SU Today

Bartlett Tree Experts will be on campus this week performing large tree maintenance pruning. Their workers will set up extra safe work zones and pedestrian cautions as they move through campus. Equipment includes bucket truck and tree chipping machine, chainsaws and blowers.

Dates: Aug. 11, 12 and 15

Time: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. each day

Locations: lower mall, upper mall, 12^th Ave. Bellarmine, Murphy entry drive, Campion south lot

Grounds contact: Shannon Britton – (206) 391-1202

Saturday, Aug. 27, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Register on Eventbrite

Seattle University, parking and lunch included at this free event

Remote participation through Zoom is available, please indicate your preference on the registration

The recent synodal process has encouraged Catholics to engage in a Culture of Encounter, which entails deep listening. With an open heart, this deep listening allows us to receive the hopes and aspirations, pains and struggles of our brothers and sisters seeking justice. In response, we commit to accompany these communities and invite you to join others for a day of camaraderie, listening, learning and action in our struggle for justice for immigrants. There will be opportunities to hear from immigrant communities, get updates on current immigration issues and celebrate our diverse traditions. Specific workshops will address mental health, advocacy, legal issues and refugee sponsorship. The day will conclude with participation in an interfaith and ecumenical town hall.

Staff and faculty are invited to help to find candidates for open staff positions. Please view the full list of postings or check out this week’s highlighted opportunities: 

Campus Public Safety Officer

Director of Graduate International Recruitment

Jumpstart Site Manager

This free makerspace workshop is open to campus students, faculty and their families. Makerspace assistants are available to instruct and guide you. 

When: Thursday Aug. 11, noon-3:30 p.m. Come “make” during these hours.
Where: Innovation Lab Makerspace – Bannan 223
Questions? fernandg@seattleu.edu

• Take home what you have built during the workshop.
• Simple and safe projects for children 8 years and above; 10-25 minutes to complete.
• Learn to solder electronics manually or simply insert the electronic components into the kit board and then pass the board to the makerspace assistant that will dunk the board into a bath of hot molten solder using the soldering fountain-pot for instant soldering – see it in action!
  
  Electronic Soldering Maker DIY Kits | Innovation Lab Makerspace | Electrical and Computer Engineering | College of Science and Engineering | Seattle University
  
  Schedules And Workshops | Innovation Lab Makerspace | Electrical and Computer Engineering | College of Science and Engineering | Seattle University

 Innovation Lab Makerspace Summer News 

This workshop is hosted by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department’s Innovation Lab makerspace, in collaboration with the City of Seattle’s Youth Employment Program (SYEP). 

The Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) supports young people (ages 16 to 24) from qualifying-income households and communities that experience racial, social, and economic disparities. The goal is to increase youth and young adults' ability to pursue careers that pay well and are meaningful to them.

"Participating in this SYEP internship with Seattle U has given me a much better understanding of the self-learning environment that comes with being in an engineering career. In my participation I've learned many skills such as soldering, entry-level IT, 3D modeling using Fusion 360, Laser cutting, and am currently in the process of launching our first Kickstarter project.”
- Jonathon

Tuesday, Aug. 9, noon-1 p.m.

Join NPL faculty member Dr. Noreen Elbert to learn more about Nonprofit leadership graduate programs. You will an overview of the Mater in Nonprofit Leadership, as well as the Graduate Certificate in Fundraising Leadership. Dr. Elbert will talk about admission requirements, financial aid and scholarships, classes and the practicum experience, as well as where the program’s alumni are now. Register for a spot at this link.

Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Wednesday, Aug. 10, 5:30 p.m.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is hosting a webinar for constituents of Washington's 7th Congressional District to learn more about updates to the Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The U.S. Department of Education recently announced an overhaul of PSLF designed to benefit millions of public service workers meaning people working for an eligible government or nonprofit employer may be eligible for significant relief. Please register here. If you have any questions please reach out to Marielle.Trumbauer@mail.house.gov in Congresswoman Jayapal’s office.

Staff and faculty are invited to help to find candidates for open staff positions. Please view the full list of postings or check out this week’s highlighted opportunities: 

Ombudsperson

AVP Institutional Equity

Assistant Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion

We have come to the conclusion of our TerraCycle disposable mask recycling program. Thank you to all campus community members who utilized the TerraCycle disposable mask recycling boxes in the Student Center. The boxes filled quickly with masks which have been shipped back to TerraCycle for processing. The recycled masks will be repurposed as other materials, such as plastic pellets and lumber. Thank you to everyone who participated in this program for your dedication to Seattle U's Zero Waste mission!

Congratulations to Dr. Nick Huntington-Klein, assistant professor of economics, on his recent award from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The grant provides more than $500,000 in support of Huntington-Klein’s work on evaluating the decisions made by investigators in conducting applied economics research and the implications of those decisions on replication. Results of the work are anticipated to identify which steps in the research process are most responsible for between-researcher variation in analytical decisions and lead to a set of recommendations around how researchers can improve consistency in economic research.

That’s right, after many years of service, SUOnline (a.k.a. Webadvisor) will be retired Thursday, July 28, 2022. Functionality that used to be in SUOnline has migrated to mySeattleU over the past five years, so please be sure to update your communications, web pages, and bookmarks to point to the new location. For questions or assistance, please contact the IT Service Desk. Thank you!

Photo by Yosef Kalinko

Sunday, July 31, 11 a.m.
Chapel of St. Ignatius

As the Ignatian Year, which commemorates the 500^th anniversary of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s conversion, comes to a close, the Arrupe Jesuit Community and the Office of the President invite members of the Seattle University community to join them in celebrating the Feast Day of St. Ignatius. Fr. Lucas Sharma, S.J., who was ordained in June, will preside. Immediately following Mass, there will be a reception at noon near the Reflecting Pool. For planning purposes, please RSVP to Anne Moran in the Office of the President. We hope you will join us.

The OSP quarterly newsletter is now available here. Learn about recent external awards made to your SU colleagues, resources to support your summer scholarship, policy updates, programming to support faculty scholarship and more.

(Re) Connecting and (Re) Committing

Join Seattle University’s Career Engagement Office for a high-impact day of learning centered on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and social justice in the workplace.

From Career Engagement:

We are excited to announce that we will gather in person for our 5th annual Engaged Employer Symposium on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.

RSVP: tinyurl.com/SeattleUEES2022

Featured Sessions:

• Aparna Rae (she/her), Founder, Moving Beyond: Employee Voice and Results Accountability
• Sharon Leary (she/her), Student Employment Director, Seattle University
• Panel Discussion: Engaging Student & Alumni Voices to Transform Early Career Talent Strategies
• Employer Roundtables

Please share with your employer partners and community members too. We want everyone to be able to participate in this event and are offering tiered ticket pricing for attendees to choose the best option to meet their needs. Seattle U students, staff and faculty are able to attend at no cost.

We look forward to you joining us! For more information please contact Carol Lwali: lwalic@seattleu.edu.

The Writing Center remains open during summer session through Aug. 13 for synchronous and asynchronous writing consultations.

Students can bring any type of writing to a consultation. Consultants give thoughtful responses to academic coursework in any discipline, creative writing, resumes, personal statements, job applications, graduate school applications, grants, professional scholarship, posters, PowerPoints and more.

The center supports students in all stages of the writing process including brainstorming, planning, and revision. Students are welcome to schedule one-to-one 50-minute consultations during the open hours: Mondays–Thursdays, 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. 

To view availability and schedule an appointment, please visit https://seattleu.mywconline.com.

Learn more about the Writing Center.

Thursday, July 21, noon–1 p.m.
Virtual: Register here

Join NPL faculty Dr. Noreen Elbert, and learn more about Nonprofit Leadership graduate programs. You will hear an overview of the Master in Nonprofit Leadership, as well as, the Graduate Certificate in Fundraising Leadership. The session will cover admission requirements, financial aid and scholarships, classes and the practicum experience, and where alumni of the program are now.

I am very pleased to announce that Tara Lee has joined Seattle University as our new Director of Strategic Communications. Tara is a seasoned communicator with extensive experience in communications, media relations and public policy. Most recently, she oversaw communications in the Office of Governor Jay Inslee. She received her Master of Public Administration from Seattle University in 2007. Prior to her time in the governor’s office, Tara worked for PATH, the Washington State Budget & Policy Center and the Arcora Foundation, and earlier in her career in higher education.

Please join me in welcoming Tara back to SU and her role overseeing strategic communications, media relations and crisis communications and proactively shaping and sharing Seattle University’s story across earned, owned and shared media.

- Scott McClellan, Vice President for University Affairs

Staff and faculty are invited to help to find candidates for open staff positions. Please view the full list of postings or check out this week’s highlighted opportunities: 

Maintenance Electrician (Facilities)

Medical Assistant (Student Health Center)

Psychologist/Counselor – BIPOC Focus (CAPS)

Join NPL faculty, Dr. Noreen Elbert, and learn more about Nonprofit Leadership graduate programs. You will hear an overview of the Master in Nonprofit Leadership as well as the Graduate Certificate in Fundraising Leadership. Dr. Elbert will talk about admission requirements, financial aid and scholarships, classes and the practicum experience, and where alumni of the program are now. 

Click here to register now!

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to share that Jerron Lowe has been named Seattle University’s Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer. Currently he serves as Associate Vice Chancellor of Human Resources Strategic Initiatives and Workforce Planning at the University of Denver and served as Interim Vice Chancellor of Human Resources from April 2020 to April 2022. Jerron will join Seattle University on Aug. 15. 

He brings to SU a wealth of experience in both higher education and the private sector. In 2018 Jerron joined the University of Denver and in his current role has taken the lead in strengthening the university’s HR programs and aligning them with the institution’s mission, goals and strategic priorities. Among other contributions, he has led an initiative to expand access to a higher quality of health care for employees, while implementing a diversity, equity and inclusion training program. Jerron has also been instrumental in helping the university navigate the challenges of the COVID pandemic. 

Prior to his time at the University of Denver, Jerron worked at Kaiser Permanente, where he took on increasing responsibilities in human resources over 12 years. He received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Communication from Trinity University in San Antonio and a JD from the University of Denver. 

As we seek to implement our Reignited Strategic Directions, with their mandate to create an inclusive culture, to reinforce our Jesuit character and to foster professional formation for faculty and staff, a strong Human Resources leader is essential to Seattle University’s future success. Jerron’s personal warmth and collaborative instincts, combined with his deep experience in higher education, make him a perfect fit to lead that effort.  

Jerron asked that I share the following message with you: 

I am absolutely honored to join the SU community as the Vice President for Human Resources. This is an exciting time to serve Seattle University students, staff, faculty, administrators and Board as we aim to be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world. I look forward to contributing toward the strategy and achieving the overall vision, while making SU a best place to work. 

I want to thank the members of the search committee, listed below, for successfully leading a thoughtful and thorough process. I am also grateful to Matt Philip for serving as Interim Vice President for Human Resources this past year and advancing our efforts to enhance the employee experience at SU. Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Jerron. 

Respectfully, 

Eduardo M. Peñalver
President

Search Committee—Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer

Robert Dullea, Deputy Provost, Office of the Provost (Chair)

Yancy Dominick, Senior Instructor, College of Arts & Sciences–Philosophy, Faculty Associate in the Center for Jesuit Education

Colette Hoption, Associate Professor, Albers School of Business & Economics– Management

Mary Petersen, Vice President and University Counsel

Maggie Ricketts, Director, Human Resources

Kimberley Thompson, Senior Director, Disability Services

Dion Wade, Director of Campus Services, Office of the Executive Vice President

Sarah Watstein, Dean, Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons

Rachel Whalen, Executive Coordinator, Office of the Provost, Admin Support

Tina Castillo and the Pre-College Summer Programs team recently received a third year of funding from AI4ALL to support the administration of this summer’s pre-college program.

Seattle University’s AI4ALL is a two-week experience for high school students interested in criminal law and artificial intelligence (AI). Throughout the program, students will learn about the intersection of modern technology and criminal justice issues, such as bias and equity. Learn more about the program here.

Dr. Kumhee Ro, assistant professor in the College of Nursing, was selected to the 2022-2023 class of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow, a highly competitive program in which exceptional mid-career health professionals participate in the policy process at the federal level and use that leadership experience to improve health equity, health care and health policy. The fellowship begins with an intensive three-month orientation conducted by the National Academy of Medicine.

Dr. Ro will devote the entirety of the 2022-23 academic year to the program. During that time, she will reside in Washington, D.C., and work within a Congressional office and in the Executive Branch to develop expertise in the policy process and participate in training in health equity topics, media training, coaching and leadership development. After the Washington, D.C. assignment, the fellows will continue to receive support to sustain their development as health policy leaders. Fellows are expected to use the experiences, leadership skills and relationships gained through the experience to advance health care policy and equity and the national, state and/or local levels. 

Thursday, July 7, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Sign-up here

Human Resources conducted a survey for staff hiring managers during winter quarter. Feedback indicated that candidate pools are smaller than before the pandemic began. HR also heard that when hiring managers approach candidates, they have already entered the interview process for a similar role elsewhere or the candidate doesn’t respond at all. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job opportunities are at an all-time high of $11.5 million.

Is SU running an interview and screening process built for a different time?  

Attend this virtual July Supervisors of Staff Interview Focus Group to learn about our current screening and interviewing processes and discuss how we can be more effective in a fast-moving candidate market.

In this June edition, Allison Namba, '22, shares how she charted her own path to achieve her academic goals, and sisters Amber Rodriguez-Munoz, ’22, and Eva Rodriguez, ’22, tell how they strengthened their bond while at Seattle University. Additionally, the Lemieux Library expands its intellectual reach to collaborative making in the Sinegal Center's Billodue Makerspace and former Bannan Scholar and alum Brian Le, '19, describes how the community he found at SU helped him to learn holistically and grow into a better version of himself.

Staff and faculty are invited to help to find candidates for open staff positions. Please view the full list of postings or check out this week’s highlighted opportunities: 

Accounts Resolution Specialist

Campus Minister for Social Justice

Associate Director, Wellness and Health Promotion

Wednesday, July 6, noon
Zoom –  Meeting ID: 978 2868 2031

Use your Seattle University tuition benefits to earn your MPA degree while working at Seattle University. Not ready for a full master’s? Check out a certificate in public administration!

Both degrees are designed for working professionals pursuing careers in the public and nonprofit sectors. To learn more, meet Nicole Moses, MPA program coordinator (mosesnicole@seattleu.edu), over a Zoom lunch.

Faculty and staff members like you make Seattle University tick. You uplift our community in every way possible—providing world-class teaching, maintaining our beautiful campus and administering essential services that enrich the lives of students, parents, alumni and more. Thank you for infusing our mission with life!

As we approach the end of the fiscal year, you are invited to consider expanding your impact even further. As a payroll donor, you can pledge a fraction of your monthly earnings to the area on campus closest to your heart. Every pledge—no matter how small—helps stretch our mission and lead the charge for positive, lasting change.

To become a payroll donor, please take five minutes to fill out this form and submit it to gifts@seattleu.edu. Sign up now to maximize your impact on the coming school year.

Staff and faculty are invited to help to find candidates for open staff positions. Please view the full list of postings or check out this week’s highlighted opportunities: 

Psychologist/Counselor - BIPOC Focus, CAPS

Men's Soccer Assistant Coach/Goalkeeper Coach

Senior Executive Assistant, CFO/Vice President for Finance & Business Affairs

University Recreation will have adjusted hours for June and July. 

UREC will be open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. 

Lap Swim Hours for June will be Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Dear Campus Community,

On Juneteenth, we remember the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans in 1865.  Ending 250 years of slavery in North America was a crucial first step in the unfinished journey towards freedom and equality for Black Americans, one that continues to the present day.  We celebrate the important milestone represented by Juneteenth as a reminder of how far we have come even as we acknowledge the continued impact of a century of Jim Crow, ongoing discrimination, and embedded structures of racism.  

The Buddha once said that we cannot untie a knot without knowing how the knot was tied.  Understanding the history that has shaped our society and that continues to reverberate into the present is a duty that we all share.  On Juneteenth, we remember our past in order to better understand our present so we can recommit ourselves to building a more just future. 

As a university dedicated to empowering leaders for a just and humane world, untying the knots of racism means equipping our students with the intellectual resources necessary to understand structures of injustice and to effect lasting and positive change.  In our learning community, we advance these goals in a number of ways. Our faculty engage in rigorous research that analyzes the social and economic mechanisms that connect historic (or ongoing) racist practices with persistent inequalities. And they work to evaluate proposed remedies with equal empirical rigor. Our staff enhance the student experience of our unique holistic education through their dedication to our students’ success and development. Thus, we all must invite the personal self-reflection required to be a part of systemic change.

This work takes on a special importance at a Jesuit university, where we are called to do our part to accompany our students in the creation of a hope-filled future.  Helping to build that future involves all of us doing our part to dismantle systems of racism.  At Seattle University, that means assessing our own practices to ensure they are equitable. Our Reignited Strategic Directions call on us to undertake this assessment and to act on what we learn. 

In the spirit of untying the knot through ongoing reflection and deepening understanding, I invite you to explore the Inclusive Excellence Summer Reading List curated by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and a list of resources and local Juneteenth-related events here. As we observe Juneteenth, I call on us all to reflect on the role we each play in empowering a more just and humane world.

Sincerely,

Eduardo Peñalver

President

The Center for Digital Learning & Innovation offers the following workshops for any interested faculty. Contact Mafil Fabroquez Cho at cdli@seattleu.edu with any questions.

• Canvas Studio (Virtual) – Wednesday, June 22, 1-2 p.m.
  Canvas Studio allows you to store and stream video, generate closed captions, and embed videos within Canvas. Plus, it allows students (or instructors) to add a question or comment to any point in a video. This workshop will cover all the basics of using Canvas Studio. RSVP and see more workshop information.
  
  
• Canvas Basics (In-Person) – Thursday, June 23, 1-2:30 p.m.
  Are you new to Canvas or need a refresher on what’s new? Join this workshop to get up and running! Learn the basics of Canvas and discover how to easily use it to set-up your course. We’ll walkthrough the different tools available and show you how to organize your materials so students are met with a clear and navigable course. RSVP and see more workshop information.

Please note which type of workshop you’d like to attend. In-person workshops will be held in PAVL 050. Links to Zoom meetings will be sent prior to the start of a virtual workshop. If you are unable to attend a particular workshop or need advice about something specific to your course, consider signing up for an individual consultation!

• Do you have thoughts, ideas, or questions you would like to share with Seattle Police personnel?
• Would you like the opportunity to engage in a virtual conversation with community members and police about public safety and neighborhood quality of life?
• Do you have solutions and ideas you would like to share about how to address public safety issues in your neighborhood?

If so, sign-up to join the Seattle Police Department’s Micro-Community Policing Plans Community-Police Dialogues Thursdays 5:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom May 19 through August 25. The purpose of the dialogues is to give community members and police personnel the opportunity to engage in precinct and neighborhood-specific conversation regarding results of the 2021 Seattle Public Safety Survey results and real-time concerns about crime and public safety and security.

A total of 15 dialogues will be held–three per precinct (alternating East-May 19, June 23, July 28; North-May 26, June 30, August 4; South-June 2, July 7, August 11, SW-June 9,  July 14, August 18; and West-June 16, July 21, August 25).

Sign-up for the dialogues HERE or click on the image or flyer below.

Staff and faculty are invited to help to find candidates for open staff positions. Please view the full list of postings or check out this week’s highlighted opportunities: 

Copy and Print Retail Services Coordinator

Disability Services Coordinator-School of Law

Assistant Men's and Women's Golf Coach

Executive Director of Public Safety and Transportation Craig Birklid is retiring this month after 37 years of service at the university. 

“I have always appreciated Craig as a person and his efforts to make Seattle University a safer, more welcoming place to live, work, visit and attend school," says Executive Vice President Tim Leary. He is deeply committed to the values articulated in Seattle University's mission statement and has worked to establish a culture in his department that respects and honors the basic human dignity of all persons.” 

Time to celebrate: Please join our community to thank Craig at a celebration in his honor on Friday, June 24, from 1:30 to 3 p.m., in Casey Commons.

Congratulations to Seattle University's 2022 Commencement student speakers, Teresa Buchholz (left) and Sarah Orihu. Buchholz (B.A., Psychology) and Orihu (M.A., Couples and Family Therapy) were selected by a committee of their peers, staff and faculty to speak on behalf of their classes at the undergraduate and graduate ceremonies, respectively. Learn more about the speakers on the Commencement website.

We look forward to celebrating our graduates on Sunday. Congratulations!

Register now for the Arrupe Seminar! The Arrupe Seminar on the Foundations and Vision of Jesuit Education is a great opportunity to deepen your understanding of the Jesuit foundations of Seattle University within a lively, interesting discussion with your peers. This opportunity is open to all faculty and staff.

The seminar takes place over 15 sessions from October 2022 to May 2023, roughly every two weeks (currently on Tuesdays from 8:15 to 10 a.m.). Sessions will be held via a Zoom or hybrid format. Past participants have deeply appreciated the opportunity for engaging with colleagues across campus about SU’s history, mission and values. More info can be found on the Arrupe Seminar website. Please register at arrupeseminar@seattleu.edu.

Wednesday, June 8, noon–1 p.m.
Join via Zoom

On behalf of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of the Provost, faculty and staff are invited to join tomorrow's final Ombudsperson Listening Session to share your thoughts and input as an integral step toward creating an inclusively excellent campus for all. 

Please contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for more information. 

From SU Student Employment & Career Engagement: 

We are pleased to announce the 2022 Shine Award winners, recognizing student employees, supervisors and on-campus employers. While we had over 75 exceptional nominees this year, the selected winners below stood out above the crowd.

Co-Student Employee of the Year

Charlotte Wood

• Student Assistant for Institute of Public Service (EVST, PUBA, MPA
• BABA in Business Management and Analytics

What her nominators said:

“Charlotte is eager to help, does terrific work, always goes above and beyond, and helps to create a stronger sense of community in our department. Charlotte was instrumental in creating content for our IPS fundraising efforts as part of SU Gives. She created visually appealing social media posts, was thoughtful in her designs, and ultimately helped us to expand our reach and raise more money than we had expected. Charlotte is a star!”

“She brought with her intelligence, integrity, thoughtfulness, a strong work ethic, enthusiasm and an eagerness and willingness to learn. She has honed those traits over the last three years and developed and expanded her repertoire of professional skills to our great benefit. Her work is consistently exceptional in all regards.”

Co-Student Employee of the Year

Taylor-Ann Miyashiro

• Student Campus Minister for Liturgy in Campus Ministry
• BS Electrical Engineering, Minor in Mathematics

What her nominators said:

“Taylor has excelled in sharing her organizational skills, such as taking on big projects like tracking our Chapel collections and record keeping for Chapel weddings, which have been invaluable to our work area’s operations, connection to charitable organizations, and hospitality. She also has gone above and beyond in sharing her creative gifts for community – e.g. when asked to make room tags for a retreat, Taylor designed, custom calligraphed, and laminated door decorations which retreatants loved and kept as souvenirs.”

“Above all the accomplishments on paper, Taylor brings a posture of reflection and care to her life which distinguishes her among her peers. She consistently has taken time to make retreats and seek out conversation partners in Campus Ministry staff as she strives to align her actions, values, and commitments. Through her time at SU Taylor has learned how to navigate challenge with grace, how to have hard conversations, how to set boundaries and ask for help.”

Student Employment Supervisor of the Year

Gregory Lechner, Facilities Operations, Maintenance Electrician

What his nominators said:

“He believes in empowering students through direct mentorship and hands-on engagement. For three years now, during the most tumultuous times that SU has ever seen, Greg has risen to the occasion and surpassed expectations of what was possible.”

“Gregory upholds the standards of excellence that SU has become known for. In the face of injustices and inequality for students of different backgrounds, he is supportive and protective. He has made a work and learning environment safer and more full of compassion. His humility and drive has made him a natural leader, it is an honor and genuine pleasure to work for Greg.”

Undergraduate Student Shine Award

Jaymark Abendanio

• Collegia Advisor for Student Success and Outreach
• Office Assistant for Office of Multicultural Affairs
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Psych minor

What his nominators said:

"Jaymark is a model Collegia Advisor and student leader who demonstrates care-based leadership… Jaymark is thoughtful, intentional, and creative with his ideas and execution of programming events... Jaymark's leadership will positively influence those he interacts with in the future, and his field - nursing - is lucky to have him!"

 "Jaymark brings hospitality, kindness, and hard work to make the OMA office and SU Food Pantry a welcoming and supportive place for all who visit. We are so grateful for his dedication and joyful spirit."

Graduate Student Shine Award

Bizzy Stephenson

• Assistant Area Coordinator for Housing and Residence Life
• Master of Education in Student Development Administration

What her nominators said:

“When it comes to care for the whole student, Bizzy has gone above and beyond. Whether it is advocating for students, supporting students during difficult times in their lives, or being a solid presence for her staff and students when we had the unfortunate student passing in the Murphy Apartments. Bizzy truly embodies the value of care for her team and students in Murphy and Chardin, and all residential students on campus.”

“Bizzy displays tremendous self-awareness and strong maturity. She lives in a manner, as a human, student, employee, and member of society as someone who takes to heart the opportunity to change lives for the better one at a time and to model justice and humane conditions for all.”

Best Place to Work on Campus

College of Arts and Sciences Advising Center

What their nominator's said:

“Through the turbulence of Covid-19 and it's subsequent regulation changes, ASAC continuously dedicates themselves to office safety and serving our community effectively.”

 “I am tremendously grateful for the opportunity that ASAC has given [student employees] to learn, grow professionally, and exemplify the most important aspects of our university mission: professional formation and empowering leaders for a more just and humane world.”

Wednesday, June 8, 1–3 p.m.
Join via Zoom

Staff Council invites you to its final monthly meeting for the July 2021–June 2022 session.

This is an important meeting as many council members have completed their terms of service. A special appreciation goes out to Matt Burton (19-22), Carly Darcher (21-22), Jenna Isakson (20-22), Christina Juarez (20-22), Kari Langsea (19-22), Chelsea Lien (19-22), Dawn Madore (20-22), Eunice MacGill (20-22), Craig Nisgor (21-22) and Julie Schwabe (20-22) for their years of service representing staff from all areas across campus. These members served on various Staff Council committees giving voice to staff here at Seattle University. We thank them for their commitment of time, passion, leadership and advocacy, especially during these years marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. This required a higher level of dedication, creative thinking and endurance as we all navigated uncertainty and fear.

We will also say our goodbyes to Tim Leary who served as our Staff Council Cabinet Liaison over the past year. Tim has partnered with Staff Council leadership and ensured our requests and concerns were brought forth to Cabinet. The council thanks Tim for his time and service.

As we say goodbye to those members whose terms have come to an end, we will meet our newest Staff Council members to serve the July 2022–June 2024 term. Staff Council’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee will propose a formalized and required DEI training for all Staff Council members. The council Leadership Team (LT) is proposing amendments to the Staff Council By-laws that will impact LT roles and length of service. This will be brought to a vote. The meeting will conclude with year-end reports from each of our Staff Council committees.

All staff members are invited to join this virtual meeting. For the full agenda and meeting protocol, please visit Meetings and Materials.

SPRING QUARTER BIPOC WRITING RETREAT

Thursday, June 16 | 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Zoom link provided upon registration

REGISTER HERE

LIFT SU Writes is a writing facilitation program designed for BIPOC faculty who wish to increase their productivity while developing a sustainable writing practice. Quarterly Writing Retreats and Write-on-Sites are an opportunity for BIPOC faculty across the university to have dedicated space to work on writing goals in community with others. All sessions are currently being held via Zoom.

The Spring Quarter Writing Retreat includes goal-setting, six hours of writing sprints (25 minutes of writing followed by 5-minute breaks), a lunch break and an assessment of progress, followed by a guided 90-minute strategic planning session. Registration is required.

*Please note: This event is open to all BIPOC faculty contracted with Seattle University. This includes full-time, part-time, adjunct and visiting faculty.

If you have any questions about the status of your registration, please contact faculty-development@seattleu.edu or (206) 296-2144. Thank you!

Saturday, June 11, 2 p.m.
Immaculate Conception Church
820 18th Ave.

As Commencement Weekend approaches, graduates and their families, faculty and staff are all invited to the Baccalaureate Mass. Graduates, faculty and staff participating in the academic procession should wear or bring their academic robes. The robing area will be available from 1 to 1:45 p.m. in basement of the church. Please do not plan to leave any items in the robing hall during the mass, especially not valuables or money.

The processional line for graduates will form on E. Marion St. on the side of the church at 1:30 p.m. Graduates will follow the faculty/staff academic procession.

For this event there is no precise marching order; simply line up two-by-two. Faculty marshals will direct you into pews and organize the recessional from the church.

Faculty, administrators and staff participants in the academic procession should gather robed in front of Immaculate Conception on 18^th St. by 1:30 p.m. to be a part of the processional. The Mass begins promptly at 2 p.m.  

All are welcome! Seats are limited, so please plan to arrive early for parking on the street and to secure your seat in the church. Shuttles will be available at the Chapel of St. Ignatius parking lot on 12th and E. Marion from 1 to 1:45 p.m. 

More information about Baccalaureate Mass, parking and other directions, are available on this website.

The Sundborg Center for Community Engagement has received another year of support from the Shinnyo-en Foundation to support the CCE’s program, “Empowering Student Leaders to Live out the Sundborg Center for Community Engagement’s Mission.”  The program offers transformational experiences for Seattle University students through a variety of experiential learning and co-curricular leadership activities. Congratulations to Aileah Slepski and the CCE team on their continued success with this longstanding program.

Dr. Christina Roberts and the Indigenous Peoples Institute (IPI) were recently awarded a grant from the Tulalip Tribes Charitable Contributions Fund.

Launched in 2016, the IPI supports Native American student success at Seattle University and raises awareness about issues of critical importance to local and global Indigenous peoples. The IPI works to ensure that all Native American students have a home-away-from-home experience at Seattle U as they work toward their degrees. Funding from the Tulalip Tribes will build the visibility, capacity and sustainability of IPI through on-campus programming, summer support for Native youth outreach and IPI organizational development.

Dear faculty and staff colleagues, 

On behalf of the Jesuit Community and the Center for Jesuit Education, we invite you to participate in The Arrupe Seminar on the Foundations and Vision of Jesuit Education for the 2022-23 year.  The Arrupe Seminar is a great opportunity to deepen your understanding of the Jesuit foundations of Seattle University within a lively, engaging discussion with your colleagues. 

The Seminar, open to faculty, staff, and administrators at the University, will meet approximately every two weeks for two hours throughout the academic year, beginning in October 2023 and ending in early May 2023.   

Since 2004 about 475 SU faculty and staff will have completed the Seminar. Each year, about 25-30 faculty and staff participate. Two co-facilitators lead each section, present material, and facilitate discussions.  Visiting experts present during many of the sessions. 

The Seminar is designed to promote: (1) understanding of the Jesuit educational tradition and of the Jesuits, (2) application of what one learns and assimilates to the carrying out one’s role at the University, and (3) commitment to carrying on the tradition from one’s own background and positionality. It offers a scholarly and personal experience, through advance readings, discussion, and personal reflection. 

If you wish to explore this opportunity, please indicate your interest by responding to Eddie Salazar (arrupeseminar@seattleu.edu) by Friday, June 10^th. 

If you have any questions feel free to email Arrupe Seminar Director Jen Tilghman-Havens.   

Thank you for considering this opportunity to engage more deeply with our Jesuit mission and tradition. 

Sincerely,

Arturo Araujo, SJ, Rector, Arrupe Jesuit Community
Jen Tilghman-Havens, Executive Director, Center for Jesuit Education 

ARRUPE SEMINAR FAQ’s 

Who is eligible? All full-time and part-time faculty (TT and NTT) and staff are welcome to participate.

What is the seminar about?  The Seminar brings together an interdisciplinary community of colleagues to explore the foundations and vision of Jesuit education.  Through readings, presentations and discussions, Seminar participants learn about the origins of Jesuit education, the tradition of personal and communal discernment, Ignatian spirituality, the Jesuit commitment to justice, the key role of lay women within Jesuit ministries, and the relevance of the Jesuit heritage to the challenges and possibilities facing SU today. 

What background do I need to take the seminar?  Do I have to be religious?  We welcome participants of all faith backgrounds, no faith background, atheists, and all seekers.  As we explore the spirituality of the Jesuits, we do so in order to understand the foundations of Jesuit education with a lens toward uncovering the mysteries of the human experience. 

How many sessions are there and how long does the seminar last?  The Seminar consists of fifteen 2-hour sessions (roughly every 2 weeks) over the course of the academic year. Many former participants have expressed gratitude for this length of time in order to engage fully with the themes of the Seminar. 

What does it cost?  There is no cost.  You will be provided with reading materials and with refreshments during our meetings if we are able to meet in person in the winter/spring. 

How much preparation is required for each session?  We invite you to do the readings as you are able, which typically require about 20-30 minutes to read or review material.  

What are the days and times of the sessions and who are the facilitators?

There is one section for academic year 2020-21, on Tuesday mornings from 8:15 – 10 am. 

What do former participants have to say about it?

·     “This is a singular experience.  All new employees to SU should be invited to consider participating in Arrupe Seminar.” 

·     “I have never worked at a place that wants to invest so much in me...  Now I really know about our mission and values so that I am more effective when I talk with potential students in our program.” 

·     “Participating in Arrupe Seminar has confirmed that I’m working in the right place at the right time.” 

·     “As a result of Arrupe Seminar, I reformatted my lectures for my summer course to include reflection in my syllabus.” 

·     “I am an alum of the university and have worked here for 2 years but this seminar really brought it all together for me. 

Who do I contact if I have questions?  Feel free to reach out to Jen Tilghman-Havens (tilghman@seattleu.edu) with questions. To register, email arrupeseminar@seattleu.edu

Dear Campus Community,

Creating an inclusive community means sharing our stories from a variety of perspectives. To mark the beginning of Pride Month, we have asked our 2021-23 Wismer Professor for Gender & Diversity Studies, Dean Spade, to offer his reflections on what this month means to him. The Office of Diversity & Inclusion invites our community to celebrate our differences along with all that brings us together. As always, we offer deep gratitude to Professor Spade for sharing his perspective and trust that you will receive his words with openness.

Dean Spade, 2021-23 Wismer Professor for Gender & Diversity Studies:

Annual Pride celebrations mark the anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion: In June 1969, at a bar called the Stonewall Inn in New York City, queer and trans people fought back against the ongoing violence they faced at the hands of the police. Since that time, queer and trans people have gathered to commemorate that resistance and celebrate our vision for sexual and gender liberation. At Pride events, we rejoice in our survival, we combat stigma and isolation, we mourn our dead, and we foment ongoing resistance.

In the half-century since Stonewall, much has changed for queer and trans people. Social norms, media representations, and some laws have reduced the stigma associated with our communities. However, poverty, housing insecurity, discrimination, and violence are all still a reality for queer and trans people, especially trans people of color, queer and trans immigrants, and queer and trans people with disabilities. Police harassment and violence, as well as brutal violence in prisons, jails, and detention centers, remain a central source of harm for queer and trans people.

2022 Pride season marks two years since the historic uprising against anti-Black racism and police violence that followed the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Queer and trans people were on the front lines then, and are still on the front lines of work to defund police, close prisons, support prisoners, and stop prison expansion. Given our community’s historic and ongoing criminalization, it is not surprising that queer and trans people, especially Black and Indigenous people and other people of color like Angela Davis, Miss Major, Andrea Ritchie, adrienne maree brown, Mia Mingus, Alisa Bierria, Angélica Cházaro, Tourmaline, Nikkita Oliver, and Beth Richie have been some of the leading activists and thinkers in movements for police and prison abolition.

As the weather warms up and we move toward Pride, I hope that all of us in the Seattle University community are reflecting on how we can plug into the legacy of queer and trans liberation by directly supporting our queer and trans siblings who are currently endangered by poverty, criminalization, and immigration enforcement, and how we can join the grassroots work to get to the root causes of the crises facing our communities. Queer and trans people belong on the front lines of fights to stop climate change, ensure that everyone has housing and healthcare, end colonialism, stop war, and end gender-based violence. We have always been proud to struggle for justice together, and our creativity, care and fierce determination are needed now.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion has compiled some educational resources, zoom backgrounds, activities, and events related to Pride Month at this link. Here at Seattle University, we look forward in a special way to honoring and congratulating our LGBTQ+ 2022 graduates at the Lavender Graduation celebration on Friday, June 10.

In Solidarity,

Dean Spade (he/him)
Professor of Law
Wismer Professor for Gender and Diversity Studies (2021-2023) 

Seattle University is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022-2023 Naef Scholarship. Below you will find the names of each awardee, identified by year, nominating school or division and major. Please join in congratulating this impressive group on a tremendous honor. 

The Naef Scholarship Program, made possible by an endowment from the estate of Sue M. Naef, recognizes outstanding students from diverse backgrounds in the undergraduate schools and programs of the university. Naef Scholars are committed to social justice leadership in their community and maintain a GPA of 3.4 or above. As a group, the scholars hold endorsements from faculty and staff across the university and have been recognized for their work on and off campus. The Naef Scholarship Selection Committee chooses these scholars after an extensive application and interview process. 

2022-2023 Naef Scholars:

Matthew Conde* - Senior, CAS; Communication and Media
Julie Dinh* - Senior, Nursing
Cullin Egge* - Senior, CAS; Social Work, Spanish
Ethan Garza - Senior, CAS; Political Science
Jackson Hollie - Senior, ASB; Business
Benjamin Jones-Rice - Junior, ASB; Economics
Cindy Le, Senior - Nursing
Jordan Little-Reece - Senior, Nursing
Calia Ann Lockey - Senior, CAS, Psychology
Madeleine Magana* - Senior, CAS; Public Affairs
Khadija Mohamed - Junior, Nursing; Diagnostic Ultrasound
Roshni Patel - Junior, ASB; Finance & Management
Janae Theodore - Senior, Nursing
Shirley Wang* - Senior, Nursing

*Returning Naef Scholar

Over the past weeks, three horrific mass acts of violence have occurred: the shooting at a Tops Friendly Markets store  in Buffalo, NY, where 11 people—all African American—were shot and killed with two more injured; the shooting at the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, Calif., where one person was killed and five more injured; and the shooting in Uvalde, Tex., where 21 people—most of whom were Latinx—were killed. These events are a solemn reminder of the hatred, especially impacting minoritized communities, that exists in America and all of us are called to take actions that will move us toward a more compassionate society.

At this link on the center’s Religica Theolab website are resources addressing acts of mass violence, which CEIE hopes will assist your community. You will see:   

• A Resource from our Theological Laboratory focusing on a multiethnic and multireligious understanding of violence, its causes, its impact in culture and—
  in the last module—how we can respond together toward greater healing in our own communities.  

• Two podcasts with leaders from the Tree of Life Synagogue (U.S.) and Al Noor Mosque (New Zealand), which reflect upon and respond to a version of this question: “Given the experiences you have endured, what is important for local communities to remember in times of violence and trauma?”  

• GoFundMe links for those local communities directly impacted by violence and supported financially by those communities who are requesting assistance. 

CEIE hopes these resources benefit you in your leadership and directly assist the families and individuals in your care. 

To learn more about the center, its core team of students, staff and faculty, and to view current projects, visit CEIE.

From the editors of Seattle University Undergraduate Research Journal:

Hello Seattle University faculty and staff! We have an exciting announcement: the Seattle University Undergraduate Research Journal has published its sixth volume, which is live right now online.

Our team has worked hard all year to curate, edit and publish novel research coming from our campus and are excited to show you our final product. Our editors and authors come from a wide range of majors, including biology, English, computer science, psychology, history and more.

This year, our selection of papers cover topics such as climate change, Feminism and the Mexican Revolution, Black maternal mortality, Skagit River streamflow analytics and the impact of parasite research on autoimmune disorders.

Please visit (https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/suurj/) to explore these papers and any past SUURJ essays. Publication of Volume Six could not have happened without the guidance of faculty and staff. We appreciate your support! 

The Office of Sponsored Projects greatly values your input as they refine their services and plan our activities for the next academic year and beyond!

Please provide your feedback and input via a short (3-4 minute) survey. The results will help OSP identify what they're doing right, where they can improve and inform decision-making around format, scheduling and how they can most effectively support you in positioning your scholarship and/or programs for external funding and managing awards. Thank you in advance!

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

As a university community, we condemn the tragic gun violence that has afflicted the communities of Buffalo and Uvalde in the past two weeks. And yet, condemnation cannot possibly be a strong enough word when we speak of even one mass shooting, let alone the 213 mass shootings in the United States just this year, with 27 of them taking place in schools. So, we do the first thing that we can do, which is to join together to mourn those who have lost their lives to this senseless violence as well as to support and comfort all those in our campus community who are grieving during this painful time.

I invite you to a prayer vigil, organized by Campus Ministry, at 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, at the reflecting pool outside of the Chapel of St. Ignatius. This vigil will immediately follow our 12:30 p.m. daily mass, which will be offered in memory of the victims.

As a Jesuit and Catholic university, we stand firmly against all acts of violence, and remember that we are reminded of our call to stand with all who suffer in our world. As we continue to pray for all those impacted by this senseless violence, our mission and commitment to compassion and peace must drive us forward in spirit and in deed. Let us stand in solidarity with those who are suffering and recommit ourselves as agents of peace and justice.

It is also important that we are attentive to those in our community who are struggling with this violence. There are a number of resources available to students and colleagues needing care and support during this difficult and painful time: 

• Students can call Counseling and Psychological Services (206-296-6090) and leave a voice message to schedule an appointment; and also have 24/7 access to the Timely Care app;

• Campus Ministers are available in Student Center 120. Call 206-296-6075 or 206-296-6053 for an appointment;

• Veterans and military service members can visit The Outreach Center in STCN 110 during operating hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday);

• Staff and faculty seeking support can access SU’s EAP benefits through Resources for Living. Please contact Human Resources for more information; and

• Additional resources are also available through the Dean of Students on our website, in Student Center 140 or by calling 206-296-6060.

 In prayer and peace,

Tammy Liddell
Director of Campus Ministry

From the Enhance the Student Employment Experience Working Group:

As part of Goal 3 of the Strategic Directions, we seek to "Enhance the Student Employment Experience." Student employees and their supervisors, as well as the departments that hire students, are key stakeholders in the student employment program and we want to hear from you. We also want to hear from students who have an interest in working on campus or faculty/staff who are interested in hiring students. Please join us in the following listening sessions:

• Faculty/Staff | Wednesday, June 1 | 3 - 4p.m. | In-person, BANN 441
• Faculty/Staff | Thursday, June 9 | 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. | Virtual, Zoom link here
• Students | Thursday, June 2 | 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. | Virtual, Zoom link here

These sessions will be discussion-based and intended for you to express your thoughts and ideas, i.e. there will not be a presentation - so come prepared to share!

Note that this is not the only opportunity to provide input for student employment. A survey is forthcoming, and you can expect more listening sessions next academic year as we approach various mile markers in our strategic plan. You can also e-mail Sharon Leary, student employment director and co-chair of the Enhance the Student Employment Experience Working Group at sleary@seattleu.edu.

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