A message from University Communications: Faculty, we are again asking you to send us a short video about what you are doing this summer, similar to the video of faculty-submitted selfies from last year, which received great engagement on our social media channels.

Here’s what we need.

1. Record a short vertical video on your phone of your summer pursuits (i.e. travel, research, writing, gardening, outdoor adventures)
2. Remember: vertical video!
3. Start the video with your name and what you teach. (Example: “My name is Emily Smith and I teach English.”
4. Explain and show what you are doing and/or where you are spending your time, etc. (“I’m conducting research with undergraduate students” or “I’m on a vacation in France.”)
5. Try to keep the video under 30 seconds.
6. When you are done, send the video by text to Social Media Specialist Kelsey Chuang at 1-206-458-9455.

We’d like to collect these by Friday, July 12 . If you have specific questions, email Kelsey at chuangt1@spu.edu.

The 10th of each month is the last day to make changes to your upcoming payroll check. Do you need to add or remove your spouse and/or children from your health care plans? If so, contact Human Resources (HR) to complete the appropriate form. Changes might include events that are expected to impact your benefits and deductions, such as your spouse or children gaining or losing coverage due to employment, birth, marriage, etc.

Additionally, any changes to your 403b account may take up to seven days to be provided to SPU for processing, so please contact Transamerica by the first of the month prior to your requested change. For changes to your 403(b) account, contact Transamerica Retirement Solutions at 1-888-676-5512 (5 a.m.–6 p.m. PST), or 1-800-755-5801. If you have any other benefits-related changes, call Cherylin Shdo in HR at 206-281-2816.

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is on its summer schedule and will be published every other week through September 9. The next deadline is Thursday, July 18. The next issue will be published Monday, July 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.

An article co-authored by Julie Antilla, associate professor of education, titled “What If Universities Started Collaborating More and Competing Less? An Approach for Statewide Shared Responsibility for STEM Teacher Education," was published in Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning. This article was supported by a National Science Foundation grant.

An article co-authored by JoAnn Flett, executive director of the Center for Faithful Business, titled "Love in Action: Agreements in a Large Microfinance Bank that Scale Ecosystem-Wide Flourishing, Organizational Impact, and Total Value Generated," was published in Humanistic Management Journal, May 2024.

Tucker Goodman, assistant professor of theatre, designed the set for Seattle Shakespeare Company’s production of "Two Gentlemen of Verona," which opened June 27, 2024. This Wooden O production performs at parks throughout the Puget Sound region through August 4. Tickets are free. See the performance schedule online.

A new book by Frank Spina, emeritus professor of Old Testament and biblical theology, titled, Multiplying Divisions: The Fractious Nature of Israel, God’s Elect People, has just been published as a Cascade Book entry by Wipf and Stock. This book features a close reading of texts which narrate stories in which Israel struggles to maintain unity. In addition, the book features the prophetic response to Israel’s disunity and its future promise of restoration as a unified community. A final chapter deals with the disunity of the fledgling church. In this same chapter, canonical Israel is presented as a figure for the Christian church, a community that has “multiplied divisions” just as its biblical figure did.

Bill Woodward, professor emeritus of history, presented a two-part adult seminar June 17–18 at Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center near Santa Cruz, California. Taking his text from Romans 12:2, he analyzed contemporary culture in light of its 20th century roots, then led discussion on possible Christian responses. Bill says, "Can anyone say “Engaging the Culture”? He says he was startled and gratified at the expressed eager desire for rigorous content, reinforcing his conviction that "SPU faculty can and must assertively serve the church." Bill also is now an official National Park Service guide on the Amtrak Coast Starlight through train to Los Angeles, after finishing his mandatory TRAIN-ing (ba-da-boom) trips. He rides about twice a month, describing what passengers are seeing along the rail corridor south from Seattle, with a focus, of course, on local history. (Bill says, "Who knew one can see the last operational one-room elementary schoolhouse in Washington — in Emmaline: Google it! — from the train?")

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

Kathy Lustyk, vice president of academic affairs, chief academic officer, Academic Affairs
Marianne Hathaway, biology lab coordinator, College of Arts and Sciences
Allyson Walworth, financial aid specialist, state aid programs, Student Financial Services

Tom Froula, a Yakima businessman and former SPU Board of Trustee member, died on June 2 at the age of 80. He served on the board from 1989–98 and again from 2000–04. His daughter, Associate Director of Academic Counseling Annette Rendahl, wrote this brief remembrance.

“My dad LOVED SPU and being involved with the board gave him a lot of joy and satisfaction. He thoroughly enjoyed being part of a team that held the health of SPU as a priority. He loved working with Bob McIntosh, Marj Johnson, Don Mortenson, Les Steele and many others over the years. He attended and hosted tables at many Downtown Business Breakfasts and his last visit to campus was for President Porterfield’s inauguration. He loved being back on campus, seeing people that he knew from the past.

He and mom were active members of the Free Methodist Church for decades and would come to campus multiple times a year to attend Free Methodist conference meetings when the conference office was located across the street from First Free Methodist Church. He was on those committees with other people from SPU and he loved the intersection of SPU and the Free Methodist Church.

Dad attended SPU very briefly in the early-mid 60s (I think for only a quarter or two) and I graduated from SPU with a bachelor’s degree in 1993.”

A Celebration of Life for Tom was held on June 29 in Yakima. His obituary was published in the Yakima Herald-Republic.