February 2024 | Vol. 25 #5
In This Issue
Ben Chu: Eco-Spirituality Specialist
“Caring for our Common Home” is one of the four Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Jesuits. And while all Jesuit universities share a calling to address the realities of climate change and justice, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø may well be the first to create a full-time position dedicated to this work. link
GU Outdoors Expanding
2023 was the year of change for 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Outdoors. Staff members traded their hideaway in the Hemmingson basement for a building of their own with nearly triple the space. New space means expanded programming and more opportunities for outdoor education and guided trips.
Staff Recognized for Service
Recipients of Staff Assembly semi-annual awards for Spirit, Innovation and Support of Mission have three things in common – their enthusiasm, care for others and their work, and living 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s mission.
Staff President Matt Eastman Ready for Challenge
Hoover YWCA Woman of the Year
Chair and Professor of Organizational Leadership Kristine Hoover is honored as a 2024 YWCA Women of Achievement recipient of the Carl Maxey Racial and Social Justice Award. She was cited for her work in empowering women, eliminating racism and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
Last year 91³Ô¹ÏÍø was also represented in the YWCA awards by Law Professor Mary Pat Treuthart for her work in education and social justice. She was cited for her efforts on behalf of Disability Rights Washington, University Legal Assistance Program, and she co-founded a domestic violence mini clinic.
Both have been active in GU’s Institute for Hate Studies, Hoover directing that operation for several years.
Building a Culture of Belonging
Making Best Use of AI
Dinner Etiquette More Than Forks and Spoons
New Major in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies
January Work Values Champions
Work Values champions for January exemplify a commitment to human dignity, says Brian Steverson, Work Values chair. Nominators suggest Amber Pangborn, program coordinator in Health Sciences, adeptly assists students in navigating clinical compliance, ensuring adherence to requirements while validating the worth and inherent dignity of each student. One staff member said Director of Law Admissions Luke Cairney helps his colleagues navigate the complexities of graduate school, purchasing their new home or transitioning to new roles with a compassionate hand. Now Assistant to the Dean of Leadership Studies, Mandy Baird (not pictured) has seen several new hires in the time she has also served as project manager, and has trained many of them in a thorough, patient and encouraging way, helping new folks to stretch and grow. SR, assistant director at UMEC, is not afraid of difficult discussions. SR listens well, uses inclusive language and supports students through their journeys in professional development.
Around Campus
» GU has adopted a mile along the Centennial Trail for regular cleanup between the east end of the Kardong Bridge northeast to Mission Park. Community Engagement is coordinating.
» Coming to the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center: The Sound of (Black) Music, hip-hop, funk, soul and jazz, Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m., ; Aram Lecture on Business Ethics features former President Robert J. Spitzer S.J., on “What’s Missing in Contemporary Approaches to Business Ethics?” Feb. 7, 7 p.m., free, RSVP is requested; Screendance Film Festival, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m., donate what you can; Pacific Northwest Ballet performs Feb. 16‑17, 7:30 p.m., for 10% employee discount . Spokane Symphony Chorale celebrates the music of Duke Ellington, Feb. 24,
7:30 p.m.,
» Staff Assembly Spring Open Meeting is Feb. 8, 8:45-11 a.m., Hemmingson Ballroom, featuring Thayne McCulloh, Ray Kliewer and Julie McCulloh.
» The Revolutionists: A Staged Reading is a comedy about four women in the French Revolution, Feb. 29 - March 1, 7:30 p.m., Magnuson Theatre.
» 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Group Night at the Spokane Chiefs, arranged by Staff Assembly, is Feb. 9, 7 p.m., section 106 at Spokane Arena.
» The Core of the College: AI & the Common Good, a panel discussion on what we learn in the classroom and how it applies to ethical questions of artificial intelligence’s impact on the Common Good, Feb. 13, 4:30 p.m., Globe Room. Panelists are author Joseph Flores, and faculty members Bi Zhao, Cassie Dame-Griff, Chase Bollig, and Fr. Tim Clancy, S.J.
» CTA Workshop: Using Canvas to Effective Academic Advising, Feb. 21, noon, Foley 105A or Zoom. .
Noteworthy
New Hires
Cara Abel, program asst, University Advancement; Carrie Holtan, elder law paralegal, Law; Casey Lokken-Baker, program asst II, Education; Heather Platt, program asst II, Arts & Sciences; Kerri Danowski, program manager, Lifelong Learning; Kristina Poffenroth, gender-based violence prevention education specialist, Inclusive Excellence; Lindsey Conley, sr recruiter, Human Resources; Lori Williams, program asst II, Education; Sarah Lawrence, custodian, Plant; Veronica Fincher, study abroad applications coordinator, Global Engagement; Catherine Peissig, application specialist, Admission; Aidan Crane, custodian, Plant; Alissa Underhill, lecturer, Human Physiology; Vy Bizhao, asst professor, Political Science; Carissa Basile, asst professor, Special Education; Dale Reimer, manager, Environmental health and safety, Risk Management; Diana Thornburg, psychiatric health nurse practitioner, Health Center; Do-Houn Kim, asst professor, Human Physiology; Douglas Addleman, asst professor, Psychology; Elizabeth Tyson, lecturer, Chemistry; Evan Lasuteria, lecturer, Sociology; Hala Elsayed, lecturer, Biology; Janel Anderson, asst professor, Educational Leadership & Administration; Jennifer Seo, asst professor, Art; Kenlee Guss, program coordinator, Health Sciences; Kristen Arnold, asst professor, School Psychology; Kristen Maefsky, lecturer, Nursing; Madeleine Sweeney-Demezas, asst professor, Chemistry & Environmental Sciences; Masimuna Akter, asst professor, Finance; Matthew DeGarmo, lecturer, Sociology; Matthew Marcec, lecturer, Biology; McCall Sarrett, asst professor, Psychology; Megan Lewis, asst professor, Human Physiology; Michael Kropf, asst professor, Music; Rene Buell, lecturer, Chemistry; Ryan Merckle, lecturer, Psychology; Salena Beaumont Hill, lecturer/teaching fellow, Leadership Studies; Samantha Munson, lecturer, Environmental Studies; Sriya Shekhar, asst professor, Finance; William Haberman, program coordinator, Auxiliary Enterprises; Yongju Hwang, lecturer, Kinesiology & Sport Mgt; Brooke Hoving, lecturer, Nursing; Emma Ariyo, asst professor, Kinesiology & Sport Mgt; Jennifer Davis, lecturer, Integrated Media; Jennifer Evans, lecturer, Nursing; Jessica Brooke, lecturer, Modern Languages & Literature; Joel Stafstrom, lecturer, Biology; Kimberly Cline, lecturer, Nursing; Kristopher Hill, lecturer, Integrated Media; Luke Johnson, instructor, Computer Science; Marcella Staaben, lecturer, Nursing; Naomi Hagen, lecturer, teacher Education; Roisin Lally, asst professor, Leadership Studies; Samantha Todd, lecturer, Nursing; Shirley Dawn Magee, lecturer, Nursing; Sylvia Madrid Jaramillo, lecturer, Math; Tera Tveit, lecturer, Nursing
Position Changes/ Promotions
Dori Sonntag, assoc vice president/chief operating officer, University Advancement; Elyssa Reichert, systems analyst/asst to vice president, Auxiliary Enterprises; Kelly Wentz, director, Financial Aid; Lacey Skalsky, budget & personnel officer, ITS; Matthew Gerdes, Clery compliance officer/parking & transportation admin, Security; Maddison Cavanaugh, business solutions & systems analyst, Controller; Adriane Leithauser, sr lecturer, Business Ethics; Amanda Baird, program manager, Leadership Studies; Amber Pangborn, clinical compliance specialist, Health Sciences; Andrew Brajcich, professor, Accounting; Carolyn Cunningham, professor, Communication & Leadership; Charlie Pepiton, professor, Theatre and Dance; Dung Tran, assoc professor, Organizational Leadership; Betsy Bancroft, professor, Biology and Environmental Studies; Eric Hogle, asst professor, Math; Gerhard Barone, professor, Accounting; Ilatei Bellefeuille, asst to the dean, Education; Jennifer Neyman, sr lecturer, Special Education; Jeremy Gordon, assoc professor, Communications Studies; John Traynor, professor, Teacher Education; Joshua Boche, broadcast engineer/KAGU operations manager, Broadcast Studies; Juliane Mora, assoc professor, Communications Studies; Kelley Bishop, sr lecturer, Modern Languages & Literature; Laurie Arnold, professor, History & director, Native American Studies; Mark Muszynski, professor, Civil Engineering; Mathew Rude, professor, Art; Matt McCormick, assoc professor, Integrated Media & Art; Matthew Eolton, professor, English; Meiromg Zhang, assoc professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering; Nathan Axel, HVAC technician, Plant; Phoebe Oosterhuis, asst director, Community Engagement; Rebecca Stephanis, professor, Modern Languages & Literature; Richard Callahan, assoc professor, Religious Studies; Richard Vann, assoc professor, Marketing; Robert McKinney, assoc professor, Counselor Education; Ryan Turcott, assoc professor, Kinesiology & Sport Mgt; Sarah Powers, sr lecturer, Math; Yanping Zhang, professor, Computer ScienceGoodbyes
Andrea Cadriel, leadership annual gift officer, University Advancement; Emily Eakins, receptionist, Health Center; Francisca Lara, specialist academic budget & personnel, Provost; Jamie Rock, asst professor, Nursing; Taylor Aichel, director, Sponsored Research; Vivi Windsor, sr event manager, GUEST; Mychal Ferger, academic adviser I, Student Academic Success; Ryan Kellogg, academic director, design & entrepreneurship, Engineering; Seth Cleminson, custodian, Plant; Sierra Pancoast, interim asst director, Housing & Residence Life; Whitney Pitalo, asst women’s soccer coach, Athletics; Will Anderson, custodian, Plant; Yasaman Naraghi, lecturer, English; Alayma Biersdroff, academic adviser, Student Academic Success; Annette Davis; director planned giving, University Advancement; Azra Rasic, grant & contract officer II, Sponsored Research; Dave Sonntag, assoc vice president, Marketing & Communications; Eli Jenkins, counselor, Admission; Jenna Larson, specialist II/international military rep, Graduate Enrollment Mgt; Jennifer Towers, asst dean, Health Sciences; Marit Jacobs, development director, University Advancement; Paula Smith, asst dean of students/care, advocacy and resolution, Student Wellbeing; Richard Rasmussen, TES assoc director, ITSAnniversaries
20 Justin Edin, asst director, Custodial Services; Rizah Kahrimanovic, custodian, Plant
15 Jeff Ramirez, professor, Nursing; Sarah Siegel, sr lecturer, Chemistry
10 Holly Jones, sr development strategist & writer, University Advancement; Lisa Schwartzenburg, asst vice president/benefits, Human Resources
5 Jillian LaBelle, lecturer, Accounting; Patty Hetu-Tkacik, public sector career development faculty, Career Center; Jon Carlson, production manager, Woldson Performing Arts Center; Chris Crago, lecturer, Law; Mary Jean Spadafora, CRM project manager, ITS; Elaine Savage, communications officer, Security; Sergey Didenko, custodian, Plant; Les Atwood, painter, Plant; Brianna Fisher, custodian, Plant; Julianne Jay, custodian, Plant