E-Colleague

Monik Kadarmanto (Spiritual Life/Intercultural Life), Chris Lee (Residence Life) and Caleb Howlett (Plant Services) are no longer with the university.

The undergraduate admissions office welcomes Anaraquel Aguilera as an admissions counselor this month. She arrives from the University of Portland’s School of Nursing, where she worked as a marketing and communications specialist (2017-present) and as a program specialist (2016-17). She was also active as a volunteer in 2019-20, serving as vice president of membership for Prospanica: The Association of Hispanic MBAs and Business Professionals. She earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Santa Clara University in 2016 and, in 2019, did graduate school coursework in student career development and planning at the University of Portland. She lives in Beaverton and attends St. Cecilia Catholic Church. Her hobbies include dancing, reading nonfiction books, and playing with her Chihuahua mix, Nikita, and tuxedo cat, Pacho.

Kim Knoernschild joins plant services this month to serve as the university’s environmental health and safety specialist. For the past six years she has worked as a safety manager for NBP Capital in Portland, managing safety for subsidiaries owned and managed by the company. Prior to that, she worked as a safety coordinator and inventory control clerk for Safeway, Inc., from 1999 to 2013. Kim also owned and managed her own business, Admirable Landscapes, LCC, from 2006 to 2016. She attended Hood Community College in Gresham, from which she earned an associate’s degree in safety, sustainability and health in 2016, and she holds OSHA 30, fall protection awareness, and lead abatement certification. Kim and her husband John have been married 27 years and have two grown children, Aubrie and Rueben. The Knoernschilds attend Anthem Church.

The university has hired Gabe Morales as a building maintenance technician in plant services. For the past 10 years he has worked in manufacturing for A-Dec Inc. in Newberg and Shields Manufacturing in Tualatin. He has also worked for the last two months for a company to do new construction plumbing work. Gabe was born and raised in Newberg and now lives in Carlton with his wife, Kelly, and their children Samuel (2), Olivia (8) and Riece (17). They also have an older daughter, Kathryn (20). Gabe and his family enjoy spending time outdoors, fishing, camping, traveling, attending live music events, do-it-yourself projects, and rooting for the Trail Blazers, Seahawks and now Bruins.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program welcomes Samantha Skaggs as an administrative assistant. She most recently served as the volunteer coordinator for the Chehalem Cultural Center in Newberg, a position she held from March of 2020 through January of this year. Prior to that, she was an administrative assistant for Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, from 2015 to 2019. Samantha also acquired administrative experience as an administrative assistant for AVI Foodsystems in Grand Rapids (2014-15) and as an assistant teen program administrator with the Boys and Girls Club of Holland, Michigan (2003-05). She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Northpark University in Chicago (2000). Samantha lives in Newberg with her husband, Christopher Skaggs, a George Fox alumnus. They have three children – Savannah (20), Odin (14) and Athena (11) – and attend Red Hills Church.

Greg Davenport (Physician Assistant Program) is no longer with George Fox University.

Sidney Tafflinger has transitioned to a position as an enrollment manager in the registrar’s office on the Newberg campus.

Nina Inglesby has transitioned to be an administrative assistant in the physician assistant program.

In his new book, Ancient Israel’s Neighbors, Brian Doak (School of Theology) provides an accessible guide to the nations immediately surrounding Israel during the biblical period: Canaan, Moab, Edom, Ammon, Philistia, Phoenicia, and Aram. Though smaller than the towering empires of Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt, these neighbors play a major role in the narrative of Israel’s faith. Each chapter provides a review of archaeology, writing, art, culture, and history, discussing not only the biblical presentation of each neighbor but also what we know about the neighbor outside of the Bible from the ancient world. The book is part of Oxford University Press’s new “Essentials of Biblical Studies” series.

The university welcomes alumna Sierra Dethlefsen as the interim program coordinator for the Department of Business and Economics in the College of Business. Sierra graduated from the university in December, earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing as a George Fox Honors Program student. For three years during her college experience, she served as an executive assistant in the College of Business (2017-20), assisting Kelly Borror. She also worked as a marketing consultant and executive assistant for Plan to Prosper Northwest, a Newberg-based business offering professional executive assistant services (2019-20). Sierra was also a digital marketing intern with Her Worth International (2018-19) and a marketing communications intern with VSP-Eyefinity (2019). She lives in Newberg and attends Westside: A Jesus Church in Tigard.

Kelly Borror (Business), Jodi Gill (International Admissions) and Mariah Fredericks (PA) are no longer with George Fox University.

Ed Higgins’ (English Faculty Emeritus/Writer in Residence) on Feb. 13 published his flash fiction story, “Little Red Riding Hood, The Woodcutter, Grandma, and The Big Bad Wolf: Their Ongoing True Story,” in Fudoki Magazine, a British-based online magazine of myths, legends, fables, fantasy, folklore, and fairytales. He also finished up a five-session online flash fiction writing workshop for Brilliant Flash Fiction, the quarterly online fiction journal for which he serves as assistant editor.

Rhett Luedtke (Theatre) was a featured guest on the “Ethics and Storytelling” panel at the University of Portland during UP’s Ethics Week (Feb. 1-4). Panelists discussed the ethical anchors, professional codes of conduct, civic duties, and faith commitments that guide professional storytelling in contemporary culture.

The university’s theatre department brought home seven regional awards from last week’s Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, including two national runner-ups. The following students were honored:

• Allie Schluchter: Costume Design Regional Winner for Passage (national runner-up)
• Hope Bellinger: Sound Design Regional Winner for Passage (national runner-up); Jane Childs: Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas Award
• Johnathan Billington: Light Design Honorable Mention for Silent Sky; Jane Childs: Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas Award; Design Technology Management: Vector Works Award
• Elyse Bradford: Cal Arts Summer Acting Scholarship

The regional competition includes schools in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Hawaii. It is the biggest region in the nation.

Alumna Jessi Mau joins the university this month as a member of the newly created strategic foresight and analytics team in the president’s office. She worked on a temp basis for the university last summer as an analyst, conducting and synthesizing quantitative and qualitative research, competitive analysis, and direct marketing research. Prior to that, as a student, she was the lead administrative assistant for George Fox’s Department of History, Sociology and Politics (2017-20), a global ambassador for the International Studies Abroad and Veritas programs (2019-20), and a lab assistant for the Spanish program (2019-20). Jessi also worked as an accounting intern for Phillips Real Estate LLC in 2018-19. She earned a bachelor’s degree in global business and Spanish from George Fox in 2020, and graduated from the International Business Institute at Messiah University in 2018. She lives in Beaverton with a growing family of plants and attends Northside Community Church in Newberg.

The university welcomes Claudia Mudgett this month to work as a career and academic planning coach in the IDEA Center. For the past two and a half years she has served as a member of the McMinnville Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors, working to expand the organization’s volunteering and fundraising prospects. Also, in 2019-20, she served as a front office receptionist for Northwest Spine and Sport in McMinnville. Previously, Claudia was an Early Head Start coordinator for Head Start of Yamhill County (2013-16) and a bilingual parent educator for the Child and Parent Institute in Santa Rosa, California (2010-13). She holds a master’s degree in education (1992) and a bachelor’s degree in natural resources/interpretation (1988), both from Humboldt State University. She also holds a Certificate of Completion for the Intro to College Advising Course through Columbia University (2017). Claudia lives in McMinnville with her husband, John. She has two grown children, who live out of state, and attends St. James Catholic Church in McMinnville.

Gina Braden (Physical Therapy) is no longer with George Fox University.

Linda Dallof has transitioned to the position of physical therapy coordinator.

Alexander Rolfe has transitioned to the position of library director at the Murdock Library.

In November, Carl Lloyd (Adult Degree Programs) published the book Secrets of Trauma Recovery under an alias (Dr. Elliott Cace) with alumni Loree Bardwell and Myles Daines. He also collaborated with Amy Maas to publish Living Pictures of the Bible (Empowering Systems Press) in January.

Paul Anderson (Christian Studies) will be giving the keynote address on “Jesus in Johannine Perspective: A Fourth Quest for Jesus” at the South African Theological Seminary conference on Jesus and the Fourth Gospel (March 17-18). Paul also has been invited to serve as guest editor of a Religions peer-reviewed volume on “Jesus and Spirituality,” featuring over a dozen top scholars internationally, and has been invited to contribute an essay on Quakers and the Bible for the World Council of Churches’ volume Your World is Truth: The Bible in Christian Traditions, Volume 2.

In addition, he presented “Celebrating Advent with The Saint John’s Bible” at the Reedwood Forum (December) and “John, Jesus, and the Transformation of Judaism” at the Enoch Seminar on John the Baptist (January). In the publications realm, he edited Volume 9 in the Johannine Monograph Series (Wipf & Stock): Revelation in the Fourth Gospel, and Eight Johannine Essays by Gail R. O’day. His recently published essays include: “Paul, the Philippians, and Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy – A Cognitive-Critical Analysis,” in Talking God in Society (Vol. 1: Essays in Honor of Peter Lampe of Heidelberg); “We Walk by Faith; Not By Sight: A Year of Wilderness Wondering,” for Psalm 91; “The Lord’s Leadership – Psalm 146,” for Psalm 91 (November 2020); “Balderdash! A Dozen Critically Flawed Biblical Scholarship Views Destined Deservedly for the Dustbin,” in The Bible and Interpretation; and “Foreword” in The Heart of Friends: Quaker History and Beliefs (Barclay College Publishers) by Glen W. Leppert.

The admissions office welcomes Ronnda Zezula Griffith as an admissions communications manager this month. She worked most recently as administrator-COO for a large nonprofit serving seniors, where she managed staff, HR, and business operations. She began work life as a litigation paralegal and law office manager before moving into technology project management. She then worked as a business and technology consultant, primarily for nonprofits and tech startups. In July 2020, she completed a software developer boot camp focused on Python and is currently enrolled in George Fox’s social and behavioral studies program, with an expected graduation this December. Ronnda lives in a rural farmhouse in Washington County with her husband and two youngest kids, and she has seven grandchildren under the age of 7 between her two oldest daughters. She attends Clarkes United Methodist Church, where George Fox alumnus Marty Williams is pastor.

Taj Kachaamy joins the university this semester as a visiting assistant professor of art and design, moving from an adjunct role to a full-time position. A native of Lebanon, she brings more than 12 years of university teaching experience, working most recently as a full-time faculty member in the College of Design at the American University in the United Arab Emirates. Also, for the past seven years, she has taught in the art and science department at Lebanese International University and for the American Center-International House Institute (2008-18). Also, since 2016, she has taught at Arts, Sciences and Technology University’s Beirut, Chtoura, and Jadra campuses. She also brings seven years of industry experience, specializing in graphic design and visual communication for various companies in the early 2000s. Taj’s primary areas of interest are digital painting and digital sculpting. She is in the process of earning a PhD in art from Lebanese University.

Britny Scholz (Registar’s Office) is no longer with George Fox University.

Rebecca Williams has transitioned to the position of assistant registrar in the registrar’s office.

Bryan Boyd (Theatre) won Broadway World’s 2020 Portland Regional Award for “Set Design of the Decade” for his work on Mamma Mia with the Broadway Rose Theatre Company in 2018.

Matt Stump (Biology) published an article, “Regulation of Kv11.1 Isoform Expression by Polyadenylate Binding Protein Nuclear 1,” in the International Journal of Molecular Science in January. George Fox undergraduate students Rachel Nguyen (2019), Rachel Drgastin (2020) and Laney Search (2021) contributed to this study and are listed as coauthors on the article.

Douglas G. Campbell (Art and Design Professor Emeritus) in November published the book Parables Ironic and Grotesque (Oblique Voices Press), written in the years prior to his stroke in 2012. In it, he invites the reader to ponder the common follies of his fellow man, highlighting such weaknesses as pride, selfishness, fear and greed, and pointing out the further foolishness of ignoring such shortcomings. Allegorical in nature, the book challenges readers to take a closer look into their own frailties and deficiencies and invites them to a healthy dose of quiet introspection.

The play Ghosting Hamlet by Mark Allen Eaton (Theatre, Humanities, Communication) has been published and is now available as part of the “Connecting 2021” series from Radius, the Religious Drama Society of Great Britain. The 15-minute play imagines a castle-bound Hamlet struggling to maintain his studies at Wittenberg University through video conferencing, and explores the need to be present with one another through whatever channel is available.

Robyn Angelis joins the university this month as an access services specialist in the Murdock Library. She arrives from Marylhurst University, where she was an administrative assistant in the institution’s Shoen Library for a year until its closure. Before that, she worked for One Collective, a global nonprofit based in Elgin, Illinois, for whom she planned development projects for refugee populations in Crete, Greece. She also spent two tours as a volunteer supervisor and strategy consultant for the Crete for Life Charity in Crete. Robyn holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from George Fox. She lives in Beaverton with three grown children still in college, and attends both Southwest Bible Church and Westside: A Jesus Church while maintaining a Zoom relationship with the Evangelical Church of Heraklion, Greece.

The physician assistant program welcomes Tim Aylward as an assistant professor in the School of Medical Science this semester. For the past two years he has worked as the clinical director of Project Recovery, a center in Rapid City, South Dakota, specializing in providing evidence-based medication assistant treatment to patients with substance and alcohol abuse disorder. He also worked part time, from 2016 to 2019, as a physician assistant in urgent care at Regional Hospital in Rapid City. Previously, Tim embarked on his PA career with the U.S. Air Force, serving as a family medicine PA for airmen and their families in multiple locations (2012-18). He holds a master of physician assistant studies degree from Oregon Health & Science University (2012) and a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Oregon State University (2007). He lives in Tigard with his wife Becca and their three daughters, Jane, Ruby and Lois. They attend Bridgetown in Portland.

Alumna Megan Bos returns to George Fox this month as a graduate admissions counselor for the MBA and DPT programs. For the past three years she has worked for Boys & Girls Aid in Portland, serving as the organization’s assistant director of development (2019 to present), as a development officer (2017-19), and as an administrative assistant (2017). This marks a return to George Fox for Megan, who worked as an assistant area coordinator (2016-17) and resident assistant (2014-16) at the university, from which she earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication in 2017. She lives in Tigard with three roommates and attends Colossae Church in Tigard.

Lexie Criscola has joined the university to work as an admissions specialist for the George Fox Honors Program. For the past year she worked as the marketing and events coordinator for the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn, responsible for the farm’s social media initiatives and special events. Before that, she worked the summer of 2018 as the “hype person” for a traveling kids’ obstacle course mud run challenge. Lexie also worked as a property assistant in game day operations and client relations for IMG Oregon in 2018-19. She holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising from the University of Oregon (2019). Lexie lives in Tualatin with five women her age and attends Westside: A Jesus Church in Tigard.

The university welcomes AJ Heil to serve as director of campus recreation. For the past four years he has worked as the outdoor pursuits program director at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he managed all aspects of a comprehensive outdoor recreation program for a student body of more than 25,000. He also gained experience in the field as a recreation specialist and employment coordinator (2015-16) for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Department of Recreational Sports. AJ also taught as an associate lecturer at UW-La Crosse (2015-16) on recreation theory and practices while he managed the university’s outdoor recreation program as a graduate assistant (2014-15). He earned both a master’s degree (2015) and bachelor’s degree (2014) in recreation management from UW-La Crosse, as well as a certificate in adventure education. In addition to his career in campus recreation, AJ has also served on staff for CRU (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) as campus field staff and as a staff member of Lifelines, Cru’s outdoor ministry. AJ lives in Newberg with his wife, Katy, and is seeking to become more involved in the Newberg community and find a church in which to serve. The couple enjoys building relationships, learning new skills, and exploring God’s creation.

Elizabeth Upton joins the physician assistant program this semester as an assistant professor in the School of Medical Science. She arrives from Kaiser Permanente in Beaverton, where she worked as a physician assistant in family practice the past 15 years. Prior to that, she worked for two years as a PA for Pacific International Medical Maritime Services, doing clinical practice on maritime vessels in the Port of Portland and Vancouver. Elizabeth holds a master of medical science in physician assistant studies degree from Pacific University (2003) and a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from Linfield College (2000). She lives in Sherwood with her husband Brian and their girls, Kassie and Bailey, and attends Countryside Community Church in Sherwood.

Kaitlyn Peitz (IDEA Center), Bryce Coefield (Intercultural Life), Janeen Dillow (Library) and Adam McGuffie (Seminary) are no longer with George Fox University.

Lauren Hill has transitioned to the position of assistant director of visitor experience.

Chengping Zhang (College of Business) coauthored an article with Jonathan Ramse, titled “Teaching Economics behind the COVID-19 Pandemic,” that was accepted for publication in the March 2021 issue of International Review of Economics Education. In the paper, Chengping and Jonathan show how economic instructors may use COVID-19-related events to teach some key economic principles and theories. The paper will foster reflection and discussion among economic instructors on how they may proactively connect what happens in the real world with what students learn in the classroom.

Ed Higgins (English Faculty Emeritus/Writer in Residence) published three poems – “I return,” “romantic love,” and “Christmas day” – in Volume 6, Issue 61, of the literary journal Failed haiku (A Journal of English Senryu) this month. Ed also published his poem “Winter Signs” in the Winter 2020 issue of the online journal Farmer-ish, and his piece “Sisyphus takes the day off” appeared in the Jan. 4 edition of the online journal Mediterranean Poetry.

After a six-year process, Jennie Harrop (SPS) was ordained as a Presbyterian pastor on Dec. 27, 2020. Harrop, who has a DMin from Portland Seminary in addition to a PhD in English and MFA in creative writing, is an associate professor and director of the School of Professional Studies. She also serves in a part-time capacity as solo pastor of Cedar Creek Church in Sherwood.

David Shaw has joined the university as a part-time assistant professor in the master of medical science (physician assistant) program. Since 1978, he has had a private practice in Salem, specializing in general orthopedic surgery and lower-limb reconstruction. He also holds staff privileges at Salem Hospital and Northbank Surgery Center in Salem. Previously, he taught orthopedics part time as an associate professor at Oregon Health & Science University’s Shriners Hospital, and he served as an assistant professor of orthopedics at Christian Medical College in India (1973-75). In all, David has more than 50 years of experience in the profession, beginning his career in 1968 as an orthopedic surgeon in India. He holds a doctorate from Christian Medical College, Punjab University, in Ludhiana, India (1963). He lives in Salem with Rita, his wife of 55 years, and has two daughters, a son and four grandchildren. David attends Salem Alliance and is heavily involved in overseas medical missions, taking orthopedic and rehabilitation teams for the last 21 years to Ecuador and Peru to treat children with bone and joint deformities, abnormalities and diseases.

Abigail Buckles (Honors Program) and Seth Van Der Eems (Art and Design) are no longer with George Fox University.

Sarah Reid has transitioned to the position of director of enrollment special projects and content in the marketing communications office.

Kelly Ward has transitioned to the position of associate director of marketing content in the marketing communications office.

The university’s fall theatre production, Silent Sky, was reviewed by Roman Sanchez, a respondent for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival who serves as a theatre program analyst for the California Arts Council. He has reviewed more than 50 virtual theatre productions, both at the professional and university levels, in the last eight months, and stated George Fox’s production was one of the best he had seen.

His praise is reflected in the following Kennedy Center awards:

• Bryan Boyd: Meritorious Achievement Award for Outstanding Systems Design

• Johnathan Billington: Meritorious Achievement Award for Outstanding Collaboration and Execution of a Virtual Design (Lights)

• Alizabeth Stevans: Meritorious Achievement Award for Outstanding Collaboration and Execution of a Virtual Design (Projections)

• Alexa Schluchter: Meritorious Achievement Award for Outstanding Collaboration and Execution of a Virtual Design (Lights)

• Marley Ross: Meritorious Achievement Award for Outstanding Collaboration and Execution of a Virtual Design (Sound)

• Emma Johnson: Meritorious Achievement Award for Outstanding Collaboration and Execution of a Virtual Design (Make-up

• Elyse Bradford (“Henrietta Leavitt”): Irene Ryan Nomination for outstanding acting in a university production

• Danny Walker (“Peter Shaw”): Irene Ryan Nomination for outstanding acting in a university production

In addition, the show is currently being considered for production at the regional festival in February 2021. Only four shows a year make it to the regional festival, which includes the following states: Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, northern and central California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. 

Sunggu Yang (Theology), along with his editorial team, published Vol. 7 No. 2 of the Asian American Theological Forum. In addition, he published an article, “With Jørn Utzon: Approaching and Preaching Architectural Texts,” in Vol. 45 No. 2 of Homiletic: The Journal of the Academy of Homiletics. 

Ron Clark (Seminary) recently conducted online training sessions for the Multnomah County Family Violence Council, addressing working with intimate partner violence in churches, holding offenders accountable, and confronting abusive faith leaders. He also is part of the Healing the Healer documentary series (taped in December 2020) through Odyssey Impact in New York. The series will be used to train clergy, seminary students, and lay leaders, and will be released in 2021.

Lorretta Krautscheid (Nursing) published “Enhancing access for student nurse athletes: Office hours on the road” in Nursing Education Perspectives. The article describes integration of technology, learning theory and multimedia resources, permitting faculty and student athletes to collaborate across distance.  

Paul Otto (History) was interviewed in November by Chance Kelly for his podcast Island. The episode explores the history of New Netherland, 1615-1620, and highlights the role of Hendrick Christiansen. Paul shared his expertise on the Munsees, the fur trade, and wampum.

Ed Higgins (English Faculty Emeritus/Writer in Residence) published his poems â€œSometimes” and “reality” in the Nov. 25 issue of the online literary magazine The Confessionalist. 

Cherice Bock (Seminary) published the following book chapters in fall 2020: “Quaker Spirituality” in Protestant Spiritual Traditions, Vol. 2 (Wipf & Stock) and “Quaker Pneumatology” in T&T Clark Handbook of Pneumatology (editors Daniel Castelo and Kenneth M. Loyer).

As of Dec. 1, Curt Stilp has been appointed as program director of the physician assistant program. Former director Greg Davenport will remain with the program as a part-time strategic development consultant through Feb. 28.