75th Anniversary
Over 39 million moments
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
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his year marks the 75th anniversary of Warner Pacific College. As we celebrate “over 39 Million Moments” that encompass the life of the College, it is powerful to consider all that the Lord has done through His faithful presence in the life of Warner Pacific. I stand on the shoulders of six previous Presidents who faithfully led our College along a journey that started in 1937, when Pacific Bible College was incorporated and began teaching 12 students in an old missionary home in Spokane, Washington. In 1940, the college moved to its present location in Southeast Portland, Ore., and was later renamed Warner Pacific College in 1959. In that season, the institution committed to enlarging the curriculum to facilitate a full liberal arts program, and since being awarded regional accreditation in 1961, Warner Pacific College has been led by hundreds of men and women who have provided a relational and intentional education that has transformed thousands of lives. As we look into the past, it is equally important that we look ahead to see that the Lord has brought Warner Pacific College to a key “hinge moment” in our College’s history. This last year, nearly 60 people helped to develop a seven-year strategic plan that represents our new design for delivering a top-flight, Christ-
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centered higher education focused on preparing generations of urban leaders. This plan includes constructing new buildings, launching Learning Communities as an educational delivery system, embracing cutting edge technology to aid student learning, and integrating Warner Pacific’s Church of God faith tradition with our urban vision. Our moment is now! The future is percolating in urban America, yet cities are also the center of our country’s most vexing problems. If Christian colleges are going to take seriously the calling to seek peace, prosperity, and shalom for our cities, our imperative is to get involved in finding solutions instead of hedging against the impact of the problem. I am confident that in the next 75 years, Warner Pacific College will honor our past while leading the way into the future. Excited for what’s in store,
Andrea P. Cook, Ph.D. President Warner Pacific College
contents
September 2012 4
4 75th Anniversary Reflection
Reflections from WPC alums, professors, staff and students regard- ing a significant “moment” at Warner Pacific that impacted their lives.
8 looking back, moving forward
As we live into our Mission, WPC remains true to our Church of God roots. This feature reflects how WPC has evolved from an insular campus into an institution that embraces it’s call of being “in the city, for the city,” evidenced by our strong partnership with the Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Associaton and increased outreach to the community.
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10 Short profiles
Charles E. Nielsen honorary doctorate Incoming Act Six student, Milo Lopez Kelsey Mattsen - Cascade Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year
12 current events 14 faculty & STaff updates 18 Alumni 22 theology of place What it Means to Me
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Editor Shirell Hennessy 2219 SE 68th Avenue Portland, OR 97215 503.517.1020 warnerpacific.edu
Creative Director Karen Gibson Photography Jared Birt, Cody Harrod, David Papazian, Kelly Searle President Andrea P. Cook, Ph.D. Vice President for Enrollment and marketing Dale Seipp, Jr. Marketing and Campus Relations Manager Shirell Hennessy Director of Alumni, Church and Parent Relations Cindy Petersen Pollard 1
75th
Anniversary
Reflection
Alumni reflect on a college built by relationships By Scott A. Thompson
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ewis Hyslip ’59 owes much of his ministerial career to a professor who wouldn’t watch him fail. Before he had ever gone to seminary, completed doctoral work in education, or served as the Executive Director for the Church of God in Western Canada, Hyslip was in an academic tailspin. In 1955, Hyslip was a Navy veteran who had started college at Warner Pacific. He had poor study habits and needed to work nearly full-time to pay tuition. His grades sagged as a result. “I knew that I wanted to serve in some type of ministry, but my self-confidence was very low,” Hyslip said. Then came the moment that altered the trajectory of Hyslip’s life. That one moment represents the relational learning that has defined Warner Pacific during its 75-year history. One day, Dr. Wilma Perry asked Hyslip to stay after class. She’d looked up his student file and discovered he’d scored high on an IQ test while in the service; he had what it took to succeed. “In her most kind and persuasive manner, she told me I had the makings of a good preacher and pastor, and that she intended to help me reach my potential,” said Hyslip. “Someone I loved and trusted finally told me that I was a person of worth and ability. There was no way I was going to let her down.”
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A.F. Gray late 1930’s
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“Instead of suggesting that I look to the future at a certain job and work backwards, they encouraged me to start from within, and cultivate a deeper sense of who I was and what I wanted to do and see where that led.” Schlater Chapel
39 million moments One brief conversation between a concerned professor and a struggling student may seem unremarkable. But over time, many such moments shape the character of an institution. This year Warner Pacific turns 75. That’s 39,448,800 minutes since the school opened its doors in 1937. Time and again, students experience indelible, life-changing moments just like Hyslip’s. Alumni know Warner Pacific is a place to find safety, guidance, and the encouragement to love God with all of their minds – as well as heart, soul, and strength. They learn to use their abilities to serve others. Whether insights come through nurturing or tough love, they always emerge through relationships.
Majoring in yourself No matter what age, College can be a soul-searching time. Warner Pacific’s staff and faculty consistently come alongside students wrestling with issues of faith and identity. Social Science professor Dr. Lou Foltz says the fundamental purpose of Warner Pacific is not to help students become teachers or lawyers – or any other profession – but to help them fully develop into who they are meant to be as people. “A student at Warner Pacific College only takes one course while they’re here – and that’s in themselves,” Foltz said. “What they are doing is learning more about the gifts that God put into them.” Andria (Cotton) Skornik ’05 says that whenever she asked professors what career she should choose, they turned the question back to her. “Instead of suggesting that I look to the future at a certain job and work backwards, they encouraged me to start from within, and cultivate a deeper sense of who I was and what I wanted to do and see where that led,” said Skornik, who went on to graduate school at the University of Chicago and is preparing for the priesthood in the Episcopal Church. 4
Alison (Shelton) Kolobovnikov ’98 admits she was pretty confident as a college freshman, but gradually came to realize how little she knew. “I learned new aspects about myself – what I was passionate about.” She went on to earn a master’s degree in counseling. “You start seeing your life taking shape.”
Live in the questions As a Christ-centered college, Warner doesn’t try to simplify matters of faith or the human experience. Rather than explaining away difficult or conflicting truths, students are challenged to accept – even embrace – complexity. When current professor Arthur Kelly ’65 was a transfer student at Warner Pacific, he experienced a self-described crisis of faith. He didn’t know religion professor Milo Chapman very well, but he had a lot on his mind and needed to talk. Kelly showed up at Chapman’s office door unannounced. “I was in a spiritual crisis, struggling with a huge number of questions,” Kelly said. “He responded in a way that no one else could.” Chapman assured Kelly that he wasn’t wrong to harbor doubt and uncertainty, and that the answers would actually change over time. Kelly believes his experience characterizes Warner Pacific. “The context of a relational professor who cares for you as a person, who is really willing to be in that [crisis] with you. To be welcomed, not just tolerated, makes the difference,” Kelly said. “I can’t say I’ve had all those questions answered, but I learned... that having those questions is not horrible and that the answers would change [over time]. It brought deep relief.”
Warner Pacific College historic photos
In this together At Warner Pacific, the goal is to create a genuine community where professors, students, and staff learn together. Artificial hierarchies – professors on pedestals, delivering “education” to students who stay in their place – get in the way. Jerry Davisson ’85, the senior pastor of First Church of God in Tulare, Calif., points to a simple conversation with a religion professor as an example of the interactions that meant so much to him. “A group of us went to a coffee shop to hang out with professor Irv Brendlinger and talk theology,” he said. “I don’t remember what we talked about. I remember that he cared enough to just spend some time with us... it was a journey of discovering who I am in Christ, who He created and called me to be, and the process of learning to think critically in community. WPC was a great place to ask questions, to be stretched, and to grow in my faith and understanding of ministry.” Kolobovnikov says she still draws on the lessons she learned from her professors. “Professor Cole Dawson challenged people to become reflective and to go deeper. [Social science professor] Phyllis Michael taught me about the beautiful complexities of relationships and respecting the changes and the growth people go through. And [business professor] Lois Chapin taught me so much about the freedom of simplicity and being a good steward over your resources.” Retired middle school science teacher Terry Shrout ’75 says the dedication of his professors inspired him to forego a career in scientific research and pursue teaching. Shrout speaks highly of his former science professor, Ludlow Corbin, who was an ordained minister in the Friends Church.
“He had a caring attitude,” said Shrout, who recently retired after 35 years of public school teaching in Keizer, Ore. “Professor Corbin was concerned with me as a Christian, and academically... he cared about me. To be on a campus where faculty are dedicated to serving the Lord and the campus community... that influenced me to serve others.”
Trusting the Process While earning a degree is the natural culmination of a Warner Pacific education, it’s not the only goal. Completing a set of academic requirements is one thing; becoming the person you’re meant to be is a whole lot messier. Learning is a process. Sometimes it’s a struggle. Former Adult Degree student Mata Kimmel ’09 says her human development cohort often faced seemingly insurmountable personality differences. Lively discussions turned heated. Feathers got ruffled. She remembers heavy sighs and tense silence. Then a peacemaker would step in. “The professor might ask each of us to say what we liked best about another classmate,” said Kimmel, who is now an elementary school teacher in Molalla, Ore. “Perhaps someone in the class would begin, on their own, to try and see the other classmate’s view. Before long, we would be back on track with more insight and understanding. I remember well a presentation comparing conflict to a dance. The only time conflict is disastrous is when we let go of one another and forget to dance back into each others arms.”
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Looking Back, Moving Forward By ben sand
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On
September 20, 2009, Dr. Andrea Cook was inaugurated as the seventh president of Warner Pacific College. Addressing a In the city, for the city. packed McGuire Auditorium, Dr. Cook acknowledged Warner Pacific’s rich heritage of serving students with excellence for over seven decades. Issuing a new challenge that dramatically altered the trajectory of the College, Dr. Cook said, “We cannot sit idly by. No! As a Christ-centered, urban, liberal arts institution, our mission must embrace the city. Warner Pacific College is uniquely suited for a time such as this.” As part of the Church of God (Anderson, Ind.), Warner Pacific’s educational community is committed to unity and inclusion in the context of practicing a holiness found in following Jesus Christ. The staff and faculty work hard preparing students to actively engage in a constantly changing world. In the three years since Dr. Cook’s inaugural remarks, it is clear that God has orchestrated a preparation process to uniquely position Warner Pacific for dramatic growth in the years to come. Over the past year, each department within the College – represented by nearly 60 leaders equipped with a clear mission and a Trust. “They are strategically poised to serve the unique needs of deep desire to serve – created a new seven-year plan articulating students from the Portland Metro area, particularly those who are a strategy for growth. The “Design for Urban Higher Educafirst-generation college students from financially disadvantaged tion” is a blueprint for Warner Pacific’s role as a forerunner in backgrounds.” urban education. The plan focuses on future development of This next year promises to be an adventure for the staff, faculty, academic, technological, and physical infrastructure within the and administration of Warner Pacific College. With enrollment College. These important internal developments are intended to growth, adult degree programs expanding to new sites in the city, a strengthen Warner Pacific’s external commitment to embrace the campaign to build a new academic building on the Mt. Tabor camcomplexities of the city with the love of Jesus. “I am proud of our pus, and the launch of new academic and co-curricular programs strategic direction and believe that God is using Warner Pacific on the horizon, the hope is palpable. Although Warner Pacific to develop leaders who are prepared to serve the cities of the has articulated its plans for the future in the “Design for Urban world,” said Dr. Cook. She went on to say, “While I am thrilled Higher Education,” it is truly the Lord who will cultivate these with the growing attention Warner Pacific is receiving locally plans and bring them to fruition. Jesus established the kingdom of and nationally, it is the transGod by modeling the way to live. While I am thrilled with the growing attention Warner His life, death, and resurrecformation of our students that inspires our community Pacific is receiving locally and nationally, it is the trans- tion contrasted sharply with the to serve each day. We seek to broken, violent, and unjust ways formation of our students that inspires our community grow because we believe that of the kingdoms of this world. to serve each day. We seek to grow because we believe As a Christ-centered institution, serving more students in the name of Jesus will grow Warner Pacific’s call is to follow that serving more students in the name of Jesus will Warner Pacific’s ability to Jesus in exemplifying His vision grow Warner Pacific’s ability to engage our city. engage our city.” for His kingdom to the world. In April 2012, Warner Pacific was awarded the largest grant Seventy-five years into the history of Warner Pacific College, received in the recent history of the College from the M.J. deep change is taking place within. Proud of its heritage, Warner Murdock Charitable Trust. Funded with the intent of launchPacific has embraced a new era where each member of the commuing a key pillar of the strategic plan, Cohort-Based Learning nity is committed to participation in the vision: A Christ-centered Communities, the grant reflects the confidence of the Trust in educational community, tailor-made to ensure that students from Warner Pacific’s unprecedented institutional coherence and diverse backgrounds persist and succeed as scholars and followers unswerving commitment to excellence. “We are encouraged and of Jesus. As Dr. Cook stated in her inaugural address, quoting Dr. excited about the urban mission that Warner Pacific is commitMartin Luther King, Jr. from his 1963 Birmingham letter, Warner ted to,” said John Castles, trustee at the M.J. Murdock Charitable Pacific College has decided “we cannot sit idly by.”
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awards
Charles E. Nielsen
Kelsey Mattsen
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A man of peace, professor emeritus receives an honorary degree
arner Pacific College presented an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to Professor Charles E. Nielsen during commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 5, 2012. Nielsen is a former Warner Pacific social science professor who taught at the college from 1966 until 1996. Upon graduating from Anderson College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science in 1951, Nielsen received his Bachelor of Divinity from Anderson Seminary in 1958. He went on to accept a position teaching economics and religion at South Dakota State University in 1960, where he completed a Master of Sociology. Nielsen also taught sociology and economics at Dickinson State College in North Dakota from 1963 to 1966, eventually deciding to move out west to teach at Warner Pacific at the request of former Warner Pacific president Dr. Louis Gough. A skilled educator and social scientist that taught an impressive array of subjects including sociology, economics, international relations, and criminology, Nielsen sought to create a classroom “without walls” and engage students with the vital social issues of the day. “I regarded myself as a friend of students,” Nielsen said. “I tried to be a helpful listener and advisor.” A quiet man of strong Christian faith and moral conviction, Nielsen served for 20 years on the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon Public Policy Committee, and continues to serve on the board of the group, Alternatives to the Death Penalty. He and Phyllis, his wife of 59 years, raised four children and remain very much a part of the Warner Pacific community. “I’m glad I came to Warner Pacific,” said Nielsen. “I’m glad I stayed and, now in my retirement, I can enjoy a good affiliation with the college.” 8
cascade conference scholar athlete of the year hether she is defending the toughest opponents on the basketball court or conducting research in a world class medical lab, Warner Pacific graduate Kelsey Mattsen ’12 doesn’t back down from a challenge. A Human Biology / Pre-Med major out of David Douglas High School, Mattsen was named the 2011-12 Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The honor caps one of the most prolific careers in the history of WP athletics. Mattsen ranks second in all-time scoring for women’s basketball, and has twice been named First Team All-Conference and CCC Defensive Player of the Year. In addition to her athletic success, the college named her the Most Outstanding Science major for the 2012 graduating class due to her work with the prestigious Murdock Scholars Program at Oregon Health Sciences University. The program, funded by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, gives promising undergraduate science students lab experience at the Heart Research Center at OHSU. Working in the lab of Dr. David Sahn and Dr. Muhammed Ashraf, Mattsen used 4D echocardiography to study the effects of surgically-induced anemia (lack of sufficient red blood cells) on the mitral valve in the hearts of fetal sheep. At the conclusion of the project, Mattsen – who had a grade point average of 3.75 – presented a paper summarizing her research. She is now looking ahead to nursing school. “It was a lot of work, but I really appreciated the chance to perform hands-on research at OHSU inside one of the top labs in the country.”
Milo Lopez
Act Six scholar honored by Boys and Girls Clubs
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he Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) named incoming Warner Pacific College student and Act Six Scholar Milo Lopez ’16 the 2012 Oregon Youth of the Year. A graduate of Forest Grove High School, in Forest Grove, Ore., Lopez began volunteering at BGCA of Portland as a pre-teen. He eventually became vice president and co-president of the club’s Keystone Program, a chartered leadership and service club for boys and girls ages 14-18. He is currently an advisor to the program, a position normally held for programming staff. Lopez came to Oregon with his family from Oaxaca, Mexico, at the age of seven. He battled depression after his mother was deported and he was left to live with an ailing father who worked two jobs and was rarely home. However, the BGCA became a source of community and encouragement for Lopez. Now, he says he wants to be someone “who is leading the way for others to find their own sense of importance, and a leader of change and opportunity.” Lopez is one of the new students named to Warner Pacific’s third Act Six cadre. The leadership and scholarship initiative provides a full-tuition, full-need scholarship for promising urban leaders who want to serve in their home communities. Left to right: Chief Justice Roberts, Milo Lopez, Dr. Cook
second miler awards
Dr. Juanita Sinclair
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r. Juanita Sinclair was bestowed the honor of the Second Miler award for her tireless efforts to satisfy the requirements of the specifications of the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission of the State of Oregon. According to Dr. Cole Dawson, Warner Pacific College will benefit from Dr. Sinclair’s work for many years. “In countless ways, such as re-writing policies, reforming practices, assembling and analyzing assessment data, monitoring compliance, preparing extensive reports, participating in Commission meetings, reorganizing the Teacher Education Consortium, and addressing student concerns, Dr. Sinclair has provided outstanding leadership that has placed the institution in the best possible circumstances,” stated Dr. Dawson. “Often working late hours and weekends on campus, foregoing well-earned vacations, and placing her professional plans on hold, Dr. Sinclair exceeded the highest expression of the College’s mission, vision and values. And for that, we are deeply grateful.”
Rick Quesenberry
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ick Quesenberry of the Warner Pacific College Maintenance Department was honored with the Second Miler award for his dedication and commitment to the College. According to Steve Stenberg, Vice President for Operations, much of what Rick does to help the College community function effectively is behind the scenes. “It is clear that Rick sees his role at Warner Pacific as part of his ministry,” said Stenberg. “Rick’s care for the College goes beyond his work duties and is shown in the support he provides for many of the evening and weekend activities happening around campus. Rick can always be counted on to help, and his dedication to our mission is reflected in all that he does to support Warner Pacific College.”
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news&events 1
wpc accreditation visit a success Warner Pacific received notification from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU or Commission) on August 1, 2012, indicating that the College’s accreditation has been reaffirmed on the basis of the Spring 2012 Comprehensive Evaluation. The evaluation process included the work of campus personnel in preparing a 226 page institutional self-study report; compiling a comprehensive electronic exhibit room which included statistical, assessment, and policy documents; a three day visit with a team of academic peers from institutions of higher education from the Northwest region; review of and response to the visiting team’s report; and a formal hearing before the Commission. The Commission noted six recommendations and seven commendations as a result of the review. The NWCCU commended the College “for the commitment of its entire community to its mission and core values which have carved out a niche appropriate to both its locale and the current time, serving students in an accessible and supportive manner.” The notification letter went on to say, “the Commission commends the College for working aggressively to provide ‘catch-up’ raises in full-time faculty salaries during difficult economic times. Moreover, the Commission finds laudable the College’s deep sense of community and the quality of the relationships that students experience with members of the faculty, staff and administration. Further the Commission applauds the College for its effective stewardship of available resources… and for success in deeply, broadly and effectively integrating information literacy into student learning. Lastly, the Commission finds noteworthy the College’s intentional and mission-driven engagement with its surrounding community which provide evidence of a passionate and sustained commitment to community engagement via service learning, co-curricular activities, hosting events and services, and relationship building.” According to Dr. Andrea Cook, the results of the report will inform future improvements at Warner Pacific College. She acknowledged that the process and resulting report were encouraging and very helpful. “I am so grateful for and proud of the Warner Pacific community for their preparation and involvement in the evaluation process. Dr. Cole Dawson, Vice President for Academic Affairs, effectively led the accreditation preparation process and is to be congratulated for a very successful outcome.”
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WPC Third annual President’s Tea WPC’s Third Annual President’s Tea and Scholarship Auction, held April 14, raised nearly $50,000 in support of the school’s Act Six Leadership & Scholarship Initiative. Dr. Arloa Sutter, Executive Director of Breakthrough Urban Ministries, in Chicago, was the event’s featured speaker. College president Dr. Andrea Cook said she was thrilled at the success of the event, reiterating the College’s commitment to creating educational opportunities for students who would otherwise have no means to attend college. Act Six is the Northwest’s only full-tuition, full-need scholarship for emerging urban and community leaders who want to use their college education to make a difference on campus and in their communities of origin. “The money raised from the tea and auction provides scholarships and an educational opportunity for these students, preparing them to be the next generation of leaders who will engage the complexities of a constantly changing world,” said President Cook. Sutter was invited to speak based on her extensive experience serving vulnerable people. Breakthrough Urban Ministries walks alongside those affected by poverty to develop skills and open doors of opportunity.
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Largest Grant in Warner Pacific College Recent History Offers Matching Gift Opportunity On March 7, 2012, Warner Pacific College was awarded $414,000 from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust in response to a proposal based on our Urban Call to Action Initiative. A faithful supporter of the College over the years, the grant shows confidence in the mission set before us. $200,000 of the grant has been funded outright, and $214,000 will be awarded as an incentive for the College to raise $642,000 in additional funding from donors, foundations, and alumni. The Murdock Trust is funding core components of Warner Pacific’s Design for Urban Education and will be invested in Warner Pacific’s Teaching and Learning Center which includes the funding of three new staff positions over a three-year period. The new staff will be responsible for implementing Learning Communities in the traditional undergraduate program; strengthening learning teams in the Adult Degree program; and providing overall teaching and learning guidance as WPC continues to grow into its urban identity. The three positions include an Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, a Director of Adult
Teaching and Learning, and a Director of Learning Communities. Learning Communities have been shown to increase retention and overall academic success of students, especially at community colleges with large populations of commuters and first-generation students. Warner Pacific has learned through first-hand experience with cohort-based learning teams in the Adult Degree Program, that Learning Communities allow increasingly diverse groups of students to build meaningful community around an academic pursuit in curricular and co-curricular settings. The grant award calls for a 1:3 match incentive to raise additional funds from donors, foundations and alumni. Please consider this incredible investment opportunity to give financially and have your contribution matched by the Trust. Rarely will your tax deductible gift count for so much! To partner in this match, please contact Kevin Bryant, VP for Institutional Advancement and External Relations at kmbryant@warnerpacific.edu or Diane Minor at dminor@warnerpacific.edu for information. 4
later founded LifePoint Church in Renton, Wash. in 2005, with his wife, Lori (Reed) ’94. Five years later, Fast accepted the call from CCCG. Patrice Turner, of Dolton, Ill., is the lead pastor of The Grace Place, a contemporary church in the south suburbs of Chicago. The church provides a one-hour service in a coffeehouse setting, catering to un-churched people. Patrice is also an author and the owner of Write the Vision Publishing. Patrice attended Anderson University School of Theology. Board members completing their tenure as Trustees include Joel Tallman ‘84, Jim Teague ’75, and Jan Berghouse.
Board of Trustees welcomes new members Warner Pacific gained four new members to its Board of Trustees. They bring expertise in ministry, community development, and international business. Rev. Noel Castellanos is the Chief Executive Officer of Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) and was the founding pastor of La Villita Community Church in Chicago. He has been involved with church planting, youth ministry, and community development in Latino communities in San Francisco, San Jose, and Chicago. Castellanos is a popular speaker who mentors young leaders on a national level. He also directs the CCDA Institute, which trains emerging Christian leaders. David C. Elkins is the founder and owner of The Remington Real Estate Group, LLC. in Portland, Ore. He has worked in commercial real estate since 1988. He started Remington Real Estate in 2006. In total, Elkins’ experience has included industrial, urban office, suburban office, retail, and multi-tenant residential properties in nine states, as well as Moscow, Russia. He holds an MBA from the University of Oregon and a degree in Business Administration from California State University – Fresno. Mark Fast ’93 is senior pastor of Centralia Community Church of God (CCCG), in Centralia, Wash., his hometown. Fast previously served as an associate pastor for ten years at New Horizons Community Church, in Spokane, Wash. He
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Vocal group Bridgetown has A break out year The last year has been eventful for Warner Pacific College’s male vocal group, Bridgetown, as it released a full CD and completed its first West Coast tour. Originally formed in early 2011, Bridgetown specializes in a sound featuring tight harmonies and innovative arrangements. Managed and directed by Jason Overstreet, of the professional singing group Rescue, Bridgetown is committed to inspiring the church community with performances that are polished and professional. “We want Bridgetown to continue to grow in unity, to be genuine, down-to-earth guys who represent the Lord, Warner Pacific, Bridgetown and themselves to the best of their ability,” said Overstreet. According to WPC senior Robin Bowman class of ’13, the bar was set high for excellence. “We put in a lot of time together preparing these songs to be performance-ready and to keep them up to par during tour. It has been a blast to work with the guys in Bridgetown.” Learn more and listen to selections from Bridgetown’s CD at warnerpacific.edu/bridgetown. 11
staff updates What drew you to Warner Pacific College? The mission, not just in terms of its written form, but the intentionality of the college to live up to the reality it espouses. The idea of a Christian growing up within an urban environment that has an interdisciplinary response to understanding and solving issues is really the core theme of who we are and what we are about here. When I read the mission, I saw myself being a part of it and helping to contribute to it, and I felt it reflected who I am as a person from a diverse demographic background. To be a part of something so bold, so innovative and in many ways progressive is what God has been preparing me for and where He wants me to be.
How does your background inform your position? My undergraduate and doctorate degrees are an amalgamation of disciplines that address how education and society are intertwined while focusing on issues of access and equity. As a Christian I am able to undergird the theoretical and pragmatic disciplines of my educational background with a Christ-centered gospel. I am intentional about understanding those who are “the least of these” in our society, identifying disparities that exist, and understanding how, through the Spirit of Christ, we can address these inconsistencies.
What has been your most satisfying accomplishment so far?
Dr. Daymond Glenn
is Warner Pacific College’s Vice President of Community Life and Chief Diversity Officer. As Vice President of Community Life, Dr. Glenn oversees Student Affairs, and Campus Ministries. Prior to this, Dr. Glenn was an administrator and faculty member at other local colleges teaching graduate courses on multicultural education, educational theory, and race education. Reflecting on his one-year anniversary at Warner Pacific, Dr. Glenn and I sat down to talk about his role here and his most rewarding achievements over the past year.
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Being able to collaborate, build community and strategically plan with an amazing Community Life staff has already been very rewarding. As the first Chief Diversity Officer for Warner Pacific, I recognize the value of obtaining an accurate pulse of who we are, where we’ve come from, and where we want to go. This process has involved conducting a comprehensive diversity assessment of the institution, and has been very rewarding and important because it frames and charts a path forward for this necessary work. Moving forward, I want to be the best collaborator and bridge builder possible, and I want to help our community develop programming and initiatives that contribute to the mission of the College.
How will your department shape WPC? As an administrator, I want to play a key role in helping Warner Pacific live into, and even surpass, its vision. As a scholar, I want to stay abreast of the evolving theories and trends within my respective fields to ensure we are consistently offering top-notch progressive, and even cutting edge, programming and initiatives. As an educator, I want to constantly engage with our internal and external communities to be able to contribute and learn from individuals who are concerned about making our schools and society at large a more equitable and just place. ~Shirell Hennessy
staff updates
Dale Seipp, Jr.
has over 22 years of successful enrollment leadership experience in private higher education institutions, most recently at George Fox University and prior to that, Linfield College. As the Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing, Dale oversees the offices of undergraduate enrollment (admissions and retention), student financial services and financial aid, and marketing and communication. I sat down with Dale recently to give the Warner Pacific community a glimpse into how he is faring in his new position at the college.
What drew you to WPC? I’m excited about WPC because it’s a place that’s on the move, poised for growth and has a unique mission and calling within the community. Having grown up in the Parkrose area of Portland, and continuing to observe the changes in the community, I am excited to come back to my roots and be part of a campus trying to address the challenges facing our city. Also my father and my cousin are alumni of Warner Pacific. Over the years I’ve heard from them about the close relationship between faculty and students here, and I’ve heard how their professors positively influenced them academically, professionally and spiritually. This demonstrates the mission and calling of this place and truly resonates with my own professional journey.
How does your background inform and shape your role/position? For the past twenty-two years of working in college enrollment positions I’ve had the opportunity to assist students in finding the right fit for their educational future. Through my experiences at both Linfield College and George Fox University, I have
developed an understanding of the strategic recruitment principles and practices that yield the most significant growth. For me, though, it’s not just about the numbers, it’s about the people themselves. While growth has always been and will remain a key aspect of my role here at WPC, equally important will be my focus on the students. I want to ensure the stories of personal transformation and change are told, and their impact felt.
How will your department shape and change the future of WPC? Bringing together the marketing and enrollment functions will help us focus our outreach. Our goal is to convey coherent and relevant messages to target populations in order to not only achieve college enrollment goals, but to ensure that we attract students that are a fit for our campus community. This will not only help with recruitment and retention efforts, but ensure that students successfully complete their degree programs and discover their calling. ~Shirell Hennessy
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faculty updates Dr. Timothy Peterson In June 2012, Dr. Timothy Peterson joined Warner Pacific as the Executive Director of Teaching and Learning. This position, funded through a $414,000 grant awarded by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, will support faculty and co-curricular staff discussions of student preparedness, collaborate in the development of strategies to enhance the learning environment, and encourage research and writing on topics related to teaching and learning. Dr. Peterson earned his Ph.D. in Urban Studies at Portland State University and comes to Warner Pacific from his position as Professor of Urban Studies and Director of the Philadelphia campus of Messiah College. In that capacity he led a unique semester-long program for students coming from Messiah’s main campus in rural Pennsylvania to study in a vibrant, complex and challenging major city. Peterson brings invaluable experience in creating academic and co-curricular learning experiences for students and other faculty.
Dr. Michael Jerpbak Dr. Michael Jerpbak joined WP’s social science department as Associate Professor of Human Development and Coordinator of ADP offerings for the department. He holds a B.A. in Family Resources and Psychology from St. Olaf College, an M.Ed. in Family and Consumer Sciences Education and a Ph.D. in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, from the University of Minnesota. He comes to Warner Pacific from Crossroads College in Rochester, Minn., where he served as the chair of the Family, Youth and Community Program. He has also taught at the University of Minnesota and Concordia University, St. Paul, and served as a Human Resources Coordinator and Family and Consumer Sciences teacher in the Eden Prairie Public School District. Dr. Jerpbak led the approval process for Crossroad’s designation as a Certified Family Life Education Program, and was the Director of Research and Development for the Working Family Resource Center, serving on boards such as Minnesota Fathers and Families Network, Minnesota Council on Family Relations, National Council on Family Relations and Rochester Area Youth Ministers Network.
Dr. W. Jay Beaman Dr. Beaman earned a B.A. in Biblical Literature from Northwest University, a Master of Divinity from North American Baptist Seminary, and M.S. degrees and a Ph.D. in Sociology from Iowa State University. He previously taught sociology at Tabor College and George Fox University and served as Director of Institutional Research at Concordia University and Lewis and Clark College prior to coming to Warner Pacific as Director of Institutional Effectiveness. Chief among his duties in this role will be to monitor and assist in the development of assessment plans and reports across the College, prepare external reports for government agencies, complete surveys related to the College’s identity in higher education, and participate in the preparation of materials in support of the College’s various accreditations by external agencies.
Dr. Mark Mendez Dr. Mark Mendez joined the Warner Pacific College education department to teach the exceptional learners course, various methods courses, as well as supervising student teachers. He received his doctorate from Argosy University and holds an Ed.D in Educational Leadership with higher education teaching experience in student teacher preparation and sport and exercise psychology. Dr. Mendez has K-12 teaching experience in physical education, special education, and English as a Second Language. An avid sports enthusiast, Dr. Mendez played basketball at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Ill. and was voted the College’s Most Valuable Athlete in 1983.
Dr. Markisha Smith Dr. Markisha Smith joined Warner Pacific as the new Director of Undergraduate Teacher Education. She comes to WPC most immediately from Western Oregon University and previously from Northern Michigan University. Her areas of expertise include literacy development, education in a diverse society, multicultural education and language arts methods at the high school level. She is published in The Journal of Urban Education, Education Review, The Language Arts Journal of Michigan and in Education Research and Perspectives, and has conducted research at and training with Hannahville Indian School (Michigan) related to the teaching and preservation of the Potowatomi language. Dr. Smith holds membership in the International Reading Association, the National Council of Teachers of English, the American Educational Research Association, the American Association of College for Teacher Education, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the National Association for Multicultural Education. 14
staff updates
Dr. Cole Dawson talks with Alexander Hayes ‘15
Dante Baca ‘12 Office Coordinator
Linda Rudawitz Director of Information Technology
Danté joined the Enrollment Office as the office coordinator in June of 2012. He graduated earlier in the year with a degree in Religion and Christian Ministries and looks forward to continuing his professional experience in the Enrollment Office.
Linda joined Warner Pacific College as Director of Information Technology. Linda’s extensive career as an I.T. professional includes the position of Director of Information Technology with Kimpton Hotels. She holds a Master of Science degree in Information and Computer Science, and an undergraduate degree in Mathematics. In addition to her position in Information Technology leadership, Linda has served as an adjunct faculty member at the Oregon Institute of Technology since 2003, developing curriculum and teaching upper division courses in I.T., including Systems Analysis, Project Management, Operations Management and Business Information Systems.
Corey Clay Academic Counselor, ADP Corey joined Warner Pacific’s Academic Counseling team in May of 2012. Corey comes from a background rich in diverse experiences, including squad leader in the US Army in Afghanistan, a master of liberal arts degree in psychology, and both employment and graduate work in library science. He is currently pursuing a second masters in sociology with a long-term goal of earning a Ph.D.
Kara Dishman ‘12 Student Financial Services Counselor Kara joined Student Financial Services as a Representative, and was recently promoted to Counselor in August.
Ruth Knott Director of Adult Teaching & Learning Ruth, who holds degrees from Multnomah University and Western Seminary, and has professional counseling experience; transitions into this new position after more than three years of service as an ADP Academic Counselor. She will be responsible for providing educational leadership to ADP faculty focusing on the identification and development of best practices related to learning teams among adult degree cohorts.
Kia Smith Act Six Student Program Coordinator Kia joined Community Life as the Act Six and Student Programs Coordinator. Kia’s duties include coordinating the Act Six Scholarship Program, as well as student activities and initiatives in the Department of Community Life.
Jessie Thompson ‘01 Director of Learning Communities Jessie, a 2001 WPC graduate with an M.Div. from Seattle University, comes to us with extensive experience in student affairs and community engagement. In this first year, her responsibilities will focus on giving administrative guidance to curricular and co-curricular elements of freshman Learning Communities as supported by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Grant.
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WPC Young Alumni Camp Meeting 2012
ALUMNI NEWS CLASS NOTES Ken ‘64 and Marilyn (Ulbricht) Smatlak ‘62 celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, March 24, 2012 at the Fairview Church in Seattle, Wash. Shirley (Stull) Eitzen ‘71 is a registered surgical nurse at Via Christi Medical Center in Wichita, Kan. She lives in Valley Center, Kan. Doug Sampson ‘75 serves as a missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Terry ’75 and Betty Jo (Martin) Shrout ’75 recently retired from teaching in the Salem-Keizer School Disrtict. Terry spent 35 years teaching science at Whiteaker (24 years) and Clagett Creek (11 years) Middle School. Betty Jo completed 20 years as an educational assistant, most recently at Kennedy Elementary School. Stan’76 and Debbie (Cole) Swank ’76 have been involved for the last two years with Wycliffe Associates teaching at Oaxaca Christian School in Oaxaca, Mexico. Stan is also involved with construction and handyman duties, helping Wycliffe missionaries. Sheryl Jardine ’81 graduated in Sept. 2011 with a Master’s in Homeland Defense and Security from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. She is currently a section manager for Washington State Emergency Management in Camp Murray, Wash.
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Dr. Kerry Kuehl ’81, Assistant Director of the Human Performance Laboratory at Oregon Health Science University, in Portland, Ore., recently presented a study at the American College of Sports Medicine’s Annual Conference in San Francisco, Calif. The study analyzed 20 women aged 40 to 70, each of whom had inflammatory osteoarthritis. Results showed that those who drank tart cherry juice twice daily for three weeks had significantly less inflammation. Lori (Marvel) Salierno ‘81 embarked on a 3,000 mile bicycle ride from Vancouver, Wash.; to Acworth, Ga.; to raise awareness for Celebrate Life International (CLI), an organization she founded and operates as CEO. Celebrate Life International is dedicated to helping underserved youth become responsible citizens by building their character. Rick Shrout ’85 wrote a new book entitled “Street Crossers: Conversations with Simple Church Planters and Stories of Those Who Send Them” (Wipf and Stock Publishers). Shrout - along with his late wife, Toni – has ministered in a variety of demographical settings throughout the US, and within metropolitan, suburban, rural, and Native American communities. Learn more at www.streetcrossers.com Doug Beisley ’86 will teach third grade at Liberty Christian School, in Anderson, Ind., while his wife, Danette (Perry) ’86 earns her Master of Divinity degree at Anderson School of Theology. Their daughter, Allison, will be a freshman at WP this fall. The Beisleys recently returned from a seven year mission in New Zealand with the Church of God.
Eric Odell ’91 is raising support for a video project documenting the work of an outreach that helps people in poverty in Oaxaca, Mexico. Odell previously worked for Medical Teams International in the 1990s, where he traveled to Albania along with WP professor Dr. John Fazio. Jennifer Davis ’94 is Vice President of Marketing at Planar Systems and Runco International, in Beaverton. Planar Systems manufactures large digital displays used in malls, airports, and stores, among other locations. Jennifer holds advanced degrees from Pepperdine University and Harvard. Singer/Songwriter Nicole (Yerden) Wells ’98 was a finalist for “best song” at the West Coast Songwriters competition in Portland in June. Nicole is active in the Portland music scene as a solo artist and also as a duo with her sister Tiffany (Yerden) Carlson ’01. Learn more and sample Nicole’s music at www. nicolewellsmusic.com. Kerri Cissna-Heath ’01 appeared on an episode of Oprah Winfrey’s Lifeclass in April. The show’s topic was forgiveness and Cissna-Heath shared her story of falsely accusing a classmate in elementary school of stealing a watch. Darbi (Fankhauser) ’00 and Mike Johnson ’99, whose first baby, Hope Michael, died in utero in 2002, are celebrating their daughter’s 10th birthday by collecting baby supplies in new or like new condition, and shoes of all sizes to send to a medical clinic in the Congo operated by 2012 Distinguised Alumnus Ysu Umbalo ’99. If interested, contact Darbi at Darbidocards@yahoo.com.
Karen (Hartman) ’03 and Kyle Mitchell ’01 have partnered with the Albany Boys and Girls Club to launch the Mitchell Arts Center, in Albany, Ore., in September. The center will feature a new dance studio and music room. Karen is a life-long dancer and formerly taught elementary school. Kyle was the founding drummer for the Christian rock group Kutless, which started at Warner Pacific in 1999. Learn more at www.themitchellartscenter.com. Jon Van Tuyl ’03 completed an MBA in finance at Marylhurst University in March. He works as a controller accountant for Concept Entertainment. His wife, Kristen (Williams) ’03, serves as President of the Board of Directors for Camp Yakety Tak, a day camp for children with special needs. Carrie (La Voie) Dahlin ’03 recently wrote an article for the July/August issue of “Fostering Families Today” magazine. Carrie and her husband, Jeff ’10, have two daughters, ages 5 and 3, and are in the process of adopting a foster son. Carrie is currently working on her first book. April (Beykovsky) ’04 and Aaron Marvin ’04 are in the process of adopting a child. Aaron is part owner of ACT Builders, a custom home-building company based in Clark County, Wash.
Council in 2010 to fill a vacancy. He is currently a management analyst for the City of Salem, Ore., and holds an MBA from Marylhurst University. Trenton “Scott” Hardin ’04, ’09 (MMOL) was appointed in 2011 to the Wood Village City Council to fill a vacancy. He also serves on the Wood Village Planning Commission. Mandy Bozart ’09 will teach English for a year in Yongin, South Korea, beginning in August 2012. Andrea Millen ’09 recently received a Master of Science degree in clinical psychology from Pacific University. She will be living in New York City to pursue art before finishing her doctoral degree. Michelle Proctor ’09 graduated from the University of San Diego in May 2011 with a Master’s in Special Education (M.Ed.). She is preparing to be an oral teacher of the deaf. Robert Lopez ’10 is currently operating a highperforming allergy clinic for a pediatric office in Ahwatukee, Ariz. Ransom Portis-Cathers ’10 is heading to the Princeton School of Theology to do graduate study in counseling. He starts in the fall of 2012.
Dr. Candace (Murray) Talcott ’03 recently passed her medicine boards and is a board-certified family physician.
Tim Thomas ’11 accepted a job in July 2011 teaching third grade at an international school in China. Thomas completed his Bachelor’s and Master of Education through WP’s Adult Degree Program.
In August, Lori Ryan ’05 performed as Ethel McCormack in a production of “Footloose,” by the Christian Youth Theatre of Vancouver and Portland. Learn more at www.cytvanport.org.
BIRTHS
Ryan Hilby ’05 recently accepted a teaching position in Colorado Springs, Colo. Andy Magel ’05 operates Bud’s Warehouse, a home-improvement thrift store in Denver that employs people who are attempting to rebuild their lives. “Bud’s” stands for “Building Unity and Dignity through Service.” Learn more at budswarehouse.org. Simon Milliman ’05 and his family recently relocated to Portland after a year in Alaska. Simon has opened a recording studio in SE Portland and is making plans to record a new album with his band, The Subterranean Howl. Danielle Purdy ’07 made her debut performance with Portland’s Artist Repertory Theatre in February, playing the role of Lauren in Annie Baker’s play “Circle Mirror Transformation.” Purdy studied vocal music performance at WP and went on to earn an MSc in Music in the Community from the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland. Ann-Erica Whitemarsh ‘08 is the founder and president of Rascal Rodeo, a Pasco, Wash. non-profit organization that provides rodeo experiences for children with special needs. rascalrodeo.org. Jimmy Thompson ’08 is running for mayor in Mollala, Ore. He was appointed to the Mollala City
Daniel J. Dick ‘75 is a clinical systems administrator at Community Medical Centers in Fresno, Calif. He and his wife welcomed a new baby in August. Chasity (McNeal) ’95 and Adrian Malatesta ’94 welcomed a baby boy, Enzo Armando, on August 9, 2011. Kristen (Spencer) Cook ’96 and husband, Philip, welcomed a baby girl, Sara, on November 29, 2011. Kathy (Eason) ’98 and Garth Hamilton ’99 welcomed a girl, Lena Esther, on September 10, 2011. Mary (Andres) McGlothlan ’00, ’04 (M.Rel.) and Mark welcomed a girl, Rowan Heleeyna, on October 26, 2011. She joins big brothers, Bailey, 5, and Lewis, 3. Bart and Susie (Johnson) Lesco ’00 welcomed a baby girl, Naomi, on April 23, 2012. Bruce Krieg ’01 and wife, Alyssa, welcomed a baby girl, Aria Louise, on May 10, 2012. Traci (Grenz) Vogt ’01 and husband, Eric, welcomed a baby boy, Arthur James, on December 16, 2011. Janell (Foss) Robinson ’02 and husband, James, welcomed a baby girl, Faith.
Shawn ’03 and Marlene (Morris) Fletcher ’04 welcomed a baby boy, Drew Tucker, on July 21, 2011. Alicia (Wesolowski) Meyer ’03 and husband, Cody, welcomed a boy, Thomas James, on June 29, 2011. Michelle (Roosa) ’03 and Tyler Toney ’04 welcomed their second child, Trey Jaxon, on February 17, 2012. He joins brother Tanner, 2. Lisa (Lewis) ’04 and Jon Brown ’02 welcomed a baby boy, Toby Denton, on July 26, 2012. Michelle (Hamilton) ’04 and Paul Eaton ’02 welcomed a baby girl, Adelyn, on April 15, 2011. Nina (Hertzog) Horn ’04 and husband, Matthew, welcomed a baby girl, Calliope Gene, on Feb. 15, 2012. She joins big brother Jude Marley, 3. Jeff Huston ’04 and wife, Joy, welcomed a girl, Kindelynn Noelle, on March 1, 2012. She joins older brother Avery James, 4. Kerian (Soley) ’04 and Logan Walton ’04 welcomed a baby girl, Lucie Elizabeth, on June 18, 2012. Sheila (Freeman) ’05 and Brian Arnold ‘05 welcomed a baby boy, Issac Steven, on July 19, 2011. Becky (Simons) ’05 and Tyson Erion ’04 had a girl, Abby, on September 29, 2011. Cassie (Johnson) ’06 and Brent Mueller ’05 welcomed a baby boy, Ezra Levi, on October 6, 2011. He joins big brother Isaiah, 2. Aaron Walton ’06 and Katie welcomed a baby girl, Carlee Jolena, on October 28, 2011. Liisa (Thompson) ’07 and Scott Ferguson ’07 welcomed a girl, Hannah Noel on November 15, 2011. Lindsay (Adams) ’08 and Lance Chamberlain ’07 welcomed a baby boy, Judah Richard, on November 17, 2011. Matthew Griggs ’08 and wife, Christine, welcomed a baby girl, Anastasia Grace, on November 25, 2011. Kari (Knutson) Hamilton ’08 and husband, Peter, welcomed their second son, Jon, on August 19, 2011. Kelsey (Walton) Birkofer ’09 and husband, Scott, welcomed a baby girl, Madison, on September 6, 2011. Jamie (Hiller) Bishop ’09 and husband, Geoff, welcomed a baby boy, Caden Smith, on February 22, 2012. Kristen (Ruff) ’10 and Scott O’Gallagher ’08 welcomed a baby boy, Scott Jr., on September 6, 2011. Adam Taisey ’10 and wife, Janice Van Tassel, welcomed a baby girl, Keira Grace, in July. Kara (VanZanten) ’10 and Kyle Veach ’10 welcomed a boy, Boston Bennett, on March 1, 2012. 17
ALUMNI NEWS IN MEMORIAM Ray Boone Glessner ’37 died at home on October 21, 2011, in Brewster, Wash., three days shy of his 94th birthday. He was born on October 25, 1917 in Mansfield, Wash. He was ordained in 1944. He married his wife, Pauline Collins, on June 30, 1944 and they had three children together. In 1947, Ray became the part-time minister of the Log Church in Brewster, Wash., a position he held for 35 years. He also worked as a school bus driver, carpenter, and an orchardist. Martha (Allee) Sawyer ’39 died on August 10, 2012 in Portland, Ore. at the age of 95. She was born in Burbank, Wash. and was among the first class to attend Pacific Bible college in 1937 and graduated in 1939. Allee met her husband, Lloyd L. Sawyer (who preceded her in death) while attending PBC and they subsequently married in 1940. They had five children and helped raise two of her brother’s children. A recipient of WPC’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Allee was an active member at Holladay Park Church of God and loved her large extended family. Eldon Wilson ’43 died July 18, 2011. He was born September 4, 1924. Eldon and his wife, Helen, were long-time attendees of Tigard Church of God, in Tigard, Ore., and charter members of Warner Pacific’s 500 Club. Eldon lived in Canby, Ore. Dr. Otis Frank Brown, Sr. ’45 died December 11, 2011 in Portland, Ore. He was born February 15, 1924, in Kendleton, Texas. He planted Maranatha Church of God in Portland in 1944 and was ordained in 1949. He later served as a senior pastor in Seattle, San Francisco, and Detroit, and became president of North Portland Bible College in 1997. Dr. Brown also spent four years in the field of Histology at the Veteran’s Hospital in Portland and eleven years in the field of cardiovascular research at the University of Washington. In 1995, he received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Warner Pacific. Leona (Gregory) Early ’46 died October 18, 2011 in Bloomington, Ill. She was born March 29, 1926, in Auburn, Wash. She moved to Modesto, Calif. in 1950, with her husband, and two oldest children. Leona supported her husband, Dr. Louis Early, at the Early Chiropractic Clinic, and retired as the coowner and director of Arcadia Health Care. Bette (Scrivner) Lienhard ’48 died December 16, 2011 in Ellensburg, Wash. She was born on February 1, 1927, in Yakima, Wash. She was married to F. A. “Bert” Lienhard in 1950, and owned Terrace Fashions in the Plaza in Ellensburg from 1975 until 1984. She is survived by her husband, sister, son, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. 18
Dr. Hauton Bransford “HB” Lee Jr. ’49 passed away August 4, 2011, at the age of 91. He earned a Bachelor of Theology degree from WP, a Master of Education degree from Lewis and Clark College, and a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Wyoming. He was a minister and college administrator before ending his career as the Superintendent of the Reynolds School District, in Gresham, Ore. H.B. Lee Middle School is named in his honor. Douglas Rogers ’50 died on July 29, 2011 in Prosser, Wash. at the age of 80. He worked as a principal, teacher, and administrator in the Nooksack Valley School District, retiring in 1994. He also worked in law enforcement with the Sumas P.D. and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Department. Veryl (Keefer) Miller ’51 passed away August 7, 2011. She was born December 8, 1921 in Spokane, Wash. She and her husband, Rev. Oakley Miller, were missionaries of the Church of God in the Caribbean from 1952-1967, primarily in Trinidad. She later worked as a school teacher in Portland until she retired. Survivors include Rona (Miller) Mark ’70. Zelma “Lou” (Rogers) Summers ’52 passed away February 13, 2012. She was born on July 11, 1919 in Brandsville, Mo. The family later relocated to Sand Springs, Okla., where she married Harold Summers on Feb. 11, 1940. Harold was an Army chaplain for twenty years, and the family lived in Korea, Japan, Germany, and various bases in the U.S. Lou was active in supporting other officers’ wives. Edmond T. Burton ’54 died January 1, 2012 in St. Helens, Ore. at the age of 90. He was born Oct. 20, 1921 in Klamath Falls, Ore. He served in the Army Air Corps in Okinawa. Upon his return, he farmed in Cave Junction, Ore. and also was a logger. He helped start Sunset Park Church, in St. Helens, Ore. He worked for Owens-Corning as a tile machine operator and millwright, and finished his career with the St. Helens Parks Department. Geraldine (Wilburg) Busk ’55 died Feburary 17, 2012. She was born on March 7, 1932 in Los Angeles, Calif. She majored in Early Childhood Education and met her husband while at WPC. She is survived by her husband, Don; children, Steve and Carolyn; and three grandchildren. Eva “Eve” Mae (Moore) Hubacek ’57, of Sandy, Ore., passed away July 12, 2012 in Portland, Ore. Eve was born in Mercedes, Texas on January 15, 1938. She married Richard Louis Hubacek on June 27, 1957. They partnered in ministry in multiple locations on the West Coast and Canada for 51 years. During her younger years, she worked in banking, and later in retail.
Don Nielsen ’57 died of natural causes on July 30, 2011. Don was a minister, outdoorsman and “jack of all trades.” David Paul Ogle ’60 died October 3, 2011 in Clarkston, Idaho, at the age of 71. He was born December 11, 1939, in Independence, Mo. His family later moved to Idaho. He worked for Nabisco in Portland, Ore., and Lewiston Grange Supply, Hoff Ford, and Holiday Lincoln Mercury in Idaho. He also co-owned Seaport Liquidator. Herb Lewis ’61 died August 5, 2011 from cancer complications. After starting his career as a pastor, he worked as a school counselor, teacher, and coach in David Douglas and Gresham-Barlow School Districts from 1971 until he retired in 1996. He was preceded in death by his wife, Leta (Moore) ’61. Yvonne (Ramey) Norholm ’61 died April 18, 2012. She was born in Longacre, W.Va. on December 9, 1936. She married Rev. Jorgen Norholm in Portland. The couple served in Denmark for five years, where Jorgen was a pastor. In 1966, the Norholms returned to the U.S., and pastored for the next 33 years in Ohio; Edmonton, Alberta; California; Oklahoma; Texas; and Alabama. Yvonne directed seven preschools and a kindergarten and was an accomplished artist, decorator, quilter, and seamstress. Eileen (Baxter) Joiner ’63 died March 4, 2012. Rev. Ira Leonard Johnson ’65 died June 12, 2011. He was born September 26, 1926 in Provost, Alberta. His family developed the Johnson Valley Ranch in northern Alberta. He pastored the Kinnaird Church of God in Castlegar, British Columbia. He retired in 1995, but continued in ministry. He is survived by his wife, Adeline; three children, including Brent Johnson ’82; and four grandchildren. Fred D. Wainer ’65 passed away December 30, 2011. He was born August 29, 1932. He is survived by his wife, Lois; and five children. Robert L. Stewart ’67 died February 6, 2012. He was senior pastor of Lynchwood Church of God from 1960 to 1970. K.V. Thampan ’70 died April 15, 2012, in Gladstone, Ore. He was born July 4, 1931. K.V. was a teacher, writer, and pastor. He established a soup kitchen for the homeless and the Helping Hand organization. He also supported a school for the blind in India. He held a Doctor of Philosophy degree from California Graduate School of Theology. David Smiley ’71 died October 15, 2011 in Portland, Ore. He was born July 14, 1949, in Denver. He married Diane Webb in 1971. They were married for 40 years. David is survived by his father, motherin-law, two sons, and many nieces and nephews.
Jeffrey Caples Beach ’78 passed away October 25, 2011. He was born September 1, 1957 in Clarkston, Wash. Jeffrey enjoyed Scouts, basketball and fishing. He is survived his wife, Debbie, of 17 years. Sherri (Phillips) Bratton ’81 was welcomed to her heavenly Father’s home on June 1, 2012. She was born in Portland, Ore., on October 13, 1955 to Pastor Jerry ‘58 and Jeannine (Martin) Phillips ‘54. In 1974, she became a student at WPC where she met Ted Bratton ‘77. They were married by her father at the Pinehurst Church of God in Birmingham, Ala., on April 21, 1979. Ted’s service with the US Navy took them to California, Washingotn, and Illinois. In 1980 Sherri resumed her studies at WPC and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1981. After Ted’s discharge from the Navy, they lived in communities of the greater Portland area. Sherri enjoyed reading books and loved her family. While living in Molalla, she enlarged her library to home school their children. Sherri is survived by her husband, Ted, their children, Kristina Tucker, Stephen Bratton, Phillip Bratton, Shawna Bratton, their six grandchildren, her parents, her sister Teresa (Phillips) Hornback ‘79, her brother, David Phillips and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Rev. Don Hermansen died October 26, 2011. He is the former pastor of Oak Park Community Church of God. Survivors included Christi (Hermansen) Kurtz ’99.
ALUMNI AWARDS 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Ministry Award: Ethel C. Willard ’58 Originally from West Plains, Mo., Ethel Willard worked at Warner Pacific as a bookkeeper and accountant for ten years before leaving Oregon in 1969 to start a 29-year career with Church of God Ministries. Her first assignment was in Hong Kong, working in the financial department of the Junk Bay Medical Relief Council. In 1982, Willard returned to the United States to work as a bookkeeper at Church of God Ministries headquarters in Anderson, Indiana. From 1987 to 1997, she was the assistant treasurer, and since 1998 has been a Chaplain in Residence at Anderson University School of Theology. 2012 Distinguished Young Alumnus Award: Ysu Umbalo ’99 Ysu Umbalo is the medical director of the M. SOMA clinic in the city of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, his native country. The clinic provides free health care to impoverished people. After earning a biology degree from WP in 1999, Umbalo graduated from the National College of
Naturopathic Medicine, in Portland. He and an American business partner established the M. Soma clinic in 2005 with $400,000 worth of donated medical supplies. The clinic provides a host of medical services in a country that has 11 doctors for every 100,000 people. 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Service Award: Sonya Fischer ’88 Attorney Sonya Fischer ’88 has been advocating for the rights of vulnerable people for more than twenty years. She operates her own law office in Lake Oswego and specializes in family, juvenile, special education, and guardianship law. Fischer is the mother of a daughter with permanently delayed cognitive development. In the 1990s, she was among a group of mothers that pressured Oregon leaders to pass legislation to provide in-home care for these children and their families. She completed a law degree at Lewis and Clark Law School in ‘02. She was the recipient of the Rising Star Super Lawyer Award for 2010-2011. 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Legacy Award: Robert I. Williams ’59 Pastor Williams has spent much of his life serving under-resourced people, through prison ministry, chaplaincy work, and outreach to migrant workers and the elderly. From 1978 to 1984, he led the First Church of God in Toppenish, Wash. He also served on the Credentials and Advisory Committee in the Inland Empire District of Eastern Washington, Oregon, and Northern Idaho. Having lost his hearing as an adult - requiring bi-cochlear implants - Williams served as the Oregon State Chapter Coordinator for the Hearing Loss Association of America. His family legacy at Warner Pacific includes daughters Deborah (Williams) Landers ’88 and Kimberly Williams ’88; son-in-law Roger Landers ’91; brother Roy Williams ’66; sister Betty Jo Jacobson ’75; nephews Richard Williams ’87 and Daniel Williams ’04; and granddaughter Kaleigh Mason ’15. 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Professional Achievement Award: Robert C. Stewart ’75 Warner Pacific College honored Robert C. Stewart ‘75 with the 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Award for Professional Achievement. Stewart has worked in Oregon’s public school system since 1999 as Superintendent of the Gladstone School District. Considered a visionary leader among his peers, he has participated on a number of Governor-appointed committees to establish state policy for early childhood education. An active member in the community, Stewart serves on the Warner Pacific College Board of Trustees, the CareOregon Board, the Clackamas County Commission for Children and Families, and the Gladstone Education Foundation, among others.
WPC mourns the loss of Alumnus, Rob Ingram Rob Ingram, a beloved public figure and activist known for his passionate dedication to helping Portland’s youth and families, passed away unexpectantly from a heart attack in November of 2011. He was only 38 years old. According to Warner Pacific College President Dr. Andrea Cook, Ingram left behind a legacy of outreach and support to Portland’s urban communities. “Rob was deeply committed to his Christian faith and making a difference among Portland’s diverse populations,” stated Dr. Cook upon hearing of Ingram’s death. “As a Warner Pacific College graduate, Rob personified our mission as someone who used his liberal arts education to make a tangible difference in the lives of the people he helped as an advocate for Portland’s youth and families,” said Dr. Cook. “Rob will be greatly missed.”
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parting words
Theology of
Place
WHAT IT MEANS TO ME
By cassie trentaz
“
In the City, For the City” is not a shiny new slogan. It’s about attention to where and who we are and figuring out why it matters. It’s about a home-place to draw upon roots. WPC has a home geo-culturally and also theo-ethically. As we think about what it means to be in this city in this moment, we also are reconnecting with our roots in a long line of people asking what it means to be faithful and responsible in their particular contexts. WPC is associated with the broad religious traditions known as Christianity. According to communal memory, these traditions, although holding diverse interpretations of what it means, arose from a community gathered around a central figure: Jesus—a lower-economic, colonized, Palestinian Jew. In the community’s central text we find a story of someone coming to this central figure and asking what is central. The story says that he gave us what we now know as the great commandments: love God with everything you are and love your neighbor as yourself. Everything hinges upon these loves. Each group since has had the responsibility to ask the questions of what it means to be faithful, responsible lovers ‘here’ and ‘now’. Our particular roots stem from a movement in the late 1800s that looked at the results of colonization, burgeoning industrialization, and rise of urbanization and said ‘wait—there are folks on the streets becoming poorer, sicker, and exhausted and folks in the churches are getting comfortable and disconnected from that 20
reality. Where is love in this?’ Looking at this context, that movement, which gave birth to the Church of God, understood the basics of love through two loaded words—holiness and unity. What holiness essentially means is that our behaviors matter. How we use our resources and treat ourselves, each other, and the earth matters. We’ve inherited a Wesleyan holiness—a social holiness. This is not primarily an isolated, protective ‘I don’t drink, smoke or chew or go with girls who do’ holiness. It’s a holiness that says love is not love if it’s not practical, rooted in the contexts of those with need, and directly addressing that need toward the creation of the Kingdom of the God who loves in the world. We’re a part of a people who said that our holiness actually is defined by this ever-increasing love of God, self, and neighbor. As such, our goal is not to remain ‘clean,’ unafraid to touch the ‘unclean’ for fear of becoming ‘unclean’ ourselves, but we hold to the stories of Jesus who had the courage to be and be with the ‘unclean’ hoping that together we might create ‘a new clean’, taking seriously our responsibility to do what we can. That’s who we are. We’re also a part of a people who recognized that we are neither alone in the world nor self-sufficient. We need each other and there is something holy about leaning on one another in being the image of the communal (Trinitarian) and incarnate (embodied in time and place) God that we love. This is unity. It’s not an amorphous unity that discounts the value of each person. The love of each self is balanced with love of neighbor. We’re a part of a people who looked around and said ‘why are some of our neighbors missing from the table? Are they exhausted? Voiceless? We’re not complete without them.’ That’s who we are. But our goal is not togetherness alone. It’s a particular type we call the Kingdom of God. This is not for another time and place but has real implications and expectations for our real decisions and our real participation here and now. It’s not solely a spiritual kingdom but a body and soul kingdom—a kingdom of enough bread for hungry bellies as well as salvation for hungry souls. It’s not an exclusive and protective kingdom but an inclusive kingdom of just peace—of love for even our enemies with a big enough table where all know themselves loved and can know and love themselves and neighbors and in so doing, God. That’s what we work for. We are in the city because we are in the city. In some ways, it’s that simple. But for us to embrace this is to root ourselves in the concrete concerns of our neighborhood, drawing on our heritage to love our neighbors who we do not always choose, recognizing that our behaviors matter and we need each other to live into the kingdom of the God who is known in and through practical, particular, justice-making, unafraid, life-giving love. This is our home-place. Living into our role as loving neighbors in SE Portland is not a marketing campaign. It’s our way of continuing our responsibility to faithfully love in our place and our moment.
Join us for the
75th Anniversary Homecoming February 14 • 15 • 16, 2013 • McGuire Auditorium Come and Go Reception, Saturday from 10am-2pm, program at noon.
We’re celebrating our past but anticipating the future. Come join Alumni, Students, Faculty, Staff and Friends of the college for a nostalgic review of the last 75 years and an inspiring vision of the future. Enjoy our current men’s vocal group Bridgetown, as well as some memorable musicians from the past. Read about
individual WP moments, and add yours to the display. Take a stroll through memory lane by viewing yearbooks, marketing materials, and historical photos. Be sure to mark your calendars for this important Homecoming Weekend and watch our website for information and program updates.
CelebratE, memories, music, reuniting
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you pick a side? 2219 SE 68thdo Avenue Portland, ORdo 97215 you disengage? those are the easy Ways out.
Office: 503.517.1020 Fax: 503.517.1350 Pacific’s Humanities Core Warner warnerpacific.edu Curriculum is based on the exploration of paradox—those instances in which
RETURN SERVICE a question has more than one right REQUESTEDanswer. By wrestling with conflicting
truths and exploring the “gray areas” of life, you will develop critical thinking and writing skills that will serve you well in any career or graduate school you decide to pursue.
Let the real learning begin. warnerpacific.edu/paradox
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