Comings and Goings
The university welcomes Kelsey Bennett as an accounting specialist II in financial affairs/human resources. While a student at George Fox, Kelsey worked as an accounting clerk work-study student in 2012 and 2013. She also worked at the university as a business tutor and tutoring lab director in 2011-12. She graduated from George Fox this past May with bachelor’s degrees in both accounting and finance. Kelsey recently moved to Newberg from Gresham and attends Newberg Foursquare Church.
Leah Blake joined the university in July as a computer support specialist at the Portland Center. She comes to George Fox from the Yamhill-Carlton School District, where, for eight years, she supervised and tutored students as they completed online schoolwork. Before that she was a computer technician for Grandhaven Elementary School in McMinnville for two years. She also worked as a contract specialist for the federal prison in Sheridan, Ore., in the 1990s. Leah earned an associates of applied science degree from Chemeketa Community College in 2006. She lives in Yamhill with her husband Jim. The couple has six children – Jimmy (20), Donovan (20), Garrett (17), Dylan (16), Derek (14) and Victoria (14) – and attends Yamhill Christian Church.
The undergraduate admissions office welcomes George Fox alumna Keisha Gordon as a visit coordinator. After graduating from the university with a degree in organizational communication in the spring of 2012, she joined Chehalem Youth and Family Services last September as a mentoring hub program manager, overseeing training sessions and group activities. Keisha also served as an assistant coach for the George Fox women’s basketball team – for whom she played from 2009 to 2012 – during the 2012-13 season. She lives in Dundee with her sister Tashawna, who will be a junior at George Fox this fall. Keisha attends Newberg Foursquare Church.
Laura Hartley joined the university this summer as the new dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. Laura comes to George Fox from Eastern University in St. Davids, Pa., where she worked for the past seven years. At Eastern, she served as associate dean of the Templeton Honors College (2007-2013, acting dean between 2008-2010), director of University General Education (2010-2013) and associate professor of language and culture (2006-2013). She taught at Eastern in the undergraduate departments of Communication Studies and Anthropology and in the Master of Education in Multicultural Education program. Prior to Eastern, Laura worked for Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass., as a grants officer/staff writer (1998-2004) and as an assistant to the president for special projects (1998). She also taught for seven years in Lesley’s Master of Arts in Intercultural Relations program. Other teaching experience includes the Olin Center for International Study and Northeastern University in Boston and Michigan State University. Laura holds PhD and master’s degrees in linguistics from Michigan State (1998 and 1996, respectively) and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Wheaton College (1991). She lives in Newberg with her husband Ben, an associate professor of Christian mission at Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University and an ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church, and her children Luke (15) and Tess (12).
Saurra Heide joined the university this summer as associate director of clinical practices in the School of Education, where she will manage teacher candidate and practicum placements, matching candidate and school needs; coordinate communication between K-12 schools and the School of Education; and support strategic partnership development and grant management. She worked previously for the Greater Albany Public School District at Central Elementary School, where she taught second- through fourth-grade classes since 2007. Additionally, she facilitated the Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports program and coordinated the Talented and Gifted program. Before that, she was a part-time music and fourth-grade teacher 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 completed George Fox’s Master of Education program in 2009 and also earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the university in 2006, during which time she was student orientation director (2004-06). Saurra lives in Wilsonville with her husband Michael, a 2005 George Fox alumnus, and attends Grace Chapel in Wilsonville.
The university’s doctor of physical therapy program welcomed Jeff Houck this summer to work as director of research and as a professor of physical therapy. For the past 14 years he has served as a professor (2012-present), associate professor (2006-12) and assistant professor (1999-2004) in the Department of Physical Therapy at Ithaca College. Previously, he taught human anatomy at the University of Iowa from 1996 to 1998. Concurrently, he has taught and collaborated on various research projects with the Department of Orthopedics at the University of Rochester. Jeff earned a PhD in physical therapy from the University of Iowa in 1999 and also holds a master’s degree in the discipline from the same school, as well as a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia. He just purchased a house in Newberg and has two children, Mercedes and Cosmo, who are attending college in New York and California.
The university welcomes Sarah Taylor to work as an area coordinator this fall. She worked most recently at Wheaton College in Illinois, where she was a residence hall director from 2006 to 2010. Prior to that, she was a graduate resident advisor at Wheaton (2004-06) and both an assistant residence director and an assistant director of leadership development at Gordon College in Massachusetts (2002-04). Sarah earned a master’s degree in Christian formation and ministry from Wheaton College Graduate School in 2006, and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Gordon College in 2001. She lives on campus in Le Shana Hall with her husband Dan and their two daughters, Maggie (4) and Lucie (2).
Heidi Thomason has returned to George Fox to work as the associate director of student accounts. For the past 10 years she has served as the creative arts department director for GodSong Church in Newberg. She worked at the university previously from 2004 to 2008 as a financial aid counselor. Before that, Heidi was the worship pastor for the First Assembly of God Church in St. Paul (1999 to 2003) and a patient survey supervisor and project manager for Providence Health System for six years in the 1990s. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social and behavioral studies from George Fox in 2007. Heidi lives in Newberg with her husband Ron, and they have two grown daughters and a son-in-law. She attends Northside Community Church.
Sheila Abercrombie (Institutional Research) left George Fox in July and is now working for an IT department at a community college near her home in North Carolina.
Andrew Bradford (Admissions) left the university in June to work in sales and marketing at OmniGuard Security in Tigard, Ore.
Denise DeCicco (Student Financial Services) retired from the university in June after working at George Fox for 14 years.
Sarah Jobson (Student Life) has left George Fox to take the assistant director of residence life position at Northwest University in Kirkland, Wash.
Sara Kelm (Enrollment Specialist/Portland Center) left George Fox to pursue a master’s degree in English at Baylor University.
Joel Perez (Student Life) left the university in late July to take the position of dean of students and community life at Seattle Pacific University. Joel had worked at George Fox for seven years.
Cathy Peterson (Library) left George Fox in early August in order to move closer to family.
Josiah Philipsen (Technology Specialist) left George Fox in June and is now working for Miller Technologies in McMinnville.
Carol Sherwood (Nursing) is leaving George Fox in mid-August.
Sara Sundquist (HR) left the university in June.