Day of Common Learning 2013: Helping Youth Flourish

Dr. Thomas Maridada, II joined us at our annual Day of Common Learning to deliver the keynote address, “Transforming Your Youth – Transforming Our Nation: Partnering In Service to Invest In the Lives of Our Nation’s Youth.” His address served as the touchstone for the day’s events, lectures, and seminars as we explored this year’s theme, “Helping Youth Flourish: Partnering With Families, Public Institutions, and Private Organizations to Develop the Talents, Strengths, and Potential of Youth.”

Dr. Maridada is the Children’s Defense Fund’s Director of National Education Policy, Practice and Strategic Initiatives. Prior to joining CDF, Dr. Maridada served as superintendent of several urban school districts in Michigan, where he was named “Michigan Superintendent of the Year” by the National Association of School Administrators. He has acted as a “school turn-around specialist” for some of the most challenging schools and districts in the country.

Watch and listen to his address here.

Called to Resurrection: 1 Corinthians 15

We were saddened to hear of the passing of former professor of biology Cindy Fitch last week. She was loved and appreciated during her time at SPU, particularly by her students in the Pre-Professional Health Sciences Program, a program she led with an uncommon care and dedication.

Her 2012 Easter Chapel address was appropriately on resurrection. In it, she reflected on her journey to faith, the many seasons of growth and change as a Christian, and the beauty and meaning she found in the Apostle’s Creed, a creed based on 1 Corinthians 15.

Perhaps you’ll join me in watching her Chapel address and, at the end, recite that creed along with Cindy, those gathered to hear her that day, and indeed, countless Christians throughout the ages—many of whom have, like Cindy, passed on to their eternal rest—that we believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

Changing What We Tax: Prospects for a Free-Enterprise Solution to Energy Security and Climate Change

If you listened to the most recent episode of This American Life, you heard former US Representative Bob Inglis (R) lay out a conservative solution to climate change and energy security. Back in November, he joined Todd Myers, Director of the Center for the Environment’s Washington Policy Center, and Mike Wallace, Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Washington, for a panel discussion sponsored by SPU’s Department of Political Science. Watch their talk here.

Walter Bruggemann: “The Alternative World of the Psalms”

On March 21, 2013, Walter Brueggemann, one of the world’s foremost Old Testament scholars, was at SPU. Listen to his lecture, “The Alternative World of the Psalms”. Presented by the Center for Biblical and Theological Education and the School of Theology in conjunction with the Wesleyan Theological Society and the Society for Pentecostal Studies.

2013 Homecoming Luncheon: Margo Engberg

Did you miss Homecoming this year? Want to relive some of the best moments? We’ve got the Luncheon right here. Alumna of the Year Margo Engberg (class of 1989) talks about founding and running her successful gourmet cupcake boutique, PinkaBella Cupcakes. Also honored are this year’s Medallion Award Winners, John Erma (class of 1975) and Sheryl Erickson Erma (class of 1976), and Gloria Biggar Wall (class of 1979) and Larry Wall (class of 1976).

2013 Marston Lecture: “Reading the Persian Empire”

In Dr. Owen Ewald’s 2013 C. May Marston Lecture In Classics, “Reading the Persian Empire”, Persian realities and representations in ancient and modern literature are explored. Although Persia was one of the largest empires in human history before its conquest by Alexander the Great, it remains an enigma. Since few Persian documents have survived, we see Persia mostly through the eyes of others, especially its Greek subjects. Modern novels such as Stephen Pressfield’s Gates of Fire and Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis have also taken up the challenge of depicting ancient Persia. Professor Ewald juxtaposes modern and classic literature to bring to life this neglected classical civilization.

2011 Palmer Lecture

This weekend at SPU is the Racial Reconciliation and the Church conference. Whether or not you are able to attend, check out this lecture from the 2011 Palmer series on race, theology and the church. The Alfred S. Palmer Lecture annual event at SPU seeks to bring the best minds and hearts in Wesleyan Theology and Biblical studies to campus to discuss the Christian faith from a Wesleyan perspective. The lectureship is held in the honor of Alfred Palmer, a minister and ministry leader in Western Washington for more than 50 years. 

Advanced Grammar (ENG 3180)

This basic grammar course taught by English Professor Luke Reinsma brings insights from both traditional and generative-transformational approaches to explain how language works. Watch as Dr. Reinsma introduces students to parts of speech, phrases and clauses, as well as to grammatical and mechanical rules for generating standard American English.

Biochemistry (BIO/CHM 4362) – Winter 2013

Associate Professor of Biochemistry Ben McFarland continues his study of the chemical properties of biological compounds (carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids), metabolism (biochemical energetics, enzymes, electron transportation, and oxidative phosphorylation), and the integration of metabolism (biochemical genetics, metabolic regulation) in his series of Winter Quarter 2013 lectures.

Lectio: Guided Bible Readings – Gospel of Luke

Join Mark Abbott, Pastor Emeritus at First Free Methodist Church, as he leads listeners on a journey through the Gospel of Luke during Winter Quarter 2013.

Lectio: Guided Bible Readings are sponsored by The Center for Biblical and Theological Education.