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UPdate – Simon Aihiokhai, 2023-24

“‘And you, Africans, who do you say that Jesus is?’: The Legacy of Laurenti Magesa for the Future of African Theology.” Journal of Moral Theology. Volume 13. No. 1 (2024): 15 – 36; “God Never Encounters Us Outside of Our Historicities: In Conversation with SimonMary Asese Aihiokhai.” Co-author: Chibueze Darlington Anuonye. Hekima Review. Journal of Theology, Governance and Peace Studies. No. 67 (2023): 184 – 192; “The Enduring Power of Palaver as A Tool for Fostering Socio-Cosmological Harmony: An African Response to the Culture of War in Our World.” Journal of Catholic Social Thought. Volume 20. No. 2 (2023): 223 – 240; “A Tapestry of Black Anthropology of Freedom: Insights from James H. Cone and Frantz Fanon.” The Heythrop Journal. Volume 64. Issue 6 (2023): 812 – 825; “Compassionate Imagination/Re-Existing/Hope: Embracing a Deliberate Turn to the Promptings of the Spirit for A Synodal Church.” Religions. Volume 14. No. 10: 1245 (2023); “Pentecost as A Graced-Gift of Disruption: What Can the Church and Society Learn from the Pentecost Experience? (Reflections for Day of Pentecost on the Revised Common Lectionary Year B. May 19, 2024).” The Politics of Scripture Series. Political Theology Network. May 13, 2024; “Rethinking Easter: Towards Radical Inclusivity.” Reflections on the Readings for Easter Sunday Year B from the Revised Common Lectionary. The Politics of Scripture Series. Political Theology Network. March 25, 2024; “Vatican’s Gay Blessing Decree Shows a Rich Understanding of God’s Grace.” National Catholic Reporter. January 8, 2024; “Advent is A Time of Learning the Skill of Waiting.” The Politics of Scripture Series. Political Theology Network. November 27, 2023; “Remembering Bénézet Bujo, Who Offered A Vision of African Theological Imagination.” National Catholic Reporter. November 21, 2023; “Synodality Demonstrates Fellowship with People on the Peripheries, Including LGBTQ Catholics.” Outreach: An LGBTQ Catholic Resource. October 12, 2023; “All War is a Disgrace and Failure. The Church Must Embrace Nonviolence.” National Catholic Reporter. September 21, 2023; “Let’s Talk About Colonial Fractures: In Africa Today, LGBTQ+ Communities Want to Experience Abundant Life.” Sojourners. August, 2023; “Elections, Violence and Transitional Justice in Africa.” Edited by Elias Opongo and Tim Murithi. Theoria: A Journal of Social and Political Theory. Volume 71. Issue 178 (2024): 100 – 102; Horizons. Volume 51. Issue 1 (2024): 221 – 223; “A Conversation on African Christianity and Gospel Inculturation.” Vatican News. September 25, 2023. Aihiokhai also presented: ‘“Who Do You Say that I Am?’: Making A Case for Existential Inclusiveness at the Crossroads of Liberation, Institutionality, and Hospitality.” The Joint Meeting of the Asian/Asian-American, Black, and Latinx Consultations of the Catholic Theological Society of America. Baltimore, Maryland. June 13 -16, 2024; “Strategies for Giving Impactful Presentations” A lecture given at a Webinar event organized by Conversational Society of Philosophy. February 24, 2024; “Discriminatory Discipline – Impacts and Solutions.” A virtual panel discussion organized and sponsored by National Association of Seadogs – Pirates Confraternity; Citizens’ Summit; and NAS Medical Mission. June 1, 2024; “Being Blessed: The Challenge of Fiducia Supplicans.” A Webinar Event Organized by New Ways Ministry. February 25, 2024; “Teaching with a Triple Consciousness Mindset: A Pathway for Understanding the Critical Consciousness Pedagogy.” A workshop provided for instructors of the Certificate in Transformational Leadership in Consecrated Life training program in Africa. Organized by the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) in collaboration with Confederation of Conferences of Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar (COSMAM). January 16, 2024; “Towards a Theology of Disruption: A Critique of Heteronormativity in post-Colonial African Consciousness.” Presented at the annual conference of African Studies Association. San Francisco, California. December 1, 2023; “Looking for a Political Theology for Africa: What’s There and What’s Not There?” A Conversation with Elias Omondi Opongo, SimonMary Aihiokhai, and Nelly Wamaitha. Organized by the Jesuit Institute at Boston College. November 17, 2023; “Reclaiming The African Imagination: Towards A Decolonial Memory of Surplus.” A paper presented at the African Studies Association – Africa. Held at the New Horizons University (UNH) and the Arrupe Center for Research and Training (CARF), Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo. October 27, 2023; “Living in the Light of Hope: Imagining a Synodal Church for Our Times.” A paper presented at The Future of Synodality: A Renewal of Communion event. Monday, October 9, 2023; “The Future of African Theology: Continuing the Legacy of Laurenti Magesa.” First Laurenti Magesa Memorial Lecture. Sponsored by the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN). August 21, 2023; “Retrieval of Africa’s Queer Memories, Values and Practice.” A public lecture organized by NOMKHUBULWANE AFRICA+ (AFRICA’S RESEARCH GROUP ON QUEERNESS). January 13, 2024; “Interview on the motif of Blackness and Imagination with Rev. Dr. Roy Lee.” African American Catholic in the 21st Century Podcast. September 20, 2023; “African Theology: Is Christianity a Force for Good in Africa?” African Catholic Voices Podcast. September 20, 2023. Aihiokhai also served in the following roles: Book Manuscript Reviewer, Polity Press. February 1, 2024 – Present; Editorial Board member, Bulletin of Ecumenical Theology. September 1, 2023 – Present; Organizer, Synodality Webinar Series: Synodality at the Parish Level: A Time for Reform. March 1, 2023 – October 11, 2023; Chair, NOMKHUBULWANE AFRICA+ (AFRICA’S RESEARCH GROUP ON QUEERNESS). June 15, 2023 – June 15, 2024; Member, Council of Elders, Sankofa Institute for African American Pastoral Leadership/Oblate School of Theology. September 21, 2023 – Present; Fellow, Jesuit Institute/Boston College. September 2023; External Reviewer for a PhD. Dissertation Defense, School of Ministry – Ph.D. Program in Practical Theology/Palm Beach Atlantic University. June 1, 2021 – June 25, 2024; External Reader for a PhD Dissertation Defense, Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion/Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley. May 13, 2023 – February 25, 2024; External Reader for a Doctor of Ministry Dissertation Defense, Doctor of Ministry of Pastoral Theology (African American Pastoral Leadership)/Oblates School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas. January 10, 2024 – Present; External Reader for A Master of Arts Thesis, Master of Arts in Theology/Oblates School of Theology. September 15, 2023 – Present.

Let’s Get Together! Latinx Employees Group Event (Jun. 16)

The Latinx Employees Group and its new co-chairs, Marija Hobbs (hobbsm@up.edu) and José Velazco (velazco@up.edu), invite those who identify as Latinx (Latino/Latina/Chicano/a/Hispanic, etc.) and work for the University in any capacity (adjunct, faculty, staff, administration, etc.) to join us for our first event of the summer, Churros & Café, Friday, June 16, at 10 a.m. in the Diversity Center (Buckley 102). Please bring your coffee to our first community building event of the summer. 

We look forward to gathering with you soon! 

UPdate

Andra Davis, school of nursing and health innovations, published “Transforming Nurse Self-Care Through Integration of Spirituality: Lessons from an International Collaboration in Palliative Care” in The Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 34(1), 91-99. 

Simon Aihiokhai, theology, published “Honoring Teresia Mbari Hinga, A Theologian Who Dared to Think” in the National Catholic Reporter. April 19, 2023. Aihiokhai also published “A Decolonial Reading of the Post-Resurrection Event.” (Reflections on the Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter. Year A). In The Politics of Scripture Series. Political Theology Network. April 16, 2023. Aihiokhai will also be a member of a research team of academics from select Catholic institutions in the United States: “Pedagogies for Protagonism: Teaching and Learning with the Catholic Church’s Global Synod on Participation, Communion, and Mission.” The research is funded by the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion. Duration of research: May 2023–June 2024. Hosting Institution: Loyola University in Chicago. Reseach Question:  How can synodality become a Catholic approach to civic and ecclesial engagement centered on student protagonism for an inclusive common good? This cohort will discern how synodality can shape our teaching and learning by exploring its meaning, articulating and testing correlative pedagogical practices, and sharing experiences and findings through our institutions and professional networks. Aihiokhai also published “Honoring Teresia Mbari Hinga, A Theologian Who Dared to Think” in the National Catholic Reporter. April 19, 2023.

Giannina Reyes-Giardiello, international languages & cultures, presented “The Curious Bestiary of Guadalupe Dueñas” at the 76th Annual Kentucky Foreign Language Conference. Lexington, Kentucky. April 2023. 

Ashley Hass, business administration, co-published “The Virtuous Cycle: Social Media Influencers’ Potential for Kindness Contagion,” in the Journal of Macromarketing, 43(2), 110-118. Co-author: Kelley Cours Anderson. Student co-author: Tiegan Beckworth. April 2023.  

Aziz Inan, engineering, published his article titled, “Happy 97th Birthday to Queen Elizabeth,” in IndiaWest Journal, April 21, 2023. 

Samuel Holloway, business administration, presented “Stay Small, Stay Beautiful, Be Profitable. Invited Lecture at Craft Beverage Industry Group (C-BIG).” Portland, Oregon. April 27, 2023. 

Laura Dyer, biology, published “The Developmental Origins of Mythology: A Pandemic-Inspired Innovative Developmental Biology Laboratory Exercise.” CourseSource 10. April 2023. 

Maureen Briare, school of nursing & health innovations, published her composition “To the Ends of the Earth.” Published by GIA Publications in March 2023. “To the Ends of the Earth” was inspired by the beautiful illumination of the earth and cosmos contained in The St. John’s Bible housed in our university library. The sacred music is composed for choir, organ, brass quintet, timpani, cymbal, woodwind trio, string quartet and 3 octaves of handbells. It is available here.

Best of Luck

With gratitude for her leadership and excitement for her future, please join the Office of International Education, Diversity, and Inclusion (OIEDI) in wishing Maraina Montgomery a fond farewell as she departs for Atlanta on Friday, March 24. Maraina has accepted the position of Director of International Education at Morehouse College, one of the premier, all-male, historically Black colleges in the United States. Maraina has left an indelible impact on Study Abroad at UP. She has streamlined the faculty-led course-embedded travel process, partnered with stakeholders across campus, and incorporated inclusive practices into every aspect of study abroad for students. Her “Global and Grateful” campaign has resonated with students and the UP community, and she conceived, coordinated, and curated the first Global and Grateful UP Community Photo Exhibition in the Buckley Gallery in the fall of 2022. This gallery included photographs from students, staff, and faculty members and was recently featured in Portland Magazine. Maraina also co-chaired CISGO, led a group of students to the Black Students Lead Conference in New Orleans (with Tshombé Brown), and co-facilitated the first meeting of UP Collegium and Holy Cross Pilgrimage alums. Although we’ll miss her greatly, we will be thrilled to follow her career, and see her thrive in her next role. Thank you Maraina!

Please feel free to wish Maraina farewell here.

Book Launch with Rachel Wheeler (Mar. 29)

Join Rachel Wheeler, UP Theology, for her two-book launch of Desert Daughters, Desert Sons: Rethinking the Christian Desert Tradition and Ecospirituality: An Introduction. March 29, 4:30 p.m. at the UP Bookstore. Free and open to all. Masks required. Info: up.edu/garaventa or 503.943.7702. Sponsored by the Garaventa Center. 

Butine Development Faculty Fund Fall 2021 Award Winners

On behalf of the committee on Teaching and Scholarship (TAS), committee chair Jennette Lovejoy is excited to announce the Butine Development Faculty Fund Fall 2021 Award winners.

Congratulations to all.

  • Marjorie Attis-Josias “The Experiences of Undergraduate BIPOC Nursing Students with Faculty Advisement,” $3,000
  • Lauren Berger “Racial Identity & Participation in Social Movements,” $3,151
  • Brandy Daniels “UCR Queer and Trans Studies in Religion (QTSR) Conference IV, February 18 – 20, 2022, Riverside, CA,” $830
  • Brandy Daniels “Annual Meeting of the Society of Christian Ethics (SCE), Costa Mesa, CA, January 6 – 9, 2022,” $1,170
  • Carol Dempsey “Society of Biblical Literature, San Antonio, TX, Nov. 19 – 23, 2021,” $741
  • Ruth Dittrich “Assessing household mitigation measures to wildfire smoke during the wildfire smoke period in September 2020, Oregon,” $1,100
  • Laurie Dizney “Improving quantification of immune function in wildlife,” $4,983.68
  • Layla Garrigues “The Experiences of Undergraduate BIPOC Nursing Students with Faculty Advisement,” $3,000
  • Lara-Zuzan Golesorkhi “Integration and Anti-Discrimination at Crossroads: Muslim Refugee Women in the German Labor Market,” $3,000
  • Anita Gooding “Qualitative Study on Race and BIPOC Social Worker Use of Self,” $3,000
  • Nicole Hanig “Singing for Lung Health,” $3,700
  • Rebekah Hanson “Music by Women Composers,” $1,300
  • Cara Hersh “New Chaucer Society Congress, Durham England, July 11 – 14 2022,” $2,000
  • Randy Hetherington “American Educational Research Association 2018 Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, April 22 – 25, 2022,” $2,000
  • Angela Hoffman “Funding for research supplies and data analysis by nine research students for fall 2021 – spring and summer 2022,” $3,781
  • Christina Ivler “Vertical Flight Society Annual Forum, Fort Worth, TX May 10 – 12, 2022,” $2,000
  • Ryan Kenton “Metagenomic analysis of pathogenicVibrioand harmful algae in Tillamook Bay,” $5,000
  • Susan McDaniel “Music By Women Composers,” $3,500
  • September Nelson “Improving LGBTAI+ inclusion in a School of Nursing,” $2,145
  • Neil Oculi “Geospatial Modules for Coastal Vulnerability and Watershed Vulnerability Index for Saint Lucia to better Understand the Impacts of Climate Change,” $5,000
  • Daniel Osborne “Using computational chemistry to increase student research engagement at a multidisciplinary scientific interface,” $5,000
  • Tara Prestholdt “Life is Hard: quantifying the correlations between biodiversity and geology on the Oregon Coast,” $4,724
  • Amber Vermeesch “Feasibility Study on the Effects of Nature-Based Intervention on Undergraduate Nursing Students’ and Recently Graduated Registered Nurses’ Stress,” $5,000

New to The Bluff: Carolina Cortes, Administrative Assistant for Office of International Education, Diversity, and Inclusion

Please join us in welcoming Carolina Cortes (she/her/ella) back to The Bluff. Carolina is the new Administrative Assistant for the Office of International Education, Diversity, and Inclusion. Prior to this, Carolina graduated from the University of Portland in Spring 2021. During her time at UP, Carolina was a psychology major and an active member of the UP community. She earned the Student Leader of the Year Award from ASUP in 2021. Carolina is excited to continue working with the UP community. Outside of work, Carolina enjoys spending time with loved ones and reading. We are thrilled to have her as part of the OIEDI team.

Opportunities for reflection, gratitude, and reconnection

Pilots Together Again
Wednesday, August 4, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Bauccio Commons Patio and The Bluff

This gathering for all UP staff and faculty will offer us the chance to see colleagues in-person for the first time in eighteen months, give thanks for the many ways in which our employee family has sustained UP during a challenging time, and have a bit of fun together. We will enjoy food, soft drinks, beer and wine, raffle prizes, lawn games, and much more. All staff and faculty are invited to attend, including those who might not have returned to campus by August 4.

Please also mark your calendars for our:

Prayer Service for the UP Community
Wednesday, August 4, from 2:40 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Chapel of Christ the Teacher

This Service, taking place just before Pilots Together Again, will provide us with the opportunity to reflect on the challenges of the pandemic and come together as a community bound by a mission to serve students. It will feature prayers from several faith traditions, including our University’s Catholic tradition. All staff and faculty are warmly invited to attend.

Technology Checklist: Before Returning to Campus

As we return to campus on August 2, Information Services expects faculty and staff to experience minor technical issues. Following the checklist in the article below will streamline your return and ensure Information Services can serve the community in a timely manner. We expect delays in response times the first week back to campus and recommend you call the Help Desk ahead of time. If any of the items in the article concern you, please set up a return appointment to have your equipment installed and tested. We will have extra staff available August 2 and 3 between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. to address any emergencies. Here is what you can do prior to returning to campus.

Please note the Help Desk moved to Buckley Center 106, and there is limited space for walk-in help. To stay up to date on the latest information regarding support and return to work plans please click here.