The Daily Bruin

The latest series of episodes from George Fox Talks, a video and audio podcast showcasing the university’s scholars and ideas, is exploring the BIG questions about how AI is changing our world and how we should respond as people of faith. Now, we invite you to submit your questions for our first audience Q&A episode!

Email your questions about AI, faith, and ethics to production@georgefox.edu by Tuesday, Feb. 17. Our hosts will select a range of these questions to discuss on the show. You can catch up on the podcast’s Faith & AI series on our YouTube playlist. For more information about George Fox Talks, click here.

Questions? Contact Ailin Darling Niemi at adarling@georgefox.edu. 

The Faculty Development Office is offering teaching and learning microgrants to give faculty the chance to learn something new about teaching, student learning, or evidence-based practices in their discipline.

Through this investment, we hope to cultivate a community of practice that prepares students spiritually, academically, and professionally to think with clarity, act with integrity, and serve with passion.

The award amount will be up to $500. Click here to apply.

The application deadline is Friday, Feb. 13. The awards will be announced by Friday, Feb. 20.

Questions? Contact our office at facultydevelopment@georgefox.edu.

Join Xiaoyan Huang, MD, from the Providence Heart Institute for an insightful virtual webinar dedicated to keeping your heart healthy long after Heart Month concludes.

While February brings cardiovascular health to the forefront, this session focuses on the everyday habits and sustainable lifestyle shifts that reduce risk and boost well-being throughout the entire year. Don’t miss this chance to gain expert advice on the many ways to keep your heart thriving through every season.

The seminar will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 17, from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Click here to register.

Questions? Contact Aga Kasprzyk at akasprzyk@georgefox.edu.

Come to the Maker Hub on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. to make baby blankets for St. Vincent Medical Center. Enjoy community while gifting tangible love to families who are experiencing newborn death. These blankets swaddle their babies while saying goodbye, and are often the only gift their baby will ever receive.

Materials are provided (or you can bring your own). Please RSVP here so enough materials are available. Donations of yarn, hooks, needles and completed blankets are appreciated. Click this link for more information.

Questions? Contact Teresa Arnold at tarnold@georgefox.edu.

The Nationwide FutureFit Virtual Financial Fair concludes at the end of this week, on Friday, Feb 6.

If you have not yet participated, we encourage you to take advantage of this interactive 3D experience. It is a streamlined, user-friendly platform designed to help you evaluate your retirement options and refine your long-term financial strategy – all without the need to manage new accounts or passwords.

Why participate? FutureFit is a theme focused on forward thinking and helping you commit to preparing for your financial and retirement future. Additionally, by participating in the challenge, you will be entered for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card and exclusive Nationwide gear.

How to join the challenge:

1. Click here to enter the Virtual Financial Fair
2. Click the “Join the Competition” button
3. Add your name to the leaderboard to secure entry into the prize drawings

We hope you find this experience valuable as you plan for your financial future.

Questions? Contact Aga Kasprzyk at akasprzyk@georgefox.edu.

Please remember to bring your George Fox ID card when visiting the Hadlock Student Center. We’ve noticed more staff arriving without theirs lately, but a quick scan is needed for entry. This helps us ensure your liability waiver is current and allows us to track facility usage stats accurately. Thanks for your help!

Questions? Contact Kelsey Cantrall at kcantrall@georgefox.edu. 

The George Fox community and the general public are invited to attend the Woolman Peacemaking Forum on Tuesday, Feb. 10, hosted by the Center for Peace and Justice.

This engaging evening will feature dynamic speakers, with time built into each session for Q&A and meaningful dialogue. In these turbulent times, we hope you will join us for this timely and thoughtful conversation. You can attend in person in Hoover 105 or online via livestream.

Event Schedule:

• 3 to 8 p.m. – Nonprofit Expo and George Fox Art & Design Student Gallery
• 3:30 to 5 p.m. – Peacemakers Panel: “Beyond Violence: Where Hope Begins in a Broken World.”
  You can review the lineup of panelists and get the livestream link on the George Fox Woolman Forum webpage. Our guests have led global organizations, started nonprofits, and sat with the broken. They have served the vulnerable both locally and abroad, including in Syria, Israel-Palestine, Congo, Haiti, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, and beyond.
• 6 to 8 p.m. – Keynote Address: “How Can We Respond to Injustice in a Divided World?”
  Stephan and Belinda Bauman will explore the relationship biblical justice has with presence and peace through the lens of theology and neuroscience, using Isaiah 58 as a framework to explore what this means to us today.

Note: Chapel credit is available for students. Questions? Contact Hayley Fortner at hfortner@georgefox.edu.

In a world where staying connected often feels like being permanently plugged in, it’s easy to overlook the toll that constant screen time takes on our well-being.

While our devices are incredible tools for productivity, many of us spend more than double the recommended daily limit on our phones alone, leading to hidden stress and mental fatigue. This Wellness Wednesday, we invite you to explore the practice of a digital detox.

It’s not about abandoning technology altogether; it’s about making a conscious choice to step away and give your mind the space it needs to reset. By setting intentional boundaries, like silencing non-essential notifications or designating the dinner table as a tech-free zone, you allow yourself to trade mindless scrolling for mindful living.

The benefits of unplugging go far beyond just a break. When we silence the digital noise, we naturally lower our anxiety, sharpen our focus and significantly improve our sleep quality. Use those reclaimed minutes to rediscover a hobby, enjoy a walk outdoors, or engage in an uninterrupted conversation with a friend.

Remember, your internal battery needs recharging just as much as your phone does. By taking even a few hours to disconnect from the virtual world, you create the opportunity to reconnect more deeply with your passions and the people right in front of you.

How to Begin

1. Set clear boundaries. Decide on the duration of your detox and stick to it. Let family, friends and coworkers know when you’ll be unreachable.
2. Silence notifications. Switch off unnecessary notifications during your detox phase.
3. Create tech-free zones. Designate certain areas where the use of gadgets is prohibited, such as the dinner table or in bed.
4. Schedule offline activities. Use your detox time for joyful things like taking a walk, making something new, visiting with friends, or practicing mindful meditation.

Questions? Contact Aga Kasprzyk at akasprzyk@georgefox.edu.

Don’t forget to register for today’s webinar: Part 2 of “How to Build Trust and Leadership with AI.” We will focus on the critical role social influence has on employee trust in the workplace.

New research from George Fox indicates that social influence is a key factor in strengthening trust around AI use. Join us today to explore these findings and learn actionable techniques for building trusting employee relationships around AI adoption.

Click here to register. Questions? Contact Sean Aker at saker@georgefox.edu.

As a reminder, you still have time to explore your retirement options and financial goals through Nationwide’s FutureFit Virtual Financial Fair. This interactive 3D experience, which launched Jan. 23 and runs through Feb. 6, is a valuable opportunity to learn more about your finances and sharpen your investment strategy.

There are no accounts to create or passwords to remember, and joining the challenge gives you a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card and exclusive Nationwide gear.

How to participate:

1. Click here to enter the Virtual Financial Fair.
2. Click the “Join the Competition” button.
3. Add your name to the leaderboard.

Enjoy the experience! Questions? Contact Aga Kasprzyk at akasprzyk@georgefox.edu.

Do you know of students who are running into research roadblocks or information overload? Whether they are just starting a project and need a search strategy or have hit a wall trying to access a specific article, book, or resource, George Fox librarians are their ultimate academic partners.

We are here to help students navigate resources and troubleshoot access issues so they can focus on their best work. If you know someone who is struggling, we encourage you to point them in our direction!

We are available for drop-in help or by scheduling a personalized appointment. All of our contact details are here, or they can email us at researchhelp@georgefox.edu.

Thank you for helping us model the Be Known promise for our students!

Come join us for open worship after the Manner of Friends this and every Wednesday from 11 to 11:30 a.m. in the chapel, as we seek to attend, discern and mind the present leadings of Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Where two or three are gathered in his name, Christ is indeed present in the midst of his followers. SpiL credit will be available.

Contact Paul Anderson at panderso@georgefox.edu for more information. 

Right now the limited edition Bruin Family crewneck is $26, available in-store only, while supplies last.

Questions? Contact Kristin McGuirk at kmcguirk@georgefox.edu.

Sign-ups for Give Day 2026 are live! If your department, team or program wants to participate, please fill out the registration form by Thursday, Feb. 12.

If you have questions, reach out to Kelton Hedstrom, associate director of community engagement, at khedstrom@georgefox.edu.

Plant services invites you to join us as we celebrate the retirement of Alan Thurston today (Monday) from 3 to 4 p.m. in Canyon Commons. Alan has worked at George Fox for the past 32 years, most recently as our locksmith. Please swing by to wish him well!

We will be serving dessert and refreshments. We hope to see you there!

Join us for the second part of “How to Build Trust and Leadership with AI,” an educational interactive webinar that will take place via Zoom at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Click here to register.

Generative AI is changing more than how teams work. It’s changing how colleagues perceive and trust each other. New research from George Fox indicates that social influence is a key factor in strengthening trust where the use of AI is involved. We will focus on the critical role social influence has on employee trust in the workplace.

Join us to explore these findings and learn actionable techniques for building trusting employee relationships around AI adoption.

For more information, contact Sean Aker at saker@georgefox.edu.

The services for student Michael Hayes (June 1, 2006 – Jan. 10, 2026) will be held this Saturday, Jan. 24, at St. Henry’s Catholic Parish in Gresham (346 N.W. 1st St.). The morning will begin with a viewing at 10 a.m., followed by a Rosary at 10:30 a.m. and a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m.

Following the Mass, a catered reception will take place at the Persimmon Country Club in Gresham (500 S.W. Butler Road). The day will conclude with a burial service at 3 p.m. at the Logan Pleasant View Cemetery in Oregon City (15901 S. Springwater Road). Per Michael’s request, the family has noted that all are welcome to attend and celebrate his memory.

Michael was enrolled in our accelerated online degree program. He lived with Jeune syndrome – a rare genetic condition in which a baby is born with a rib cage that is much smaller and narrower than normal – since birth. His rigid rib cage prevented his lungs from developing properly and expanding enough to breathe effectively. You can hear more of his story in this George Fox Talks episode.

A livestream of the Funeral Mass will be available via YouTube. For more information, contact Carly Reumann at creumann@georgefox.edu.

Networking is the No. 1 way people land jobs. To give our students every advantage, we’ve recently launched FoxLink, the professional network platform for the George Fox community.

Over 700 alumni, students, and employees have already joined, and we need all of you there too! Your experience, connections and willingness to answer a question is valuable to our students both now and for years to come as they navigate their careers.

Sign up today at foxlink.georgefox.edu. Thanks for helping the George Fox network grow stronger!

Questions? Contact Britnee Ely at bely@georgefox.edu.

The Office of Spiritual Life is still looking for staff and faculty members to participate in the SpiL Mentoring Program this spring.

This program provides an opportunity for students to have meaningful conversations about faith and life while receiving encouragement and support from a George Fox staff or faculty member.

Students in the program will be matched with a dedicated mentor, with whom they will have weekly meetings lasting approximately one hour, spanning a duration of eight weeks within the semester.

The program begins the week of Jan. 26 and ends the week of March 16.

To support you in your mentoring role, we will provide a booklet with weekly suggested spiritual formation practices for you to engage in with your mentee. Additionally, there will be a training session prior to the start of the program to ensure you feel prepared and equipped.

We are looking for staff and faculty who would like to serve as mentors. If you are interested, please fill out this application by noon today (Friday, Jan. 23). Your involvement will make a meaningful impact on our students’ lives!

Safety is no accident – it’s the result of a community looking out for one another. Reporting incidents and hazards is crucial for maintaining a secure workplace.

When you report a potential risk, you are actively preventing a future injury and helping us address hazards before they lead to serious accidents. Your proactive communication is the most effective tool we have to improve safety measures and protect our campus.

Check out this safety infographic to learn exactly how you can report hazards and keep our environment safe.

If you have any safety-related questions, please contact Kim Knoernschild at kknoernschild@georgefox.edu. Thank you for doing your part to keep George Fox safe!