Faculty

Michael Cameron’s New Book

September 17, 2012 By Mark

Michael Cameron from the Department of Theology has just published a book-length study of St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) that analyzes the ancient Latin Church Father’s patterns of reading and teaching the Bible. Drawing on a quote from Augustine about the Old Testament, the book is titled Christ Meets Me Everywhere: Augustine’s Early Figurative Exegesis, and published by Oxford University Press.

Most readers first encounter Augustine’s love for the words of Scripture in his masterwork, the Confessions. Augustine does not merely quote texts there, but in many ways lets Scripture itself tell his story. As he journeys from darkness to light, Augustine figuratively becomes Adam in the Garden of Eden, or the Prodigal Son of Jesus’ parable, or the Pauline double personality devoted to and rebellious against God’s Law.

Mothers, Diets, and Children

August 28, 2012 By Mark

TEACHING & LEARNING THROUGH RESEARCH

Despite her demure presence, Elinor Sullivan is an emerging rock star in the world of physiology research. She is currently the holder of two faculty positions (Assistant Professor at UP and Adjunct Assistant Scientist in the Department of Neuroscience at the Oregon Primary Research Center), in addition to holding two concurrent grants: most recently a $45,322 research award from the competitive Murdock Life Sciences Research Program. [Read more…] about Mothers, Diets, and Children

Butkus & Kolmes Win Catholic Press Award

August 27, 2012 By Mark

The Catholic Press Association recently awarded Russ Butkus and Steve Kolmes First Place for their book, Environmental Science and Theology in Dialogue. The book won 1^st place in the category of Faith & Science. The award citation reads: “Environmental Science and Theology in Dialogue is an accessible, orthodox, multi-disciplinary work which synthesizes complex topics in an accessible manner. Particularly noteworthy are their informed presentation on biblical critical perspectives. The layout and sidebars of the book are refreshing and help the reader avoid fatigue on an intense subject. A good reference source that is enjoyable reading as well.”

Learn more by visiting their site at http://published.up.edu/envscitheobook/

Welcome New Faculty, Fall 2012

August 24, 2012 By Mark

The College of Arts and Sciences welcomes our new faculty members to the Bluff beginning in the fall of 2012.

Danielle Cass, Chemistry
Andrea Castanette, Spanish
Laurie Dizney, Biology
Mead Hunter, Drama
Nicole Leupp Hanig, Music
Glenn Morrison, Theology
Elaine Park, Theology
Gregory Pulver, Drama
Max Schlosshauer, Physics
Rev. Jeffery Schneibel, CSC, International Languages and Cultures
Christine Weilhoefer, Biology
John White, Biology
Blair Woodard, History

Making History

August 1, 2012 By Mark

Prof. Hancock recently won the 2012 Herbert S. Schell Award from the journal South Dakota History for her article “Being ‘all things to all men:’ Louisa Irvine Riggs and the Cultural Implications of Women’s Missionary Work.” She is also the author of “Healthy Vocations: Field Nursing and the Religious Overtones of Public Health,” recently published in the Journal of Women’s History.

AT UP, Prof. Hancock teaches Women’s History, African American History, and the History of Social Movements and Reform.In addition to teaching, she is also on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Oregon Historical Quarterly. She recently co-hosted a presentation with Gertrude “Trudy” Rice, entitled Trudy’s Story: The Remarkable Career of One of Oregon’s First Registered Nurses of Color. Following this presentation Prof. Hancock conducted an oral history recording session to preserve this story from Oregon’s past. The audio-video recording will be available to students through the UP library.

Patrick Murphy Receives Graves Award

May 10, 2012 By Mark

Assistant Professor Patrick Murphy, or Performing and Fine Arts, has been named the most recent recipient of the Graves Award, which recognizes outstanding faculty at the start of their careers. Prof. Murphy will use the funding from the award to support his research into band music from the former Soviet Union. His goal is to bring to performance music that has not been heard outside or Russia–and our students will play their parts in the world premier.

Katie O’Reilly Receives Fullbright Award

May 10, 2012 By Mark

UP Biology Professor Katie O’Reilly has been award a Fullbright Scholar grant to study Little Blue Penguins and teach conservation ecology at the University of Aukland, New Zealand, in Spring 2013. O’Reilly will study hormones and their effects on micro-scale activity and movement patterns of Little Blue Penguins. It is the 12th Fullbright grant won by a University of Portland professor over the past 15 years, and the first ever won by a woman.

In January 2012, O’Reilly travelled to Antarctica, Tierra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia Island. Information about the trip, the species seen, and photos are available on her blog: click here.

New Hellenistic Studies Professorship

May 10, 2012 By Mark

PROFESSOR ALEX SANTANA NAMED FIRST HOLDER OF HELLENISTIC STUDIES PROFESSORSHIP

Philosophy Associate Professor Alex Santana has been named the first holder of the E. John Runmpakis professorship in Hellenic Studies. The mission of the professorship is to promote the study of the influence of Greek culture on western civilization through programs within both the university and the wider community. The professorship is funded with a stipend and operating expenses through the generosity of Mr. E. John Rumpakis.

John Orr on the Value of a Liberal Arts Education

May 2, 2012 By Mark

John Orr, English Dept. & Asst. to Provost

At the age of eighteen, I did not know that I had an accent. Emerson, in his essay “Circles,” says that “the life of a man is a self-evolving circle, which, from a ring imperceptibly small, rushes on all sides outwards to new and larger circles.” If this is true, the circle of my existence at 18 was extremely small and circumscribed by ideologies that derived from my heritage as a third generation Texan whose father hailed from North Carolina. My childhood on a working farm was in many ways idyllic, though fraught with hardships such as the lack of potable water in the house I grew up in. At age 12, instead of a bar mitzvah, I received a .22 rifle, and between throwing a baseball endlessly against the side of the barn and shooting at any number of creatures and objects, I managed to pass lazy summers playing by myself. [Read more…] about John Orr on the Value of a Liberal Arts Education