Jeff Kerssen-Griep, Communication & Media, led a workshop for 50 Clackamas County Dental Society (CCDS) dentists. Titled “Building your Cross-Barriers Communication Repertoire,” it offered challenges, research revelations, and key techniques to enhance interpersonal cross-cultural competency in their professional work. March 2025.
David Fuentes, Nursing & Health Innovations, was reappointed as Chief of Staff for the Team-Based Learning Collaborative, a non-profit, volunteer supported organization, through May 2026.
Dave Houglum, Director of Leadership and Leadership Professor of Practice, Franz Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, delivered an invited presentation titled “Leading with Personality: Exploring the DiSC Assessment for Making a Difference in Athletics and Life.” The session engaged more than 50 student-athletes from across University of Portland athletic programs in exploring how their DiSC assessment results can be used to strengthen self-awareness, enhance communication, build stronger relationships, and lead with purpose both on and off the field. Houglum also co-facilitated two invited in-person sessions with David Fuentes, Nursing & Health Innovations, for the University of Portland Women’s Volleyball program. “Connecting and Communicating with DiSC: Building Trust, Collaboration, and Team Buy-In,” supported student-athletes in deepening their understanding of their DiSC assessment results and applying them to strengthen relationships, build trust, enhance collaboration, foster buy-in, and navigate tension more effectively as a unified team. They facilitated a follow-up session with the coaching staff focused on leveraging DiSC to improve communication, strengthen team dynamics, and navigate leadership challenges in support of the program’s culture and success. March 31-April 2, 2025.