peers and selected by Staff Council as the 2023 December Staff Member of the Month. Congratulations and thank you, Fernando! Learn more about Fernando and nominate a colleague for recognition on the Staff Council website.

Kirsten Koetje and Jorge Preciado, professors in the School of Education, received Alternative Route Block Grants from the state to help fund the certification of teachers in endorsement shortages. Kirsten and Jorge are partnering with the Kent and Issaquah Schools for the grant. The awards span two cohort years, 2024–26, for a total of $280,000.

Alberto Ferreiro, professor emeritus of history, was a guest speaker for a live event on Zoom in December for the Follow the Way Ltd. based in Dublin, Ireland, which promotes and organizes activities for those who wish to experience the Camino to Santiago de Compostela. The title of the session was, “El Camino: From the Middle Ages to Modern Insights." Some of the topics discussed were: Origins of devotion to Santiago, pilgrimages to Galicia before Santiago, spirituality of a pilgrimage, history of the rise, decline, and resurgence of the Way to Santiago de Compostela. Alberto has published articles on all of these topics.

Please join the Office of Human Resources in welcoming the following new staff members. 

Jody Johnson, benefits specialist, Human Resources
Zeth Bolosan, program coordinator, Master of Fine Arts

An opinion piece on the need for better local governance around homelessness by Karen Snedker, professor of sociology, was published in The Seattle Times on Jan. 7, 2024. The piece was titled "Rise in homelessness reflects a governance crisis."