Scott Peel

21 new faculty join UP in 2014

August 17, 2014

The University of Portland is pleased to welcome 21 new faculty members this fall. New faculty will participate in a two-day orientation program August 18 and 19 to learn more about the University’s educational philosophy and organizational culture and learn about services and support systems available to ensure faculty and student success. Each new faculty member has been assigned a mentor with whom they will meet regularly during their first year at UP. New faculty for 2014-2015 include:

Aarti Arora – Communication Studies
Christina Astorga – Theology
Michelle Collazo – Nursing
Teri Grimmer – Business
Sean Kavanaugh – Athletics
Alison Knoedler – Athletics
Matthias Kullowatz – Mathematics
Gregory May – Psychological Sciences
Kala Mayer – Nursing
Jen McDaneld – English
Jeffrey Meiser – Political Science
Susan Murray – Biology
Col. Scott Peel – AFROTC
Nicole Ralston – Education
Sruthi Rothenfluch – Philosophy
Jane Scott – Library
Amber Vermeesch – Nursing
Cpt. Brice Virell – AFROTC
Shazib Vijlee – Engineering
Valerie Walters – Chemistry
Wilfred Wu – Business

An American Dream—an opera by librettist/Portland Magazine editor, Jessica Murphy Moo, and composer Jack Perla—was produced by OperaLab Japan in Tokyo (November 2024) and Manhattan School of Music (December 2024).

Larry Larsen, Performing and Fine Arts, designed the scenery for this year’s production of Nordic Fire for the Portland Revels that is playing at the Alberta Abbey from December 13 through December 22. He also is designing the lighting for Lakewood Theatre Company’s production of The Maltese Falcon based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett, which plays at the Lakewood Center in Lake Oswego from January 3 through February 9.

Lizhong Hao, Business, presented “The Impact of Auditor and Client Bargaining Power on Audit Pricing: A Two-Tier Stochastic Frontier Approach.” The 2024 Corporate Behavior and New Development of Financial Markets International Conference. Chongqing, China. November, 2024.

Simon Aihiokhai, Theology, was a discussant and participant at the International Congress on the Future of Theology ‘Legacy and Envisioning.’ Organized by the Dicastery for Culture and Education. Vatican City. December 9–10, 2024. Aihiokhai was also a discussant and participant at the General Assembly of the International Network of Societies for Catholic Theology (INSeCT). Rome, Italy. December 8 – 13, 2024.

Dave Houglum, Director of Leadership Studies and Leadership Professor of Practice, Franz Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, completed the training requirements to be certified in the DiSC assessment on December 19, 2024. The DiSC assessment is a powerful tool that helps individuals and teams improve communication, collaboration, and workplace dynamics by providing insights into behavioral and communication styles. If you’d like to explore using the DiSC assessment for your individual or team’s leadership development, please contact Dave Houglum.