10-25-2021

The annual Silent Auction fundraiser, December 1-3, will benefit the Moreau Center for Service and Justice’s Civil Rights and the Community Organizing and Resistance (CORE) Immersions. Donations are the backbone to the success of this annual fundraising event, so we need faculty and staff help. People may donate individually or as a group. We appreciate a wide range of items, from inexpensive to expensive, purchased or handcrafted, gifts of time or services, gently used items in great condition, or gift cards large or small. 

We request that items be delivered to the Moreau Center for Service & Justice office in St. Mary’s before Thanksgiving. If you can email Tyler Wagner at wagnert@up.edu to notify him in advance about your donation, that is appreciated, too. Thank you in advance for your support.

For more information, questions, or ideas about what to donate, please contact Tyler at wagnert@up.edu or x8194.

The Silent Auction will be December 1-3 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. each day in the quiet side of the Commons. 

The University of Portland invites nominations for the 2022 Commencement Speaker(s), Christus Magister Medal recipient, and Honorary Degree recipients. All nominations should be emailed to commencement@up.edu and should contain the following information:

• Name of nominee.

• A paragraph or two answering the following questions:

• If a nominee for Commencement Speaker: Why would this nominee be an exceptional Commencement Speaker? What sort of message would this nominee deliver to the graduates of the University and their families?

• If a nominee for Christus Magister Medal: How has this nominee evinced a vigorous spiritual life and an accomplished professional career in service to others? How has this nominee been a source of inspiration and consolation to the world? How has this nominee illustrated and enhanced the mission of the University of Portland?

• If a nominee for Honorary Degree: How has this nominee contributed to the University’s values of teaching and learning, faith and formation, and service and leadership? What impact has this person had on his/her local community and/or the world? Is this a person that the University would like for its students and faculty to imitate in their own lives?

• Any contact information for the nominee (if possible).

• Any connection between the nominee and the University of Portland (if applicable).

With a new month comes new updates: Zoom is always working to improve and innovate! Check out our newest Techtalk article for important information on updates and new features for the Zoom platform for the month of October.

Student newspapers provide a unique record of an institution’s history and culture. The library recently completed digitizing UP student newspapers going back over 100 years! While these issues can be viewed online, it’s also interesting to see some highlights in person. Visit the gallery on the library’s main floor to peruse a selection of newspaper stories through the years, including pages from special issues of The Bacon (April Fool’s Day) and The Boocon (Halloween). Stories include the aftermath of the Columbus Day Storm, the admission of women to all UP programs, the football team (before soccer!), and more.

For many centuries, the Catholic Church has dedicated November as a month of prayer for the deceased. This tradition is observed in many families and communities as we celebrate Día de los Muertos. Here at University of Portland, we have observed this ancient custom since our founding in 1901.

On behalf of our community on The Bluff, we invite you to join us in prayer again this year for those who have gone before us. Please click this button to share with us the names of your departed loved ones online.

Expressing thanks releases dopamine surges that energize and focus us. Stop by the Garaventa Center any Tuesday 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., bring your lunch, and take a moment to jot a quick thank you card to someone in your life, on-campus or off. All materials are provided, and all staff and faculty are welcome to participate in this simple community and morale builder.

Major Maribel Ortega de Pacheco was born and raised in Hermiston, Oregon. She joined the Oregon Army National Guard in December 2000 as a unit supply specialist.  Maj. Ortega graduated from Western Oregon University with a bachelor of science in business. She attended Atkinson Graduate School of Management at Willamette University while also receiving her commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 2009. Her assignments as a commissioned officer include maintenance platoon leader for A (FSC) 1249 Engineer Company, which deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She entered the Active Guard Reserve program in 2012 and completed her first assignment as the Second Officer for the 821 Troop Command Battalion in Salem, Oregon. Afterwards, she completed assignments as Special Branch Recruiter while taking command of the largest unit in the Oregon Army National Guard with 246 assigned soldiers. Maj. Ortega completed Company Command of 3670th Component Repair Company in 2016 and is currently serving as XO/AO for the 141 Brigade Support Battalion under the 41st Brigade Combat Team in Portland. She is a graduate of the CGSOC-Common Core (ILE) and is currently enrolled in Advanced Operations Course. Maj. Ortega holds the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Achievement Medal (3), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (3), National Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal, Oregon National Guard Superior Faithful Service Medal, Army Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/M Device, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal. She enjoys fishing with her family year-round. 

Neil Oculi is an interdisciplinary political geographer. He received his Ph.D. in geography and M.A. in international studies from the University of Connecticut. He also holds a B.A. in human ecology from College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, and studied farm management and rural development at the United World College in Venezuela. Neil has taught courses in geography, globalization, and global environmental politics at the University of Connecticut. Before joining the University of Portland, Neil was the resident lecturer in environmental policy and socioeconomic values at the Center for Marine Resource Studies in the Turks and Caicos and an adjunct professor at the University of Hartford, teaching courses in environmental studies and environmental justice. His research interests include the vulnerability of small island development state (SIDS), foreign policy analysis, international climate change policy, modeling of sea-level rise within SIDS, and hydro and hydraulic modeling of flood events within SIDS. His research adventures have taken him to Venezuela, Mexico, Tanzania, and the Caribbean, his home region. Born and raised in Saint Lucia, Neil’s passion for environmental justice and climate change sprouted during his time as the president of a local environmental club, the Mabouya Valley Environmental Club, where he managed local environmental projects such as river stabilization, watershed management and education, and youth heritage tourism initiatives.

Captain Nicholas Taylor was born in Morgantown, West Virginia, grew up in Milesburg, Pennsylvania, and received his commission from West Virginia University in 2015. He graduated with a bachelor of science in business administration with a focus in finance and commissioned as an Ordnance Officer. Following the Ordnance Basic Officer Leaders Course,  Capt. Taylor served as the Maintenance Platoon Leader in Hotel Forward Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, in 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas. He went on to serve as a Tank Platoon Leader in Charlie Company, 2-5 CAV, the Distribution Platoon Leader in H FSC, and the Tank Company Executive Officer in C Co. He then became the Battalion Maintenance Officer of 2-5 CAV, before moving on to serve as the Brigade’s Logistics Planner on 1ABCT’s Brigade Staff. During his time with 1ABCT,  Capt. Taylor completed rotations to Korea and Europe. Capt. Taylor graduated from the Logistics Captain’s Career Course and was assigned to the 404th Aviation Support Battalion, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, where he served as the Battalion S4. He then moved to 3-4 Assault Helicopter Battalion where he served as the Echo FSC Commander. Capt. Taylor is a graduate of the Military Mountaineering School in Ft. Wainwright, Alaska, Ordnance Basic Officer Leaders Course, and the Logistics Captain’s Career Course. His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. Capt. Taylor’s hobbies include rock climbing, hiking, and camping with his family. He enjoys watching football, soccer, and collegiate and international wrestling. 

Kelvin Egbo received his bachelor of engineering in mechanical engineering from the University of Nigeria, master of science in sustainable energy from the University of Glasgow and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Wichita State University. Prior to joining UP, Kelvin held teaching fellow and research assistant positions at Wichita State University where he taught undergraduate fluid mechanics while conducting NASA-funded research on phase-change cooling systems for electronics and spacecrafts. Before joining Wichita State, he was a mechanical engineering lecturer at his alma mater, the University of Nigeria, where he taught undergraduate thermodynamics while supervising senior capstone design projects. With his wealth of academia and life knowledge and experience and his love for teaching and research, Kelvin aims to prepare students to be career and society ready.