ºÚÁÏÍø

This issue: Summer 2021

News, by Graduating Year

Alumni Connections

1960-69

Pete McHugh (G67), after being appointed in 2019 to fill a vacancy on the Scappoose (Oregon) City Council, in November won reelection for a four-year position on the six-member council guiding the city of 7,000. A community resident for 40 years, he spent 20 years in administrative roles with the Scappoose School District, retiring in 1997.

Joey Soon (G69) retired in 2012 after nearly 10 years as associate director of dining services with California State University in Chico, but continues consulting for school district lunch programs with his J Soon Consulting firm, based in Orland, California.

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1970-79

Ken Johnson (G72) in April 2020 published his third book, Signs of Life: God’s Invitation to a Better, Stronger and Longer Life. Long involved in the Foursquare Church, he stepped down from his position at Westside Church in Bend, Oregon, after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013. Now he continues to speak, mentor church leaders and write. He received ºÚÁÏÍø’s 2005 Christian Service Award.

Frank Kyte (G75) and Karol (Fenton-Nelson) Kyte (n86), after 30 years out of state, are now back in Oregon, living in Salem, following his retirement from a career in athletic training. He spent 21 years in professional baseball, 10 of those with the Kansas City Royals. In 1977, he became ºÚÁÏÍø’s first full-time trainer.

Joy (Treharne) Thomas (G75), although retired, continues to be active with the Haiti Christian Development Fund, which she and her husband started in 1982 for evangelism, education, development and leadership in rural communities. They live in Fond-des-Blancs, Haiti. Their work is told in his book, At Home with the Poor.

Steve Fellows (G76) is still in Santa Barbara, California, but retired Dec. 31, leaving his position as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Cottage Health after 15 years. He was named ºÚÁÏÍø’s outstanding alumnus in 2004 and previously served on the university’s board of trustees.

Tim Weaver (G76) in November was reelected to the Dundee (Oregon) City Council. He is serving his third termsince he was first elected in 2012 to guide the city of 3,200. Weaver retired in 2011 after 33 years with the Newberg-Dundee Police Department and is now owner of Chehalem Safe Drive, a traffic safety and drug abuse education program with diversion courses for violators. It also offers drug recognition and education programs for professionals and others.

Debbie (Le Shana) Rickey (G76), daughter of former ºÚÁÏÍø President David Le Shana (1969-82), cited his leadership style several times in her retirement in September after 10 years at Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, the last nine as associate dean of the College of Education. She was recognized for leading the university’s accreditation process with the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation.

Steven Johnson (G76) is a self-employed voice-over artist in Arlington, Texas, starting in 2018 after three years as associate pastor at New Hope Church in Abilene, Texas. He is the author of Riverfront Property: Connecting at the River of Life.

Diane (Offet) Brown (G77, PS81) is in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where she started in 2015 as the lead children’s pastor at Harvest Hills Alliance Church, a congregation of about 200.

Dave LeRud (G77, MDiv80) has transitioned in his roles at the Oregon City, Oregon, Evangelical Church where he has served since 1987. After 33 years as worship pastor, he is now pastor to seniors, starting last September.

Nancy (Svendson) Moon (G78) in October began as site coordinator at Community in Schools-Mid America, working with Logan Avenue Elementary School in Emporia, Kansas. She moved in 2019 to Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, after 30 years of public school teaching and administration in Oregon and Alaska.

Esther Hopper (G79), after 23 years teaching in the Ontario-Montclair School District in Southern California, retired at the end of the 2019-20 school year and now is living in Dayton, Oregon.

Steve Morse (G79) retired in 2019 after 40 years in public education, including 27 years with the Bellingham (Washington) School District, where he was principal of Roosevelt Elementary School. He has published a book about his career: Sixty Years in the Schoolhouse: Life After the Bell. He now lives in Blaine, Washington.

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1980-89

Connie Pittman (G81, PS84) retired in 2019 from Spokane Falls Community College, where she worked in the student achievement office. Beginning in October, she now is involved with projects at Spokane First Free Methodist Church. She also creates and leads Breathe GetAway retreats throughout the Northwest under her ministry Sisters of Scholastica, which combines travel, history, geology and faith.

Wade Witherspoon (G82, EdD07) is back on campus in the new position of employer relations manager, starting in April. He is responsible for creating awareness in corporate and community organizations about the benefits of hiring ºÚÁÏÍø students and graduates. The former ºÚÁÏÍø baseball coach (1983-85) in November was reelected as mayor of Lafayette, Oregon, where he has served four years as a member of the city council, two years as president.

Mark Ocker (G83), retired assistant professor emeritus in professional studies at ºÚÁÏÍø, is now living in Vernonia, Oregon, where he is pursuing two writing projects: completing an autobiography and creating an update on the Friends Church in Alaska. It is to be a sequel to Tomorrow Is Growing Old: Quakers in Alaska, authored by Arthur O. Roberts (G44), longtime ºÚÁÏÍø religion professor and academic dean.

Bill Post (n83) in November easily won reelection to the Oregon House of Representatives, keeping the District 25 position he has held since 2015. Now in his fourth term representing portions of Marion and Yamhill counties, he continues as a radio talk show host in Salem, Oregon.

Dan Cammack (G84) is the first in the new position of field director of Evangelical Friends Mission, where he focuses on member care for missionaries and development of international fields and field support teams. He has been EFM executive director for eight years, but with growth there will now be three leadership positions. He also is pastor of the Tigard (Oregon) Friends Church, now in his 19th year.

Gary Dietz (MDiv85) is in Greenwood, Texas, working as part of a 23-member collaborative practice, Fort Worth Counseling and Interventions. He has been a licensed counselor since 2017 after retiring from the Fort Worth Police Department after 25 years.

Matthew Simonis (G85) lives in Camano Island, Washington, while having positions in Arlington, Washington, where he is pastor of Bryant Community Church, and in Langley, British Columbia, where he is a part-time professor at Trinity Western University, serving as program coordinator for the Project Management Professional Program. In March 2020, he received a doctorate in ministry leadership from Harvest Mission College in Greater Noida, India.

RozeLyn Beck (G86) is in her sixth year as chief relationship officer for Commemorative Air Force in Dallas, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and showing historical aircraft through its museum and airshows. She communicates with retired airmen and airwomen to tell their stories and leads the development/philanthropy and member services departments.

Sally Freeman (G86), since 1989 a national park ranger at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in Astoria, Oregon, plans to leave her position this year. In her 32 years she has been volunteer manager, historic weapons supervisor and tour group coordinator, along with administering visitor services’ daily park operations. She plans to spend more time volunteering with 4-H and Child Evangelism Fellowship work.

Doreen Dodgen-Magee (G87) is quoted and pictured in the April 26 Woman’s World magazine, a weekly with 1.6 million readers. In an article “Help Me Take a Tech Break!” it is suggested there is something revitalizing about doing nothing. She is an author, speaker and psychologist based in Lake Oswego, Oregon. In October her newest book, Restart: Designing a Healthy Post-Pandemic Life, will be released, offering tips and recommendations on how to manage anxiety, hesitance and over-excitement about reentering an interactive world.

Fritz Neumann (G87) is owner and one of two principals at Crossroads Insurance in Oregon City, Oregon. He started in 2016.

Colleen (Gallagher) Moist (G87) is entering her second year as human resources manager with Wilson Logistics, a trucking and transportation company in Portland.

Jerry Sather (MDiv88) in March made a change in his career as new interim pastor of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Palos Verdes Estates, California. This follows retirement from the U.S. Air Force in November after 25 years of active duty service and a total of 41 years of military service, the most recent assignment as a wing chaplain in Alconbury, England.

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1990-99

Gary Marks (ADP90), with 29 years of city administration experience, is now public works director in Dallas, Oregon. Through 2019 he was city manager for five cities in Oregon, Idaho and Montana, most recently in Lebanon, Oregon, where he served more than six years.

Mark Strong (PS91, DMin03) gained television coverage in August for his book Friendly Joe’s Guide to a Kinder Portland, which was featured on KGW-TV in light of nightly disruptions and riots in the city that left residents in turmoil. Although written prior (2018), it was recommended because of its 21 humorous tips and comical illustrations. Strong has been senior pastor of Life Change Christian Church in Portland since 1988.

Michele (Rayner) Elola (G91) is in her second year with Redwood Coast Regional Center in Lakeport, California, where she is a client service coordinator for the state agency that provides social services for people with developmental disabilities.

Gina (Withnell) Ochsner (G92) won the 2020 Kurt Vonnegut Prize in Short Fiction, awarded by North American Review, the oldest literary magazine in the United States. She also was second in the 2020 Grand Writers Flash Fiction category. In addition, she has been awarded a John L. Simon Guggenheim grant and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. She is the author of the short story collection The Necessary Grace to Fall, which received the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction. She teaches at Corban University in Salem, Oregon.

Philip Higgins (G92) was in the news in Oregon in September as he brokered the sale of Newberg’s Westrock paper mill to Commercial Development Company, Inc. The site is now being cleared for future redevelopment under a new riverfront master plan by the city of Newberg. Higgins is the principal with his Pacific Crest Real Estate Advisors in Newberg.

Shawna (Shankle) Wilcher (n92) lives in Beaverton, Oregon, while working two jobs. She is with Marketplace Chaplains as a remote chaplain working with contracted employers providing mental health care via a website and smartphone app. She also is helping provide spiritual care in Oregon prisons and jails through Celebrate Recovery Inside, serving as a liaison with the state of Oregon and the prison system.

Kevin Dougherty (G93) and Kim (Cain) Dougherty (G95) are in Woodway, Texas, both involved in teaching. He is associate professor of sociology at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he is part of a research team that received a $1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment for a five-year study: “Churches that THRIVE for Racial Justice.” She is a music teacher, in her seventh year at Castleman Creek Elementary School in Hewitt, Texas, and was named Teacher of the Year for 2021.

Christine (Deboy) Drazan (G93) continues as the top Republican in the Oregon House of Representatives. The incumbent caucus leader was returned to her Oregon House District 39 seat in November’s general election, reelected to the seat she won first in 2018. A resident of Oregon City, she represents much of the area in Clackamas County.

Jeff Kosmicki (G93) is interim police chief of the Newberg-Dundee Police Department, starting in April 2020, following the resignation of Brian Casey (ADP98) after 29 years with the department. Kosmicki is completing his 24th year with the department, including 23 years as captain.

Jenny (Davis) Duquette (G94) is on campus again as coordinator for the undergraduate teaching, administrative licensure, doctor of education and master of education and endorsement programs. She started last year after 23 years with Mt. Hood Community College in a variety of positions in technology, degree auditing and encoding, and testing services.

Robin (Horine) Henderson (MA94, PsyD96) has become a go-to mental health expert for Portland-area media during the last year. As chief executive for behavioral health for Providence Medical Group, she’s frequently seen in television interviews with reporters asking for her comments and advice on isolation and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been with Providence since 2016 after 14 years with the St. Charles Health System in Bend, Oregon.

Jennifer (Dawson) Lumley (G95) is living in Battle Ground, Washington, while in her seventh year with Ridgefield (Washington) Living Center, where she is a medical aide and healthcare associate at the senior assisted living facility.

Gary Fox (MBA95) is a financial manager at St. Joseph Providence Health & Services in Portland. He is in his 14th year in that role, responsible for supporting business lines of specialty pharmacy, home medical equipment, home health and hospice.

Elizabeth (Evon) Lee (G96) has been with the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation since graduation and is a registered nurse living in Bethel, Alaska. She now is director of human resources for the medical organization, which provides comprehensive health care for 50 rural southwest Alaska communities.

Diane (Marr) Longmire (G96) is director of outpatient services at Comprehensive Healthcare in Yakima, Washington, in her second year, promoted from adult and elder team leader, a position she held for nearly six years. The private nonprofit organization provides recovery services for mental illness and substance use disorders for youth and adults in six counties.

Heidi (Holdorf) Haberlock (G96, MAT01) is a third-grade teacher at Middleton Elementary School in Sherwood, Oregon, in her 20th year with the school district.

Ben Spotts (G96) in February became executive director of operations at Village Church in Beaverton, Oregon, after one year as senior director. The Baptist-based multicultural church offers sermons in English, Spanish, Korean and Mandarin.

Todd Dallof (G96) received local attention from Newberg’s Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce in October when he was cited for volunteering to help fight three of Oregon’s severe forest fires in September. A volunteer firefighter with the city of Dundee, he received permission from his employer, Comcast, to help for two weeks. He is completing 24 years with the cable company, the last 11 years as a network engineer.

Nathanael White (G97) and Angela (Dean) White (G98) are living in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he has retired from his position as a space and missile officer in the United States Air Force. He now is substitute teaching in all subjects at the middle and high school levels in Academy District 20 and has been coaching in the district for 11 years. She is in her ninth year with Mary Kay Cosmetics, working full time as an independent senior sales director.

Jimmi Sommer (G97) is now in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where in September she became management officer at the U.S. Department of State/U.S. Consulate General. She moved from The Hague, Netherlands, where she was supervisory general services officer with the State Department beginning in May of 2019. She was ºÚÁÏÍø’s 2007 Outstanding Recent Alumnus.

Jesse Cadd (G97) and Kerri (Kennison) Cadd (G98) are back in Newberg after 16 years, 12 years overseas. He now is a cloud support engineer at Amazon Web Services in Portland, starting in December. They moved from Yokosuka, Japan, where he was with CRSA, working in IT as a systems administrator on the U.S. Navy base there, and they were both involved in a church plant, Tokyo International Presbyterian Church in Ueno.

Tricia Gates Brown (G96, MA97) in September was ordained as a deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon and has been placed as a deacon at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Woodburn. She is now in Yamhill, Oregon, while a part-time editor at Portland State University, starting in January 2020.

Nathan Miller (G97) and Sarah (Yancey) Miller (G00) live in Newberg where they have a business, Thistillium Pottery and Things, selling her pottery (mostly Medieval European inspired), as well as sewing and textile items at markets and online. He also is employed as a sanding expert with A.R.E. Manufacturing, a machine components firm in Newberg.

Christopher Lehman (G98) is principal of Pomona Elementary School in Montrose, Colorado, in the position since 2018. He moved from Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary in Colorado Springs following 15 years in the classroom.

Charles Odimgbe (MBA98) is the first to fill a new position of chief operating officer with the Toledo (Ohio) Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA). He started in November after 10 years as CEO with the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority in Providence.

Shawna Hughes (G99) is now chief accounting officer with Magnite in Seattle, starting in June 2020 after her former firm, The Rubicon Project, merged with Telaria to become Magnite, creating the world’s largest sell-side advertising platform. She started with the company in 2015.

Kelly (Irish) Lemarr (G99) in November was elected judge of the circuit court, 20th District, Position 5 in Washington County, Oregon. She was named pro tem in June 2018. Earlier, she was managing attorney for the Hillsboro branch of the nonprofit St. Andrew Legal Clinic, starting in 2008, and began her legal career there from 2004 to 2006.

Shawna Rodrigues (n99) is owner/founder of Grit2G, started in September 2019 in Portland. It supports women, giving grace and gratitude to help them uncover what they truly want in life. She also is author of a novel, Beyond the Pear Blossoms, released in December by Notebook Publishing.

Summer (Dean) Valentine (G99) graduated in December with a master’s degree in professional counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and now is a mental health counselor with Life Encounter Counseling Services in Tigard, Oregon.

Dayna Kirk (ADP99, MBA02) in December was promoted to vice president of customer service and voluntary benefits at Standard Insurance Company in Portland. She started with the firm in 1990 and most recently was assistant vice president of voluntary benefits, in that position since 2013.

Tyler Johnson (G99) and Karen (Witty) Johnson (n02) are now in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where he is assistant professor of history at Sowela Technical Community College. Last year they survived two hurricanes – Laura in August and Delta in October. They evacuated to friends in Texas for several weeks during the first, returning when power was restored. They had to evacuate again for five days during Delta. Their house survived, but his office building was severely damaged, and most of his American history books were ruined. He volunteered with Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief and worked on 76 houses, cutting trees and branches, clearing debris and tarping roofs.

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2000-09

Jonathan Roberts (G00) is now campus pastor at New Life Church in Gladstone, Oregon, starting in June 2020 after 16 years as a social studies teacher at Portland Christian High School.

Ryan Dougherty (G00, MBA11), after 20 years in admissions and enrollment positions at ºÚÁÏÍø, most recently as vice president for enrollment and marketing, in August stepped down to help start a strategy and organization management company, TG Three, in Newberg.

Kelly Boeve (G00, MA04) is a licensed professional counselor with her own practice in Beaverton, Oregon, opened in 2018.

Leslie Sesser (G01) in September became a shareholder at Finney, Neill & Company, an accounting/auditing firm in Seattle where she has worked since 2011. She is also on the board of directors of the Washington Society of CPAs and has been leading a Young Life group in Shoreline, Washington, for 18 years.

Robin Carter (MBA01) in March started as vice president of marketing for San Diego-based Blue Sky eLearn, which provides learning platforms and virtual event services to clients.

Beth (McPherson) DuPriest (G01) is now professor of biology and division chair at Warner Pacific University in Portland after being on faculty since 2009. She also is an affiliated scientist with Oregon Health & Science University, from which she has a PhD in integrative biomedical sciences.

Eddie Hall III (ADP01) is now an adjunct professor teaching engineering ethics at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, where he also is education director with Prayer Assembly Church of God in Christ, directing 50-plus teachers who provide educational training and personal development management to area residents.

Julie (Eggiman) Evans (G01) received a master’s degree in project management from Georgetown University in May 2020 and now is back in West Linn, Oregon. She is project manager and estimator for James Frank Construction in Portland.

Elizabeth (Carlson) Comfort (G01, MBA04) is finance director for Clackamas County, Oregon, with 100 on her staff. She assumed the position in January 2020 after first being a consultant, then interim finance director.

Ramona Mangelsdorf (G01, MAT03) received attention in February when she was named an "Amazing Educator" by the Oregon Pamplin Media Group newspapers and highlighted in a special feature section. She was showcased for her nearly two decades of experience, including her current position as language arts teacher at Newberg High School for the last six years.

Susan Shortridge (ADP01) is in her 10th year at Portland State University, the last nine years as executive assistant to the dean of the graduate school of education.

Shannon (Vandehey) Buckmaster (G02) is the city of Newberg’s first economic health manager, named in August to support the economic recovery of the community. She left the position of CEO of the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce after serving in that role for two years.

Lindsey (Bennington) McDowell (G02) in March was named to the newly created position of public information and communications coordinator for the Baker County (Oregon) School District. Previously, she had been in nearby Union County working for its Center for Human Development.

Matt Cummings (G02) in December became a leadership coach with Building Champions, Inc., an executive coaching firm in Lake Oswego, Oregon, that helps managers and business professionals build their businesses and lives. He ended nearly 15 years with Huron Consulting Group, most recently as director of software engineering.

Brian Van Bergen (ADP02) will continue as Yamhill County (Oregon) clerk, reelected in November to the position he has held since January 2013. Earlier, he was account manager and digital storefront manager for the Lynx Group in Salem, Oregon.

Tim Revett (MAT03) is a missionary with United World Mission, serving at New Horizon School near Asuncion, Paraguay, where he teaches the English program and he and his wife also work in youth ministry and lead a home group. He also coordinates a national evangelism and missions ministry for neighborhoods and prisons in the country.

Stephanie (Holderby) Tyrer (ADP03) in early 2020 joined the Oregon Department of Education as a senior business operations and policy analyst. She works in Salem and lives in Dallas, Oregon.

Kristen (Damron) Baluyot (G03), who lives in Mead, Colorado, is social services director for The Salvation Army in Denver, in that position since 2015. She has guided extra efforts to respond to the impact of COVID-19 among the homeless in the area.

Rachel (Miller) Aichele (G03, MAT07) started last fall as a special education teacher at Jefferson Elementary School in the Mt. Vernon (Washington) School District.

Danielle (Becker) Ambrose (G04) is university registrar at California State University in Sacramento, in her fourth year after two years as registrar at Concordia University in Portland.

Phillip Towne (MDiv04) is now chair and professor of intercultural studies at Hope International University in Fullerton, California, where he started in 2012.

Stephen Keck (G04) in December was promoted to clinical director of the North Idaho Veterans Affairs Clinic in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Shawn Daley (MAT04) joined ºÚÁÏÍø in the fall as chief strategy and business development officer. He arrives from Concordia University in Portland, where he was executive vice president for business development and innovation for three years before overseeing closure operations in 2020. Previously, he was an education professor with Concordia since 2010.

Kevin Ganey (PsyD04) is owner and clinical psychologist at Ganey Counseling and Consultation in Newton, Pennsylvania. He established the practice in 2005.

Michael Seregow (G04) is the 2020 winner of the American Prize in Chamber Music Performance. He is half of the Eason-Seregow Duo that won the professional division. Seregow, a pianist, is assistant teaching professor of music at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. His current career includes teaching, performing, recording and being a clinician and adjudicator. The American Prize recognizes commercial and noncommercial recorded performances of classical music in the U.S.

Kyle Adams (G05) works in the U.S. Capitol, where he is a health and fitness specialist at the U.S. House of Representatives, in that role since 2012. He has been in the Washington, D.C., area since 2009, when he began a nearly three-year commitment as a ceremonial guard with the U.S. Navy.

Joann (Whittaker) Boswell (G05, MAT10) and Matt Boswell (G05, MDiv09) are in Camas, Washington, where she is a poet and he is a pastor. In June, she released Cosmic Pockets, a 306-page book of 88 poems and 142 color photographs. She also is owner/photographer of Joann Renee Photography. He has been pastor of the Camas Friends Church since 2015.

Amy (Endicott) Wolff (G05) released a book, Signs of Hope: How Small Acts of Love Can Change Your World, an intimate collection of stories from her personal life, as well as people impacted by the movement she started of posting yard signs with messages of hope and encouragement. She began with 20 yard signs and, in just 18 months, saw the movement spread to all 50 states and 27 countries. Her story was featured on an episode of ABC’s GMA3 this spring.

Jeff Sargent (G05) got to oversee what turned out to be a family-involved project when, as facilities director, he helped with creation of the new Nature Center at Twin Rocks Friends Camp and Conference Center in Rockaway, Oregon. It transformed the lower part of the Friendship Center into an outdoor education space. His wife, Emily (Sims) Sargent (G05), has had her dream become a reality in her role as outdoor education director for Twin Rocks.

Scott Hyde (G06), after a standout career in Bruin baseball, is now back in his hometown as deputy director with Josephine County Community Corrections in Grants Pass, Oregon, with the department since 2012. He is one term away from completing an MSW from Portland State University. Back in 2004, Hyde led ºÚÁÏÍø to a Division III national baseball title, being named World Series MVP and national co-pitcher of the year.

Kait (Saechin) Chao (ADP06) is in San Antonio as a financial planning and analysis analyst at Sirius Computer Solutions. She started in 2019 after several accounting and controller positions in Texas since 2007.

Todd Guevara (MDiv06) is a board-certified chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains, working since 2019 at Oregon Health & Science University Hillsboro Medical Center. He previously served at the Portland Veterans Administration and at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem, and was a pastor.

Jolene (Madsen) McElwain (G07), who joined the company in 2019, in October was named secretary/treasurer of Muscanell Millworks, Inc. in Cortez, Colorado. The company produces precisely milled, long-length solid flooring from sustainable area hardwoods.

Kenny Herrera (MBA07) started in July with R&H Construction in Portland as environmental, health and safety director. A certified safety professional, he has been in similar positions since 2008 with four other firms, mostly recently with Intel Global Construction as EHS manager.

Josiah Nishita (G07) is now deputy managing director in the office of Maui County (Hawaii) Mayor Michael Victorino. He was appointed in 2020, promoted from Maui County clerk, a position he held for a year after more than five years as deputy county clerk. He works in Wailuku, county seat for the 168,000 residents.

Wolfram Laub (MBA07) in August became chief operating officer for Associates in Medical Physics in Greenbelt, Maryland. He left his position as chief of clinical medical physics at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where he had been for three years after nine years as director of medical physics at Oregon Health & Science University. This April, his new firm merged and rebranded to become Aspekt Solutions, providing radiology and radiation oncology providers staff, guidance and technical expertise and support.

Rick Chromey (DMin07) has released his sixth nationally published book: Gen Tech: An American Story of Technology, Change and Who We Really Are. He also was the cover story in the October issue of Boise Christian Living Magazine. He is the founder/president at MANNA! Educational Services, based in Meridian, Idaho, with the purpose of empowering and equipping teachers, pastors, leaders and parents through creative, inspirational training.

Thomas Beyea (G07), after more than 10 years in Washington, D.C., resigned from his job last summer in order to move back to Portland. But before finding a new position in the city, his employer in the capital, the American Farm Bureau, called: They wanted him back. So now he’s in his same position as director of national member benefits, working full time remotely from home.

Stephanie (Francis) Pietz (G08) is in her second year as a language engineer at Welocalize in Portland, a company that delivers content solutions for translation, localization, adaptation and machine automation.

Peter Jackman (G08) is in his second year as a test development engineer with SRAM, at the Colorado Springs, Colorado, site of the national bicycle component manufacturer.

Barbara (Hedges) Carter (ADP08) completed a doctoral degree in management in organizational development and change at Colorado Technical University in 2019 and continues her work as design senior consultant at Wells Fargo Bank in Vancouver, Washington.

Poppy Smith (PS08) is a motivational life coach, spiritual counselor, abuse recovery advocate, speaker and author in Portland, inspiring women to thrive spiritually, emotionally and personally. She became a certified life coach with the American Association of Christian Counselors in 2019.

William Stevens (MBA08) began in March as an account executive in Portland with VMware, a cloud computing technology company. He serves on the ºÚÁÏÍø Alumni Board of Directors.

Leonel Trujillo (G09) this year joined Albany (Oregon) OB/GYN, part of Samaritan Health Services. He earned his medical degree at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Yakima, Washington, and completed his residency at AMITA Health Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, Illinois. He specializes in robotic-assisted surgery and laparoscopy.

Vladimir Tkach (G09) is now in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area, promoted in 2019 to be planning and reporting manager (new trucks) at Daimler Trucks North America. He is in his seventh year with the company.

Jamie (Smith) Raines (G09) is a soldier in the U.S. Army, starting in September based at Camp Parks (Parks Reserve Forces Training Area) in Dublin, California. She is a training instructor who previously worked in a counterintelligence field office in Camp Zama, a U.S. Army post in Japan.

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2010-19

Karen (Koch) Shimer (MDiv10) in July began pastoring two Oregon churches: Carus United Methodist in Oregon City and Marquam United Methodist in Mt. Angel.

Michelle Mayer (G10) in March was approved for tenure at Clark College, a public community college in Vancouver, Washington. She joined the faculty in 2017 after receiving a PhD in mathematics from Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, and is course coordinator for the applied algebra courses.

Jacob Garsez (MAT11) is head baseball coach at Oregon Tech in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He was named in August following a four-year stint as head coach at the University of Antelope Valley in Lancaster, California. Previously, he coached at Corban University from 2011 to 2015.

Sarah Askin (G11) and Kyle Askin (G12) live in Newberg, where she is gallery manager for ART Elements Gallery. She started when it opened in 2012 and is one of its 50 artists, showing her work in painting, watercolors, woven baskets and ceramics. He started in January as a senior software engineer with PK, a design- and technology-powered digital marketing firm in Beaverton, Oregon. He also is owner of Hound Dog Creative, doing freelance work since 2016.

Simone (Keller) Harlow (PsyD11) is a clinical psychologist at Austin Integrated Psychological Services in Austin, Texas.

Adam Cuneo (MBA11) in December became a recruiter at Boise State University, responsible for workforce outreach. He has worked for the university since 2017, when he became corporate partnership manager with BSU’s Center for Professional Development.

Alexandra (Jimenez) Rhizor (G12) in March was promoted from staff nurse to clinical nurse supervisor at Nursingale, where she has worked the last two years. The Portland nursing agency helps medically fragile children with in-home, family-centered care.

Jay Mathisen (EdD12) starts July 1 as superintendent of Jefferson County (Oregon) School District, leaving his position of one year as director of educational leadership at ºÚÁÏÍø. It’s a return to Central Oregon, where he was deputy superintendent of the Bend/La Pine School District from 2015 to 2020.

Amanda (Winkelman) Howard (G12), director of marketing at Westside Christian High School since 2018, added duties as director of admissions in 2019, and is now also responsible for alumni relations for the Tigard, Oregon, school.

Billy Watson (DMin12) is lead pastor at The Watershed United Methodist Church in League City, Texas, south of Houston. He started in 2018 after being lead pastor at the First United Methodist Free Church in Kountze, Texas.

Josh (Riedel) TenHaken-Riedel (G13), after five years as assistant director of spiritual formation at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, now is in Spokane, Washington, where he is a flex coach with InsideTrack, working with prospective and enrolled college students to clarify their goals and understanding of self.

Ann Campbell (G13) is in Bakersfield, California, where she is accounting manager with Direct Safety Solutions, Inc., in that position since graduation. The company is a wholesaler of personal protective equipment and gear.

Jordan (Enobakhare) Ifueko (G13) is a New York Times bestselling author of the Raybearer series and other stories. She’s been featured in People magazine, NPR Best Books, the NPR Pop Culture Hour and other publications. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband David.

Hannah (Munger) Williams (G13) started last August as a gifted and talented resource teacher in the Colorado Springs (Colorado) School District 11.

LaShawanta Spears (MA13) in November was announced as Oregon Assistant Principal of the Year, selected by the Oregon Association of Secondary School Administrators. She has held that position at Alice Ott Middle School since 2017 and has served in the David Douglas School District (Portland) since 2001.

Jim Ferraris (ADP13) in March retired after serving as police chief of the city of Woodburn for five years. That meant he also left his position as president of the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police, a post held since 2020. In April, he began as owner/principal of Ferraris Investigations and Consulting in Wilsonville, Oregon, serving government and private sectors. In March, he also started as training coordinator with the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association in Salem. He continues as a leadership instructor with the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. He has been in law enforcement 43 years, including 27 years as assistant chief of police in Portland.

Dorie Vickery (EdD13) is completing her first year as superintendent of the Sheridan (Oregon) School District. She was named last June to guide the district of just over 1,000 students in four schools. She left a one-year position as educational consultant with the Philomath (Oregon) School District.

Ryan Schlunz (ADP13) is in his second year as chief information officer with Profit Recovery Partners in Costa Mesa, California. He left the Portland law firm Stoel Rives after nearly 11 years, where he was chief administration, information and innovation officer. His new firm develops and manages cost-reduction solutions for Fortune 1000 companies and private companies nationwide.

James MacDonald (G13) received a doctoral degree in mechanical engineering in June 2020 from Western Michigan University and now is in a postdoctoral position working on advanced ignition research for internal combustion engines with Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, California.

Katherine (Scherer) Khaw (G13) is director of rehabilitation and a certified occupational therapy assistant at Infinity Rehab in Portland, where she began in 2015.

Sue (Covey) Harte (MA13) is 2020-21 president of the Oregon School Counselor Association, involved in planning for Oregon school openings and operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a counselor at Central Linn High School in Halsey, Oregon, starting in 2014 after 16 years with the Albany (Oregon) School District.

Carly (Halverson) Pon (G13) in November started as coordinator of communications and development at Project Patch in Vancouver, Washington. The nonprofit Christian organization reaches out to at-risk adolescents in crisis and their families, providing specialized services.

Mike Vogel (PsyD13) is back on the ºÚÁÏÍø campus as assistant professor of clinical psychology in the Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology. He started in the fall after a year as assistant professor of counseling education at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas. He started there in 2017 as a lecturer, then adjunct faculty, then assistant professor of psychology.

Caroline (Hudson) Jovanovich (G14) and Peter Jovanovich (G16) live in SeaTac, Washington, where she is staying home with their new son and he is a staff engineer with RH2 Engineering in Tacoma, in that position since graduation.

Linda (Reining) Lovos (ADP14) is vice president and branch manager at Columbia Bank in Wilsonville, Oregon.

Christopher Luttrell (MAT14) is now one of a few Google for Education Certified Trainers in Idaho. He is completing his second year as a teacher in the Twin Falls School District, serving as a fifth-grade teacher at Perrine Elementary.

Justin Vanier (G14), who earned an MDiv degree from Western Seminary in 2020, is in his sixth year as youth minister at Southwest Bible Church in Beaverton, Oregon.

Micah Donor (G14) received a PhD in chemistry at the University of Oregon in 2020 and now is in postdoctoral research in instrument development and deployment at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington.

Bonnie (McDonald) Doran (G14) is an intensive care unit nurse and registered respiratory therapist at PeaceHealth Riverbend Hospital in Springfield, Oregon, in that position since she graduated in 2014. She also works with emergency intervention as part of the rapid response team. Last July, she was awarded expert level designation in the Professional Nurse Advancement Program.

Angelyn (Haughey) Holmes (G14) and Micah Holmes (G14) live in Tualatin, Oregon, while she is in her fourth year as a shift supervisor with Starbucks in West Linn, Oregon, and he is in his fifth year as middle school director for Countryside Community Church in Sherwood, Oregon.

Renee Geck (G14) received a PhD in biological and biomedical sciences from Harvard University in May 2020 and now is a postdoctoral researcher in genome sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Jennifer (Newman) Higgins-Newman (G15) is in her second year as program manager at Beacon Hill Friends House in Boston. It is a co-op residence for community living, with about 20 persons of all ages participating each year.

Joseph Truitt (G15) continues to live in Newberg while working in Aurora, Oregon, where he is a mechanical engineer at Columbia Helicopters, starting in 2018.

Austin Strutz (G15) and Jess (Giddings) Strutz (G17) are in Gardena, California, now in intensive Chinese language study while preparing to return to China this fall. They are with ELIC, which recruits, trains and sends teachers on long- and short-term missions trips to Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

Jonathan Switzer (G15) is using his major in organizational communication very directly, now in the athletic apparel industry. In December, he moved to Baltimore, where he is change management lead with Under Armour, leaving Nike, where he was a consultant for transition and enrollment for more than a year.

Emily Lund-Hansen (G15) in August started as a communications specialist at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina, from which she received a master of theological studies degree in 2020. That followed two and a half years as an assistant editor at Christianity Today magazine in Chicago.

Reed Keltner (MBA15) is in his third year as West Coast operations manager with S. Walter Packaging Corporation in Portland.

Don Jones (MBA15) started his own business in July, becoming owner/principal of Invaluable People, located in Forest Grove, Oregon. He is a management consultant for banks, credit unions, small businesses and nonprofits following more than 22 years as a vice president and branch manager in the banking industry.

Ryan McMillen (G15) in February was announced as the new president of RyanTech Cloud Services in Higley, Arizona. He started with the cloud services provider in 2017 as product manager, then became business development manager before being named director of business development in 2019.

Josh Farrester (DPT15) began this year as the new clinical director of Step and Spine Physical Therapy in his hometown of Madras, Oregon. He began as the clinic was taking over the former Apex Physical Therapy, where he started as a physical therapist in 2015.

Chris Fronsoe (ADP15) in October joined Vitro Architectural Glass in Vancouver, Washington, as national architectural manager for the Northwest region. He left a position as pre-construction manager with DeaMor Associates in Ridgefield, Washington, a specialty contractor for natural lighting products.

Marty Palacios (EdD15) is in his first year as dean of education at Warner Pacific University in Portland. He ended 31 years with the McMinnville (Oregon) School District, where he started as a teacher, then was principal at Patton Middle School for 15 years and most recently was assistant principal at Duniway Middle School for five years.

Megan Hays (G15) is in her second year after being named a manager with the tax and accounting firm Opsahl Dawson, with offices in Vancouver and Longview, Washington. She joined the company in 2017.

Joshua Garcia (G15) last year received a master’s degree in religion from Yale University after receiving a master’s degree in theological studies, texts and traditions in 2017 from Boston University. He now is a PhD student in Hebrew Bible and Old Testament at Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.

Brett Vernon (G15) is following in the footsteps of his father, Mark Vernon (G77), as a basketball coach. This year he was hired to coach Aloha (Oregon) High in the Class 6A Metro League. He moves up from a year as assistant coach at Westview High School in Beaverton, Oregon. He is also assistant golf pro at Chehalem Glenn Golf Course in Newberg. His dad, Bruin men’s basketball coach for 18 years until 2000, later coached at Southridge and Newberg high schools, and this year retired from his PE teaching position at Stoller Middle School in Beaverton. He now plans to have a role in helping his son.

Allison (Gilbert) Garvin (G15) is back in Colorado, where she is a nurse at Clinica Family Health in Lafayette, a primary health clinic serving underserved populations. She started in 2019 after she and her husband quit their jobs and took a year off to travel through New Zealand, Canada, Bali, Bolivia, Chile and Patagonia.

Megan Weaver (G15, MSW20) is using her newest degree in Bend, Oregon, where she started in October as a behavioral health specialist with Deschutes County Crisis Stabilization Center.

Aaron Medina (G15) and Annabrodea (Stanclift) Medina (G16) live in Tigard, Oregon. He is a software engineer with ID Experts in Portland, in his second year with the firm, which offers identity theft protection, recovery services and credit monitoring. She is self-employed, assisting clients with management and development strategies for growth and coordinating leadership events for training and development.

Caleb Barlow (G16) in 2019 received a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Services in Austin, Texas, where he now lives and works in his second year as a physical therapist at Austin Sports Medicine.

Corie (Houlbjerg) Camara (PsyD16) is a clinical psychologist at Dallas Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, in her third year.

Daniel Proffitt (DMin16) is executive pastor of generational ministries at Trinity Fellowship Church, which has five locations in the Amarillo, Texas, area. He started in 2019. This last year he also became associate campus pastor of the main campus, the Hollywood Road location, overseeing all operations.

Keiko (Fujii) Neufeld (G16) in November joined Vacasa, a vacation rental management company in Boise, Idaho, as senior software engineer. She left a position as software development manager at Clearwater Analytics.

Julie Dodge (DMin16) in December was named interim director for the Multnomah County (Oregon) Behavioral Health Division. She was on the Concordia University-Portland faculty full time starting in 2012 and served as dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences from 2018 until the university closed in May 2020.

Sarah (Rudinsky) Sherrell (MBA16) and her husband, Parker, were the subject of a feature story in the December issue of Good Fruit Grower magazine, which highlighted them as first-generation farmers in Hood River, Oregon, where they are planting pears, apples and cherries as part of their new business, Columbia River Land Management. She also is director of operations for Mount Adams Fruit in Bingen, Washington, in that position since July, but in her third year with the company.

Kurtley Knight (DMin16), after three years as an adjunct, now is assistant professor of spiritual formation at Portland Seminary. Previously, he was teaching missional leadership while also serving as a senior teaching fellow at Renovare Institute in Denver. He is ordained as a transitional deacon in the Anglican Church of North America.

Beatriz (Terraza) Guerrero (G16, MAT19) is in her second year with the Woodburn (Oregon) School District, where she is a fourth-grade Spanish/bilingual teacher at Heritage Elementary.

Quinton Phelps (G17) is a self-employed blockchain developer and consultant in Portland, working with clients to help them launch their cryptocurrency since 2018.

Justin Dutton (G17) started in 2018 as a production associate at Tesla Gigafactory in Sparks, Nevada. The plant makes electric motors and battery packs at the highest volume in the world.

Kelly (Douglass) Lafferty (MA17) is a self-employed counselor, in 2018 opening her own practice, Grace and Peace Counseling, with offices in West Linn and Tigard, Oregon. She specializes in individual, couples and family therapy.

Jasmine Cranshaw (G17) graduated in December with an MBA from Corban University in Salem, Oregon, and now is in Charlotte, North Carolina, where in March she started as a strategy consultant at Catalyst, a healthcare consulting firm.

Jongwon Seo (MSW17) is a child and family therapist with Family Solutions, a behavioral health provider for children and families in Clark County, Washington.

Makayla Fitchett (G17, MSW18) is in her second year as a child and family mental health therapist at Children’s Center, a medical group mental health clinic in Vancouver, Washington. Previously, she was director of Odyssey Preschool in Tualatin, Oregon.

Paula Darling (ADP17) in February started as a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Salem, Oregon. She left a corporate sales job after 30 years to find a more meaningful and purposeful career. She also is a volunteer with the Willamette Humane Society, Arches, an organization involved with running homeless shelters, and is a speaker with MERIT, an organization providing education and financial advice to individuals coming out of poverty.

Cassidy Galimanis (G17, MSW18) is back in her hometown of Meridian, Idaho, where she is a medical social worker at St. Luke’s Hospital, starting last July. Her last seven years were in Oregon to attend ºÚÁÏÍø and work for nearly two years as a clinical social worker with Bristol Hospice, headquartered in Clackamas.

Bryan Fosmire (G17) and Stephanie Fosmire (G17) now live in Dundee, Oregon, while he is working in McMinnville, Oregon, as a drafting engineer at Solid Form Fabrication. He started with the custom metal firm before graduating. She has been with Volunteer Community Connections of Providence Newberg Medical Center since 2019, helping with the Kids Day Out program.

Grant McGill (G17) has started his own business, Will McGill Surveying, in Turner, Oregon, where he is a water rights and geographical information systems consultant. He started the business part time shortly after graduation and then went full time in November 2018. Now his two-man team has grown from serving five clients to more than 100.

Brittany Allen (G17) is in her second year as an educational assistant in special education at the Mountain View Middle School Learning Resource Center in the Newberg School District.

Jody Becker (DMin17) is associate pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Salem, Oregon, in that position since 2017 after nine years as pastor at Lutheran churches in Wisconsin.

Shane Gallup (G17) is digital marketing coordinator with Value Based Inc. in Sherwood, Oregon, a boutique consulting company offering custom sales and marketing strategies.

Paul McLaughlin (PsyD17) is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in individual therapy. He is part of Hillcrest Psychological Associates, a group of independent practitioners, with his office in La Jolla, California.

Miriam Saucedo (MA17) is a mental health counselor at Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon, in her second year after being a primary counselor with Volunteers of America for nearly two years.

Andrew Reichenbach (G17) is the new baseball coach at Newberg High School, promoted from assistant after one year. He was a staff accountant at Delap, an accounting firm in Lake Oswego, Oregon, for more than two years prior to joining his high school alma mater. The former Bruin was a two-time Northwest Conference first-team pick and had a two-year stint in the West Coast League.

Megan Bos (G17) is back at ºÚÁÏÍø, starting in January, where she is a graduate admissions counselor for the MBA and Doctor of Physical Therapy programs. The previous three years she served as assistant director of development with Boys & Girls Aid in Portland.

Derek Richwine (G17, MAT19) is living in Eugene, Oregon, where he has an online teaching position with Baker Web Academy, a K-12 charter school based in Baker City, Oregon. He is in one of seven regional outlets that offer field trips, labs and face-to-face opportunities with mentor teachers who visit each student twice a month in person.

Rebecca Pridmore (G18) is completing her first year as head softball coach at Hermiston (Oregon) High School. She had been the JV coach at the 1,600-student school since 2019. She is a second-grade teacher at Sunset Elementary School in the district.

Eden (Wiegand) Preston (G18) has opened her own decor gift shop and art gallery, Little Sparrow Gallery, in her childhood hometown of Fort Walton Beach, Florida. She also is teaching art part time at Liza Jackson Preparatory School, where she attended, and is painting watercolor animal portraits for pet owners, more than 40 a month. She was the subject of a lifestyle feature in April in the Northwest Florida Daily News.

Nicholas Felt (G18) started with Tektronix after graduation and is now a software design engineer with the Beaverton, Oregon, electronics firm.

Jessica (Wilson) Schmidt (G18) is a victim advocate with the Polk County, Oregon, district attorney’s office, where she started in 2018.

Charity (Metzger) Jones (G18) and Jordan Jones (G18) live in Roseville, California, while working in Sacramento. She is an administrative assistant at the law offices of Suzanne E. Rogers and he is a software engineer with CalPERS, the state’s public employees’ retirement system.

David Beach (DMin18) is in his fourth year as the mental health director at Johnson-Brower Foundation, newly branded as LifeGR, in Lowell, Michigan. The nonprofit organization assists veterans, first responders and military service members. He and his wife also have started Soul Seasons Publishing, which promotes conversations about spiritual and creative formation. Its latest publication is his new book, The 7 Pillars of SheWillStay: Growth Strategies for Partners of Trauma Survivors. It is a mainstay for the foundation’s SheWillStay program, helping wives of veterans and first responders who choose to stay in difficult marriages.

Michelle Thoreson (DPT18) is living in Newberg but working in Salem, Oregon, where she is a physical therapist at Infinity Rehab, starting in 2018.

Janeeta (Beck) Nelson (G18) is a financial analyst with the Union Wine Company in Tualatin, Oregon, but is working remotely from Orlando, Florida, starting in March. She moved there while her husband is in school studying videography.

Chelsea (Kraus) Gillespie (MSW18) is an acute care social worker at the Veterans Administration in Portland, in that role since 2018.

Jordyn Dunseath (G18) is an independent videographer, photographer and graphic designer. She has her own freelance company and also continues to lead Young Life in Newberg.

Mercedes (Morrow) Chance (G18) in August started with the Hood River Valley (Oregon) School District, where she is a second-grade teacher at Hood River Options Academy.

Laree Wolfe (MA18) lives in Sandy, Oregon, and is a school counselor with Summit Learning Charter School, a virtual school serving K-12 students. She started in 2018.

David Jones (MBA18) is chief growth officer with Valerian Technologies in Richardson, Texas, in that position since 2020, after a year as director of operations. The firm is a custom plastic card manufacturer.

Kenneth Dye (G18) and Danielle (Howard) Dye (G19) are in Newberg while he is an instructional aide at Yamhill- Carlton Intermediate School and has his own music studio, where he teaches trumpet. She is program coordinator and viola teaching artist with the JOY Project of the Yamhill Enrichment Society, teaching an after-school youth orchestra program.

Kaitlyn Groshong (G18), after nearly two years with an advertising agency in Los Angeles, has relocated to Washington, where she is now a senior marketing specialist with World Vision in Federal Way.

Benjamin Hortaleza (G18, MAT20) started in July as a high school mathematics teacher at Peoria Accelerated High School, part of the Leona Group of schools.

Jennie (Acker) Harrop (DMin18), after a six-year process, in December was ordained as a Presbyterian pastor. She is lead pastor of Cedar Creek Church in Sherwood, Oregon. She also serves as both associate dean and a professor for ºÚÁÏÍø Connect.

Ben Griner (G18) in July became a wireless platform software test engineer with Apple in Cupertino, California, after starting with the company in 2018.

Amy Drinnon (G18) started in September as a first-grade teacher at McKinley Elementary in the Beaverton (Oregon) School District.

Nolan Schuler (G18) and Haley (Strowbridge) Schuler (G20) are in Providence, Rhode Island, where in January he became product sales manager with Eaton Corp, an electric and power management company. She has her own business, Schuler Interior Design, for residential and commercial clients.

Laura Alvarez Schrag (ADP18) has been named to the board of directors of Columbia Banking Systems, headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, with 145 banks in three states. Appointed Jan. 1, she is president/owner of Pondera Consulting in Nampa, Idaho, a business consultant and executive/leadership coaching firm. It was started in 2009 after she completed more than 17 years in human resources with Hewlett-Packard.

Kimberly (Hunsaker) Vela (n18) in August became a teacher in the Gervais (Oregon) School District, teaching middle school science.

Robyn Angelis (ADP19) in January returned to ºÚÁÏÍø, where she is an access services specialist in the Murdock Library. Previously, she was at Marylhurst University as an administrative assistant in its library.

Dianne (Woods) Climenhage (n18) is with the Mennonite Central Committee, in her third year as Atlantic Canada regional representative for the global nonprofit relief agency located in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.

Robert Thomas (ADP19) in March became social services director at Marquis in Newberg, an assisted living/senior care facility. He transitioned from admissions director, a position he had held since he graduated. This spring, Thomas received a Legend Award for volunteering to sit with a Marquis resident who was dying in the hospital and had no remaining family or friends. The award recognition cited: “Your selfless nature is an example for all of us.”

Alexa (French) Howell (G19) and Jeremy Howell (G19) live in Portland, where he is an audit associate with Aldrich Advisors, a CPA audit firm, in his second year. She started in May with The Drew Coleman Team realtors in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and is studying for her real estate broker’s license.

Chloe Tomlinson (G19) lives in Sherwood, Oregon, where in August she started in technical support with Justinmind, a high-fidelity prototyping tool for web and mobile apps.

Christian Parr (G19) in October became a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is beginning to train private clients. He is a physical therapy aide at Rebound Physical Therapy in Bend, Oregon, where he started in 2018.

Yesenia Vega (ADP19) is a clinic supervisor at Vancouver Clinic. She started in 2018 at the physician-owned multi-specialty clinic with 11 locations in Clark County, Washington.

Aiden Coomer (G19) in November started as youth pastor at Plain Community Church in Leavenworth, Washington. For the last three years he has been with Youth Dynamics, working in relational youth adventure ministry.

Lauren Labant (G19) reports she has landed her dream job as an emergency nurse at Willamette Valley Medical Center in McMinnville, Oregon.

Jenie (Strickland) Armstrong (DMin19) is a licensed professional counselor who now is owner at Ruach Restoration, starting in 2018 in Watkinsville, Georgia.

Hannah Lingel (G19) joined with One Collective in September and now is an entrepreneurship advocate in Zambia, Africa, arriving in April. She teaches business skills and business development, working with small groups while also leading Bible studies. One Collective works worldwide to assure access to food, freedom and forgiveness, based on the teachings of Jesus.

Evangelina Montelongo (G19) started last fall as a recruiter at Maxim Healthcare Services, a medical staffing agency in Los Angeles.

Chesarae (Hall) Fletcher (PS19) is in Sacramento, California, where she is a risk analyst with BETA Healthcare Group, in her second year, and also is a professor of research methods with Epic Graduate School. She has helped launch Sabbath With My Sisters, a public spiritual formation circle for women.

Taylor Dawson (G19) and Brianna Martin-Ortega (G20) live in Newberg while working in Portland. He started in January as a software engineer with BlockNative Corp., which builds infrastructure to monitor and manage the memory pool, the cryptocurrency mechanism for storing information on unconfirmed transactions. She is in her second year as an administrator with the Every Child program at The Contingent, a nonprofit in Portland. She helps provide support for vulnerable children, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Human Resources.

Michelle (Sullivant) Dignan (MSW19) started in January as a member engagement supervisor with Yamhill County Community Care. Located in McMinnville, Oregon, it is a coordinated care organization with a network of providers offering physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social well-being.

Deirdra Eden (G19) last summer released three books in the Amazon best-selling series, The Watchers, a Christian fantasy fairytale genre. Her books are To Capture the Wind, White Dragons and The Silver Phoenix. She is owner of her own Eden Literary Company in Canby, Oregon, where she is author, illustrator, photographer, designer and blogger. She has also authored Time Management for Creative People.

Douglas Bursch (DMin19) published a new book in April through InterVarsity Press: Posting Peace: Why Social Media Divides Us and What We Can Do About It, inspired by his doctoral research at the seminary. He is co-pastor (since 1998) of Evergreen Foursquare Church in Auburn, Washington, and is producer and host of The Fairly Spiritual Show program and podcast.

Kristina (Petty) Krabill (MBA19) is now in Bend, Oregon, where she started in December as director of health services at Brightwater Senior Living, combining her MBA with her registered nurse background.

Kyler Shumway (PsyD19) is a psychologist with Deep Eddy Psychotherapy in Austin, Texas, in that position since January but with the firm since September as business and program coordinator. He is the author of Getting Psyched: The Therapist’s Guide to the Art and Business of Public Speaking.

Pam Strachan (DMin19) in September became senior chaplain at Adventist Health Tillamook (Oregon), providing spiritual care for the center, medical offices and home care services. A bereavement specialist, for the last 14 years she was in a similar role at Adventist Health Portland.

 

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