UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

03-20-2023

Library Bookplates

Patrons browsing the shelves at Clark Library may, upon opening a volume to scan the contents, find a decorative bookplate adorning the inside front cover. Obviously the bookplate indicates the Library’s ownership, but also records particular books donated by or added to the library collection as benefactions in remembrance of a person. The history and design of the bookplate used for many years in Clark Library was unknown to present day library staff until recently. The story of the bookplate is the topic of our most recent PortLog post from Archives and Artifacts. Curious to know more? Read here.

For more information contact Carolyn Connolly, museum coordinator, museum@up.edu, 8038.

New to The Bluff: Tshombé Brown, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

After a national search, the University of Portland has named Tshombé Brown its first Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. 

A welcoming, well-known presence on campus since his arrival on The Bluff in 2017, Brown will assume his new role on April 17. Since 2021, Brown has supported students and colleagues in a variety of ways as hall director for Fields Hall and Schoenfeldt Hall. Prior to that assignment, Brown worked at UP’s Moreau Center for Service and Justice, coordinating pre-orientation community engagements for students, developing off-campus partnerships and implementing training for student development and formation. 

In a campus-wide announcement, Brown described the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion role as “a historic first for all of us, which affirms the DEIJ work we are already doing.” He highlighted the prominence of DEIJ and Access in the University’s new Strategic Plan—Hope, Renewal, Transformation. “When lived out, this work is at the heart of the charism of our sponsoring CSC congregation,” Brown said. 

“Now is our time to amplify and double down on who we are at UP, and to leverage this platform to both strengthen existing efforts and to enhance, deepen and expand DEIJ in new and exciting ways,” he added. 

“Tshombé has the talents and disposition to thrive as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Portland,” said Eduardo Contreras, Associate Provost for International Education, Diversity, and Inclusion. “With all his experience on campus and in Portland, Tshombé has built trust and strong relationships with students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members, which will be essential in this role.” 

Recently, Brown was co-writer of the 3rd Edition of Principles of Good Practice for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities (2022), and he currently serves as board director of Campus Compact of Oregon. An alumnus of Western Washington University, Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in linguistics as well as certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). He is currently pursuing an MEd with an ESOL emphasis at the University. 

 

Fragments & Wholeness: Using Scholarship to Reconstruct and Represent Women’s Lives (Mar. 21)

Join Christin Hancock, Rachel Wheeler, and Alexandra Stewart, historian, theologian, and German studies professor, as they share discrepancies and surprising overlaps in the ways in which their distinct disciplines illuminate the complexities of women’s lives across centuries. Tuesday, March 21, Brian Doyle Auditorium, Dundon-Berchtold Hall, 5 p.m. Free and open to all. Info at up.edu/garaventa or 503-943-7702. ADA compliant event. 

CHIRP Theology Student Lab Presentation (Mar. 22)

Theologian David Turnbloom and Collaborative Humanities Investigating Religion and Power (CHIRP) students unpack lessons learned about power, rhetoric, and incarnation in their explorations of how the Church communicates about its sex abuse crisis. Wednesday, March 22, in the Brian Doyle Auditorium, Dundon-Berchtold Hall at 7 p.m. Free and open to all. Info at up.edu/garaventa or 503-943-7702. ADA compliant event. 

Ramadan (Mar. 22–Apr. 20)

As the holy season of Ramadan (March 22–April 20) approaches, please be mindful that members of our community will be observing this time of fasting and reflection. On UP’s inclusion site you can find resources to assist us as we integrate support into our classes and services, as well as tips for students who are navigating exams during Ramadan.  

Please do not hesitate to reach out to oiedi@up.edu with further questions or suggestions as to how we might improve our support systems. 

PilotsGive Happy Hour (Mar. 23)

Put on your purple and come celebrate what it means to be a Pilot! Stop by the Pilot House to join faculty, staff, alumni, and friends as we toast another phenomenal show of support for our students on Thursday, March 23, from 4–5:30 p.m. And, yes, there will be jumbo checks, so come find out who our challenges winners are, too! 

Final Core Samples Lunch (Mar. 29)

All staff and faculty are welcome to the final Core Samples lunch for this academic year on Wednesday, March 29, from 11:30 a.m–12:15 p.m. in the Teske Room of Bauccio Commons. Let the Garaventa Center and Core Director buy you lunch and then learn from Rachel Wheeler as she offers a slice from THEO 205 (Biblical Texts in Contexts, one of only 6 courses that every single UP undergrad gets to take) called “The Bible & Climate Change (aka Ecological Hermeneutics).” This coincides with an international teach-in on climate change that UP’s CAS is participating in. Learn about a green reading of scripture from a talented colleague! Be part of an international movement! Enjoy a complimentary meal! Please RSVP directly to Karen Eifler, eifler@up.edu by March 24 to secure one of the limited seats. 

Call for Proposals: Research in the Application of Ethics (Due Mar. 31)

The Dundon-Berchtold Institute funds teams of faculty and students to conduct projects and curriculum fellowships focused on the application of ethics within and across academic and professional fields. In addition to fostering the vibrant learning experience of faculty-student partnerships, the Research in the Application of Ethics program encourages Faculty Fellows and Student Scholars to participate thoughtfully in these important conversations as they lean into the ethical tensions of the modern world. Contact Dan McGinty (mcgintyd@up.edu) with questions.