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50th Anniversary Celebration For School of Education

education-50-sliderThe University of Portland School of Education will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a gala reception and dinner on Thursday, June 27, beginning at 6 p.m., in the Bauccio Commons. All faculty, staff, alumni, and friends are welcome to attend. Individual tickets are $50 ($35 for graduates of the past decade), and tables of 10 are $500, and can be reserved at the following link: http://tinyurl.com/mlcnk8m, or by contacting Amy Kwong-Kwapisz at kwongkwa@up.edu or 7752. A portion of each ticket sold will be applied to the 50th Anniversary Scholarship Fund, to be used in support of the next generation of teachers and school leaders to benefit from an education on The Bluff. Sponsorships in the amounts of $10,000, $5,000, and $1,000 are also available.

The 6 p.m. Meet and Greet Reception will feature open bar hospitality and the opportunity to reconnect with classmates, alumni, faculty members, administrators, and friends. Dinner will feature alumni greetings, celebrations, and special announcements. James Popham, emeritus professor in the Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), will deliver the dinner keynote address. Popham, a nationally recognized authority on educational assessment, teaching and leadership, earned his bachelor’s degree at the University in 1953 and his master’s degree in 1954.

The School of Education professional network has a far-reaching impact in the region. This includes alumni Bonnie Robb and Laurie Espenel, recent winners of the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award; alumna Anne Storm, recipient of the 2010 National Catholic Education­al Association Distinguished Teacher Award; and education professor Karen Eifler, recognized as Oregon Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Free childcare is available for children between the ages of 2 and 12 during the dinner, but children must be registered by Friday, June 14. Please Kwong-Kwapisz at kwongkwa@up.edu or 7752 to arrange childcare.

Looking Forward To UP Soccer

The 2013 men’s and women’s soccer schedule has been released and features a total of 25 home games between the two teams. The women’s schedule features 6 home games versus teams that made the 2012 NCAA playoffs, while the men’s schedule features 5 home games versus 2012 NCAA playoff opponents. Faculty and staff can reserve season tickets now, starting at just $88 for new season tickets only, general admission seats. Current season ticket holders can expect renewal information in the mail in the near future. All University of Portland faculty and staff can receive 50 percent off their season ticket purchase by visiting the box office and presenting a valid UP ID card. For more information or to order your season tickets, please call 7525.

Looking Forward To UP Soccer

The 2013 men’s and women’s soccer schedule has been released and features a total of 25 home games between the two teams. The women’s schedule features 6 home games versus teams that made the 2012 NCAA playoffs, while the men’s schedule features 5 home games versus 2012 NCAA playoff opponents. Faculty and staff can reserve season tickets now, starting at just $88 for new season tickets only, general admission seats. Current season ticket holders can expect renewal information in the mail in the near future. All University of Portland faculty and staff can receive 50 percent off their season ticket purchase by visiting the box office and presenting a valid UP ID card. For more information or to order your season tickets, please call 7525.

Chapel Reopening June 7

The Chapel of Christ the Teacher will reopen on Friday, June 7 with a 5 p.m. celebratory Mass and formal dedication of the new altar. June 7 is also the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart. All are invited to attend this wonderful celebration as it may be one of the few opportunities most people will have to participate in the solemn dedication of an altar. A reception under the portico of the chapel will follow the Mass. The renovation of the Chapel included new flooring, new altar and ambo, and a symbolic wall at the back of the sanctuary. For more information contact Theresa McCreary, campus ministry, at 7131 or mccreary@up.edu.

David Alexander, 1957-2013

Biology professor David Alexander passed away on the evening of May 23, after a long battle with cancer. He had served the University community since 1995 by teaching classes and working on a number of campus committees. He was well known as the advisor to many University of Portland students who went on to medical or dental school, and his work in that capacity was recently acknowledged with the awarding of the Becky Houck Advising Award. He will be missed. Please remember David and his family in your prayers.

$250,000 Renda Gift To RISE

The University of Portland has announced a RISE Campaign gift of $250,000 from Larree M. Renda, an executive with Safeway Inc., based in Pleasan­ton, Calif., and a member of the University’s board of regents. The gift will help finance improvements of Joe Etzel Field, formerly Pilot Stadium, which was completed prior to the 1988 baseball season. The stadium was renamed in the summer of 2004 in honor of former Pilots athletic director and long-time head baseball coach Joe Etzel.

The first phase of the baseball stadium upgrades include installing artificial turf, in place of the natural grass field, stadium lights and outfield/perimeter fencing, according to athletic director Scott Leykam. Fundraising is continuing with the goal of completing the first phase immediately after the conclusion of the 2014 baseball season. Following the initial renovations, a second phase is being developed which will include new grandstands, improved concession and ticketing facilities and coaches offices.

As executive vice president for Safeway, Renda is responsible for all retail strategies and a broad range of administrative functions for one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America. She began her Safeway career in 1974 at the age of 16. She progressed through Safeway’s retail ranks and earned the distinction of being the youngest store manager, district manager and retail operations manager in Safeway’s 86-year history. She was the first woman and youngest person promoted to senior vice president in 1994, and become Safeway’s first female executive vice president in 1999. Her son, Tommy Renda, graduated from the University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in finance and earned an MBA at UP in 2013.

For more information contact the development office at 7395, or go to the RISE Campaign website at http://rise.up.edu.

$250,000 Renda Gift To RISE

The University of Portland has announced a RISE Campaign gift of $250,000 from Larree M. Renda, an executive with Safeway Inc., based in Pleasan­ton, Calif., and a member of the University’s board of regents. The gift will help finance improvements of Joe Etzel Field, formerly Pilot Stadium, which was completed prior to the 1988 baseball season. The stadium was renamed in the summer of 2004 in honor of former Pilots athletic director and long-time head baseball coach Joe Etzel.

The first phase of the baseball stadium upgrades include installing artificial turf, in place of the natural grass field, stadium lights and outfield/perimeter fencing, according to athletic director Scott Leykam. Fundraising is continuing with the goal of completing the first phase immediately after the conclusion of the 2014 baseball season. Following the initial renovations, a second phase is being developed which will include new grandstands, improved concession and ticketing facilities and coaches offices.

As executive vice president for Safeway, Renda is responsible for all retail strategies and a broad range of administrative functions for one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America. She began her Safeway career in 1974 at the age of 16. She progressed through Safeway’s retail ranks and earned the distinction of being the youngest store manager, district manager and retail operations manager in Safeway’s 86-year history. She was the first woman and youngest person promoted to senior vice president in 1994, and become Safeway’s first female executive vice president in 1999. Her son, Tommy Renda, graduated from the University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in finance and earned an MBA at UP in 2013.

For more information contact the development office at 7395, or go to the RISE Campaign website at http://rise.up.edu.

2013 Faculty Awards

The University’s 2013 Faculty Awards were presented on Tuesday, May 7, at the Faculty Awards Dinner, with the following results:

The James Culligan Award, established in 1953 in memory of a dedicated servant of the University and presented annually to a faculty member in recognition of distinguished service, was presented to John Orr, English, who also serves as assistant to the provost, and director of honors and fellowships and grants. Winners of the Culligan Award wear the medal with their academic regalia, as a sign of the University’s highest faculty honor.

The Deans’ Award for Faculty Leadership, presented annually to a tenured faculty member who exemplifies, in an extraordinary way, the qualities of teaching and scholarship described in the University’s Articles of Administration for appointment, advancement in rank, and tenure, was presented to the effervescent, exuberant, and ebullient Kate Regan, Spanish professor extraordinaire with the international languages and cultures department.

The Outstanding Teaching Award, presented annually by the University’s Committee on Teaching and Scholarship to a faculty member who is a particular exemplar of the University’s commitment to superb teaching, was presented to Lars Erik Larson of the English department.

The Outstanding Scholarship Award, presented annually by the University’s Committee on Teaching and Scholarship to a faculty member who presents unusually significant and meritorious achievement in professional scholarship during the past two academic years, and whose work substantively enhances the effectiveness of his or her classroom teaching, was presented to the incomparable team of Steve Kolmes, biology and environmental science, and Russell Butkus, theology.

For more information contact the provost’s office at 7105 or robb@up.edu.

2013 Faculty Awards

The University’s 2013 Faculty Awards were presented on Tuesday, May 7, at the Faculty Awards Dinner, with the following results:

The James Culligan Award, established in 1953 in memory of a dedicated servant of the University and presented annually to a faculty member in recognition of distinguished service, was presented to John Orr, English, who also serves as assistant to the provost, and director of honors and fellowships and grants. Winners of the Culligan Award wear the medal with their academic regalia, as a sign of the University’s highest faculty honor.

The Deans’ Award for Faculty Leadership, presented annually to a tenured faculty member who exemplifies, in an extraordinary way, the qualities of teaching and scholarship described in the University’s Articles of Administration for appointment, advancement in rank, and tenure, was presented to the effervescent, exuberant, and ebullient Kate Regan, Spanish professor extraordinaire with the international languages and cultures department.

The Outstanding Teaching Award, presented annually by the University’s Committee on Teaching and Scholarship to a faculty member who is a particular exemplar of the University’s commitment to superb teaching, was presented to Lars Erik Larson of the English department.

The Outstanding Scholarship Award, presented annually by the University’s Committee on Teaching and Scholarship to a faculty member who presents unusually significant and meritorious achievement in professional scholarship during the past two academic years, and whose work substantively enhances the effectiveness of his or her classroom teaching, was presented to the incomparable team of Steve Kolmes, biology and environmental science, and Russell Butkus, theology.

For more information contact the provost’s office at 7105 or robb@up.edu.

New National Science Foundation Grant

The University of Portland has been awarded $446,307 by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to increase retention in engineering and computer science with a focus on at-risk first year and sophomore students. The University of Portland is the only Oregon university and one of nine universities and colleges nationwide to receive NSF grants as part of a public-private partnership called Graduate 10K+.

The NSF works in partnership with Intel and General Electric (GE) to stimulate comprehensive action at universities and colleges to help increase the annual number of new graduates in engineering and computer science by 10,000. This effort is funded with $10 million in donations from Intel and the GE Foundation as well as a generous personal donation from Mark Gallogly.

Shiley School of Engineering dean Sharon Jones was the principal investigator of the national grant, with co-principal investigator Tammy VanDeGrift, engineering. Engineering and computer science are fields in which industry leaders lament an inadequate supply of graduates with the knowledge and skills needed in business and industry, and they are fields in which women and minorities are chronically underrepresented. Engineering and computer science are also part of a general trend in which many undergraduates pursuing majors in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields leave them entirely during their first two years in college.

Graduate 10K+ projects will operate for five years. Each of the projects has identified factors that can derail would-be engineers and computer scientists in their first or second year of undergraduate study and taken a targeted approach to addressing those factors. Other schools receiving Graduate 10K+ grants were California State University Monterey Bay, Cornell University, Merrimack College, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Syracuse University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas-Pan American, University of Washington, and Washington State University.

For more information contact the Shiley School of Engineering at 7314 or spir@up.edu.