Be sure to RSVP by Feb. 1 for the inauguration of Dr. Deana L. Porterfield, 12th president of Seattle Pacific, on Friday, Feb. 23, 10 a.m. at First Free Methodist Church. An afternoon panel called "Navigating Differences in a Time of Polarization" will be held at 2 p.m. in Upper Gwinn Commons and all faculty and staff are invited to attend.

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.

The Art Department is thrilled to host visiting artist Daniel Chang, associate professor of art at Biola University, during the week of January 22 as he creates a site-specific sculptural installation titled, "I walk walking to the corner I walked" at the Seattle Pacific Art Gallery, located at 3 West Cremona. During Daniel's visit there will be a couple of opportunities for engagement. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to stop by for any of the following events. You are also welcome to simply visit the gallery during regular hours, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday-Thursday, to explore Daniel's creative work. The exhibit runs through March 8. 

Day of Common Learning conversation with Katie Kresser, professor of art history, and Daniel Chang.

"Digital Detox: Art and Embodiment"
Wednesday January 24
1–1:50 p.m., Art Center 5
2–2:50 p.m., Art Center 5

As communication technologies become more and more pervasive, penetrating our private spaces and moving entire communities into "virtual space," the art world responds by creating evermore embodied, visceral, and interactive experiences. In this breakout session, SPU Art History Professor Katie Kresser will interview multimedia artist Daniel Chang about both his work in digital media and his recent performance piece, "Breath of God: Please Remove Your Shoes," staged at Biola University. In this interactive piece, which included elements of sound, light, and movement, Chang hoped to create a physical experience of journeying and transition that would help visitors detox from the harms of COVID-era "digital" isolation. Chang will also present his new exhibition of works in the SPU Art Center Gallery.

Artist talk and reception: Thursday January 25, 9:30–10:30 a.m., Coffee reception to follow, 10:30–11:30 a.m. 

SPU Theatre presents, "The Old Man and the Old Moon," an imaginative musical inspired by Celtic folklore which invites us to remember from whence we have come while inviting us into a new and whimsical future. Audiences of all ages are sure to be pulled into the fun as actors swap banjos and fiddles, shadow puppets and swords, and ropes and sails as imagination takes flight. 

"The Old Man and the Old Moon"
E.E. Bach Theatre, McKinley Hall
Feb. 1–3; 8–10 (All shows at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee at 2:30 p.m. on February 10.)
Buy tickets online.

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)

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.

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

A message from Educational Technology and Media: This quarter we’re running a three-part series looking at ways to support student belonging and engagement in the digital side of your course, interspersed with other campus workshops. We are returning to the format of an in-person workshops on Wednesdays, 12–1 p.m. at lunch which we repeat (and record) on Friday morning, 10–11 a.m. online. On-campus sessions are held in the ETM offices in the lower level of the library. Online sessions are on Zoom.

Week 5: Digital Belonging II: Increasing community in your course site to foster student belonging
Jan 31, 12–1 p.m. in ETM and Feb 2, 10–11 a.m. on Zoom. Contact ETM at etmhelp@spu.edu for the Zoom link.

Week 7: Digital Belonging III: How are your students doing? Using early assignments, canvas data, and mid-quarter feedback to support student engagement.
Feb 14, 12–1 p.m. in ETM and and Feb 16, 10–11 a.m. on Zoom. Contact ETM at etmhelp@spu.edu for the Zoom link.

Other upcoming workshops are Week 6: 'A computer can do that — AI and your course,'" Feb 7, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. and “Week 10: Open Education Week." More information and lunch sign up are coming, but the library is offering a drop-in lab session to let you see how some different AI tools handle your assignments. 

The Faculty Diversity Committee and Faculty Life Office invite faculty and staff of color to a networking luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 8, 12:30–1:30 p.m., in the Library classroom on the main floor. Please register here by Feb. 2 so that we can order the appropriate amount of food. Please let us know if you have any questions by contacting Sara Shaban, assistant professor of communication, at sshaban@spu.edu. 

A message from Lynette Bikos, chair and professor of clinical psychology: On January 15, 2024, all students, staff, and faculty received an email via Qualtrics inviting them to complete the Voices of Campus Questionnaire 2.0. This survey updates the data collected through the Voices of Campus Questionnaire (2021). Working together, representatives from SPU’s Living Well Initiative and the Department of Clinical Psychology have contributed items and streamlined the survey so that there is “one less ask.” Please complete the survey as soon as you can. The survey closes on January 31 so that data can be analyzed for presentation at February events.

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. 25. The next issue will be published Monday, Jan. 29.

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.

Professor of Music Carlene Brown is currently on a University of Washington/National Institutes of Health sponsored research team through the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. The research project, titled "Music-based treatments and pain: Underlying mechanisms," is studying the influence of music on pain management. Carlene was invited to speak at the 2023 Sound Health Initiative workshop on "Music as Medicine: The Science and Clinical Practice," co-organized and co-sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, National Endowment for the Arts, Renée Fleming Foundation, and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The workshop, co-chaired by Dr. Francis Collins, former NIH director, and Renée Fleming, the renowned American soprano, took place December 14–15, 2023, n Maryland. Musicians, scientists, physicians, educators, and other stakeholders in the field presented scientific research on music and health, supporting a network for further building the research community.

An essay by Katie Kresser, professor of art history, titled, "Shamtastic," was recently published in Image journal online.

Alberto Ferreiro, professor emeritus of history, gave two invited talks for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Bothell on December 10 and January 14. The first on “4 Marks of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic" were discussed in their historical context, theological meaning, and implications to discipleship. The second talk was on the "Paschal Mystery: Passion/Death, Resurrection, and Ascension," with emphasis on the liturgy and discipleship. Alberto says, "It is encouraging that most of the group of about 15 are young adults."

Please join the Office of Human Resources in welcoming Katy Sanchez, transfer admissions counselor, in Undergraduate Admissions.