UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

01-22-2024

New to The Bluff—Ever Baez, Budget Analyst, Financial Affairs.

Ever received his undergraduate degree in International Economics from California State University Chico and began his career in finance working in the olive oil industry. He moved to Oregon in early 2020 and has continued to explore and enjoy the great Pacific northwest and all it has to offer.

An outdoors enthusiast, Ever enjoys mountain biking, kayaking, backpacking, wine tasting, hiking and so much more here in Oregon. He looks forward to being part of our community on The Bluff.

Welcome Ever!

New to The Bluff—Abby McMahon, Registrar

The Office of the Provost is pleased to announce that Abigail McMahon has been appointed the University of Portland’s Registrar, effective January 1, 2024.

Abby is well prepared for her new duties, as she has advanced through a series of roles within the Registrar’s office since 2013. For the past five years, she has served as Associate Registrar. This experience provides her with an unusually comprehensive understanding of the range of critical functions within the Registrar’s office. Abby also brings to this role her experiences as a UP student and graduate, as she earned both her BA in Elementary Education and her MBA from University of Portland.  

Abby looks forward to collaborating with colleagues across the University to meet the needs of our students and to implement the University’s strategic plan. Congratulations, Abby!

Come to a Core Samples Lunch this Semester!

All staff and faculty are invited to attend one or both of this spring’s Core Samples Lunches, as guests of the Garaventa Center and Core Program. These have proven a terrific way for all of us to build our knowledge of what happens in UP’s Core Curriculum.

  • Wednesday, February 21, 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m., chemist Valerie Walters will offer a glimpse of her X-level CHEM 331X course called “Chemistry in Paintings.”
  • Tuesday, April 2, 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., English professor Lars Larson will offer “Literature: The Opposite of Escape,” taken from his English 112 Foundations course.

Both buffet lunches will be held in the Teske Room of the Commons.

Learning from gifted teachers over free food and without exams: could it be any better?

Seating is limited; please RSVP to Karen Eifler, eifler@up.edu.

Gratituesdays All Semester Long

Is one of your goals in the New Year to notice and appreciate the amazing people in your life? The Garaventa Center (Franz 330) will be open from 12-1 p.m. every Tuesday until Finals Week for you to write a short note of gratitude or appreciation to someone you’d like to thank.

Cards, pens ,and stamps are provided; feel free to bring your lunch. All staff and faculty are welcome!

Why Theology Needs “Derry Girls” (Jan. 31)

Join UP professor Amy Ongiri for a Beckman Humor Project event highlighting the television series Derry Girls. Ongiri will discuss the surprising theological wisdom of the global hit series, which is centered around a group of teen friends coming of age in 1990’s Northern Ireland.

When: Wednesday, January 31, 5 p.m.
Where: Brian Doyle Auditorium (Dundon-Berchtold Hall).

Free and open to all. Info at up.edu/garaventa or 503-943-7702. ADA compliant event.

Faith and Intellectual Life Discussion Group Meeting (Feb. 9)

The next meeting of the Faith and Intellectual Life Discussion Group will be Friday, Feb. 9 from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Murphy Room. We will be discussing the Introduction to Generous Thinking: A Radical Approach to Saving the University by Kathleen Fitzpatrick.

Readings can be found on the Garaventa Center website: https://www.up.edu/garaventa/fildg/index.html.

Refreshments will be served. All faculty and staff are welcome.

Start Your Resolutions Right at Beauchamp!

Did you know that spouses and partners of University of Portland alumni, faculty, staff and students may purchase a membership to the Beauchamp Recreation and Wellness Center?  This pass allows access to the Beauchamp Center and weight room, cardio machines, running track, studios, and more. 

Operational hours during the academic year are Monday-Thursday, 7am-11pm; Friday, 7am-8pm; Saturday, 10am-8pm; Sunday, 12pm-11pm.  There are some exceptions during school breaks and holidays, and summer has reduced hours.

Cost for the pass is $120 per semester, about $40/month, and is pro-rated after the first month, if starting mid-semester. 

Contact Britt Barnett, Rec Operations Program Manager, rosentha@up.edu, 503-943-7294, for more information, or come to the Rec Center with your spouse/partner to sign them up. 

You can find more information about Rec Services, including current operational hours, at up.edu/recservices.

Come join us in the Beau!

Center for Teaching and Learning January Workshops & Events

The Center for Teaching and Learning will partner with faculty from various departments in January to present workshops focused on supporting our efforts to pursue excellence in teaching.

January 2-11

Moodle Update Drop-in Hours
Franz 107 1-4 p.m.

January 10

Alternative Grading 1- Overview and Examples from Non-Writing Intensive Courses.
Part 1: 2-hour Workshop for new and concurrent faculty stories and examples of how to integrate AG into your teaching- examples from various disciplines will be shared. Tamar More (PHY) and others.
DB 234 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Alternative Grading 2- Alternative Grading and Writing Intensive Courses.
Part 2: 1-hour workshop on Alternative grading in Writing Intensive Courses with Josh Swidzinski (ENG) and Andra Davis (SONHI).
DB 234 1 p.m.-2:15 p.m.

January 11

CAS/CTL Book Discussion Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom by bell hooks.  Contact Allie Stewart (stewarta@up.edu) for details. DB 234 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

January 12

Teaching First-Year Students: What Happened? So What? Now What?
With Brenagh Sanford and various faculty.
DB 234 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.