This fall, Seattle Pacific will launch two new 4+1 programs that allow students to earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in just 5 years. Students will save time and money and graduate prepared for thriving careers in rapidly growing fields.

The 4+1 Neuroscience BS/Research Psychology MS allows qualified Neuroscience majors to complete up to 15 graduate credits which apply to both the bachelor’s degree and the MS in Research Psychology. Students complete the remaining research psychology graduate credits, after the bachelor’s degree is conferred, as fully matriculated graduate students. They gain advanced expertise in statistics, research design, data analysis, and grant writing and can prepare for doctoral study or research-focused careers with applied skill development and collaborative inquiry.

The 4+1 Data Science BS/Data Analytics in Business MS-DAB allows qualified Data Science majors to complete up to 15 graduate credits which count toward both the bachelor’s degree and the MS-DAB. Students complete the remaining MS-DAB graduate requirements, after the bachelor’s degree is conferred, as fully matriculated graduate students. The MS-DAB provides an applied, collaborative curriculum focused on strategic decision-making as students learn to collect, analyze, and interpret data to inform real-world business challenges.

The next chapel is Tuesday, April 14, 11:10 a.m. in First Free Methodist Church with special guest Robby Cowgill with Athletes in Action. The theme for the quarter is "Following: Exploring what it means to follow Jesus." All faculty and staff are invited to join a community lunch each week after Chapel in the SUB Fireside Room. Bring your lunch and share fellowship with others across campus.

A message from University Advancement: For the first time, Giving Day became a true all-campus celebration and we’re so grateful for everyone who took part. Whether you joined us for prayer and worship, helped kick off the opening ceremonies, made thank-you calls, texted friends, shared photos, added to the prayer wall, or chose to give — you helped create a day full of connection and generosity.

Faculty, staff, and students from across campus made Giving Day 2026 possible. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped from the President’s Cabinet, SPU colleges, Seattle Pacific Seminary, University Communications, Athletics, Facilities, Student Life, Campus Ministries, Safety and Security, Sodexo, Falconettes, student volunteers, Conference Services, Information Technology, Admissions, and so many others who stepped up in big ways. We appreciate you deeply. Because of you, 823 donors raised $267,044. And we’re just getting started. The community we’re building is strong — and we can’t wait for Giving Day 2027!

The History faculty's next current events talk on Wednesday, April 15, features Professor Emeritus of History Bill Woodward speaking on the topic "Is the National Guard Supposed to 'Guard' U.S. Cities? History Has the Answer." The talk is at 3 p.m. in the Library Seminar Room. Woodward has researched and written extensively on the National Guard, including as a co-author of the recent book Washington National Guard. His expertise is rooted, in part, in his own service for the Washington National Guard as an officer. Please share this event with your students! This talk is open to students, faculty, staff, and interested members of the public.

Please join the Seattle Pacific Seminary for the annual Frank Anthony Spina Lectureship on Christian Scripture on Tuesday, April 14, 7 p.m., in Upper Gwinn Commons. Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Frank Anthony Spina will present the lecture, “The Gibeonite Story: The Bible’s Most Impressive and Secret Conversion Story," exploring a challenging and often-overlooked text from the book of Joshua and uncover the radical nature of grace in the Old Testament. This event requires no registration, is wheelchair accessible, and free.

SPU Theatre Company, a student club, presents the classic story of "Little Women," April 16, 18, and 23–25 in Bach Theatre in McKinley Hall. Directed and adapted by student Josephine Partridge and featuring SPU students, this is the company's first production as a student-run club. Performances are 7:30 p.m. with matinees on April 18 and 25. SPU faculty and staff members can redeem two free tickets on the night of their choice by emailing the Box Office at sputcboxoffice@gmail.com.

 

Each April, SPU joins the Sexual Assault Awareness Month national campaign to recognize the importance of consent in relationships and support for survivors. Consent is given by words and/or actions. It is freely and voluntarily given, never assumed, can be withdrawn at any time, cannot be given if they are high, asleep, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, and can only be given at the time of the activity — not before or after. Consent for one activity is not consent for other activities.

This month, the Office of Safety and Security invites you to visit the Elephant in the Room display in the SUB to write an encouraging message to survivors on the elephant. While you're there, pick up an "ask me why I'm wearing denim today" button and wear it with your jeans on April 29 for Denim Day; a day of awareness that protests misconceptions about sexual assault.

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. Watch for upcoming series details and links to sign up.

Retirement Ready Seminar
Thursday, May 7, 2026
4-6 p.m.

Transamerica individual appointments
Thursday, May 7, and Friday, May 8, 2026

Medicare individual appointments
Wednesday, May 20, 2026

The College of Humanities, Education, and the Arts, Division of Education invites you to a Zumba-thon fundraiser on Saturday, April 18, 2-4 p.m. in Brougham Paviion. All ticket sales with benefit the Martinez Fellow and Honors programs. Tickets are $15 (students), $20 (adults), $25 (day of walk-ins). Register online. Bring a water bottle, your smile, and positive energy! This is open to anyone, with no experience needed. Encourage your students to come and bring friends and family.

Martinez Fellows:
Studies have shown the benefits of having a teaching force that reflects the diversity of the students. Teachers of color boost academic achievement, high school graduation rates, and aspirations of going to college for students of color. However, statistics indicate that the racial makeup of teachers (11% of color) has not changed at the same pace as that of students (50% of color). The Technology Access Foundation's (TAF) Martinez Fellowship program focuses on recruitment and retention of teachers of color in public schools. The funds will be used to provide scholarships to candidates of color to enroll in our teacher education program as TAF's Martinez Fellows.

Honors Program:
The Honors Program is a community of serious and engaged students asking big questions, guided by Honors faculty representing the breadth of SPU's liberal arts curriculum. Our rigorous program of core courses encourages students to go deeper with their college education; the lively array of social programming ensures that this journey is not undertaken alone, but rather in context of deep friendship. Your generous gift to the University Scholars Honors Program is a commitment to this legacy, and an investment in a community of bright young adults being prepared for a world that needs their talents! Donations will be used to support both the academic and social life of the Honors Program throughout the year, including events like the annual Honors Research Symposium, Honors Graduation, and other community-building activities.

A message from the Office of Student Employment: Here are some ideas to show appreciation to your student employees during National Student Employment Week: have everyone in your office write a letter thanking them for their contributions to your team, decorate their workspace, have your office contribute to goody bags to gift to them, or host an office party to celebrate them.

A message from Student Life: Please join us on Tuesday, April 21, for the annual Perkins Lecture Series as we welcome Distinguished Speaker Dr. Robert Chao Romero, author of Brown Church and professor at UCLA Department of Chicana(o) and Central American Studies and vice chair/director of graduate studies. He will be speaking in the morning chapel at 11 a.m. (earlier start time) on a theology of migration and hospitality. He will also present an evening workshop a 7 p.m. in First Free Methodist Church on "Migration as Grace: A Biblical Exploration of Migration and the Current Immigration Crisis." For times and location, visit the Perkins Lecture website.

The Office of Study Abroad is recruiting for the upcoming September Global Seminars; "Art & Incarnation in Italy" and "Cross-Cultural Psychology in South Korea." These amazing immersive opportunities run by Professor of Art Katie Kresser and Professor of Psychology Paul Youngbin Kim, respectively, are open to all majors and fulfill general education requirements. We need your help with student recruitment to fill these programs! Application deadline is May 1. Slides are available to share in classes by email Chelsea Van Eck, program coordinator, at vaneckc@spu.edu. Thank you for your partnership!

A message from the Walls Center for Applied Learning: Student teams will pitch their ideas for socially innovative businesses and organizations that make money and make a difference at the annual Social Venture Plan Competition on Wednesday, April 15, 2-6 p.m. Come and vote for your favorite projects and encourage your students to do so as well. Your votes will decide the winner of the $1,500 People’s Choice Prize. Check out the website now, and don’t miss the event in Upper Gwinn!

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published every Monday during the academic year.The next deadline is Thursday, April 16, and the next Bulletin will be published on Monday, April 20. 

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 and will be published for two consecutive issues; they can be resubmitted for an additional two weeks.

Jennifer McKinney, professor of sociology, and three sociology students presented papers at the annual meeting for the Pacific Sociology Association in Long Beach, California, April 1–4. McKinney presented “How Many Tents Are There? Assessing Methods for Reporting on Tent-Based Homelessness,” co-authored with Karen Snedker (Chapman University). Sociology majors Malia Schumer, Emily Haan, and Perla Roma received funding from sociology honor society Alpha Kappa Delta to present their original quantitative research papers in undergraduate roundtable sessions. Schumer presented, “A Patriot of the United States: Distinguishing Patriotism and Nationalism as Predictors of Attitudes toward Immigration,” Haan presented “One Nation Under God: Support for Christian Nationalism on Attitudes toward American Superiority,” and Roma presented “Access to Health Insurance as a Marker of Trust in Government.”

This month, Professor of Art Katie Kresser is a featured guest on the Faith and Imagination, an ecumenical podcast that explores the intersection of culture and spirituality. On the podcast, Kresse discusses her forthcoming book, "Church Beautiful: Sacred Art and Spiritual Healing." Listen to the podcast online.

Please join the Office of Human Resources in welcoming Emily Myhre, advancement officer in University Advancement.