About Our People

Monday, October 1st, 2018

Mark McMinn (PsyD) received news that his 2017 book, The Science of Virtue, will be receiving the 2018 Book Award from the Martin Institute and Dallas Willard Center at Westmont College. Mark will travel to Westmont in January to receive the award and give a chapel talk and provost lecture.

Ed Higgins (English Faculty Emeritus) published a poem, “Blue Heron,” in the Summer 2018 issue of Terrene, on online literary magazine dedicated to “an earth worth writing for.”

Karen Buchanan (EdD) and Tom Buchanan (MAT) presented their paper, “Illuminating Family-Community Knowledge in Teacher Education,” at the 2018 British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference in Newcastle, England, on Sept. 11.

Alex Rolfe (Library) was honored by bepress, the university’s Digital Commons platform company, as an IR (Institutional Repository) “all-star” for 2018. Alex, a technical services and scholarly communications librarian, has been key in integrating the repository Digital Commons@George Fox University into the campus mission to help students Be Known academically and professionally, and to promote George Fox’s scholarship.

Birthdays

Monday, October 1st, 2018

Oct. 2              Kelly Carlisle
Oct. 3              Sarita Gallagher
Oct. 4              Doug Beatty, Jesse Richards, Jane Wilson
Oct. 7              Cindy Howard, Maranda Turner
Oct. 8              Linda Crossland
Oct. 9              Brian Doak, Jordan Moody, Jeffrey Walters, Caroline Wildhaber
Oct. 10            Rob Felton, Jim Smart
Oct. 11            Gary Eckerdt, Lizzy Riese
Oct. 13            Kathy Weiss
Oct. 15            Debra Espinor, Gina Worley

Comings and Goings

Monday, September 17th, 2018

Lindsey Coates has joined the advancement office as the assistant director of the annual giving program. A 2018 graduate of George Fox, she worked previously in the office as both a phonathon caller and supervisor in 2015 and 2016. She also worked for two years as a special projects facilitator for Doran Automotive in Newberg (2015-17). Her activities on campus included serving on the Associated Student Community and running her own kayak rental business. Lindsey earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, incorporating studies in organizational communication and Christian ministries. She lives in McMinnville with her husband Austin and their puppy, Pooter. They are currently looking for a church home in McMinnville.


An alumna who formerly worked as the university’s costume shop manager, Kimberly Hergert, has returned to campus this fall to serve as costume shop manager on a part-time basis. She worked previously at George Fox as the costume shop manager from 2012 to 2016 and during the 2009-10 academic year. She was also the shop’s seamstress from 2007 to 2011. In all, she has done costume design for more than a dozen productions, including 11 at George Fox, since 2009. Kimberly has also worked with the Valley Repertory Theatre in town, as well as Theatre Vertigo, Pacer Drama, and After School Productions. She also spent the summer of 2011 as the costume shop first hand for Idaho Repertory Theatre in Moscow, Idaho. She earned an interdisciplinary degree in art and fashion merchandising from George Fox in 2011. Kimberly lives in Portland with her husband, Peiter, and their two children, Stevie and Dylan.


Moses Hooper has joined the marketing communications department as a video producer. A former U.S. Marine, he has worked the past year as a production intern with the Murdock Charitable Trust & Windrider Institute, for whom he planned, shot and edited films for NGOs across the West Coast, Europe and Africa. Previously, in 2017, he did video production work and assisted in the creation, organization and distribution of digital content for Humble Beast Records in Portland. Previously, Moses served in the Marine Special Operations Command in San Diego from 2004 to 2009. He went on to earn an associate’s degree in recording technology from Citrus College in 2013 and a bachelor’s degree in cinema and media arts from Biola University in 2017. He lives in Newberg and attends Saving Grace Church in Milwaukie.


Plant Services has hired Joshua Howlett as a custodian. A 2018 graduate of Southern Oregon University, he has worked since March as a part-time office aide for Curry County Title of Gold Beach, Oregon. From 2015 to 2018, he worked part time as a lab aide in Southern Oregon’s computer lab. He earned a bachelor’s degree in emerging media digital arts from the school this spring and, previously, attended Southwestern Oregon Community College on a part-time basis. Joshua lives in Newberg.


A former longtime employee, Tammy O’Doherty, has returned to campus to work as the program coordinator for the Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology. She worked at the university in the same capacity from 2006 to 2017. Prior to that, she was an administrative assistant for the university’s undergraduate psychology and writing/literature departments from 2001 to 2005. Tammy earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and consumer science in 1995. She lives in Newberg with her husband Liam, who recently returned to teaching special education students at Newberg High School. They have two grown daughters, Ashley and Katie Carlene. The O’Dohertys attend Family Life Church in Newberg.


The university has hired Marivelisse Ortega as an administrative assistant in the Intercultural Resource Center. For the past two years she’s worked as a sales associate for Kate Spade NY in Honolulu. Concurrently, since the fall of 2016, she’s been employed as an administrative assistant with Air Balance Hawaii, Inc., also in Honolulu. She worked previously as a bid director and administrative assistant for Pacific Test and Balance, Inc., in Honolulu (2013-16) and as a community service coordinator for Hickam Communities on the Hickam Air Force Base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii (2011-13). Marivelisse earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from the University of Puerto Rico, Bayamón in 1997. She lives in Keizer with her husband, Javier F. Martin Vinas, and their daughters, Bethany, Brianna and Annelle. Both Brianna and Annelle attend George Fox. The Ortegas attend Outward Church in Salem.


Dylan Harris (Print Services) has left the university.

About Our People

Monday, September 17th, 2018

Leah Payne (Seminary) was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion for her project, “From Traditional to Hybrid: Transitioning Outstanding Learning Outcomes from In-Person to Online-Hybrid Formats.”

Jennifer Farland (International Admissions) was inducted into the NAFSA Trainer Corps in 2018 and will serve for three years in this role. NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world’s largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education with approximately 10,000 members worldwide. Trainer Corps members are chosen based on their content expertise and experience in the field and are recognized as leaders within their regions and knowledge communities.

Cindy Anderson (Adjunct Professor, DPS) was guest lecturer at the Native Education College in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she presented “The Circle of Courage as a Key to Overcome Indigenous Cultural Barriers in the Workplace” in August. She was also a presenter at the Diversity Leadership Workshop for Idaho State University on the topic “Combating Stereotype Threat” in April.

Paul Anderson (Christian Studies) will make a presentation, “Seeing the Word of God: The Illuminative Impact of the Saint John’s Bible,” at the Center for Christian Faith & Culture at Malone University in Canton, Ohio, on Sept. 27. He will also speak on the topic “Jesus and Peace – A Friendly Witness” this Wednesday, Sept. 19, in Lake Oswego as part of an interfaith service, “Honoring International Peace Day,” hosted by the New Thought Center for Spiritual Living.

Birthdays

Monday, September 17th, 2018

Sept. 18           Darryl Brown, Jennie Harrop, Leah Payne
Sept. 21           Heidi Thomason
Sept. 22           Josh Nauman
Sept. 23           Patrice Brown
Sept. 24           James Dezellem, Steve Leijon
Sept. 25           Darla Norgren, Marc Shelton
Sept. 26           Isaac MacDonald
Sept. 28           Aimee Frazier
Sept. 29           Robert Bredemeier, Craig Inglesby, Louis Olivares, Hannah Souter
Sept. 30           Marcia Bogert, Terry Huffman, Laurie Lieggi, Laurie Lorenzen, Sean St. Jean
Oct. 1               Anna Berardi, Paul Chamberlain, Ashley Lippard

Comings and Goings

Monday, September 3rd, 2018

A former United States ambassador to the countries of Mali and Rwanda – and a man who served as a U.S. Foreign Service officer for 28 years – has joined the College of Business as a visiting scholar. David Rawson has taught at Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, Michigan, the past 19 years as a professor of political economy. Prior to that, he worked in the U.S. Foreign Service as U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Mali (1996-99) and the Republic of Rwanda (1993-96). He worked previously in positions ranging from director of the Office of West African Affairs (1989-91) to serving as deputy chief of mission for the American Embassy in Somalia (1986-88). David began his international career in 1971 as a desk officer for Rwanda and Burundi. His academic career began as an assistant professor of political science at Malone College in Canton, Ohio (1965-71). He has authored two books: The Somali State and Foreign Aid and Prelude to Genocide: Arusha, Rwanda, and the Failure of Diplomacy, as well as various articles and book chapters on international affairs and conflict resolution. He earned a PhD in international relations and comparative government from American University (1966) and a master’s degree in international relations from the same school (1964). He lives in Newberg in the Friendsview Retirement Community with his wife Sandy. They have two grown children, Jon and Christina.


Hannah Butler has been hired to work as an event operations coordinator in the Office of Event Services. She arrives from Colorado Christian University, where she spent the last three and a half years as an assistant event manager for the school’s athletics program. In addition, since 2016, she has worked in ministry as a worship leader at Generations Church in Denver and, during the summer of 2018, as a production/worship intern at Red Rocks Church in Arvada, Colorado. Hannah earned a bachelor’s degree in global studies this spring from Colorado Christian University, where she competed on the school’s Division II women’s soccer team for four years. She lives in Newberg and attends Bridgetown Church.


The university has hired Kirsti Doolin as a print services specialist. A 2018 graduate of George Fox, she has spent the summer working as a direct sales associate with Lange Estate Winery and Vineyard in Dundee, Oregon. In addition, since the summer of 2015, she has worked as both a sales associate in the university’s print services office and as a lead sales associate for the Pulp and Circumstance store in Newberg. Kristi earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts last spring. She lives in Newberg and attends Willamette Christian Church in West Linn.


The university welcomes Aaron Geist as a financial aid counselor. Since 2005, he has served at Grace Point Community Church in Tigard, most recently as the associate pastor of worship and expression (2015 to present) and previously as the church’s youth and worship pastor (2011-15) and student ministry assistant, high school pastor and youth pastor (2005-11). He also gained student ministry experience as a senior counselor at Camp Harlow in Eugene, Oregon, in 1997. His roles in ministry have given him the opportunity to build skills in the areas of communication, project management and tech support, among others. Aaron earned a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology from Multnomah University in Portland in 2006. He is looking forward to working with students and parents to find the right resources as students pursue an education at George Fox. Aaron lives in Tigard with his wife Alison and their three children – Isaiah, Jonah and Ezra. He will continue to serve at Grace Point through September before transitioning to a new church at which to serve.


Wenbin “James” Lian has joined the university’s College of Business to serve for one year as an MBA program coordinator assistant and to help with language translation. A native of China, he completed George Fox’s full-time MBA program this year after earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Hainan University in China in 2017. He worked previously as an auditing assistant for a firm in Xiamen, Fujian in China. He lives in Newberg.


Stephanie Lopez joins the Office of Spiritual and Intercultural Life to work as an administrative assistant and help coordinate Serve Day. For the past two years she has worked as an administrative assistant in the dean’s office in the School of Behavioral and Applied Sciences at Azusa Pacific University. In addition, in 2017-18, she was a graduate assistant in charge of intramural programs in the student programming and activities department at Biola University. She served previously as a graduate assistant in Azusa’s Office of the Campus Pastors (2016-17). She also has served as a worship team coordinator for Iglesia Nueva Generacion. Stephanie, originally from Los Angeles, has moved to Newberg and is in the process of seeking a church home.


Chris Cleaver (Counseling) has left the university.

Movers & Quakers

Monday, September 3rd, 2018

Kristie DeHaven has transitioned to a new position as associate director of graduate and adult degree program admissions.

About Our People

Monday, September 3rd, 2018

Jennie Harrop (DPS), Rae Casey (DPS) and Michelle Shelton (DPS) recently published an article titled “Knowles, Kolb, and Google: Prior Learning Assessment as a Model for 21st-Century Learning” in The Journal of Continuing Higher Education (Volume 66, Issue 2). The article highlights George Fox’s Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) program for degree completion students, arguing that PLA can provide adult students with a broader, more expansive understanding of how to think about learning, the workplace, and an internet-connected world where students are daily called to engage with integrity and intentionality. The full-text article can be accessed at this link.

Guadalupe Garcia McCall’s (English) latest book, Shame the Stars, was chosen by the Texas Center for the Book at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission as Texas’ Great Read for 2018. Each year, states are asked to highlight a book representative of the region’s literary landscape at the National Book Festival, an event sponsored by the Library of Congress. Those selected for the honor will showcase their books at an event in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 1. More information on the book and award are available here. Guadalupe has written a sequel to the book, All the Stars Denied, scheduled for release on Oct. 9, 2018.

Debby Thomas (College of Business) recently published an article, “Jesus’ Cross-Cultural Model of ‘Leader as Servant’ In Luke 22:24-30,” in the Theology of Leadership Journal. She also attended the Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference June 6-9 at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina, where she presented on the topic “The Golden Shadow of Classroom as Organization” and participated in a panel presentation on how to teach classroom as organization, an experiential and transformational approach to teaching that can be applied to teach any management topic.

Randy Woodley (Seminary) wrote a chapter, “Truth to Power: Daniel Chapter 3,” published in the book Unsettling the Word: Biblical Experiments in Decolonization (Mennonite Press). He also wrote the chapter “The Poor and Poverty in North American Indigenous Traditions” that appears in Poverty and the Poor in the World’s Religious Traditions, Vol. 2, (Praeger/ABC-CLIO). In addition, he’s recently published a number of articles and been interviewed, including by Why Hunger magazine in August, for which he discussed the topic “The Need for Twenty-First Century Reparations.” His piece “Integrating Pedagogical Vulnerability in Distance Learning” was published on the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning’s website, and his article “Reading Scripture through the Eyes of Jesus’ Shalom Kingdom” appeared on Zondervan NRSV Bible’s webpage. Randy also wrote an article, “Why I Vote,” for Sojourner’s magazine (November 2018). He also was the plenary speaker at the Inhabit Conference on April 27-28 in Seattle, speaking on “Eight Fallacies of a Western Christian Worldview” and presenting a workshop, “Dis-empowering the Myth of Whiteness from Your Parish.” He also kicked off the Creationtide sermon series at Murray Hills Christian Church; conducted a plenary Skype address on “Models of Shalom” for Re-Imagining Faith and Re-Claiming Fellowship in Diaspora: We Ourselves or In Solidarity? The Asha Vahishta Initiative (AVI); taught “Imagining Faith and Theology through an Indigenous Worldview” at Vancouver School of Theology’s Indigenous Nations Studies Program last summer; and started a new podcast with former student Bo Sanders, titled “Peacing it All Together” (iTunes and Stitcher).

Birthdays

Monday, September 3rd, 2018

Sept. 4             Kara Holcombe
Sept. 7             Tony Longstroth, Jen Macnab, Nathan McDaniel
Sept. 8             Mark Pothoff, Brandon Waybright
Sept. 9             Jeffry Fair, Josiah Philipsen, Tim Timmerman
Sept. 10           David Rawson
Sept. 11           Jeff Duerr
Sept. 12           Kelly Chang
Sept. 13           Paige Parry
Sept. 16           Erin Johnson
Sept. 17           Caleb Howlett, Kenton Miller, MaryKate Morse

Comings and Goings

Monday, August 20th, 2018

Jonathan Anderegg joins the university this fall as an assistant professor of communication. He served as an adjunct lecturer in George Fox’s Introduction to Communication class in the 2017-18 academic year and also adjunct lectured for Clackamas Community College, Linfield College and Southern New Hampshire University during that same time frame. Previously, he lectured extensively on a number of communication, writing and media disciplines at Ohio State University (2010-17), Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio (2015), and the University of Hawaii at Hilo (2015). He worked as a teaching assistant at Ohio State University in 2009-10, and he gained industry experience in film and video production as an assistant manager of production for Dyal Productions (2008-9) and as an audio-visual technician for Ametron, Inc. (2008), both of Hollywood, California. He earned a master’s degree in communication from Ohio State University (2011) and a bachelor’s degree in film/video from Bob Jones University (2007). Jonathan lives in Newberg with his wife Courtney, also a professor in the communication department, and 2-year-old son Liam. The family attends Journey Church in Sherwood.


Christine Birch, formerly an adjunct professor at the university, joins George Fox as a half-time visiting assistant professor of education this fall. She will primarily teach online. For the past three years, she has taught the Inclusive Classroom in a Diverse Society class to general education teacher candidates as well as a number of courses in the university’s special education endorsement program. Concurrently, from 2015 to 2017, she worked as an evaluator and a developmental delay specialist for the early intervention/early childhood special education program in the Newberg School District, as well as a tutor using the Orton Gillingham Method. Previously, she conducted specialized tutoring sessions and was a substitute for the Newberg School District (2015). She was also a learning resource teacher at Crater Elementary School as a long-term substitute in 2014. In all, she has more than 20 years of teaching experience, having taught previously in Idaho, Iowa and Kansas. She continues to teach in Idaho as a second-grade reading teacher/specialist at Cole Valley Christian School in Boise. Christine earned a master’s degree in adaptive special education from MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, in 2008, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, with an emphasis in the educationally handicapped, from Northwest Nazarene University in 1996. She lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Rodney, and their three children: Robert (14), Christopher (12) and Elizabeth (10). The family attends Tree City Church in Boise, Idaho.


The nursing department welcomes Andrea Caldwell as an assistant professor of nursing this fall. She arrives from Simpson University in Redding, California, where she worked as an assistant professor of nursing for the past year and a half. Prior to that, she held a number of nursing positions at health centers and clinics in California, including as a family nurse practitioner fellow at the Shasta Community Health Center (2016), as a family nurse practitioner at The Oasis Clinic of Chico, California (2015-16), and as an emergency department staff nurse at the Enloe Medical Center in Chico (2010-15). She has worked in the nursing profession since 2007, starting out as a staff nurse at Shasta Regional Medical Center in Redding, California (2007-08). Andrea earned a master’s degree in nursing, with a family nurse practitioner emphasis, from Sonoma State University in 2014. She also holds a bachelor of science in nursing degree from Rush University (2007) and earned bachelor’s degrees in both interpersonal communication studies and world arts and cultures from UCLA (2002). Andrea lives in Salem with her daughters Emily and Nylah.


Kelly Carlisle joins the College of Education as an assistant professor of education and director of administrative licensure. He has worked in the Salem-Keizer Public School District for the past 10 years, the last four of which as an assistant superintendent responsible for oversight of K-12 education, instructional services, and student services departments. Prior to that, from 2008 to 2014, he served as the district’s director of secondary education, for which he supervised and supported principals at six large comprehensive high schools and two alternative high schools. Kelly worked previously at Milwaukie High School in the North Clackamas School District from 1986 to 2008, as a principal (2005-08), an assistant principal (2001-05) and as choral director (1986 to 2001). He earned a master’s degree in teaching from Portland State in 1989 and a bachelor’s degree in education from Pacific Lutheran University in 1983. Kelly lives in Salem with his wife Nancy, a school nurse, and they have three children: Geoff, Taylor and Natalie. Kelly and Nancy attend St. Mark Lutheran Church in Salem.


The William Penn Honors Program welcomes Isaac Choi as a faculty fellow and as an assistant professor of philosophy. He arrives from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, where he was an adjunct instructor of philosophy in 2016-18 and taught introduction to logic and critical thinking. He was also a visiting fellow at the Rivendell Institute at Yale University from 2015 to 2018. Previously, he was a postdoctoral research fellow in philosophy at the University of Oxford (2014-15). Isaac’s areas of specialization include epistemology and the philosophy of religion. He earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame in 2013 and also holds both a ThM in philosophy and theology (2002) and an MDiv (2000) from Princeton Theological Seminary. Isaac lives in Tigard with his wife Laura and their two children, Elliot and Lydia.


The Department of Music welcomes Dwayne Corbin as an associate professor of instrumental music. He will conduct the Symphonic Band and Symphony Orchestra, in addition to teaching music education courses. For the past 12 years, Dwayne taught at Simpson University in Redding, California, where, in addition to teaching a variety of music courses, he conducted the Shasta Symphony Orchestra. Prior to that, he taught at Wheaton College, in Wheaton, Illinois. He is active as both a conductor and professional percussionist. He has been the resident conductor of the North State Symphony of Redding in Chico, California, since 2013, where he leads youth concerts and guest conducts bands and orchestras. Previously, he served as conductor of The Shasta College Symphonic Band, assistant conductor of the Juneau Symphony, and leader of the Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble. He earned a doctorate of musical arts in conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (2006), holds a master’s degree in music from Central Washington University (1999), and earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Wheaton College Conservatory of Music in Wheaton, Illinois (1997). He lives in Newberg with his wife, Caryn, and sons Andrew and Peter.


Gregory Davenport has been hired as the chair and program director of the PA (“Physician Associate”) Medicine program, set to launch in 2021. He brings more than 30 years of professional experience in his field, and since 2014 he has served as dean for the Graduate School of Health Sciences at North Greenville University in Tigerville, South Carolina. Concurrently, he was the founding director and professor in the school’s Department of PA Medicine (2014-18) and, for the past year, was also employed as a professor in the University of Lynchburg’s Doctor of Medical Science Department. Gregory previously served as dean and founding director for the Department of PA Medicine at Gardner-Webb University (2012-14), and as director of didactic education for the PA Medicine program at Harding University (2010-11). He began his career as a master instructor for the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1982 to 1987 as a Combat Casualty Care Specialist (C-4), and from 1987 to 1991 as a Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) and personnel recovery specialist. Gregory has also served as board director for the humanitarian organization MEND Global Foundation for the past year and as the lead clinician for a number of international relief trips. Since 1996, he has owned his own company, Greg Davenport, LLC, specializing in wilderness survival and disaster medicine. He holds a doctorate in health science: leadership and organizational behavior from A.T. Still University (2012) and a master’s degree in PA medicine: wilderness/ER focus from the University of Nebraska (2008). He lives in Dundee with his wife Dawn-Marie and four of his seven children, ages 11, 11, 9 and 9 (Abigail, Adeline, Chuck and Cyrus). His other three children are out of school and live in Washington and Nebraska (Jamie, Jenna and Braden).


The university welcomes Peggy Gibbons as an assistant professor of social work. She has taught in the school’s social work department for the past two years on an adjunct basis, and from 1999 to 2003 she was on the George Fox School of Social Work Advisory Board. Previously, she worked extensively in healthcare and community development. A common goal in her previous jobs has been to develop programs which increase access to primary medical and mental health care for rural and underserved populations. Peggy has served as a clinical operations manager for Optum TelePsych Services of Austin, Texas (2011-14), as a clinical outreach coordinator with the Texas Association of Community Health Centers (2010-11), and as a program specialist with the Texas Primary Care Office in the Department of State Health Services (2007-10). She also has worked for the Oregon Primary Care Association and Oregon Primary Care Office. Peggy has also been a school counselor at Edwards Elementary School and Chehalem Valley Middle School in Newberg and at Melissa Ridge Elementary School in Melissa, Texas (2005-07). Peggy holds a master of social work degree from Portland State University (1999) and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northern Arizona University (1981). She lives in Sherwood with her husband Scott and attends Tualatin Presbyterian Church. Her daughters Christie and Joy graduated from Newberg High School and are now married with children of their own. Peggy and her husband are thrilled to be grandparents to Adelyn, Clara, Jane and Camden.


Alumna Sarri Gibson joins the School of Education this fall as a visiting assistant professor of education. For the past six years she’s taught locally as a visiting professor (2017-18) and as an adjunct professor (2012-17) at Linfield College in McMinnville, specializing in the area of student teacher supervisor. She also taught on an adjunct basis at George Fox from 2013 to 2015. Sarri gained classroom experience as a substitute teacher in the McMinnville School District (2009-12 and 2015-17) and as a reading intervention teacher in the same district (2005-06). She also taught kindergarten, first grade and second grade in the McMinnville School District between 2000 and 2005. Sarri completed the reading endorsement program at Portland State University this spring and holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Portland State (2005) and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from George Fox (2000). She lives in McMinnville with her husband Joel, a 2000 graduate of George Fox. They have four children – Maddy (18), Garrett (15), Carter (12) and Rebeka (8) – and attend McMinnville Covenant Church.


Mary Imboden has joined George Fox as an assistant professor of exercise science. She arrives from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, where she has worked as a laboratory testing supervisor in the school’s Clinical Exercise Physiology Program for the past four years. She also taught as an exercise science professor in Ball State’s School of Kinesiology during the 2017-18 academic year. Prior to working in Indiana, Mary was a clinical research coordinator for the Translational Science Institute at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as well as an exercise specialist at High Point Regional Hospital in Kernersville, North Carolina (2013-14). She also worked at Wake Forest as a coordinator in the school’s Healthy Exercise and Lifestyle Programs (2011-14). Mary earned a PhD in human bioenergetics from Ball State University (2018), a master’s degree in health and exercise science from Wake Forest University (2013), and a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Towson University (2011). She lives in Portland with her husband, Andrew, and two dogs, Apache and Juniper, and attends Bridgetown Church.


The university’s engineering department welcomes Young Bok (“Abraham”) Kang as an assistant professor of biomedical engineering. Since 2015, he has worked as a postdoctoral research fellow in surgery at the Center for Engineering in Medicine at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Concurrently, since 2016, he’s gained teaching experience as a mentor of fellows and trainees to be supervised at Harvard Medical School. He has also served in teaching assistant positions at Drexel University (2012-15). He holds a PhD in mechanical engineering and mechanics from Drexel (2015), a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Seoul National University in South Korea (2004), and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Korea University (2001). He lives in Newberg with his wife, Mi Jin (“Sarah”), and children Anna, Miriam and Mose. They attend University Bible Fellowship (UBF) Church in Portland.


Ashley Lippard has joined the Department of Art and Design as a lecturer. She’s taught at George Fox on an adjunct basis since 2011, specializing in design courses, including Portfolio Development for Designers, Professional Development for Designers, and Design Studio. She has also owned and operated her own business, Ashley Lippard Strategic Design + Branding, for the past 12 years, working with clients that include The Allison Inn & Spa, Domaine Serene, the Portland Golf Club and singer Melissa Ethridge. Ashley worked previously full time as a design director with VSA Partners of Chicago and New York from 1999 to 2005, working with companies that included IBM, Nike/Brand Jordan, Coca-Cola and American Express. She earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1999. She lives in Dundee with her husband Caleb and their children, Naomi and Norah. They attend West Chehalem Friends Church.


Adam Long joins the Department of Art and Design as an assistant professor of art and design. For the past four years, he’s worked as a lecturer of record at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. In addition, since 2006, he has been an adjunct photography professor at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas. His teaching experience also includes working as an adjunct photography professor for Arts Institutes International – Kansas City (2009-16) and as an adjunct digital imaging professor at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas (2007-10). Adam has also put on a number of solo and group and juried shows for the past 15 years. He holds a master of fine arts degree in photography from the University of Hartford (2013), a master’s degree in photography from the University of Sunderland in Sunderland, England (2005), and a bachelor’s degree in studio art from Azusa Pacific University (1999). He is moving to the area with wife Amy and their three children: Imogen (11), Addison (10) and Adaleigh (7).


The English department welcomes an educator, author, speaker and poet, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, as an assistant professor of English. She arrives from San Antonio, Texas, where she worked as an English teacher for the sixth through 10th grades in the Southwest Independent School District since 1991. She has also hosted a number of writing workshops in the past five years, focusing on middle grade and young adult readers (2018), poetry (2017), fiction writing (2016) and writing narrative poetry (2013). She was also the inaugural artist-in-residence at the Arnie Nixon Center at California State University in Fresno, California, in 2017. She has released four books since 2011 and has had her poetry published in a number of publications over the past 20 years. Guadalupe holds a master of fine arts degree in creative writing from the University of Texas at El Paso (2017) and a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts from Sul Ross State University (1989). She and her husband Jim will be moving to the area and seeking a church home. Her three grown sons – James, Steven and Jason – all live in Texas.


The university welcomes Ross McCullough as an assistant professor of philosophy and faculty fellow in the William Penn Honors Program. He has taught at Yale College and Yale Divinity School for the past four years, most recently courses on Augustine, The Catholic Intellectual Tradition, Systematic Theology, and Philosophy of Religion. Ross previously gained teaching experience as a tutor for GRE, SAT and high school math in Seattle (2010-11), as a teaching assistant at the University of Notre Dame (2010), and as an English tutor in France (2007-08). He has earned a number of grants and fellowships, including The Common Good as Common Project Conference Grant with the Nanovic Institute at Notre Dame and the Theology and the Natural Sciences Conference Grant from the Templeton Religion Trust, both in 2017. Ross has just finished his PhD in religious studies from Yale University, specializing in theology and philosophy of religion, and holds a master’s degree in the history of Christianity from Notre Dame (2010) and a bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy from Swarthmore College (2007). He lives in Newberg with his wife Hayley and children William (6), Josephine (4), Theodore (2) and Theresa (7 months). The family attends St. Peter’s Catholic Church.


Carolyn Milburn joins the university this fall to serve as an assistant professor and director of the new RN to BSN program, scheduled for a fall 2019 launch. For the past three and a half years she’s worked as the first-year program chair in the Chemeketa Community College Associate’s Degree Nursing Program. She has also worked at Chemeketa as a nursing instructor since 2011. Previously, she was at Pioneer Pacific College as the associate program director of its practical nursing program (2010-11) and as a nursing instructor (2008-10). Carolyn also gained experience in the profession as a home health nurse and case manager with Community Homecare Northwest from 2001 to 2009. She earned a master of science in nursing degree, with a specialty in nursing education, from Walden University (2012) and a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Oregon Health and Science University (1998). She lives in Hubbard with her husband Mike and son Will (12). They attend Grace Chapel in Wilsonville.


The College of Business welcomes Andrew Moses as a visiting assistant professor of business. He has taught at George Fox on an adjunct basis, two courses in the part-time MBA program, one course in the full-time MBA program and four courses in the undergraduate program in 2017-2018. Before moving to Portland in April 2017, he worked in a number of senior positions in India and Hong Kong, primarily as an international banker with HSBC and ANZ Grindlays. He was senior vice president of Network Management, Global Custody (2011-12), senior vice president of business improvement for HSBC Securities Services (2005-11), and senior manager for quality management of HSBC Security Services’ sub-custody business in Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean (2002-05). Previously, he did manager training with HSBC India (1989 to 1998), principal credit training with ANZ Grindlays (1981-89) and faculty for credit training at the Sir Sorabji Pochkhanawala Bankers Training College in India (1975-81). He was also the director for AKT India from 2012 to 2015. Andrew has also done extensive ministry work, serving as a lay pastor for many years and starting a church for Indians in Hong Kong, among other activities. He holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, India (1974) and a master’s degree in Christian ministry from Ecclesia Bible College in Hong Kong (2006). He lives in Portland with his wife Beulah, who holds a PhD in electronic engineering. He has two daughters, both married: Sarah to Luke Tatone, who live in Portland with their 4-year-old daughter, Abigail, and Rebekah to Chris Bodden, who live in Beijing. He is part of the downtown campus of City Bible Church, and both he and his wife are involved in supporting their marriage ministry.


The university welcomes an alumnus, Walker Orr, as an assistant professor of computer science this fall. He makes the transition to full time at the university after teaching on an adjunct basis in 2017-18, when he taught introduction to computer science courses. He has also worked at Oregon State University for the past eight years as a researcher and teaching assistant. Prior to teaching at George Fox, Walker was a research assistant at Johns Hopkins University (2013-14) and a research intern at BigML in Corvallis, Oregon (2011). He gained industry experience as a software engineer for Net Result North America in Seattle (2007-10). Walker is currently in the doctoral program at OSU, specializing in studying artificial intelligence and machine learning, with a focus on natural language processing. He also holds a master’s degree in statistics from OSU (2015), as well as a bachelor’s degree in computer science from George Fox (2007). He lives in Corvallis with his wife Heather, a 2008 George Fox alumna, and their 4-year-old daughter, Kaelyn. The family attends Oakville Presbyterian Church in Shedd, Oregon.


A former George Fox employee, Valorie Orton, is returning to the university this fall as an assistant professor of nursing. She worked previously at the school as an assistant professor in the nursing program (2011-12) and as the campus nurse (1999-2007). More recently, she has worked the past six years as an instructor in Seattle Pacific University’s nursing program. She has also worked the past three years as coordinator of the CarePoint Clinic of Fall City, Washington, a free health care clinic for vulnerable populations that she founded in 2015. Valorie brings more than 40 years of experience in the profession, as she has also worked in the nursing program at the University of Portland (2007-11), as a staff nurse at Tuality Community Hospital in Hillsboro, Oregon (1997-99 and 2007) and as a staff nurse at Kaiser Permanente of Portland (1994-97). She began her career as a nurse at Providence Portland Medical Center in 1975. She holds a master of science degree in nursing from the University of Portland (2007) and a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Seattle Pacific University (1975). She is currently enrolled in Seattle University’s doctor of nursing practice program, with a 2019 anticipated completion. She and her husband are moving to the area. They have two children, Paige and Trevor, who attended George Fox in the early 2000s. The Ortons plan to seek a church home once settled.


Danielle Pappas joins the university as an assistant professor of counseling and as director of the school psychology program. For the past 12 years, she has worked as a school psychologist for the Linn Benton Lincoln Education Service District in Albany, Oregon, where she conducted evaluations and consultation services for various schools within the district. Before that, she was an intern school psychologist for the Tennessee Internship Consortium of London, Tennessee (2006-07), a graduate teaching assistant (2004-05) and graduate assistant/graduate student editor (2002-04) for the University of Tennessee’s Educational Psychology Department in Knoxville, Tennessee. Danielle holds both national certification and state licensure as a school psychologist. She earned a PhD in school psychology from the University of Tennessee (2006) and holds a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science from Northwest University (1994). She lives in Albany with her husband, Dave Pappas, and four children: Devanee (17), Drew (13), Dash (9) and Dez (9). They attend The Grove Church in Albany.


Seth Preuss has joined the university’s athletics department as an assistant director of sports information. He has worked the past three years as the sports information director at Hope International University in Fullerton, California, where he tracked statistics, managed game events, and produced content for the school’s athletics website and social media platforms. In the six years prior to that, he served as a student worker and graduate assistant in athletics at Concordia University Irvine in Irvine, California. He was also a graduate assistant for Concordia’s Around-the-World-Semester program in 2013-14, helping to select, train and guide a team of CUI students to 10 countries over a five-month period. Seth is currently working on his Master of Arts degree in Theology at CUI, and he earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the same school in 2013. He lives in Portland with his wife, Lauren, and attends Pilgrim Lutheran in Beaverton.


A mechanical engineer who specializes in the area of automated engineering design in the realm of ocean wave energy, Chris Sharp, has been hired as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering. He earned a PhD in mechanical engineering with an emphasis in design and renewable energy from Oregon State University this spring. While at OSU, he helped to create and instruct the Design for Manufacturing course (2017) and served as a graduate teaching assistant (2013-14). He has also served as a graduate research assistant at Oregon State since 2013, focusing on the creation of an optimization algorithm for wave energy converter array design. Prior to earning his doctorate, Chris earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from OSU (2015) and a bachelor’s degree in the same discipline, as well as applied mathematics, from the University of New Mexico (2013). Outside of academia, Chris serves as a camp director for Worldview Academy, a traveling weeklong Christian leadership and apologetics camp for high school students, from 2013 to 2015 and since 2017. He is moving to Newberg with his wife Laura, and they are looking forward to investing in the community and in a local church.


Sean St. Jean has joined the university as an assistant professor of social work. For the past five years, he has worked as a family preservation counselor at the Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society in Vancouver, British Columbia. Prior to that, he was a graduate teaching assistant at the University of British Columbia (2013), an instructor in the Family and Community Counseling Program at Native Education College in Vancouver, B.C. (2013), and a child protection social worker at Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society in Vancouver, B.C. (2010-13). In all, Sean has more than 10 years of experience in the social work profession. His research interests are in the areas of child welfare, vicarious trauma and early-career social workers. He successfully passed his PhD dissertation defense in May and is on track to graduate this November with a doctoral degree in interdisciplinary studies, awarded by the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan Campus. He also holds both a clinical master of social work degree (2010) and a bachelor’s degree in social work (2009) from UBC Okanagan. Sean lives in Wilsonville with his wife, Erin, and their children Noah, Jacob and Andrea.


An alumna of the university, Angie Taibbi, is returning to campus this fall as an assistant professor and director of the athletic training program. She will also serve as the program’s clinical education coordinator. For the past three and a half years she has worked as director of rehabilitation and lead physical therapist with Infinity Rehab in Newberg. Before that, she was an acute care physical therapist with Salem Health from 2006 to 2014. Angie gained teaching experience as a mentor for new hires at Infinity Rehab and also provided job shadowing experience and mentoring for undergraduate, pre-physical therapy students at both of her previous places of employment. She was also a clinical instructor for first-, second- and third-year physical therapy students at Salem Health. Outside of work, Angie has served as a high school youth coach at Newberg Christian Church for the past five and a half years. She earned a doctor of physical therapy degree from Arizona School of Health Sciences in 2006 and a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance: athletic training from George Fox in 2003. Angie lives in Newberg with her husband, Chris, and golden retriever, Riggins. Angie and Chris attend Newberg Christian Church.


Jeffrey Walters joins the engineering department this fall as an assistant professor of civil engineering. Jeffrey’s passion and calling in research and teaching focus on the application of engineering techniques and systems modeling approaches for sustainable infrastructure in developing world contexts. For the past two years, he’s served as a technical expert for USAID’s Sustainable Wash Systems Learning Partnership, a consortium dedicated to applying, researching and learning about systems-based approaches to improving the sustainability of water, sanitation and hygiene services around the world. He has also worked abroad for the past three years as an assistant professor at the Universidad Diego Portales in Santiago, Chile, where he won his department’s Teacher of the Year award in 2017. He has spent the last few years working on projects to promote water, sanitation and hygiene programs in countries that include Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Cambodia, Nicaragua, East Timor and Chile, along with investigating how to integrate systems-thinking within engineering education. His future research program focuses on the development and application of participatory systems modeling techniques for water, food, and energy infrastructure planning and management from a “Nexus” perspective. Prior to taking the position in Chile, Jeffrey was at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, where he was a Mortenson Fellow in Engineering for Developing Communities (2013-15) and GK-12 Teaching Fellow (2012-13). He was also the co-founder and director of overseas programming for the Second Mile Water company in Boulder in 2011-12. Jeffrey earned a PhD (2015) and a master’s degree in civil systems engineering, with a concentration in environmental engineering (2012), from the University of Colorado Boulder. He also holds a master’s degree, with a concentration in structural engineering, from the University of Washington (2008). He lives in Newberg with his wife, Jessie, and two daughters, Rayna and Adela. In his free time Jeffrey enjoys climbing, mountain biking, cooking, and deep conversations over strong coffee.


Shannon Johnson (Advancement) has left the university, and Yune Tran (Education) has left the school as a full-time faculty member. She will continue to work at George Fox on an adjunct basis.

Movers & Quakers

Monday, August 20th, 2018

Jeremy Doucette-Hardy has transitioned out of his role as associate director of annual giving to assume the position of major gifts officer in the Office of Development.

Erik Comfort Bay (Plant Services) will transition to his new job as electrical systems department superintendent this week.

About Our People

Monday, August 20th, 2018

Peg Hutton (Conference and Event Services) and Jamie Noling-Auth (Spiritual Life) were honored as the university’s Staff Member of the Year and Administrator of the Year, respectively.

Ed Higgins’ (English Faculty Emeritus) flash fiction story, “In an authentic Irish pub in Las Vegas,” was published in the Aug. 7 issue of CarpeArte Journal, an online journal that features fiction, essays, reviews and personal anecdotes about art. In addition, his flash fiction story, “Suppose, I ask my friend,” appeared in the Summer 2018 issue of Sum Journal’s “Echoes” issue, and his poem “Homonyms Explicated” is in the May 10 issue of Brine, a semi-annual literary publication.

Birthdays

Monday, August 20th, 2018

Aug. 21            Nicole Enzinger, Josh Sauerwein
Aug. 22            Bryce Coefield, Cari Jermann, Charles Rouse
Aug. 23            Erik Comfort Bay
Aug. 24            Scott Barnett, Maddy Boylan, Heather Ohaneson, Jane Sweet
Aug. 26            Elizabeth Hamilton, Ji Haverda
Aug. 27            Karlyn Fleming
Aug. 28            Rebecca Hernandez, John Natzke
Aug. 29            Lois Mulkey, Matthew Swanson, Chengping Zhang
Aug. 31            Steve Tillery
Sept. 2             Laura Hartley

Comings and Goings

Monday, August 6th, 2018

Michael Reza has been hired as vice president of the university’s advancement office. He arrives with more than 12 years of higher education leadership experience – the last eight of which were spent in development and alumni positions at Oregon State University. Since 2015, he’s worked as associate director of development for the school’s Honors College and scholarship initiatives. Previously, Michael served for two years as assistant director of development for Oregon State’s regional programs, for which he traveled regularly to California and Arizona to visit with major gift prospects and major gift donors. Prior to his employment in OSU’s development office, he worked as the business development director for the Oregon State Alumni Association from 2010 to 2013. Michael also worked as Portland regional director for the OSU Alumni Association in 2011-12, managing all aspects of event programming, budgeting, supervision and planning of association events in the Portland metro area. His career in higher education began in 2006, when he worked as a graduate assistant for alumni clubs, college relations and multicultural programs in the University of Arizona Alumni Association. The following year, he began a three-year tenure as director of membership and marketing for the University of California, Irvine’s Alumni Association. Michael holds a master’s degree in public administration, with a concentration in local government and nonprofit management, from the University of Arizona Eller College of Management (2007) and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Long Beach (2001). He lives in Portland with his wife Katie and daughter Simone and attends Westside: A Jesus Church.


The IDEA Center has hired Mitzi Martinez as a career and academic planning coach. An alumna of George Fox, she has worked the past year as a graduate assistant in the student programming and activities department at Biola University in La Mirada, California. Before that, she worked as a graduate assistant in the intercultural life department at George Fox in the summer of 2017. Mitzi also gained higher education work experience as an assistant residence director for residence life at Azusa Pacific University (2016-17), as a resident assistant for residence life at George Fox (2015-16) and as an administrative assistant in George Fox’s academic affairs department (2015-16). She earned a master’s degree in college counseling and student development from Azusa Pacific University in 2018 and holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from George Fox (2016). Mitzi recently moved to Newberg and is excited to join the community.


Keith Schneider, who worked at George Fox as director of housing from 2011 to 2015 and as an area coordinator the four years before that, has returned to the university to serve as the assistant director of campus recreation in the new Hadlock Student Center. For the past three years he managed operations at Nike’s Rock Gym in Beaverton, overseeing setting, maintenance, staff scheduling and classes. Also, since 2015, he’s run the rock climbing business he cofounded, Beyond the Wall Climbing. While at George Fox, Keith was a walkabout emergency response coordinator (2011-14), and between 2001 and 2010 he was a Walkabout wilderness guide at Warner Pacific College and George Fox. He also gained higher education experience as director of leadership development and student programs at Warner Pacific (2004-07). He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Oregon State University (2001) and a bachelor’s degree in applied science from George Fox (2000). Keith lives in Newberg with his wife Laura. They attend Newberg Emerging Friends.


Brett Meyers has joined the George Fox community as the coordinator of student programs, a new position that provides coordination, training, programming and vision for a variety of Office of Student Life programming initiatives, including oversight and advising of student clubs and organizations as well as training and support for student leaders and faculty/staff advisors. For the past six years, Brett has worked as director of marketing and admissions and school programs at Westside Christian High School in Portland. Concurrently, from 2011 to 2014, he was on the discipleship steering committee for The Master’s Plan, a group responsible for planning discipleship conferences at Washington Family Ranch in Central Oregon. Previously, from 2009 to 2011, he was director of operations at the Door of Hope Church in Portland. Brett earned a master’s degree in theology from Wheaton Graduate School in 2009 and a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Westmont College in 2005. He lives in Tigard with his wife Kelsey, a George Fox alumna, and the couple is expecting their first child in November. They attend Colossae Church.


Brad Weldon (IT), Christopher Parks (Library), Tanya Erskine (Plant Services) and Charles Allen (Plant Services) have left the university.

Movers & Quakers

Monday, August 6th, 2018

Rob Westervelt is transitioning out of his role as vice president for innovation and empowerment to lead the Future State Project, a marketing and innovation initiative designed to build a brighter future for George Fox University by leveraging Rob’s talents in the areas of marketing, strategy and innovation. In this role, Rob will work directly with Robin Baker on university strategy and will assist Ryan Dougherty and the enrollment and marketing team in the areas of branding and admissions. Rob will also work on building relationships with key business and community leaders and provide marketing and innovation resources for the university and other organizations that seek a brighter future for themselves.

About Our People

Monday, August 6th, 2018

Jekabs Bikis (College of Business) presented a poster, “Perceived value of ACBSP accreditation among George Fox University graduate business students,” at the annual meeting of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (ACBSP) in Kansas City, Missouri, June 8-10. Jekabs’ poster was awarded the “Best Poster in Conference.”

Paul Otto (History) and undergraduate student Paul Schroeder play-tested their game, “The Origins of Apartheid and the Birth of African Resistance, 1935-1936,” at the annual Reacting to the Past Game Development Conference at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, on July 12. Paul Otto also work-shopped another game, “Debating the Great Trek, 1835-1837,” at the same conference.

Nicole M. Enzinger (Education) published an article, “Grade 5 Children’s Drawings for Integer Addition and Subtraction Open Number Sentences,” in The Journal of Mathematical Behavior. The classifications of the drawings produced by children challenge traditional models for teaching integer addition and subtraction in school mathematics. She also recently returned from UmeÃ¥, Sweden, where she presented a paper, “Prospective Teachers’ Explanations for Integer Word Problems,” at the Psychology of Mathematics Education Conference.

Brandon Waybright (Art and Design) took part in an exhibit, titled “Reading Wall,” at the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Springs, California, in March and April and also exhibited a table of his original publications at the Otis Art Book Fair, an international juried event held at Otis College of Art & Design in Los Angeles on July 21-22. He was also an exhibitor at this year’s Crafty Wonderland, a juried event held at the Portland Convention Center in May. Looking ahead, he will present a paper, “History from the Ground Up: The Zine as Model for a More Inclusive Design History,” at SECAC’s (formerly the Southeastern College Art Conference) meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, Oct. 17-20. SECAC is a national college art organization with a yearly peer-review and juried conference. He will also publish an abstract, “The Future is not Flat: Developing Pedagogical Tools that Prepare Design Students for a Multi-Sensory and Multi-Dimensional World,” at Decipher, the American Institute of Graphic Arts’ educator’s conference in Detroit Sept. 27-29. AIGA is the largest national organization for graphic design professionals.

Paul Anderson (Christian studies) presented a plenary session TED Talk, “The Spirituality of Jesus,” at Experiencing Life with God: An Academic Conference Celebrating the Pioneering Contributions of Richard Foster and Dallas Willard, at Westmont College in May. He also presented a workshop, “The Spirituality of Jesus,” at the Richard Foster conference he organized, “Celebrating 40 Years of The Celebration of Discipline – Empowering Spiritual Transformation in the Local Church,” on the George Fox campus in June. He also presented “The John, Jesus, and History Project and a Fourth Quest for Jesus” at the Society of New Testament Studies meetings in Athens, Greece, in August. In addition, he participated in an advanced seminar on “Economic Systems in Christian Perspectives,” sponsored by the Oikonomia Network, at Biola University in May. Finally, the book he coedited, The Literary Devices in John’s Gospel; Revised and Expanded Edition, by David Wead, was published as Volume #7 in the Johannine Monograph Series (which Paul co-edits) with Wipf & Stock.

Birthdays

Monday, August 6th, 2018

Aug. 8               Jill Sikkema
Aug. 10             Christine Saladino
Aug. 11             Colleen Sump
Aug. 12             Ken Ingram, Elizabeth Roark
Aug. 13             Kathy Heininge, Jeff Marble, Jamie Noling-Auth, Nate Peach
Aug. 14             Pam Fifer, Jenny Zaganiacz
Aug. 16             Casey Brooks, Gary Sehorn, Seth Sikkema, Tyler Susmilch, Grace Tissell
Aug. 17             Saiko Mair, Bethany Ramse
Aug. 19             Jim Foster, Nancy Schifferdecker
Aug. 20             Audrey Paice

Comings and Goings

Monday, July 16th, 2018

After a four-year absence, Becky Jensen has returned to George Fox to work as an executive assistant in the College of Education. She has worked the past three years as an accounting specialist for ProAmpac of Portland, a global flexible packaging company. Before that, she worked at George Fox for six years (2008-14) as an administrative assistant in the College of Business. Becky earned a bachelor’s degree in literature from Multnomah University in 1986. She lives in Newberg with her husband, David. They have three sons – Nathanael, Zachary and Nicholas – and two daughters-in-law, Liz and Maya. Becky and David attend Crossridge Church in Sherwood.


Nancy Schifferdecker joins the university this summer as an executive assistant to Joseph Clair, the newly named dean of the College of Christian Studies, Liberal Arts, and Honors Program. She arrives from working as the program coordinator for the Columbia Basin Federal Caucus, a consortium of 10 federal agencies working on complex regional issues involving natural resources. Nancy has decades of experience in the performing arts, most recently working with high school students as a choral and musical theater director at Horizon Christian High School in Tualatin. She is well versed in event planning, writing and meeting facilitation. Nancy holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and music from Linfield College and is a proud fourth-generation Oregonian. She has two grown children – Sam, a 2014 alumnus of George Fox, and Kate – and lives in Sherwood with her husband Jack, a corporate finance attorney.


Mindy Mickelson joins the athletics department as a compliance officer and office manager. A 1996 alumna of the university, she has worked most recently as a substitute instructional assistant at Middleton Elementary School in Sherwood since December. Previously, she was a training administrative assistant at Metro in Portland (2016) and a training operations specialist (2013-15), facility coordinator (2011-13) and traffic coordinator (2009-11) at A-dec in Newberg. She also held management and logistics positions at companies in Portland and Lake Oswego from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. Mindy earned a bachelor’s degree in business and economics from George Fox, and she was a competitor on the school’s track and cross country teams. Her maiden name was Fox, and she has three ancestors – a grandfather, great-grandfather and a great-great-grandfather – who were named “George Fox.” She lives in Sherwood with her husband Steve, a 1995 George Fox graduate, and two children, Kendall and Isac. The family attends Horizon Community Church.


Jesse Luke Richards has joined the IDEA Center as an employer relations manager. His most recent work experience is relevant to his new position. While completing his master of philosophy degree at Oxford in 2017, he served as a Junior Dean for Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford, where he advised and mentored students and put on workshops for undergraduate students regarding best practices for applying to graduate school, jobs or internships. Jesse also gained employer networking experience with Children of the Nations in Seattle, for which he networked with for-profit and nonprofit organizations to create internship opportunities for college students. He has extensive experience networking with private and public entities to enhance the reputation of an organization and to streamline opportunities for students. He states he is passionate about developing career and internship opportunities for students and would enjoy thinking creatively, and networking widely, to create avenues for George Fox students to find their lifelong vocational calling. Jesse holds master’s degrees in theological disciplines from Western Seminary, Acadia University and the University of Oxford. He lives in Newberg with his wife Carissa and their new daughter, Sarina (11 months).


The Office of Plant Services has hired Matt Williams as a groundskeeper. He served previously in the infantry with the U.S. Army, working as a rifleman and radio telephone operator (2015-18). Before that, he was employed in the summers of 2012 through 2015 as a grounds maintenance worker for Camp Yamhill in Yamhill, Oregon. He lives in Newberg with wife Cassidy and attends the Newberg Church of Christ.


After 40 years of service to the university, Clyde Thomas (Plant Services) retired at the end of June. He plans to continue conducting native plant research studies in his beloved Hess Creek Canyon and looks forward to doing more mountain climbing and spending time with his wife Carol. He will remain connected to the university as a volunteer.

Karen Carskadon (Education), David Green (Marketing Communications), Randy Dalzell (Head Cross Country Coach), Sandra Banta-Wright (Nursing), Kearsten McCoy (SpIL), Janet Ellis (Employee Empowerment), Michelle Kang (PsyD), Patty Findley (Athletics) and Chuck Conniry (Academic Affairs) have left the university. Kearsten has left the SpIL office but will remain at the university until mid-September to assist with Serve Day planning.

Movers & Quakers

Monday, July 16th, 2018

Steve Tillery, who has served as a visiting professor in the elementary education degree-completion program, has been hired as the director of the School of Education’s clinical practice office.

Helen Morse has transitioned from the English Language Institute and world languages into an administrative assistant position in the William Penn Honors Program.

About Our People

Monday, July 16th, 2018

Melanie Mock (English) released a book, Worthy: Finding Yourself in a World Expecting Someone Else (Herald Press) in April. According to the publisher, the book “sifts through the shape and weight of expectations that press Christians into cultural molds rather than God’s image. By plumbing Scripture and critiquing the 10-billion-dollar-a-year self-improvement industry, Mock offers life-giving reminders that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Aida Isela Ramos (Sociology/Student Success Coordinator) has published two coauthored peer-reviewed articles this year, “The Growth and Diversity of Latino Protestants in America” in Religion Compass and “Latinx Conversion and Miracle Seeking at a Buddhist Temple” in the International Journal of Latin American Religions. She also authored a book chapter, “A Changing Landscape: A Sociological Perspective,” in A Plentiful Harvest: Practices for Effective Ministry among Latinos (Pathway Press) and an article, “The Rise of Latino Protestants,” in Sojourners magazine. Last year, she published a lead peer-reviewed article, “The Contexts of Conversion Among U.S. Latinos,” in the Sociology of Religion and a book, Latino Protestants in America: Diverse and Growing (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers).

Sunggu Yang (Christian Studies) recently published book chapters in two books. “A Three-Fold Homiletic Lesson from Dr. King’s Pastoral and Prophetic Preaching on Violence” was published in Preaching Prophetic Care (Wipf & Stock) and “The Promised Land: A Postcolonial Homiletic of Promise in the Asian American Context” was published in Homiletic Theology Project Vol. 3 (Wipf & Stock). Yang also delivered sermons at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and Bethel Korean Presbyterian Church in Portland in July.

Elizabeth Roark and Stephanie Matthew (Nursing) were asked to present at the Innovations in Faith-Based Nursing Conference at Indiana Wesleyan University on June 19. The event featured a variety of presentations and posters demonstrating how universities merge Christianity and nursing to improve practice. Stephanie and Elizabeth presented their original research on “Navigating Mismatched Expectations on an International Nursing Service-Learning Trip,” sharing about their service-learning experiences in Kenya, Haiti, Nicaragua and India, where they utilized their nursing skills to mentor students and community members. Each country has unique needs, which presents a challenge and results in personal and professional enrichment for faculty and students alike.

Mark Pothoff (Student Life) was part of the leadership team that facilitated the New Professionals Retreat as part of the Association for Christians in Student Development’s (ACSD) annual conference, held at Biola University in La Mirada, California, June 4-7. Joining him at the conference were Brad Lau, Rebecca Hernandez, Jenny Elsey, Bryce Coefield, Kristi Welker, Min Choi, Elizabeth Anderson, Kristina Van Der Eems and Stephanie St. Cyr.

At the conference, Elsey (Intercultural Life) and Hernandez (Chief Diversity Officer) presented a workshop, “Race, Ethnicity, and the Future of Christian Higher Education,” featuring a panel of select authors who wrote the book Diversity Matters.

Erik Comfort Bay (Plant Services) recently passed the exam required to be a licensed journeyman electrician.

Ed Higgins (English Faculty Emeritus) published two poems, “Adam Names the Animals” and “Imago Dei,” in the April 25, 2018, issue of Statement Magazine, a journal of creative writing and art published each spring by the English Department, the College of Arts and Letters, and Associated Students, Inc. at California University, Los Angeles. Also, his poem “Blue Heron” appeared in the Summer 2018 issue of Terrene, an online literary magazine “dedicated to an earth worth writing for,” according to the publisher.

Grant Burns, Jenny Elsey and Dave Johnstone (Student Life) published an article, “The motivation of students of color for pursuing leadership positions at faith-based universities,” in the Spring 2018 issue of Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development. It was the result of conversations and surveys with student leaders of color from across the U.S.