Comings and Goings
The music department welcomes a familiar face, Nathanael Ankeny, to work as an assistant professor of music on a half-time basis. He has worked at the university as an adjunct professor since 2010, teaching classes that include Understanding Jazz and Music Fundamentals, while serving as an applied saxophone instructor, applied jazz improvisation instructor and as director of the George Fox Jazz Ensemble. He’s also served as director of Sherwood High School’s jazz band since 2013 and has offered private saxophone and clarinet instruction since 2005. Prior to moving to Oregon, he was a graduate teaching assistant at Eastern Washington University from 2008 to 2010. He continues to perform jazz at university functions, parties, wineries and clubs throughout the region. Nathanael holds a master’s degree in music from Eastern Washington University (2010) and a bachelor’s degree in music from Whitworth University (2008). He lives in Newberg with wife Gina, a George Fox alumna, and their children Ezra, Jude and Hazel. The family attends North Valley Friends Church.
The Master of Social Work program welcomes Sik Yin Chan as an assistant professor and director of field education. He arrives with extensive experience in social work education, working the last 20 years as a field instructor for Portland State University’s Graduate School of Social Work and Concordia University’s BSW program. He’s also spent the last 10 years as an adjunct professor at Concordia University, teaching psychology, program evaluation, and social research methods. In addition, since 1998, Sik has served as director of quality assurance for Impact NW, a nonprofit anti-poverty agency that provides a wide range of services, including early childhood development, school-based intervention, homelessness prevention, and supportive services for seniors and people with disabilities. For the past three years, he has provided clinical supervision for Clinical Social Work Associates. Sik, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, is a doctor of education candidate at Concordia University (2017 expected completion) and holds an MSW from Portland State University (1994) and a bachelor’s degree in social work from Concordia (1992). He lives in Happy Valley with his wife of over 20 years, Cherry, and their 18-year-old son, Aaron, who plans to study computer science at Portland State this fall. Sik and his family have been active members of Portland Chinese Christian and Missionary Alliance Church since 1991.
The Graduate Department of Counseling has hired Chris Cleaver as clinic director and as an assistant professor of counseling. For the past two years he’s been an assistant professor of counseling at Multnomah University in Portland while also directing the university’s Community Counseling Center. Before that, he was a counselor at Multnomah for two years, providing mental health support to individuals, couples and groups. Chris has some previous teaching experience at George Fox, working as an adjunct instructor at the university in 2014. He has also been an adjunct faculty member for Western Seminary in Portland since 2009. He will defend his PhD in counselor education and supervision from Oregon State University this year, and previously he earned a master’s degree in counseling from Western Seminary (2010), a master’s degree in biblical and theological studies from Western Seminary, and a bachelor’s degree in ministry and the humanities from Corban University (2002). He lives in Gresham with his wife Sarah and sons Beck (3) and Hawthorne (1). The family attends Grace Community Church in Gresham.
The physical therapy program welcomes Linda Dallof this month as an administrative assistant. This marks a homecoming of sorts for Linda, who is both an alumna of the school and worked as an administrative assistant for Health and Counseling Services at the university in 2001 before leaving to be a full-time mom. She has worked out of her home the past eight years as a private piano teacher. Linda earned a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising/interior design from George Fox in 1998. She lives in Dundee with husband Todd and daughters Paige and Claire, and attends Newberg Foursquare Church.
Dawn Ford joins the cinema and media communication department as an associate professor of media communication. For the past four years, she worked as an associate professor of digital media arts at Huntington University in Huntington, Ind. Prior to that, she taught extensively in Southern California, serving at the University of California at San Diego, Digital Arts Center (as a lead faculty member in 2011-12) and MiraCosta College (as an associate professor from 2008 to 2012), as well as a lecturer and adjunct faculty member at schools throughout the region. Since 2006, she has also worked as producer, director and co-owner of Hot Sprocket Films, an independent film and television production company. She is a member of the Producers Guild of America in Los Angeles. Her professional experience includes employment with Lucasfilm Ltd in the 1980s, when she did sound design technician work on such films as Return of the Jedi, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Star Trek III. She also worked at National Public Radio Network in Washington D.C. as the technical director for All Things Considered. In 2003, she created Smart Gardening, a 65-episode television series that aired nationally across three seasons on PBS. In all, she has more than 35 years of professional film, television and radio experience. Dawn holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in professional screenwriting from National University of La Jolla, Calif. (2013), a master’s degree in television, film and new media from San Diego State University (2010), and a bachelor’s degree in radio, television and film from the University of Maryland (1979). She lives in Newberg with her husband and business partner, Rich Ford. They have a daughter, Dorothy, who lives with husband Hiroyuki Tanaka in Osaka, Japan, and a son, Randy, in Springfield, Ore. Dawn attends Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland.
Javier Garcia joins the university as an assistant professor of religious studies and as associate director of enrollment and engagement for the William Penn Honors Program. This spring he completed his PhD in theology and religious studies from the University of Cambridge, from which he also earned a Master of Philosophy degree in 2011. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and French from Georgetown University. His administrative experience includes work as an assistant librarian at the Ward Library at Peterhouse College at Cambridge. He gained teaching experience as a lecturer in theology and religious studies at the undergraduate level at Cambridge the past three years. He has also been a supervisor in Cambridge’s Theology and Religious Studies Undergraduate Curriculum since 2012, and since 2015 he’s been a visiting research scholar and associate fellow at the University of Virginia. Javier speaks four languages – English, Spanish, French and German – and has lived in nine countries. He plans to make his home in Newberg and is currently seeking a local church.
David Green joins the university’s marketing communications office this month as a video producer. For the past four years, David has worked for his own company, David Green Media, as a lifestyle and landscape photographer and videographer for outdoor companies and corporations such as Nike, Apple, H&H Outfitters and the Pivot Group. He also spent nine years as a retail sales and training specialist for Apple in Tigard, Ore., and, from 2014 to 2016, as a high school youth pastor at Portland Christian Center. David earned a bachelor’s degree in cinema and media communication from George Fox in 2011. He lives in Newberg with his wife, Jenny, and attends Portland Christian Center.
The Department of World Languages, Sociology and Cultural Studies welcomes Katya Hall as a visiting assistant professor of Spanish this fall. She has taught Spanish at numerous schools throughout the Portland area and taught English as a Foreign Language in Ecuador in the early 2000s. Most recently she was the healthcare Spanish program coordinator at Pacific University in Forest Grove, a position she held from 2006 to 2011 before leaving due to maternity and child caregiving. She was also a Spanish instructor at Pacific from 2003 to 2006 and has taught the language at Portland Community College (2001), Mt. Hood Community College (2000-01), Lewis & Clark College (1996, 2001) and Portland State University (1998-2001). Katya is nearing completion of a doctorate in Spanish Philology: Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language from the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia in Madrid. She holds master’s degrees in Spanish and Teaching English to Students of Other Languages from Portland State University (2000) and a bachelor’s degree in applied linguistics: Teaching English as a Foreign Language from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador in Quito, Ecuador (1996). She lives in Portland with husband Jonathan and daughter Martina (4). The family attends Saint Juan Diego Parish (Bethany) in Portland. In their free time, the Halls enjoy travel, dance, and visiting family and friends.
Benjamin L. Hartley joins the College of Christian Studies as an associate professor of Christian mission. He arrives from Palmer Theological Seminary, the Seminary of Eastern University in the Philadelphia area, where he was associate professor of Christian mission and director of United Methodist Studies since 2005. His published books include Evangelicals at a Crossroads: Revivalism and Social Reform in Boston, 1860-1910, which received two awards. He has also coedited Transforming Teaching for Mission: Educational Theory and Practice and coauthored The Deacon: Ministry through Words of Faith and Acts of Love. Ben received his ThD at Boston University School of Theology in missiology and church history. He also has an MDiv degree from Boston University and an MS in international development from Michigan State University. His undergraduate years were spent at Wheaton College in Illinois. Ben is an ordained deacon in the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church and is appointed to Mountain Home United Methodist Church between Sherwood and Newberg. He is married to Laura Hartley, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at George Fox. They have two children, Luke and Teresa, and live in Newberg.
Saurra Heide, currently associate director of clinical practices in the School of Education, will shift her duties to serve as an assistant professor of education this fall. Prior to arriving at George Fox in the fall of 2013, she worked for the Greater Albany Public School District at Central Elementary School, where she taught second- through fourth-grade classes for six years. Additionally, she facilitated the Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports program and coordinated the Talented and Gifted program. Before that, she taught music and fourth-graders in Albany, Ore., in the mid-2000s. She also gained teaching experience as a student teacher in the Sherwood School District in 2005-06. Saurra is currently enrolled in George Fox’s EdD program, specializing in P-20 instructional design and development, and she completed George Fox’s MEd program in 2009. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the university (2006) and was a student orientation director during her undergraduate experience (2004-06). Saurra lives in Wilsonville with her husband Michael, a 2005 George Fox alumnus, and attends Grace Chapel in Wilsonville.
Rachael Henry has joined the College of Education as a visiting assistant professor of education in the Department of Graduate Teaching and Leading. For the past four years she was a seventh- and eighth-grade English language arts teacher at Merton Williams Middle School in Hilton, N.Y., specializing in common core curriculum development, 1-1 iPad technology and teaching in an Integrated Co-Taught (ICT) model. Previously, she taught English language arts, literature and creative writing at the seventh-, eighth-, 10th- and 12th-grade levels at Holley Junior and Senior High School in Holley, N.Y. Rachael holds a master’s degree in initial adolescent education/special education: English from Roberts Wesleyan College (2009) and a bachelor’s degree in English from State University of New York College at Cortland (2008). She lives in Forest Grove with her husband Eric and their two dogs.
The School of Education welcomes Megan Hills as an assistant professor of education. For the past 14 years she has worked at Veritas School in Newberg, the last nine as a middle school teacher of subjects that included humanities, logic and art history. Previously, from 2002 to 2007, she taught art to elementary school students at the school. Before moving to Oregon, Megan taught at Montclaire Elementary School in the Cupertino Union School District in California (1998 to 2002) and was a teaching assistant at Southern California College in the late 1980s. Also, since 2006, she has been a protocol trainer, designing curriculum and implementing and directing programs focused on college and career readiness for secondary students and corporate professionals. Megan holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Southern California College (1987) and a master’s degree in education: leadership and curriculum development from Vanguard University (2013). She lives in Sherwood with her husband Lee, and the couple has three grown children – Christopher, Nate and Spencer.
The Department of English and Theatre welcomes Joshua Hren as an assistant professor of English. For the past two years he’s worked as an assistant professor of English and Catholic studies at the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D. Also, since 2013, he’s served as founder and editor-in-chief of Wiseblood Books, a small press that primarily publishes poetry and fiction. Joshua has also been managing editor of the publication Dappled Things: A Quarterly of Ideas, Art, and Faith since 2012. His areas of expertise include religion and literature, political philosophy and fiction, and classical rhetoric. He holds a PhD in English (2012), a master’s degree in English (2009) and a bachelor’s degree in literary criticism (2005), all from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. He and his wife Brittney are settled in Newberg, where they plan to make their home with their three children – Anaya, Søren and Azélie. The Hren family will likely attend both St. Stephen’s in Portland and St. Peter’s in Newberg.
The nursing department has hired Catherine Kacalek as an assistant professor of nursing. She has taught clinical nursing courses at Clackamas Community College for the past four years while also earning her master’s in nursing degree from Oregon Health & Science University, completed in June. Prior to working at Clackamas, she was a registered nurse at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center in Oregon City, Ore., (1998 to 2011) and an RN for one year at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee, Wash., (1997-98). Outside of nursing, Catherine has been active as an assistant volleyball coach and former assistant basketball coach in Canby, Ore., working with junior high and elementary-age girls. In addition to her MSN, she holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Washington (1996). She lives in Canby with husband Brett and their daughters, Izabela and Tressa. She attends Christ the King Church in Canby and teaches Sunday school there.
The College of Business welcomes Laurie Koehler this fall as an executive in residence. She has more than 30 years of corporate management experience, with companies that include Intel Corporation, Nike and Tektronix. For the past 19 years she worked for Intel Corporation of Hillsboro in a number of capacities, including as a consumer campaign activation manager, as a campaign/demand creation manager, as the developer for marketing and communication strategy, as a training and events marketing manager, and as a demand creation marketing manager. She was also a product marketing manager for Radisys Corporation of Hillsboro (1996-97) and a senior marketing communications program manager at Sequent Computer Systems of Beaverton (1994-96). Previously, Laurie was an international retail marketing and advertising manager for Nike (1987-93) and a marketing program manager at Tektronix (1982-87), both in Beaverton. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Oregon State University. In addition to corporate experience, Laurie has also worked as a volleyball official and softball umpire in the OSAA high school league and Pacific-10 Conference. She lives in Tigard and has a son, Andrew, who graduated from George Fox in 2015 with a degree in cinema and media communication. She is a member of Village Baptist Church in Beaverton.
Brooks Lampe joins the Department of English and Theatre as an assistant professor of English and writing program director. For the past year he was a post-doctoral researcher in writing pedagogy in the Department of English at the University of Delaware. Previously, he was an adjunct instructor in the Metropolitan School of Professional Studies (2014) and a teaching fellow (2007-2012) at The Catholic University of America. Brooks also served as coordinator for The Catholic University of America’s Writing Center (2009-11) and is editor of Uut Poetry, an online poetry site that explores surrealist writing techniques. He holds both a PhD (2014) and a master’s degree (2007) in English language and literature from The Catholic University of America, as well as a bachelor’s degree in literature from Patrick Henry College (2005). He plans to make his home in Newberg and attend Eastern Orthodox Church of the Annunciation. He is married to Dana Robinson, a postdoctoral teaching fellow at Creighton University.
The Department of English and Theatre has hired Cristi Miles as a half-time assistant professor of theatre. For the past year she has worked as a teaching artist at the Institute of Contemporary Performance, where she is a founding faculty member. She is a proud co-artistic director of Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble, a collaboratively run experimental theatre in its fifth year based in Portland. She has worked as a teaching artist and administrator at Portland Playhouse, and spent six years as a faculty member at the Portland Actors Conservatory (2008 to 2014). Prior to moving to Portland she lived in Boston and served two years on the faculty at the Boston Conservatory (2007-08). She has also performed extensively on the stage nationally and regionally with the Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble, Portland Playhouse, Third Rail Repertory and New Repertory Theatre, among others. Cristi has also directed shows for BoomArts of Portland, the Portland Actors Conservatory and Portland Playhouse. She holds an MFA from the Professional Actor Training Program at Brandeis University (2005) and a bachelor’s degree in theatre and secondary education from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas (2001). She plans to make her home in Portland with her husband Clint and daughter Estella Grace.
Jordan Nelson joins the financial aid department as a loan specialist. A 2015 alumna of George Fox, Jordan has spent the past year working as a writer and editor for Merchant Maverick, a California-based company that specializes in online reviews of point of sale software and merchant accounts. While a student at George Fox, she worked as a consultant in the Academic Resource Center for two years and spent the summer of 2014 working as a painter for the plant services office. Jordan earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in creative. She lives in Aurora with her sister and grandparents and attends Westside: A Jesus Church in Tigard.
The university’s biology and chemistry department welcomes alumna Paige (Copenhaver) Parry as an assistant professor of biology this fall. A 2011 graduate of George Fox, from which she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, Paige has spent the past four years at the University of Wyoming, where she recently earned a PhD through the school’s Program in Ecology. Her research focuses on quantifying the factors and mechanisms that determine patterns of plant species composition, particularly in forest communities. In addition to being a student, she served as a biology instructor for the Life Sciences Program at the University of Wyoming and the Upward Bound Math Science Program. Paige also contributed to K-12 education throughout Wyoming as a National Science Foundation K-12 teaching fellow. While a student at George Fox, Paige worked as a research assistant under Don Powers. Paige and husband Brad recently moved to Newberg from Fort Collins, Colo., where they attended Emmaus Road Church.
Aida Ramos joins the university this fall as an assistant professor of sociology and as student success coordinator for academic affairs. For the past three years she has worked as an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her research and teaching interests include race/ethnicity, religion, education, research methods and social theory. She contributed as coauthor to two books in progress: Latino Protestants in America (Roman & Littlefield Publishers) and Faith Between Cultures: Exploring Latina Conversation to Islam in South Texas. She is also a research fellow for the Latino Protestant Congregation Project. Aida holds a PhD (2013) and master’s degree (2010) in sociology, both from the University of Texas at Austin, as well as a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Texas A&M University (2007). She is moving to the Portland metro area with her son, Koichi Santiago.
Elizabeth Roark joins the nursing department as an assistant professor of nursing this fall. For the past three years she has worked as a registered nurse at Providence Newberg Medical Center. Before that, she was an RN at the Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett. Wash., (2012-13) and an acute care nurse at the Lake District Hospital in Lakeview, Ore., (2011-12). Elizabeth has also gained clinical internships in Newberg and at the North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, Colo., (2009-10). She holds a masters of science in nursing degree from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., (2015), a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Northern Colorado (2010) and a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Pacific University (2008). She lives in Newberg and attends St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Newberg.
The seminary welcomes alumnus Bo Sanders this fall as a visiting assistant professor of theology. Ordained as a minister by the Christian and Missionary Alliance, Bo has worked the past five years as a minster of children, youth and families at Westwood United Methodist Church in Westwood, Calif. Also, since 2012, he has served as co-pastor of Loft LA, a venture that uses an interactive and immersive model of music, media and conversation to impact the spiritually hungry and unchurched of West Los Angeles. Previously, he was a teaching pastor at Light and Life of the Free Methodist Church in Olympia, Wash., from 2008 to 2010. Bo gained teaching experience as an adjunct professor for Alliance Theological Seminary of Nyack, N.Y., (2008 and 2015). He is a doctoral candidate in practical theology: religious education at Claremont School of Theology and holds a master’s degree in theology from George Fox Evangelical Seminary (2010). He also earned a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies from Simpson College (1997). Bo and his wife CJ have been married for 23 years. They love the Pacific Northwest and cannot wait to return to the area and George Fox Evangelical Seminary.
Alumnus Brian Snider, a former full-time employee at George Fox and an adjunct instructor at the university for the past year, has been hired as an assistant professor of computer science. For the past year he’s taught introductory computer science, client-server systems and data analytics courses while also working as a chief engineer for BioSpeech Inc. of Portland. Previously, he worked as a data warehouse architect for George Fox in 2015 and as a senior software engineer for BioSpeech from 2012 to 2015. He is a current PhD candidate at Oregon Health and Science University, working toward a doctorate in computer science and engineering. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in computer and information science from George Fox (2008). He lives in Newberg with his wife Rebecca and their two children, Hannah and Daniel, and attends Newberg Christian Fellowship.
Shannon Stueckle joins the College of Education this fall as a part-time assistant professor of education. She has extensive experience in the field, working at George Fox as a teacher education associate from 2014 to 2016, a national elementary edTPA literacy scorer since 2015, as an elementary school principal at both Mabel Rush Elementary School in Newberg and Dundee Elementary in Dundee (1995-2013), and as a middle school assistant principal at Renne Middle School in Newberg (1989-95). She’s also worked as an elementary school counselor, as a middle school social studies teacher, and as a high school social studies teacher. Shannon holds administrative licensure from Portland State University (1989), a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Lewis & Clark College (1987), and bachelor’s degrees in secondary education and in psychology (1979), from Southern Oregon State College. She lives in Dundee with her husband Charlie, and they enjoy eight grandchildren located throughout the United States.
The College of Business welcomes alumna Debby Thomas as a visiting assistant professor of management this fall. Students in the university’s adult degree, business and seminary programs may be familiar with Debby, as, since 2014, she has taught Department of Professional Studies and business classes and served as an academic advisor for the Leadership and Global Perspectives track of the Leadership in the Emerging Culture Doctor of Ministry program. Previously, she was in Rwanda as a missionary involved in holistic community development with Evangelical Friends Mission from 1997 to 2015. She has also begun work this year as a moderator of a frontline leader development program in the Professional Development Academy with Evanta, a company of the Corporate Executive Board that fosters collaboration and the exchange of best practices between information technology and security, human resources and finance leaders. Debby holds a PhD in organizational leadership from Regent University (2015), a master’s degree in global leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary (2008) and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from George Fox (1994). She lives in Newberg with her husband David and four children, two of whom – Breanna and Aren – are students at George Fox. The Thomas family also includes Gwen and Alandra, a senior and freshman in high school, respectively. The family attends Newberg Friends Church.
The Department of Communication, Journalism and Cinematic Arts welcomes Tyler Welker as an assistant professor of cinematic arts. For the past two years he’s been an assistant professor of animation at Villa Maria College in Buffalo, N.Y. Prior to that, he was an instructor of video/motion graphics and animation at Oklahoma Baptist University (2013-14) and a visiting professor (2012-13) and adjunct instructor (2009-12) of digital media arts at Huntington University in Huntington, Ind. Since 2010, Tyler has also done freelance animation for clients that include Pegula Sports and Entertainment (Buffalo Bills), American Greetings and Fisher-Price. Prior to freelancing, he was the lead animator at Sound Ideas. His areas of expertise include 3D animation, motion graphics, digital illustration, and computer visualization. He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in 3D animation and visual effects from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco (2014) and a bachelor’s degree in digital media arts from Huntington University (2008). He plans to make his home in Monmouth, Ore., with his wife Kristi and children Mackenzie and Logan and attend Salem Alliance Church.
Jeff Wright joined IT as a media production specialist this month. For the past nine years he has worked at Portland State University as an A/V event resource coordinator. Previously, he worked in the same field as a student A/V technician at PSU from 2005 to 2007. He also worked for two years (2003-05) as a donation resource coordinator for Catholic Charities of Portland. Jeff earned a bachelor’s degree in drawing, painting and printmaking from Portland State in 2007. He lives in Aurora with his wife Diane and their three children: Veda, James and August. Jeff and his family attend North Valley Friends Church in Newberg.
The Master of Social Work program welcomes Yongqiang Zheng as an assistant professor of social work. He arrives from the University of Louisville, where he earned a doctor of philosophy in social work degree from the school’s Kent School of Social Work this spring. That came a year after he earned a master of social work from the same school. Previously, Yongqiang spent five years (2007-12) as a lecturer and one as an assistant professor (2006-07) in the Department of Social Work School of Law at Shandong University of Finance and Economics. In addition, from 2009 to 2012, he was supervisor at Shanquan Social Work Service Agency in Jinan, China. In addition to his two degrees from the University of Louisville, he holds both a master of arts in sociology degree (2006) and a bachelor’s degree in sociology (2000) from Shandong University in China. He plans to move to the area with wife Xiumei and child Yanxi (6).
Megan Clark (Marketing Communications) is leaving the university on Aug. 26. She plans to continue in her passion for film through freelance work in the Portland area, travel (a lot), and pursue projects that tell the stories of marginalized communities.