Comings & Goings

Monday, December 7th, 2020

Isaac Macdonald (IT) and Hannah Butler (Event Services) are no longer with George Fox University. 

Comings and Goings

Monday, November 23rd, 2020

The undergraduate admissions office welcomes Madi Bradley as an admissions counselor this month. She has worked the past year as an account executive for Learfield IMG College Ticket Solutions, handling more than 3,000 season ticket member accounts for the University of Oregon’s football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball programs. Prior to that, Madi was a ticket sales representative for the Eugene Emeralds baseball team (2019) and a football recruiting and operations intern for the University of Oregon’s athletic department (2016-19). She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with an emphasis in sports business, from the University of Oregon in 2019. Madi lives in Tualatin and attends Westside: A Jesus Church.


The university welcomes Crystal Galarza as assistant director of outreach and community partnerships in the admissions office. For nearly two years she worked at the University of Oregon as an advisor for Global Education Oregon, connecting students to global learning opportunities. Before that, she worked as a site program manager for the school’s Uniting Neighborhoods program, designing and managing an education initiative that provides culturally responsive resources and educational enrichment opportunities to underserved communities. Crystal also worked for Word Made Flesh in 2015 as an intern and short-term programs coordinator, and she has experience in student mentorship. She earned a master’s degree in international development from Concordia University in Portland (2015) and a bachelor’s degree in intercultural communication from Linfield College (2013).


The advancement office has hired Astralena Sharp as director of advancement operations. For the past four years she has worked as an application support supervisor for Polk County in Dallas, Oregon. Previously, she worked as an associate director of advancement services for Willamette University in Salem (2013-16). Astralena earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Oregon State University in 2004. She lives in Salem with her husband Nick and their 6-year-old son Corbin. The family is in search of a new church home.


Movers & Quakers

Monday, November 23rd, 2020

In her new position as associate provost for external engagement and strategic initiatives, Mary Peterson has assumed the responsibility of overseeing the IDEA Center, taking on a role formerly held by Rebecca Hernandez. Rebecca remains as the university’s associate provost for academic success and chief diversity officer.

About Our People

Monday, November 23rd, 2020

Debby Thomas (Business) and her research partner, Stacie Chappell, won the best presentation at the recent Region 11 ACBSP conference (for Canada). The presentation was titled “The Transformative Potential of Classroom as Organization.” They are being sent to the ACBSP International Conference in Florida to represent the region.

Lori DeKruyf (Counseling) co-presented, with Lewis & Clark College’s Heather Hadraba, a two-part training session for school counselor site supervisors at the Oregon School Counselor Association’s annual conference on Nov. 7. The title of their presentation was â€œSUPERvision 101 & 102: Strategies for Strengthening the School Counseling Internship Experience.” The conference was on virtual platform due to the pandemic.

Don Powers (Biology) was part of a team of scientists who, after more than two years of work, in January will publish Hummingbird (Family Trochilidae) Research: Welcome Conscious Study Techniques for Live Hummingbirds and Processing of Hummingbird Specimens through Texas Tech University. Don’s specific responsibility beyond general editing was writing chapter 8, “Measuring metabolic rates in hummingbirds.” Because hummingbirds are an ideal model for many scientific principles, the number of studies involving them has skyrocketed over the last 10 to 15 years. To facilitate this work, the team decided to compile specialized methodologies along with all associated published literature to assist new scientists starting work on hummingbirds, as well as more established scientists whose work is moving in new directions. “There is no doubt that this publication will be valued and well used for many years to come,” Don says. “It will not only save hummingbird scientists time building their projects but offer methods that protect the welfare of hummingbirds used in research and humane methods for use when birds must be sacrificed.”

Comings and Goings

Monday, November 2nd, 2020

The university welcomes Jessica Cavada as a student accounts specialist. She will be working with undergraduates whose last names begin with O through Z. She worked most recently as a paralegal for criminal justice attorney Mark C. Cogan in Portland, for whom she provided customer service, case management, calendar management, scheduling, legal drafting, and filing and organization in 2019 and 2020. Previously, she worked in the same office as a legal assistant (2018-19) and office assistant (2018), and before that as a sales office manager for Habitat for Humanity in McMinnville (2018). Jessica earned a bachelor’s degree in urban and public affairs from Portland State University in 2019. She lives in Dundee with her husband Jonathon, with whom she is seeking out a church home in the Newberg area.


The IT department welcomes Brandon Rempel as a computer support specialist. An Army veteran with extensive experience in IT, customer service and communication, he has spent the past year in IT training as he transitions from a career in real estate to IT. Previously, he worked for two years (2017-19) as a mortgage loan officer and one year (2016-17) as a mortgage processor for USAA in Phoenix. His IT experience came in the U.S. Army, for whom he was an IT specialist based at Fort Huachuca in Arizona from 2006 to 2012. His tenure in the Army included a stint in Korea (2006-07) and deployments to Iraq (2008-09 and 2010-11). Brandon earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from Arizona State University in 2016. He lives in Salem and attends Dayspring Fellowship in Keizer.


Tamara Wystma joins the university this fall as an administrative assistant in the College of Engineering. She is resuming her career after seven years of taking an intentional pause for her family. During that time, she served alongside her husband in pastoral ministry, as well as event planning, hospitality, and networking in association with Antioch Church, Kilns College and The Justice Conference. Prior to that, she ran her own photography business, Wiggleworm Photography (2005-12), and gained higher education experience as a student recruiter and front office administrator at Biola University (1999 to 2001). Tamara holds a master’s degree in theology and culture from Kilns College (2019) and a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies, with an emphasis in biblical counseling, from The Master’s University (1997). She lives in Newberg with her husband Ken and daughters Mary Joy, Esther, Sara and Ashlin.


About Our People

Monday, November 2nd, 2020

Andrea Alexander (Nursing) presented a poster, “Trauma-Informed Mental Health Education: Guidelines for Practice,” at the American Psychiatric Nurse Association annual conference in October. Trauma-informed teaching strategies have been well-researched for elementary and secondary settings, but is a newer concept in higher education. Recognizing the increased challenges for nursing students who have survived trauma, this poster supplied practical recommendations for nursing faculty.

Ed Higgins (English Emeritus, Writer in Residence) published his poem “Monster Movie Essentials” in the fall 2020 print edition of The Poeming Pigeon. In addition, the online poetry magazine Pure Haiku features his haiku “luminous Basho” in its Oct. 29 post.

Comings and Goings

Monday, October 19th, 2020

Shawn Daley joins the university this fall to serve as chief strategy and business development officer. An alumnus of the university, from which he earned a master of arts in teaching degree in 2004, he arrives from Concordia University, where he served as the chief of staff of closure operations, managing the wind down of operations at the institution’s Portland and Boise campuses. Previously, he worked at Concordia as the executive vice president of business development and innovation and as its chief innovation officer. Shawn also taught at Concordia as an associate and assistant professor of education for 10 years. In addition to his degree from George Fox, he is currently enrolled in Michigan State University’s educational technology and educational psychology PhD program, and he holds a master’s degree in history from Portland State University and a bachelor’s degree in history from Loyola University in Maryland. Shawn lives in Portland with his wife, Cadie, his three children, Griffyn, Fiona and Norah, and their seven pets. He is a member of Holy Redeemer Parish in North Portland. A native New Yorker, he is an avid New York Islanders fan.


Carlos Ordonez (Graduate Admissions) is no longer with George Fox University.

Movers & Quakers

Monday, October 19th, 2020

Jacob Vahlenkamp is transitioning into the role of associate director of admissions for systems.

About Our People

Monday, October 19th, 2020

Kelly Chang (Psychology) presented three papers with students Cameron Stumpf, Abigail Bullock, Benjamin Shannon and Deborah Campbell in the virtual juried proceedings of the recent Western Social Science Association Conference. The papers were entitled “Virtues, resilience, and well-being of indigenous youth in Peru,” “Adolescent resilience and self-esteem in Nicaragua,” and “Resilience in Nicaragua: Preliminary Validation and factor analysis of the CYRM-28.”

George Fox received a $998,606 grant from the Oregon Health Authority for its three-year start-up of the Interprofessional Primary Care Institute. Julie Oyemaja, PsyD (pictured) wrote the grant and is the founding director and principal investigator. The IPC Institute is a collaborative learning community for healthcare learners and professionals. It promotes a diverse workforce and interprofessional primary care teams focused on strengths and Strengthening Each Otherâ„¢. The institute’s growing interprofessional team includes 60-plus directors and advisors from a variety of public, private and faith-based agencies in and outside of Oregon. In addition to business associates, faculty from George Fox’s psychology, nursing, physical therapy, social work and physician assistant programs hold positions as practice directors. The IPC Institute is funded by the Healthy Oregon Workforce Training Opportunity Grant Program (HOWTO), which is administered under the direction of the Oregon Health Policy Board in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Health & Science University. For more information, visit ohsu.edu/howto.


Ron Clark (Seminary) recently published a book, Spiritual Growth Stories for Life Groups, through Point of View Publishing. He also participated in a panel discussion with the Portland police chief and members of the National Faith and Blue Weekend Oct. 9-11. The YouTube video of the panel is available at this link.

Comings and Goings

Monday, October 5th, 2020

The university welcomes Gabriela Elkins as a graduate admissions counselor this month. She will work with prospective students interested in George Fox’s counseling programs. She arrives from Corban University in Salem, where she has worked as a graduate admissions counselor for the school’s MBA, master of business intelligence and analytics (MBIA), and master of public safety administration (MPSA) programs since February of 2019. Gabriela’s graduate counselor experience at Corban came after she spent two and a half years (2016-18) as an admissions intern at the university. A graduate of Corban, from which she earned a bachelor’s degree in English in 2018, Gabriela lives in Portland with her best friend and former classmate, Missy. Since Gabriela recently moved to the area, she is still searching for a church home, but has attended a few virtual services at Bridgetown.


The IT department welcomes Roland Parenteau as a data analyst. For the past three years he has worked as a data analyst for the Oregon Department of Education in Salem, analyzing and presenting data related to career and education programs overseen by the department. From 2014 to 2016, he was an adjunct instructor teaching programming at Pioneer Pacific College in Wilsonville. Roland also gained experience in the field as a contractor for the Mainz Brady Group of Portland, providing IT support to Providence Health Services (2013-14). He holds a master’s degree in journalism, with an emphasis in science communication, from Boston University, and a bachelor’s degree in American history from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Roland lives in Newberg with his wife Jennifer. They have three grown children – one of whom, Jocelyn, is a George Fox alumna. He enjoys exercise, learning classical guitar, and FaceTiming with his four grandkids.


Sarah Tenney joins the university’s advancement office as the director of development, government, corporate and foundation relations. As a seasoned collaborator, Sarah will help align the university’s new enterprise areas and the advancement office’s institutional solicitations, working closely with faculty, finance, HR and advancement to prepare proposals for key strategic improvement needs, update procedures, verify grant criteria, identify funder priorities, grow faculty grant writers, deliver funder reports, and assist as grant projects change. She has nearly 30 years of industry experience, which has included four executive positions with Kaiser Permanente of Hawaii, Goodwill Industries, USS Battleship Missouri, and Blue Export Group. Her university tenures include AAFOA consortium membership, developing Chaminade University’s nonprofit MBA program, as well as adjunct faculty roles and multiple federal grant contract responsibilities for the University of Hawaii system. Sarah earned a bachelor’s degree in Asian studies (Japan/China), is a graduate of the Pacific Asian Management Institute (PAMI) in international entrepreneurship, and holds an executive MBA from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She lives in Hillsboro and attends Beaverton Foursquare Church and East Hill Family Church in Gresham. She also participates in the Portland ComedySportz Recreation League and is an amateur floral painter, with her first collection set to be showcased in McMinnville.


The financial aid office welcomes Soren Sweet as an assistant director of its scholarship resource center. An alumna of the university, from which she earned both a bachelor’s degree in English (2017) and a master of arts in teaching (2018), she has worked the past year as the finance manager at the Salish Seaside Escapes in Orcas Island, Washington, specializing in filing tax documents, tracking incoming and outgoing funds, and managing bills, payments and financial accounts. She worked previously as a stylist for a bridal shop in Portland (2019). Soren lives in Newberg with her husband, Daniel Briggs, a George Fox alumnus, and their dog and cat. As they just moved back to the area, they are in search of a church home.


Amy Yates joins the university as a customer support specialist for IT. She has extensive customer service experience in the restaurant industry and has been a fitness instructor at the McMinnville Aquatic Center for 18 years. Amy’s passion for fitness inspired her to work as a staff support manager for the Spartan Race the past three years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Western Oregon University in 2002. She lives in McMinnville with her husband, Jeff, a 911 dispatcher and volunteer reserve police officer, and her teenage daughter, Keala. They attend Calvary Chapel in McMinnville.


Movers & Quakers

Monday, October 5th, 2020

Brett Papineau has transitioned to a position as a data engineer in the IT department.

About Our People

Monday, October 5th, 2020

Chris Sharp and Youngbok (Abraham) Kang have been named Engineering Unleashed Fellows for 2020 after participating in workshops hosted by the Engineering Unleashed Faculty Development Program. They were among only 29 faculty members from 24 institutions of higher education across the U.S. to earn the honor, which recognizes their contributions to engineering education, and specifically, entrepreneurial engineering. The program emphasizes integrating an entrepreneurial mindset into practices that benefit students, their institutions and greater society. The workshop’s peer coaches nominated Chris and Abraham, and the subsequent application was recognized by an independent review committee from Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN) partner institutions.

Lorretta Krautscheid and Pam Fifer (Nursing) presented “Untethered Teaching and Lecture Capture: Theory and Technology Integration Facilitating Active Learning” at the National League for Nursing Education Summit (Virtual). The presentation focused on education affordances that are created through the integration of cognitive load theory with multimedia instruction principles and described how to leverage resources and implement Untethered Lecture Capture in a department or college. Current research findings, research recommendations and additional education innovations were presented.

Ed Higgins (English Emeritus, Writer in Residence) will be releasing a paperback volume of poetry through Fernwood Press early in 2021. In advance of its release, he has written a full-length collection that he’s giving away as part of collecting a mailing list for the purpose of sharing news of the publication and local readings. To join the list, click here.

Comings and Goings

Monday, September 21st, 2020

Alison Bruun has joined the advancement office as the director of development. She worked the past seven years for the American Diabetes Association of Oregon and Southwest Washington, the last five as executive director and the two before that as manager of special events and corporate development. During her tenure with the association, she oversaw the implementation of the Let’s Play Portland program, a nutrition and exercise initiative created to help address childhood obesity, and the annual Tour de Cure fundraising event. Previously, Alison worked as the director of development for SMART (Start Making a Reader Today) in Portland, from 2011 to 2013. She has also worked as a legislative assistant for State Representative Scott Bruun in the Oregon Legislature (2005-11) and as a development specialist for Legacy Health Systems (2002-05). Alison earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism/public relations from the University of Oregon in 1988. She lives in West Linn with her husband Scott. They have two daughters, Natalie and Katie, who both attend Oregon State University. The family attends Willamette Christian Church in West Linn.


Seth Van Der Eems has joined George Fox as a visiting assistant professor of art and design. He has worked as an adjunct professor in the university’s art and design department the past two years, developing curriculum for the Drawing I and II, Figure Drawing, and Architectural Rendering courses. His focus on foundations curriculum aims to set up students for cross-disciplinary and innovative practices. He holds a master of fine arts degree from Tufts University and The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston (2016) and a bachelor’s degree in studio art from Asbury University (2014). Seth lives on campus with Kristina, an area coordinator at HMS, and their two girls, Etta and Finley. The family attends Church of the Vine in Newberg.


The human resources office welcomes Amilcar Del Cid as a business partner this month. He will be responsible for supporting administrators and staff. He worked previously for UPS, for which he was a human resources generalist for the past year and before that was a HR supervisor (2019) and HR generalist intern (2018). He also gained experience in the field as an HR intern for Home Forward, a housing authority in Portland, in 2018. Amilcar holds a bachelor’s degree in human resources from Portland State University (2018) and a bachelor’s degree in business management from the same institution (2018). He lives in Hillsboro with his wife Karen and attend Living Hope Fellowship.


Lora Froescher (Engineering) and Lynette Elwyn (Education) are no longer with George Fox.

Movers & Quakers

Monday, September 21st, 2020

Emma Glennen has transitioned to the position of director of undergraduate admissions and financial aid.

Keisha Gordon has been named associate director of undergraduate admissions. She will also continue to do athletic recruiting.

Alex Rolfe has been named interim dean of the libraries.

Corey Haverda has transitioned to a data analyst position in IT.

Mary Peterson has transitioned to the position of associate provost for external engagement and strategic initiatives.

The following position updates have been announced in the PsyD department: Kathleen Gathercoal is now interim program director; Celeste Jones is director of clinical training; Aundrea Paxton is associate director of clinical training; Glena Andrews is director of the Behavioral Health Center and the Psychological and Neuropsychological Assessment Track; Mike Vogel is director of integration; Amber Nelson is the associate director of diversity, equity, and inclusion; and Mark McMinn is a researcher in residence and professor emeritus.

About Our People

Monday, September 21st, 2020

Paul Anderson (Christian Studies) edited and published the life stories of his mother and father: These Things I Remember: Live Stories from the Journey, by Alvin L. Anderson, and Checkpoints Along Life’s Journey: My Life in Eight Developing Countries, by Lucy Marva Clark Anderson. Paul’s following essays were also recently published: “John: The Mundane Gospel, and Its Archaeology-Related Features,” in The Bible and Interpretation; “The Fulfilled Word in the Gospel of John: A Polyvalent Analysis,” in Biblical Interpretation in Early Christian Gospels (London: Bloomsbury); and “On Vias Negativa and Positiva in John’s Dialectical Theology” in From Jesus to Paul: Evangelizing the Joy of the Kingdom (Rome: Pontificia Università della Santa Croce).

In addition, Paul’s report on acquiring The Saint John’s Bible for George Fox University’s 125th anniversary was featured by Saint John’s University, and Paul contributed four lessons on the Johannine Epistles to the Illuminate Friends Bible Study Series (Newberg: Barclay Press). Paul also provided 15 lectures on The Johannine Riddles and a Fourth Quest for Jesus for the evangelical theology faculty of Leuven, Belgium; co-led a workshop at the Northwest Yearly Meeting on “Making A Difference: On Callings to Serve and Leadership Development;” and provided a lecture on “The Reliability of the Gospel of John” for the South Africa Theological Seminary.

Gary Tandy (English) published an article, “When the Worst People are the Best Rhetoricians: (Mis)using Rhetoric in C.S. Lewis’s The Last Battle” in The Lamp-Post of The Southern California C. S. Lewis Society (Spring/Summer, 2020).

Comings and Goings

Monday, September 7th, 2020

Kunsoo Paul Choi has joined the College of Business as a visiting professor of economics, teaching remotely. He arrives with more than 20 years of teaching experience, most recently as a part-time instructor of economics at Georgia State University Perimeter College in Decatur, Georgia (2020) and as an online associate faculty of economics at Ashford University in San Diego (2011-present). He worked previously as a visiting associate professor of economics and finance at Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, North Carolina (2017-19), as an associate professor of economics at Shorter University in Rome, Georgia (2014-17), and as an associate professor of economics and biblical studies at Victory University in Memphis, Tennessee (2010-14). In the business sector, he gained industry experience as a financial advisor at Prudential Financial (2009-10) and Merrill Lynch (2007-08) in Tucson, Arizona. Paul holds a PhD in biblical studies from Drew University Graduate School (2003), a master of divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary (1993), a PhD in economics from the University of Virginia (1990) and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, South Korea (1976). Paul was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament in 1993. He lives in Mableton, Georgia, with his wife, Petra. He has four grown children – Paul, Priscilla, Peter and Philip – and attends the Christ Mission Church. He plans to move to the Newberg area around the beginning of October.


The university has hired Burk Kleiber to serve as a visiting assistant professor of art and design. A ceramics instructor for 35 years, he has spent the last 27 years teaching the craft at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, where he has specialized in courses on wheel throwing, hand building, glaze chemistry and calculations, stoneware, porcelain and clay body skills. He previously taught at George Fox on an adjunct basis during the 2015-16 academic year. Burk also gained experience in the field as a sale proprietor for Fireworks Studio in Salem from 1998 to 2001, and for nine years (1988-97) he was the artist in residence at the Salem Art Association. Burk attended Chemeketa Community College and has done workshops with several notable artists, including Don Reitz, Tom Coleman, Tom Turner, Don Sprague and Don Hoskisson. He lives in Salem with his wife Jen, a professor of education at Corban University. They have three grown children: Madi, a sophomore at Corban; Roman, a 2019 graduate of George Fox; and Bronson, who is finishing his firefighter/emergency medical technician credentials. The Kleibers attend West Hills Community Church in Salem.


The Office of Student Life welcomes Chris Lee as an area coordinator this fall. He will serve in Pennington and Apartments West. An alumnus of the university, he arrives from Biola University, where he spent the past year as director of that institution’s Global Student Programs and Development office. Previously, he worked as a resident director at Biola from 2017 to 2019. Chris also gained experience in student affairs work at Geneva College, where he was a resident director for three years (2014-17). He earned a master’s degree in higher education from Geneva College in 2017 and a bachelor’s degree in Christian ministries from George Fox in 2014. He is currently enrolled in Indiana State University’s educational administration doctoral program. Chris lives on campus with his wife Shannon and is still searching for a church, having just recently moved back to the area.


Dan Morrison joins the university this fall as an assistant professor of New Testament, working remotely on a half-time basis. He has worked the past three years as an assistant professor of New Testament and expository preaching at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. During that same span, he served as a U.S. Navy reserve chaplain at Navy Operation Support Center (Springfield, MO). Dan was also director of the Cordas C. Burnett Center for Biblical Preaching at Evangel (2016-18) and, before that, served as a college and young adult pastor at Evangel Temple Christian Center in Springfield (2014-17). His experience previously included working as a communications manager at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario (2012-14), and as an editor/media specialist (2010-11) and editorial assistant (2007-10) for The Alliance for Assemblies of God Higher Education organization. Dan earned a doctor of philosophy from McMaster Divinity College (2019), a master of divinity from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (2010) and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Alabama (2005). He lives in Springfield, Missouri, and attends All Saints Anglican Church in Springfield.


The School of Physical Therapy welcomes Jaydee Romick to serve as a physical therapist in its clinic. A 2018 alumna of the university’s doctor of physical therapy program, she has worked the past two and a half years as the clinic director and as a physical therapist at APEX Performance, Wellness & Rehab in Tigard. As a student, she gained outpatient orthopedic internship experience working for TAI Nike in Beaverton, where she handled the majority of the patient caseload, and for PT Northwest in Salem. She also did an acute care and inpatient rehab internship at the Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford. In addition to her physical therapy degree, Jaydee earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Linfield College in 2012. She lives in Beaverton with her husband Jordy and brand new daughter, Blake. The family attends Westside: A Jesus Church in Tigard.


Media Production Services has hired Ethan Swihart as a media specialist. A 2020 graduate of George Fox, from which he earned a bachelor’s degree in cinematic arts, he served as a student activities videographer during his time as a student (2018-20) and also worked as an intern in the university’s MPS department for the past three years. Ethan also gained experience working as an assistant editor for RETO Media, a real estate marketing and creative agency in Hillsboro, during the summer of 2019. He lives in Newberg with his wife, Heidi Lodahl, an elementary education major at George Fox. They attend Newberg Calvary Chapel.


The College of Business welcomes Gibran Zogbi as a visiting assistant professor of accounting this fall. He spent the past academic year teaching accounting and finance courses at Washington State University’s Carson College of Business. Previously, he served as department chair at Pacific University in Forest Grove. Gibran also ran his own financial service agency, providing more than 60 products in two states where he was securities licensed. His industry experience includes serving as assistant vice president with the Safeco Insurance Company in Seattle and as a director of product management with InsurQuest in Denver. In all, he has more than 30 years of experience in product management, accounting and finance. Gibran completed his DBA at George Fox this year and holds an MBA from Cleveland State University (1996) and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio (1989). He lives in Ridgefield, Washington, where he has been married 28 years and enjoys his five kids and his golden retriever. He worships at St. Sharbel Maronite Church, where one of his sons was recently ordained.


Mark Terry (Art and Design) and Cliff Rosenbohm (Social Work) are no longer with George Fox University. They have both been awarded emeritus honors by the ​institution.

Ryan Dougherty (VP, Enrollment and Marketing), Kelsey Brown (IDEA Center), Jan Campadore (Mail Services), John Heitz (Plant Services), Connie Holland (Library), Heidi Hopkins (Social Work), Jack Lyda (Adult Degree Program), Rick McNeal (Marketing Communications)​, Jordan Moody (Student Accounts), Audrey Paice (IT), Bethany Ramse (Counseling)​ and Jonathan Ramse (Business) are no longer with George Fox.

Movers & Quakers

Monday, September 7th, 2020

Lindsay Knox has been promoted to vice president for enrollment and marketing.

Debby Thomas has been named dean of the College of Business.

Justine Haigh has been named director of graduate programs in the College of Business.

Min Choi is transitioning from his area coordinator position to serve as a video producer for George Fox Digital.

Joel Gregor (PsyD) has transitioned from full time to an adjunct position in the doctor of psychology program.

About Our People

Monday, September 7th, 2020

The following professors have been granted tenure: Jason Brumitt (Physical Therapy), Jing Hao (Chemistry), Nathan Slegers (Engineering), Chad Stillinger (Engineering) and Matt Stump (Biology).

The following professors have been promoted from associate to full professor: Sarita Edwards (Christian Studies), Matt Meyer (Cinematic Arts), Brenda Morton (Education), Nate Peach (Business) and Seth Sikkema (Business).

The following professors have been promoted from assistant to associate professor: Gloria Doherty (Digital Learning), Nicole Enzinger (Education), Ryan Jacobson (Physical Therapy), Dane Joseph (Education), Kristie Knows His Gun (PsyD), Keelan LoFaro (Education), Gina Johnson (Politics), Heather Ohaneson (Christian Studies), Leah Payne (Seminary), Katy Turpen (Education), Donna Webb (Education), Kristi Wheaton (Education) and Rebecca Yazzie (Social Work).

Eloise Hockett (College of Education and Cultural Enterprise) published an article, “Improving Educational Attainment for Girls: A Case Study of One Rural Kenyan School,” in the August 2020 issue of the Journal of Research in Childhood Education. The piece highlights the results of some of the education work Eloise has been doing in one of the primary schools in western Kenya since 2012.

Leah Payne and Brian Doak (Christian Studies), cohosts of the religion and pop culture podcast “Weird Religion,” were awarded a grant funding their project, “The Pedagogy of Podcasting: New Horizons for Theological and Religious Studies Teachers in the Digital Age.” With this grant, they will develop a small cohort of innovative faculty podcasters, whose podcasts – “Weird Religion,” “Profane Faith” with Daniel White Hodge of North Park University and “Things Not Seen” with David Dault of Loyola University – include a wide range of theological and religious studies approaches for digital learning.

Nicole M. Enzinger (Education) coauthored an article, “Prospective Teachers’ Attention to Realism and Consistency with Negative Integers, Addition, and Temperature,” in Investigations in Mathematics Learning that was published recently. Her other coauthors on the piece were Jennifer Tobias from Illinois State University and Dana Olanoff from Widener University.

Comings and Goings

Monday, August 17th, 2020

The Graduate School of Counseling welcomes Laurie Bloomquist as an assistant professor of counseling this fall. She has run her own business, Living Hope Counseling, for eight years, and for the past 10 years has taught at Western Seminary in Portland as an assistant professor of counseling (2016-20), an instructor of counseling (2015-16), and an adjunct professor of counseling (2010-15). She also has extensive experience in clinical settings, serving at a number of Portland-area counseling centers over the past decade. Laurie also worked as a child and family therapist for Trillium Family Services (2009-12) and as a group facilitator for The Dougy Center for Grieving Children (2009-12). She holds a PhD in counseling from Oregon State University (2016), a master’s degree in counseling from Western Seminary (2009), and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from The College of Idaho (2004). She lives in Portland and attends Bread and Wine Church.


After spending the past three years working at Portland Seminary on an adjunct basis, Kurtley Knight joins the university full time this fall as an assistant professor of spiritual formation. In addition to serving as a faculty advisor and adjunct professor of missional leadership at George Fox since 2017, he has spent the past year working as a senior teaching fellow at the Renovaré Institute in Denver. Ordained as a transitional deacon in the Anglican Church of North America in 2019, Kurtley has also served as the lead pastor and church planter at Epiphany Church in Dallas (2016-18), the church planter in residence at Irving Bible Church in Irving, Texas (2015-16), as lead pastor at Hillcrest Church in Pittsburgh (2010-14), and as a Bible teacher at San Gabriel Academy in San Gabriel, California (2009-10). He began his ministry as a youth and young adult pastor at the Miramonte Blvd Church in Los Angeles (2005-06). He earned a doctor of ministry in leadership and spiritual formation from Portland Seminary (2016) and holds a master of divinity from Andrews Theological Seminary in Berrien Springs, Michigan (2009), as well as a bachelor’s degree in ministerial theology from Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama (2005). A recent transplant from Dallas, he lives in Beaverton with his wife Ivah and attends Church of the Vine, an Anglican parish in Newberg.


The Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology welcomes Aundrea Paxton this fall to work as an assistant professor of clinical psychology. For the past two years she worked as a staff psychologist and adjunct professor at Biola University, where she supervised first practicum and advanced practicum students in the university’s counseling center. Previously, she was a registered psychologist at The Guidance Center in Long Beach, California, providing individual and family therapy to children, adolescents and their family members (2016-17). She also worked at the same facility as a pre-doctoral intern (2015-16). Aundrea earned a doctor of psychology degree (2016) and a master’s degree in clinical psychology (2012), both from the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from George Washington University (2008). She lives in Tigard with her husband, Kerry, and 1-year-old daughter, Tiffany. The family is in search of a church home in the area.


Kari Velez joins the School of Nursing this fall as an assistant professor of nursing. She has worked since January as an adjunct clinical faculty member in the department and, for the past six years, has worked as a staff nurse for Salem Health in Salem. Prior to her move to Oregon, Kari was an intensive care staff nurse at Kosciusko Community Hospital (2010-14) and a rounding nurse with Northern Lakes Medical Associates (2007-10), both in Warsaw, Indiana. She holds a masters of science in nursing from Grand Canyon University (2019) and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana (2007). Kari also studied biology for two years at George Fox (2003-05). She lives in Salem with her children, Aurora (10) and Oliver (8), and attends Salem Alliance Church.


Alumnus Mike Vogel joins the Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology this fall as an assistant professor of clinical psychology. For the past year, he has worked as an assistant professor of counseling education in the School of Professional and Graduate Studies at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas. He’s also served as coordinator for the university’s community counseling and play therapy centers during that time. Previously, he was an assistant professor of psychology (2018-19), an adjunct faculty member (2018) and a lecturer (2017) at MidAmerica Nazarene. Mike also gained teaching experience as an adjunct faculty member at Kansas Wesleyan University (2017) and at Manhattan Christian College in Manhattan, Kansas (2016-17). This marks a return to Newberg for Mike, who earned a doctorate (2013) and master’s degree (2010) in psychology from George Fox. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage and is currently completing the doctor of ministry program at Sioux Falls Seminary, with an expected completion this fall. Mike lives in Newberg with Bridget and their two sons, Maddox and Ethan.


Brent Weaver (Music), Min Choi (Residence Life), Josh Sauerwein (Business), Mark McMinn (PsyD) and Rob Simpson (Student Life) are no longer with George Fox University.

Movers & Quakers

Monday, August 17th, 2020

Bryce Coefield has been promoted to director of intercultural life.

Allie Duncan has been promoted to MBA operations manager.

Jenny Elsey has been promoted to dean of student success and equity.

Kayin Griffith has been promoted to associate dean of student life operations.

Dave Johnstone has transitioned to the role of associate dean of students and director of commuter life.

Mitzi Martinez has been promoted to associate director of residence life.

Li-Zandré Philbrook is transitioning from her staff position as a physical therapist to an assistant professor of physical therapy.

After working as a visiting lecturer of cinematic arts during the 2019-20 academic year, Jacob Salsbury will serve as lecturer in the same capacity on a full-time basis this fall.

Liz Simmons has been promoted to the position of director of residence life.

Dan Van Der Water has been promoted to planning and space utilization manager.