Whitworth English alumnus publishes first major novel

Whitworth alumnus Ned Hayes, ’90, will release his first major novel, Sinful Folk, in January 2014. Published by Campanile Books, the work of historical fiction, set in medieval England and based on actual events, features cover and interior illustrations by New York Times bestselling illustrator and author Nikki McClure.

Whitworth awarded $1 million from Lilly Endowment to fund Ekklesia Project, new Office of Church Engagement

Whitworth University has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to fund a new comprehensive church engagement initiative called The Ekklesia Project. The grant proposal, written by Dean of Spiritual Life Terry McGonigal, Professor of Theology Jerry Sittser, and President Beck A. Taylor, will fund current and new initiatives to better connect Whitworth to the needs of churches and congregations throughout the western U.S. The Ekklesia Project will be administered by the new Office of Church Engagement, and Terry McGonigal will transition from his current role as dean of spiritual life to lead the office as its first director. A search for a new dean of spiritual life will begin in January.

Writing class to host “This Whitworth Life,” a public storytelling event, Dec. 6

Nine people from various areas of the Whitworth community, including Professor of English Leonard Oakland, Custodian Casey Armstrong, and Trustee Ken Roberts, will read five-to-eight-minute stories about a defining moment in their lives during “This Whitworth Life,” a storytelling event hosted by the EL 347 Creative Nonfiction Writing class. Following each reading, a panel of faculty members will provide commentary.

Whitworth students seek to raise $250,000 for One Million Meals

The Associated Students of Whitworth University has teamed up with Generation Alive and the Spokane community to form the One Million Meals project, which aims to raise $250,000 by the first week of May in order to deliver one million meals to individuals who are “food insecure” in the Spokane community.

Whitworth Auxiliary approaches 100-year anniversary

Beginning in 1915 in the living rooms of members’ homes as the Women’s Board of Whitworth College, the Whitworth Auxiliary has functioned as a behind-the-scenes fund-raising organization for almost a century.

Whitworth Education Forum Nov. 21 to Feature Tribal Court Chief Judge Gloria Ochoa

Annual forum will also include a cultural presentation and four workshops

In honor of International Education Week Nov. 18-22, the Whitworth School of Education and Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute will sponsor an education forum on Thursday, Nov. 21, featuring Spokane Tribal Court Chief Judge Gloria Ochoa as the keynote speaker. Whitworth’s sixth annual forum will include Ochoa’s address, a cultural presentation, and four workshops.

Whitworth students invest in Spokane community through RISE mentorship program

The RISE (Reinforcing the Importance of Support in Education) tutoring and mentoring program was developed last year by Elise VanDam,’13, and Andrew Pearce, ’14, with the aid of Susan McDaniel, Whitworth interim student-leadership program assistant. This student-led program gives members of the Spokane and Whitworth communities opportunities to mentor and tutor students ranging from elementary to high-school levels. This semester, more than 90 Whitworth students have volunteered in Spokane’s public schools through RISE.

Whitworth choirs present 2013 Christmas Festival Concert, “Welcome, All Wonders”

The 2013 Whitworth University Christmas Festival Concert, “Welcome, All Wonders,” will take place in Seattle Dec. 7 & 8, and in Spokane Dec. 14 & 15. The concerts will feature more than 120 student-musicians, including members of the Whitworth Choir, the Whitworth Women’s Choir, the Whitworth Men’s Chorus and the Whitworth Chamber Singers, as well as student instrumentalists and narrators. For more information, please call (509) 777-3280.

The Institute of International Education has named Whitworth the No. 1 master’s-level university for study-abroad participation in the Pacific Northwest for the second year in a row. Whitworth moved up to No. 6 from No.10 in the nation-wide rankings among U.S. higher education institutions. Among the 595 members of Whitworth’s Class of 2013, 44 percent studied abroad.

Whitworth hosts award-winning filmmaker Jen Marlowe, Nov. 19

Social justice advocate, filmmaker, author and playwright Jen Marlowe will present “Reflections of Resistance” at Whitworth on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. in the Robinson Teaching Theatre in Weyerhaeuser Hall.

Whitworth Board of Trustees elects Phil Eaton and Travis Downs as newest members

Philip W. Eaton, Ph.D., ’65, president emeritus of Seattle Pacific University, and Travis E. Downs III, J.D., ’85, a California-based attorney, were elected to the Whitworth University Board of Trustees in April. Eaton and Downs will begin serving in their new roles in January 2014.

Whitworth senior selected as 2013 Amgen Scholar for summer research program

Whitworth senior Kristin Wucherer was selected as one of 255 U.S. students from a pool of 3,640 applicants nationwide to participate in the Amgen Scholars Program last summer at the University of California, Berkeley.

Vocational psychology specialist to present Nov. 11 lecture at Whitworth

Bryan Dik, a specialist in vocational psychology, will present a lecture, “Finding Your Way: Myths, Misconceptions and Strategies for Cultivating Your Calling,” at Whitworth University on Monday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. in the Robinson Teaching Theatre in Weyerhaeuser Hall.

Whitworth alumna publishes book reflecting on her journey through life and all 50 states

Whitworth alumna Allison (Spotts) Vesterfelt, ’05, recently published a book, Packing Light: Thoughts on Living Life with Less Baggage, through Moody Publishers.

Whitworth forensics team begins season with milestone win

After three days of intense competition, Whitworth’s forensics team brought home 43 awards, including three sweepstakes, from its first tournament of the season. The Steve Hunt Classic took place Oct. 11-13 at Lewis & Clark College, in Portland, Ore..

Whitworth President Emeritus Bill Robinson appointed interim president of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities

The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities has announced that Whitworth President Emeritus Bill Robinson will serve as interim president of the organization, stepping in for Edward O. Blews, Jr. Robinson’s new role was effective Oct. 22.

Whitworth hosts Daniel Taylor for Nov. 1 lecture on faith and skepticism

Prolific author and world traveler Daniel Taylor will present “Telling Stories to your Inner Atheist: Faith and Skepticism in a Postmodern World” at Whitworth on Friday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. in the Robinson Teaching Theatre in Weyerhaeuser Hall. This event is free and open to the public.

In an economic environment that makes a college education even more essential than in the past, yet also more difficult to afford, Whitworth University was included for the seventh straight year on Kiplinger's annual ranking of the 100 best values among private universities in the United States. The university joins some of the most elite schools in the country in the magazine's 2013-14 rankings. Whitworth is one of the smallest universities to appear on the list, yet it is the second-highest-ranked school in the Pacific Northwest and ranks ahead of all but a handful of other private universities on the West Coast.

Whitworth M.A. in Theology alumnus serves in Malawi, Africa

Tyler Holm, a 2011 graduate of the Whitworth M.A. in Theology Program, and his wife, Rochelle, have lived in Malawi, on the southeast coast of Africa, since 2012. As missionaries, they are serving a long-term commission sponsored by Presbyterian World Mission.

“Settling in Malawi truly felt as if we were coming home to the place which we were made for,” Tyler says. “As we have worked more and more, that sense of purpose only deepens.”

Every year Whitworth welcomes a new class of freshman students from a variety of backgrounds into its community. This year, one of these students is Carys Parker, who has lived her entire life at sea.

Grammy-winning saxophonist Chris Potter to perform with Whitworth Jazz Ensemble Nov. 2

World-renowned Grammy-winning saxophonist Chris Potter and the award-winning Whitworth Jazz Ensemble will perform in Whitworth’s 25th annual jazz concert on Saturday, Nov. 2, 8 p.m. at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, in downtown Spokane.

Whitworth professor’s new anthology to benefit crisis nursery

After two decades of collecting quotations both comical and profound, Gordon Jackson, a professor of communication studies at Whitworth, has published his seventh anthology of quotations, You’ve Made Your Bed, Now Go Bounce On It: 800 Quotations about Children, Their Parents and Others Who Care for Them.

Whitworth Lindaman Chair to deliver lecture on “Civil Rights for the Gay Community and Religious Freedom"

>> Listen to Podcast

Whitworth Political Science Professor Julia Stronks will present her third Lindaman Chair lecture, “Civil Rights for the Gay Community and Religious Freedom:  Avoiding a Constitutional Clash," on Thursday, Oct. 17, at Whitworth University. Stronks is a prolific author and thinker who has published numerous articles and books in her disciplines, including the forthcoming So You Want to Be a Christian Lawyer? She will give her lecture at 7 p.m. in Whitworth’s Robinson Teaching Theatre in Weyerhaeuser Hall. Admission is free. For more information, please call (509) 777-3834.

Today, in a surprise announcement in Whitworth University’s Robinson Teaching Theatre, university trustee Scott Chandler, ’84, pledged to fund a new endowed professorship to be named in honor of his wife, Sue, ’85.

Whitworth Orchestra to perform with Coeur d’Alene Symphony Oct. 11, 12

The Whitworth Symphony Orchestra will perform with the Coeur d’Alene Symphony on Friday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m. in the Worship Theater of the Salvation Army Kroc Center, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Ticket are $8 for students with ID; $20 for adults and $15 for seniors. To purchase tickets, click here.

Gerald Gemmill, ’85, selected as Whitworth's next Vice President for Finance and Administration

Whitworth President Beck A. Taylor has selected Gerald (Gerry) L. Gemmill, ’85, to be Whitworth’s next vice president for finance and administration, replacing Brian Benzel, who will retire in December. Gemmill will begin serving in his new role Nov. 1, with Benzel serving as special assistant to the president until Dec. 31.

Thom Caraway, a senior lecturer in the Whitworth English Department, has been named Spokane’s first poet laureate. An award-winning poet and longtime resident of Spokane, Caraway will join the Spokane Arts Commission in promoting and supporting Spokane’s vibrant literary community and expressing the spirit of the city outside of Eastern Washington.

Alumnus highlights close ties between Whitworth and Princeton

Whitworth alumna Erin Raska, ’01, was recently elected as a member of the Princeton Theological Seminary (PTS) Board of Trustees.

“I look forward to learning from other board members who represent diverse vocations and offer excellent leadership and vision,” says Raska. “Using the gifts and experiences God has given me, I am excited to be a part of conversations that will help shape and guide PTS into a new phase of life, ministry, education and community.”

Whitworth to host film and lecture series featuring rare Chinese films

The Whitworth History Department will present “China in Transition,” a four-part film and lecture series starting Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 6:30 p.m. in Room 111 in Weyerhaeuser Hall. Each film viewing is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Julie Shanholtzer at (509) 777-4963 or jshanholtzer@whitworth.edu.

Philosophy professor to present at Whitworth as part of annual conference

Whitworth University will host Katherin Rogers as a featured guest in the Faith, Film and Philosophy Lecture Series. Rogers will present on “Bedazzled, The Devil and Freedom” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, in the Robinson Teaching Theatre in Weyerhaeuser Hall.

Acclaimed pianist Mark Valenti will hold a master class and perform a concert at Whitworth University this week. The master class will take place Oct. 4 at 3:30 p.m. in the Music Building Recital Hall, and Valenti’s piano recital will be held Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. in the Music Building Recital Hall. Both events are free to attend and open to the public.

Whitworth to open Marriage and Family Therapy Wellness Center

An opening ceremony will take place for Whitworth’s new Marriage and Family Therapy Wellness Center on Oct. 9 at 4 p.m. Members of the Whitworth and Spokane communities are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served.

Nabeel Jabbour to speak on “The Muslims’ Worldview” Oct. 3 at Whitworth

Nabeel Jabbour, Ph.D., a professor of Islamic studies, will present a lecture, “The Muslims’ Worldview,” at Whitworth University on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the Robinson Teaching Theatre, Weyerhaeuser Hall. For further information, please contact Raja S. Tanas at 509.777.4516 or rtanas@whitworth.edu.

In his lecture, Jabbour will discuss the various types of Muslims, the skeleton of Islamic history, and influential leaders of Islamic fundamentalism.

Whitworth Theatre to stage “The Wakefield Mysteries”

The fall Whitworth Theatre production will feature “The Wakefield Mysteries.” Performances will take place Oct. 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. in Cowles Auditorium at Whitworth University. Admission is $8, and $6 for students and senior citizens (age 62+). Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.whitworth.edu/theatretickets. For more information, please call (509) 777-3707.

Whitworth theology professor publishes two-volume work on Christian revival

After seven years of research, textual analysis and writing, Whitworth Professor of Theology Keith Beebe’s two-volume book, The McCulloch Examinations of the Cambuslang Revival (1742): Conversion Narratives from the Scottish Evangelical Awakening - A Critical Edition, has been published jointly by the Scottish History Society and Boydell & Brewer Publishers.

Whitworth students lead new lecture series

Sam Director, '15

For 57 years, Whitworth has hosted the Great Decisions Lecture Series, and the Student Symposium Lecture Series will follow the Great Decisions format with one major difference: Students will be conducting the lectures.

Whitworth enters into new partnerships with Presbyterian church

Stated Clerk for the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest Larry Veith
and President Taylor

Last week, Whitworth President Beck A. Taylor strengthened Whitworth’s relationship with the Presbyterian church by entering into formal partnerships with the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities, the North Puget Sound Presbytery, and the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest. All three entities are a part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Whitworth’s Costa Rica Center presents a rare and unique opportunity for liberal arts students studying in the Pacific Northwest. This fall, Professor of History Rafaela Acevedo-Field and her husband Kenneth Field, an adjunct professor, will be teaching at “Whitworth South” to help students immerse themselves in Latin American culture.

Whitworth featured by Colleges of Distinction as a leader in education excellence

For the fifth time in six years, Whitworth University has been named a top school in the country on CollegesofDistinction.com, an online guide that takes a fresh look at colleges and universities by appealing to students’ unique and varied interests. Based on the opinions of guidance counselors, educators, and admissions professionals, Colleges of Distinction honors colleges excelling in key areas of educational quality.

Activist Rafia Zakaria to present lecture at Whitworth on September 23

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Lawyer, writer and women’s rights advocate Rafia Zakaria will present a lecture, “Drones and Terrorism: The Ultimate Miscalculation,” on Monday, September 23, at 7 p.m. in the Robinson Teaching Theatre in Weyerhaeuser Hall at Whitworth University. For more information, please call (509) 777-4937.

Whitworth alum and civil rights attorney to give Constitution Day lecture on the Supreme Court

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The Whitworth University 2013 Constitution Day Lecture will feature Breean Beggs, ’85, who will present a lecture, “Guns, Marriage and Corporations: How the Supreme Court Is Approaching Today’s Critical Constitutional Issues.” The lecture will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in the Robinson Teaching Theatre in Weyerhaeuser Hall at Whitworth University. Admission is free. For more information, please call (509) 777-4739.

Leading trust scholar to lecture at Whitworth on Sept. 12

Professor Roger C. Mayer will present his lecture “Will They Trust You?” Thursday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. in the Robinson Teaching Theatre in Weyerhaeuser Hall at Whitworth. For more information, call 509.777.4585.

Whitworth holds No. 4 spot in “U.S. News” rankings of best values in the West

Whitworth listed in top 10 of annual rankings of best regional universities for 14th year in a row

Whitworth University held the No. 4 spot in U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings of the best regional university values in the West. For the 14th consecutive year, Whitworth also maintained its position as one of the top 10 best regional universities in the West.

Whitworth’s food service general manager receives prestigious Spirit of Service award

Jim O’Brien, Sodexo’s general manager at Whitworth University, is one of nine people in North America to earn a Gold Award in the Service Spirit category of the annual Spirit of Sodexo Awards Program. Spirit of Sodexo is a corporate awards program that honors a small group of individuals and teams within the company that demonstrate outstanding performance in support of Sodexo’s mission, values, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Whitworth named Washington Monthly’s No. 1 master’s-level university in Pacific Northwest

Whitworth ranks No. 10 among 684 institutions nationwide

For the second consecutive year, Whitworth has been named Washington Monthly’s highest-ranking master’s-level university in the Pacific Northwest. Nationwide, Whitworth ranks No. 10 among 684 colleges and universities in the country. Washington Monthly magazine was founded in 1969 and is based in Washington, D.C.

Whitworth awarded $162,000 from National Science Foundation for STEM program development

Whitworth University has been awarded a Robert Noyce Capacity Building grant from the National Science Foundation. This two-year, $162,000 grant will be used to develop a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) track in the Master in Teaching and Evening Teacher Certification programs for graduates with STEM degrees who want to teach. The grant will also be used to develop internships for undergraduates who wish to teach science in non-classroom environments at partner organizations such as Mobius, Girl Scouts of the Inland Northwest, and Spokane-area high schools and middle schools.

Whitworth class will lead workshop on social media practices for caregivers dealing with major health issues

Assistant Professor Erica Salkin

“Compassion 2.0” is the title of an upcoming student-led workshop which aims to show attendees how digital and social media tools can be used to help when a friend or family is experiencing a challenging health issue.

Hundreds of Whitworth students, staff and faculty to team with Spokane nonprofits for Sept. 17 Community Building Day

Event to include an address by President Beck Taylor at Holmes Elementary and a free workshop for Spokane families

On Tuesday, September 17, approximately 1,000 Whitworth students, faculty and staff, including Whitworth President Beck A. Taylor and his wife, Julie, will lend a hand to nonprofit organizations across Spokane in efforts to help strengthen the community.

Whitworth once again named one of Princeton Review’s best universities in the West

For the fifth consecutive year, Whitworth University has been designated one of the best colleges and universities in the West in a recent college guide published by The Princeton Review. The education-services company ranked Whitworth among 124 institutions it recommends in the "Best in the West" section of its website feature, “2014 Best Colleges: Region by Region,” which was posted this month at http://www.princetonreview.com/best-regional-colleges.aspx.

Whitworth professor of mathematics and computer science co-authors AP edition of popular calculus textbook

Dr. Lyle Cochran

Lyle Cochran, professor of mathematics and computer science at Whitworth, is hard at work on a high-school AP calculus book, as well as a second edition of his first college calculus book, which was published in January 2010 by Pearson. Both editions are set to come out this fall. Additionally, an interactive e-textbook will be released in conjunction with the print edition. Visit Pearson's website to learn more about the series.

Two new members join the Whitworth Board of Trustees

Jeremiah Case, '01, CPA

Jeremiah Case, ’01, a CPA at Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Randall Clark, Ph.D., retired president and CEO of Border Foods, were elected to the Whitworth University Board of Trustees this summer. Both Case and Clark will attend their first board meeting this October.