Comings and Goings
The university welcomes Lu Ann Anderson as an assistant professor of education. Lu Ann has been an adjunct faculty at George Fox since 2008. She will specialize in teaching special education after spending the 2013-14 school year as the interim special education director for the Cascade School District in Oregon. Previously, she was the special education coordinator for the McMinnville School District (2010-12) and an employee of the Willamette Educational Services District (2004-10), for which she served as a coordinator for multiple ESD special projects (2009-10) and as a K-12 special programs coordinator in the Newberg (2006-08) and Yamhill-Carlton (2004-06) school districts. Lu Ann also worked for the Oregon State Department of Education as an education program specialist in the Office of Special Education. She also served on the Oregon State Vocational Rehabilitation Council (2003-07), the policy partner to the Department of Human Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, in the early 2000s. In the 1990s, she taught in the Newberg School District. Lu Ann earned a master’s degree in education/special education from Portland State University and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood/human resources from Empire State College/SUNY of New York. She lives in McMinnville with her husband of 36 years, Mickey. Their blended family includes three children, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Their son Chris is a full-time student at Chemeketa Community College, daughter Annette lives in Washington and is a forensics technician with the FBI, and daughter Debbie lives in Texas and works as a hospice nurse.
After teaching on an adjunct basis at George Fox the past 14 years, Rhonda Andrews joins the university full time this fall as an assistant professor of social work. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Registered Play Therapist, she has taught a wide range of social work courses, including Field Practicum I, II and III, Child Welfare Services, and Social Work with Children and Families. She has also served as a field liaison, coordinating and collaborating between George Fox students and various community agencies. In addition, Rhonda has worked in private practice as a therapist in her own counseling office since 2007. And, from 2004 to 2009, she worked as a social worker with International Family Services of Newberg. In all, Rhonda has more than 20 years of social work experience, working previously in various roles for the Department of Human Resources, Child Welfare Services of Honolulu (1993-96), Dallas, Ore., (1996-97), Oregon City and Portland, Ore., (1997-2000). She holds a master of social work degree from the University of Hawaii, Manoa (1994), a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Oregon (1991) and an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Lane Community College. Rhonda lives in Newberg with her husband Chris and children Elizabeth (17) and Hudson (13). The family attends Countryside Community Church in Sherwood.
Sandra Banta-Wright joins the School of Nursing this fall as an assistant professor of nursing. For the past year she has been a lecturer at the University of Washington’s Family and Child Nursing program within the School of Nursing after completing a two-year postdoctoral fellowship through the Biobehavioral Nursing & Health Systems program. She also served as clinical adjunct faculty at Washington’s School of Nursing, specializing in parent-child nursing, from 1993 to 2011. Sandra also worked at Oregon Health & Science University during the 1990s through 2012, in a variety of roles that included research assistant, clinical instructor, and neonatal nurse practitioner in the Neonatal Care Unit within Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. She holds a PhD in nursing science from OHSU (2012), a master of nursing degree from the University of Washington (1989) and a bachelor of science in nursing degree from St. Mary of the Plain College in Kansas (1980). Sandra lives in Portland with her husband, Bruce. Their children, Brian and Catherine, will be freshmen at Clackamas Community College and Kansas City Art Institute, respectively. Sandra and Bruce attend Holy Family Catholic Church in Portland.
An adjunct professor at George Fox since 2006, Andy Copeland joins the university full time this fall as a shop manager for the theatre department and a visiting lecturer of theatre. Andy has had extensive teaching and theatrical experience in the past decade. In addition to teaching acting classes and serving as a scene shop manager at George Fox, he has acted on TV (Runestone, by Road’s End Productions), starred in the web series Everything Will Be All Right by Bright Daylight Productions, and appeared in a number of short films, including 271 by Tall Sparrow Films. He has also been active on stage, performing lead roles in Northwest Classical Theatre, Valley Repertory Theatre and American Heritage Theatre productions, among others. He also wrote and directed the short film Moment by Moment and is revising a feature-length script that deals with themes of autism and happiness. Andy earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Southern Nazarene University (1995) and completed the two-year Professor Actor Training Program of the Portland Actor’s Conservatory (2001). He lives in Newberg with his wife Cara and children Jack, Henry, and Lily.
Jenny Elsey has joined the Office of Spiritual and Intercultural Life as the director of intercultural life. She comes to George Fox from Azusa Pacific University, where she was director of mobilization in the Center for Student Action for the past two years. Prior to that, she spent six years as the associate director of Azusa’s Office of Ministry and Service. Jenny also gained higher education work experience at Life Pacific College as associate dean of students and director of student life (2006-07) and as a residence director at Azusa from 2003 to 2006. She holds both a bachelor’s degree in communications (2001) and a master’s degree in college student affairs (2003), both from Azusa Pacific. She lives in Newberg with her husband Erik and two boys, Kai and Rhys. The family is seeking a church home.
Megan Fisher, an alumna of the university, has returned to campus to serve as the associate director of parent programs. A 2001 graduate of George Fox, from which she earned a bachelor’s degree in theatre and fashion merchandising/interior design, Megan has been a stay-at-home mom in recent years while also volunteering as Antonia Crater Elementary parent-teacher organization coordinator (2013-present). She was also chairperson of the Playground Improvement Project in Baker City, Ore., (2012-14). After graduating from George Fox, she worked as a costume shop manager and designer at Rock Valley College in Illinois (2001-03) and as a graduate teaching fellow at the University of Oregon (2003-04). She lives in Dayton with her husband Troy and children Ainsley (9), Asa (7) and Axel (5). They attend Athey Creek Christian Fellowship.
The institutional technology office welcomed Catherine Hillenbrand as a business analyst in August. She is a CPA and has worked the past six years as an independent consultant offering business systems, finance and tax advisory services. Prior to that, she worked for a year as a systems consultant for DWFritz Precision Automation of Wilsonville (2008-09) and as a senior finance manager for the same company in the early 2000s. Catherine was also a finance manager for Silicon Graphics of Milpitas, Calif., for five years (1995-2000). She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from California State University-East Bay (1992). Catherine lives in Sherwood with her husband Mark and two children, Brian and Danielle, and attends Countryside Community Church in Sherwood.
Dane Christian Joseph joins the College of Education this fall as an assistant professor of education. For the past four years, he has taught as an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology at Pacific University. He also worked at Pacific as an assistant coach (2010-12) and as an associate head coach (2012-present) in the women’s soccer program. Dane’s teaching and research experience also includes one year as an instructor in Pacific’s College of Arts & Sciences (2010-11), three years as a graduate research assistant in Washington State University’s Learning and Performance Research Center (2006-09), and one and a half years as a graduate teaching assistant in Washington State’s Department of Philosophy (2005-06). Dane holds a PhD in educational psychology with emphasis in research evaluation and measurement from Washington State (2010), a master’s degree in philosophy from WSU (2006), and a bachelor’s degree in humanities from Concordia University Wisconsin (2003). He lives in Forest Grove with his wife Morgan and son Ira, and plans to find a new church in Sherwood.
After serving as a financial aid assistant in the university’s Office of Financial Aid since May, John Kaye joins the university as a financial aid specialist this fall. He is currently a student in George Fox’s entrepreneurship program, expecting to graduate in December of 2016. In addition to his job as a student employee, he gained work experience as a technical support advisor for Xerox in Tigard (2013-14) and as a counselor at summer camps at Quaker Hill Camp and Twin Rocks Camp. He also taught for a year at Evangelical Friends Mission in Rwanda, Africa (2009-10). John lives in Newberg and attends Newberg Friends Church.
Muh Bi Lin, also known as “Toby,†has made the move from Taiwan to serve as an associate professor of social work this fall. For the past two years he has served as the head of the Department of Social Policy and Social Work at National Chi-Nan University in Taiwan. Also, since 2009, he has worked as an associate professor in the department, teaching courses that included nonprofit leadership and management and general education courses on love, marriage and family. From 2010 to 2014, Muh Bi was a senior advisor for World Vision Taiwan, a Christian humanitarian organization. He taught previously in the U.S. as an associate professor of social work at Western Kentucky University (2003-08), and for about nine years he was the chief operating officer of the China office of World Vision International, based in Hong Kong (1994-2003). Muh Bi holds a PhD in social work from the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver (1997), a master of social work from the same school (1988) and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Soochow University in Taiwan (1977). He and his wife Lisa are both involved in various kinds of marriage and family ministry. Their two children, Cindy and Churng, are living in Seattle.
The university welcomes Keelan LoFaro to work as an assistant professor of education at the graduate level. She has worked the past four years as a science teacher and department chair at Alice Deal Public Middle School in Washington, D.C., and since August of last year has served as an adjunct graduate-level professor in American University’s School of Education. Previously, she taught science at the middle school level at Shaw Middle School at Garnet-Patterson in Washington, D.C., (2009-11) and at Middle School 322 Renaissance Leadership Academy in New York, N.Y. (2006-09). She has also worked since 2006 to lead professional development initiatives with Teach for America in New York City. Keelan earned a master’s degree in education from Pace University in New York (2009) and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Oregon State University (2005). She and her husband Daniel are moving to Portland.
The university welcomes Gina Miller as an assistant professor of political science and international studies. As a graduate student at the University of Alabama, she spent nine semesters teaching five different courses in the school’s Department of Political Science while earning a PhD in international relations. She also spent her last year as a graduate assistant designing leadership, professional development and service-learning courses for Alabama’s Honors College. Gina’s doctoral research investigated the role of nonviolent dissent as a form of political contention that influences the preferences and behaviors of domestic actors. Gina holds both a master’s degree in international relations (2006) and a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations from Alabama (2004). She is moving to Newberg and is excited about getting to know the campus and community.
The School of Nursing has hired Kristine A. Nelson as an assistant professor of nursing. Kristine arrives with nearly 40 years of experience in the nursing profession. For the past two years she has worked as the simulation operations manager within the Smart Hospital of the University of Texas at Arlington’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation. Previously, she spent three years (2010-13) as an assistant professor of nursing at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, Texas, and six years (2004-10) as a clinical nursing instructor in the University of Texas at Arlington’s College of Nursing. Through her career, Kristine has held several positions, including staff nurse, evening charge nurse, nursing coordinator, research assistant and nurse manager, since she began her nursing career in 1976. She has worked in Oregon, Washington, Texas and Ohio. She earned a bachelor of science in nursing from Oregon Health and Science University in 1976 and later a master of nursing degree from OHSU in 1983. She is moving back to Portland with her husband Randy and daughter Karlee after being away from the area for more than 24 years.
Alumnus Kyle Pfeiffer joined the university this month as director of alumni relations. A 2002 graduate of George Fox with a degree in business management, Kyle has worked the past three years as general manager of the Uptown Billiards Club in Portland, managing a staff of 24. Before that, he spent a year in Hawaii working guest services at the Ritz Carlton in Maui (2011-12) and worked for three years (2008-11) as an area director for Young Life International in Portland. Kyle also has experience in corporate sales management, working in that capacity for the Hilton Hotel and Conference Center in Eugene, Ore., in the mid-2000s. He lives in Yamhill with his wife of seven years, Rama, their son Jaden (6) and daughter Soraya (1). They attend Newberg Foursquare Church.
Christine Saladino joins the university this fall as an assistant professor of social work. For the past four years she has served as director of the bachelor of social work program and as an assistant professor of social work at Southwest Baptist University in Missouri. Prior to that, she spent two years as an instructor of sociology (2009-11) and three years as an instructor and coordinator of behavioral sciences majors (2006-09) at Southwest Baptist. Prior to beginning her career in higher education, Christine was a social worker in Florida, at Wuesthoff Health System facilities in Melbourne, Fla., (2005-06) and Rockledge, Fla., (2003-05). She holds a doctor of philosophy degree in human services from Capella University (2014), a master of social work from the University of Central Florida (2006), a master’s degree in Christian education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (2000) and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Southwest Baptist University (1997). She is moving to Wilsonville with her Jack Russell Terrier “Frisky.â€
Beronica Salazar joins the Graduate School of Counseling this fall as an assistant professor of counseling. Originally from Texas, she was a graduate teaching assistant in Idaho State University’s counseling program the past three years. She specialized in teaching graduate courses in clinical mental health counseling and in marital, couple and family counseling. She also gained teaching experience as an adjunct faculty member at Northwest Nazarene University (2010-11), where she taught social and cultural diversity courses. In addition, since 2010, Beronica maintained a private practice counseling trauma survivors and providing postgraduate counselor supervision. She earned a PhD in counselor education and counseling from Idaho State (summer 2015) and also holds a master’s degree in counseling, marriage and family, from Northwest Nazarene, and a bachelor’s degree from Boise State University. She is moving to the Portland area with her spouse and children and attends St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Beronica has been a longtime advocate for the Latino community and intends to continue to remain active in service opportunities to promote diversity.
The social work program welcomes adjunct professor Elizabeth Schallert to join the program part time this fall as an instructor. Since May of this year she has been working as a mental health clinician in the multicultural counseling program at Lutheran Community Services Northwest in Portland, and previously she served as the development and member coordinator for the Portland Central America Solidarity Committee. She also taught part time at George Fox in 2014-15, specializing in teaching field seminar, community development and macro practice courses in the social work program. Elizabeth has also developed and volunteered as a clinician with the Christian Peacemaker Teams’ Circle of Care program for the past three years. She holds a master of social work degree from Monmouth University (2010) and a bachelor’s degree in social work from George Fox (2009). She lives in Portland and attends Wilderness Way Community.
Jon Schatz joins the College of Business to teach entrepreneurship as a visiting assistant professor of business, working half time. His experience in the business world includes the founding of several start-up ventures and also serving as an executive in large corporations. He holds a Master of Science in Teaching degree from Portland State University (1989) and a bachelor’s degree from Willamette University (1985). Jon lives nearby on The Sunny Day Tree Farm in Sherwood, where he and his wife raise and sell Christmas trees. As a self-described “serial entrepreneur,†Jon looks forward to passing on the lessons learned in the hopes of motivating, inspiring and creating the next generation of successful entrepreneurs.
Michelle Shelton has joined the adult degree program as a half-time assistant professor of professional studies. She has taught on an adjunct basis at George Fox since 2013, both in the College of Business and in the ADP program. In addition, she taught courses in 2014-15 at Portland Community College, Chemeketa Community College and at Brandman University, a division of Chapman University. For the past five years Michelle has also worked as both a freelance editor for Sage Publishing of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and as an APA editor at George Fox, editing and proofing doctoral dissertations in the College of Business. She holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Azusa Pacific University (2005) and a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University-Long Beach (1994). Michelle lives in Newberg with her husband Paul, director/chair of the doctor of business administration program at George Fox, and their three boys. They attend Newberg Friends Church.
The university welcomes Liz Simmons as an area coordinator this fall. For the past two years she has been a resident director at Indiana Wesleyan University, and before that, she was a student services assistant at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky from 2010 to 2013. Liz also worked at Indiana Wesleyan as an assistant resident director (2009-10) and as a resident assistant (2007-09) while earning a bachelor’s degree in biblical literature and English (2010). More recently, she earned an MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2013. Liz lives on campus with her husband Michael and baby daughter Bina. Michael just started as the manager of the Bruin Store on campus.
The School of Education welcomes John Spencer as an assistant professor of education in the school’s Graduate Teaching and Leading Department. For the past 11 years he has taught several subjects at the middle school level in the Cartwright Elementary School District, an urban Title I school district in Phoenix, Ariz. And, since 2008, he served as a project director, providing site-level and district-level leaders with the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of projects. John has also worked as a speaker and consultant, specializing in talks on technology, digital literacy, creative assessment and project-based learning, for the past four years. He has also been active as an author since 2008, publishing both fiction and nonfiction materials in print and online. John holds a master’s degree in educational technology from Northern Arizona University (2009) and a bachelor’s degree in secondary education (emphasis on history) from Arizona State University (2004). He and his wife Christy will be moving to Newberg with children Joel, Micah and Brenna.
Danielle Warner joins the music department this fall as an assistant professor of music and director of choral activities. She has spent the last four years teaching music in the Midwest, most recently at Wayne State College in Nebraska, where she was director of choral activities in 2014-15. Previously, she was a graduate teaching assistant at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance in Kansas City, Mo., for three years. Danielle also gained teaching experience as an adjunct professor of music at Whitman College in 2010-11 and as a choral music educator at Pacific Middle School in the Evergreen School District of Vancouver, Wash., from 2007 to 2009. She holds a doctor of musical arts from the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance (2014), a master of music from Western Washington University (2006) and a bachelor’s degree in music from Whitman College (2004). She is moving to Newberg with her husband, Ryan, and son Carver.
The School of Education welcomes Donna Webb as an assistant professor of education who will specialize in STEM subjects. For the past year she has served as an adjunct professor at Portland State University and as a professional development instructor with the Portland Metro STEM Partnership. Also, since 2012, she has worked as an independent curriculum writer for Scholastic Inc. & Media of New York. Previously, Donna taught science in the Beaverton School District (1997 to 2005), the Fort Bend Independent School District of Sugarland, Texas (1993-97), and the Spring Branch Independent School District of Spring Branch, Texas (1985-93). She holds a doctorate of education in educational leadership from Portland State (2015), a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from PSU (2011) and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Dallas (1985). She lives in Portland with her husband Don and son Travis. She plans to look for a church home in the Newberg area.
Nicole Wessman-Enzinger joins the School of Education as an assistant professor of education. She will be teaching both mathematics and education courses at George Fox. During her time in graduate school, she taught classes as part of her assistantship at Illinois State University, specializing in classes covering numerical reasoning and teaching mathematics in elementary school. Previously, she was an assistant mathematics professor at Olivet Nazarene University (2010-12). Nicole also gained teaching experience as a high school math teacher at Herscher High School in Herscher, Ill., from 2005 to 2010. She earned a PhD in mathematics education from Illinois State University this year, after earning a master’s degree in the subject from DePaul University in Chicago (2009) and a bachelor’s degree in the discipline from Olivet Nazarene University (2005). Her research interests are centered on children’s thinking about negative integers prior to instruction in school. Nicole and her husband, Kyle, are moving from the Chicago area to Newberg this summer. They have a Yorkshire Terrier, Sophie, and enjoy cycling, especially long distances on road bikes.
Steve Winterberg joins the Department of History, Politics and International Studies this fall as a visiting assistant professor of international and intercultural studies. For the past two years he was an adjunct professor in global studies at Azusa Pacific University, specializing in teaching anthropology classes to undergraduate students. In addition, since 2011, he has served as executive pastor of Citylights Church of Fountain Valley, Calif. He holds a doctor of philosophy in intercultural studies from Biola University (2015), a master of divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (2003) and a bachelor’s degree in history from Baylor University (2000). He is moving to Newberg with his wife Shelly. They are expecting their first child in November.
Rebecca Yazzie joins the university this fall as an assistant professor of social work. For the past five years she has worked as a treatment services supervisor with the Oregon Youth Authority, based in Woodburn, Ore., where she oversaw mental health services to youth residing in long-term housing units. She also taught on an adjunct basis at George Fox in the spring of 2014, and since 2011 she has been on the faculty of the University of Phoenix’s School of Human Services’ Oregon campus in Tigard, Ore. Rebecca also gained experience in the field as a psychiatric social worker with the Oregon Youth Authority from 2005 to 2010. She has also taught at Portland State University (2008-11) and at Warner Pacific College (2007-08). A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Rebecca is set to earn a PhD in social work and social research in the coming academic year (2015-16) from Portland State University. She holds a master of social work from Arizona State University (2005) and a bachelor’s degree in justice studies from Arizona State (2001). She lives in Beaverton and attends Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
Vern Choin (Portland Center Plant Services) retired from the university in August after 12 years of service to George Fox.
Jennifer Kepler (Academic Affairs) left the university in August to accept a new position at Western Oregon University.