SU Today

All members of the Seattle University community have the opportunity to attend the inaugural Bloomberg Green Festival for free. The festival, which takes place July 10–13 in Seattle, will immerse attendees in solutions-driven experiences with world-renowned experts to inspire climate action. Please provide your name and e-mail on this form to receive a link to your complimentary pass.

Friday, May 10, 3:30 p.m.
STCN 130
Light refreshments will be served.
Learn more and RSVP here 

It is vital that faculty have access to inclusive spaces for sharing conversation about our Catholic and Jesuit educational mission from the perspectives offered by our diverse academic disciplines. In service to this goal, the Division of Mission Integration sponsors a series of gatherings for faculty titled “Interdisciplinary Dialogues on Social Justice,” facilitated by Michael Jaycox (Theology and Religious Studies Department).

All faculty members are warmly invited to attend the third gathering in this series, which is titled “Environmental Justice and Black Health,” with guest Keisha Ray (McGovern Center for Humanities & Ethics, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston).

The Multidisciplinary Generative AI Research Project Funding attracted nine submissions from five distinct colleges/schools within the SU community during this inaugural call for proposals. These applications were meticulously evaluated by the Project Funding Review Committee according to the established award criteria. Please congratulate the inaugural recipients of the Multidisciplinary Generative AI Research Project Funding.

Project 1

Proposal Title: Eye tracking data improvement for visually guided prosthetic devices

Abstract: The project addresses the challenge of upper extremity paralysis by enhancing webcam-based eye-tracking with generative AI. This approach aims to refine data quality, making gaze-controlled assistive devices more accessible and affordable. By comparing innovative AI techniques with traditional data correction methods, the project seeks to establish a new standard in eye-tracking technology, facilitating the development of assistive devices and broadening the application of eye-tracking across various fields. The anticipated outcome is a significant advancement in assistive technology, offering a cost-effective alternative to complex systems and empowering individuals with motor function impairments.

Team Members

Lisa Milkowski (Computer Science, College of Science and Engineering)
Brittany Heintz Walters (Kinesiology, College of Arts and Sciences)

Project 2

Proposal Title: Exploring the Ability of Large Language Models to Produce Physical Objects

Abstract: This research explores the integration of generative AI, specifically large language models (LLMs), with CAD software to overcome the text-only limitation of LLMs. By pairing LLMs with OpenSCAD, an open-source CAD tool, the project aims to generate 3D models from text prompts. The interdisciplinary team, combining expertise from fine arts and mechanical engineering, will train LLMs to create CAD designs, addressing challenges and evaluating the potential of an AI-driven CAD framework for future academic and creative endeavors.

Team Members

Josh Hamel (Mechanical Engineering, College of Science and Engineering)
Trung Pham (Fine Arts, College of Arts and Sciences)

Project 3

Proposal Title: Facilitating Ethical Legal Technology Development Through Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Abstract: This project seeks to revolutionize legal tech innovation by leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance access to justice. It underscores the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration among lawyers, technologists, and educators to overcome communication barriers and create shared resources. By integrating law and computer science through practical experiences like the Access to Justice Tech Fellows program and a legal tech tool by a Computer Science graduate, the initiative aims to cultivate ethical innovation in legal tech. The proposed joint practicum, supported by experts from various fields, will provide graduate students with the necessary framework to ethically integrate AI into legal practice, meeting high legal and ethical standards and addressing the increasing interest in AI within the legal academic community.

Team Members
Margaret Chon (School of Law)
LeighAnne Thompson (School of Law)
Julie Kang (Graduate, Executive, and Professional Education, College of Education)
Steven Hanks (Computer Science, College of Engineering)

The Multidisciplinary Generative AI Research Program, supported by a gift from Trustee Brenda Christensen, fosters collaborative projects between students and faculty to explore innovative uses of emergent generative AI at Seattle University. Annually available to all full-time faculty at Seattle University starting each February, the funding encourages the pursuit of educational and research excellence. Your submissions for the upcoming cycle of the Multidisciplinary Generative AI Research Project are eagerly anticipated.

Thursday, May 16, 4–6:30 p.m.
Poster Presentation | 4 p.m. | PACCAR Atrium
Event Program | 4:45 p.m. | Pigott Auditorium
Pigott Auditorium
More Info & RSVP

The College of Nursing invites you to attend the Dr. Luth M. Tenorio College of Nursing Dean’s Endowed Lectureship on “Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Perspectives from Nursing.” This will be a thoughtful discussion with leaders from the nursing profession about potential ethical impacts of Artificial Intelligence on health systems and patient care. Prior to the event program, enjoy a poster presentation featuring scholarly work by nursing faculty and students.

EVENT SPEAKERS

Rozzano Locsin, PhD, RN, FAAN, PAASE
Professor Emeritus at Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing

Author of Technological Competency as Caring in Nursing and co-author/editor of six books regarding Nursing, Technology, Caring, and Robotics. A former Fulbright Scholar to Uganda, recipient of the Fulbright Alumni Initiative Award, and Fulbright Senior Specialist in Global and Public Health, his interest in global nursing nurtures his appreciation of the dynamic nature of human beings, influential in valuing “knowing persons as caring" as a process of Nursing, grounded in the theory of Technological Competency as Caring in Nursing.

Liz Stokes, PhD, JD, RN
Director, Center for Ethics and Human Rights & Nursing Practice and Work Environments, American Nurses Association

International speaker on the Code of Ethics for Nurses and an Associate Editor for the Journal of Bioethical Inquiry with demonstrated expertise in public policy on ethical issues including end-of-life, intellectual disabilities, artificial intelligence, and reproductive health. Her sphere of influence as a nurse-attorney-bioethicist enables a unique contribution to nursing ethics, law and policy.

Presentations will be followed by a discussion with local leaders in nursing.

• Sofia Aragon, JD, BSN, RN, FAAN, Executive Director, Washington Center for Nursing
• David Keepnews, PhD, JD, RN, FAAN, Executive Director Washington State Nurses Association
• Renee Rassilyer-Bomers, DNP, CMSRN, RN-BC, FAAN, Chief Nursing Officer, Providence Swedish Puget Sound Central Service Area
• Mila Sprouse, EdD, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, NE-BC, Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer, Virginia Mason Medical Center

For more information, visit the College of Nursing’s event page, or contact events@seattleu.edu.

On Monday, April 29, 2024, the Department of Education published its new Final Rule under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. The new regulations, which govern universities’ obligations to address sexual misconduct, become effective and enforceable on August 1, 2024. 

In close collaboration with the Provost and Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, a working group is in place, carefully reviewing the new regulations and assessing their impact on current university policies. The working group will focus on an implementation plan for the campus including any potential proposed policy updates that will reflect both compliance with the new Federal Regulations and high-impact practices that align with Seattle University’s Mission and Values. Members of the working group include a cross-section of campus partners from the Office of Institutional Equity, Office of University Counsel, Academic Affairs, Student and Campus Life, Human Resources, Athletics and Student Success. We will use existing governing structures to consult and engage with various community stakeholders to receive appropriate levels of feedback. The commitment remains to a fair and equitable process, as well as education and prevention.

More information will be forthcoming. For more information, feel free to contact Elizabeth Trayner, Assistant Vice President for Institutional Equity/Title IX Coordinator/504 Coordinator, at etrayner@seattleu.edu.  

Monday, May 13, 1–3 p.m.
Pigott Auditorium
Please register here

The Department of Public Affairs and Nonprofit Leadership presents the spring installment of its quarterly Conversations series, featuring University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce and Seattle University President Eduardo Peñalver. This interview-style program will cover political polarization and its impacts on universities. Interviewers are journalist Joni Balter and proessor Dr. Larry Hubbell. 

Thursday, May 16, 12:30 p.m.
Pigott 205
Lunch included
Please RSVP to ICTC@seattleu.edu

"Environmental impact assessment should not come after the drawing up of a business proposition or the proposal of a particular policy, plan or programme."  

- Laudato Si': 183 

Join ICTC for a faculty fellowship research presentation with Dr. Meena Rishi of Albers.

Laudato Si' underlines the intertwined relationship between human welfare and the state of the environment. Traditional approaches to sustainability often neglect this interconnectedness, leading to fragmented solutions that fail to address root causes. Environmental impact assessment methodologies play a crucial role in evaluating the consequences of human actions on the environment. These assessments are vital for informing policy decisions, project evaluations, and legal cases involving environmental damages. Air quality is an example- without an assessment of the value individuals place on clean air, insufficient funds are being allocated to deal with air pollution and the air-quality problems have not been resolved. Thus, impact assessment methodologies play a crucial role in valuing the environment to evaluate the consequences of environmental policies.

This project focuses on the use of the Willingness to Pay (WTP) method to assess the value humans place on environmental preservation such as clean air initiatives. WTP estimates can provide guidelines for budgetary allocations for environmental policies. 

Wednesday, May 15, 4–5:30 p.m.
Oberto Commons, Sinegal Building 200
RSVP required

Released in March 2024, Women Called to Catholic Priesthood: From Ecclesial Challenge to Spiritual Renewal is the result of many years of research and interviews conducted by co-authors Professor Emerita Sharon Callahan, PhD, and Professor and ICTC Executive Director Jeanette Rodriguez, PhD.

The authors explore the contexts, calls, journeys, spirituality and theology of women called to priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church in this compelling and carefully crafted ethnographic work.

Under the direction of the honorable Pat Howell, S.J., ICTC funded the initial research through a faculty research grant in 2019. Join in celebrating their dedicated work and learn more about the process of writing this book.

Tuesday, May 7, 11:45 a.m. – 2 p.m.
International Student Center Lounge, PAVL 160
(via external door on south side)

Drop by to watch the collision of pop culture and geopolitics for the first semifinal of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

Eurovision began in 1956 to test live broadcast technology, while also bringing together the countries of war-torn Europe through a common love of music.

Reaching 160 million viewers, Eurovision is the most watched TV entertainment show in the world, featuring 37 countries from Portugal to Azerbaijan and Iceland to Australia.

Bring your lunch (and all your Eurovision questions) and join students, staff and faculty to watch the first semifinal live from Malmö, Sweden, where 15 nations compete for 10 places in Saturday’s Grand Final. Stay for as much or as little as you like.

The live show itself starts at noon PDT, featuring multiple genre-smashes, as well as Irish hyperpunk, Aboriginal Australian synth pop, Azerbaijani mugham, Portuguese downtempo and Ukrainian folk-rap.

Co-sponsored by International Studies and the International Student Center. For more information, contact David Green at greend@seattleu.edu.

Please join in welcoming the talented individuals who have recently joined (or rejoined, in the case of Jamariues) Seattle University, each bringing their own unique blend of skills, passion and dedication.

• Michael Blake, Maintenance Plumber (Operations & Maintenance)
• Braden Wild, Data Systems Manager (Center for Community Engagement)
• Peter Altier, Project Manager for Interiors & Furniture (Facilities Administration)
• Allie Sisson Erstad, Associate Director (School of Law—Center for Professional Development)
• Jamariues Simanton (re-hire), Campus Public Safety Officer

The time has come for RedhawkTHON’s silent auction.

The silent auction features an array of items such as wine bundles, Seattle sports merchandise and even a one-night stay at the Grand Hyatt. Get your bids in now!

The silent auction will end on May 4. If you want to pick your item up the day-of organizers will be in Campion Ball Room from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Can’t make it? No problem; they can bring or even ship it to you!

All funds raised from the auction will be donated to Seattle Children’s Hospital. Questions? Contact nneumeier@seattleu.edu.

Students: Learn to assess, maintain and work on your car or bike so they perform at their best: Bike Tune-Up Session, May 7, 12:30–1:30 p.m., Sinegal Plaza (facing Bannan); and Car Tune-Up Session, May 14, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., Library Plaza (facing Bellarmine).

Dear Campus Community, 

Our Facilities team has been working hard this week to maintain the beauty of our campus and assure that our buildings are in top shape. Here are a few highlights of our current work:

1. The team is installing air conditioning Hunthausen Hall. The classrooms on the main floor get extremely hot in the summer and these new chillers will make a world of difference for summer programs.
   
   
2. After a year of being under a black plastic tarp to kill invasive weeds, the garden on the Union Green has been tilled and replanted. The restoration work continues, but it looks fantastic now and is worth a visit. Special thanks to student groups from SLLH Env Law Students and Engineers for a Sustainable World for volunteering their time to help plant the beds.
   
   
3. There are important projects underway this summer and the planning and contracting phase in in high gear. Here is what is we’ll see happening this summer:

• Athletic Performance Center renovation and SU Park field turf replacement
• Broadway Garage Security improvements, including gate arms and perimeter access control.
• Marion Entry, including repainting the seal in time for commencement and installing a historic clock on the upper mall
• Loyola 204 kitchen upgrades. We are conducting a pilot to see if we can self-perform this work at lower cost without using a general contractor.  
• Arrupe Security Fence 

The Human Resources team thanks all who attended the first Quarterly Connect as well as those who have provided feedback to guide their topics for next quarter’s Connect. As a reminder, April 30 is the last day to share feedback. If you haven’t had a chance to share with HR what you want to know please do so here: HR Quarterly Connect Survey. HR looks forward to seeing you at the next Connect.

Students: Send a free postcard anywhere in the world to a friend, family member or anyone who might enjoy getting some mail: May 13, noon–2 p.m., and May 14, noon–2 p.m. at the Lemieux Library Floor 2 Atrium (near the Byte Café). Learn more at Postcard Pop-Up.

Join in celebrating our students’ projects at the Student Research and Creativity Conference (SRCCon) on Friday, May 10, from noon to 4 p.m. in Lemieux Library (Floor 3). This is a great way for students to stand out on resumes and applications, taking their academic and professional work to the next level. Learn more at SRCCon.

In the spirit of “Where Innovation Meets Humanity,” the Tech & Society Reading Group seeks to engage all stakeholders in the ethical, legal and social issues surrounding rapid technological advancement. Group participants will have the opportunity to be discussion leaders, ensuring all perspectives across disciplines are presented and valued. Organizers hope this will illuminate discipline-specific blind spots.

The reading group will meet once a month during the workday around lunchtime on campus given general availability of interested readers. Each discussion will be scheduled to last one hour but we will have a flexible end time to allow spirited discussion to organically conclude. Each meeting will have lunch provided for readers who RSVP and will be hosted in the Lemieux Library.

Please RSVP here. 

Reach out to nkh@seattleu.edu with any questions.

Wednesday, May 8, 12:30 p.m.
Boeing Room, Lemieux Library 122
Lunch included
Please RSVP to ICTC@seattleu.edu

In today’s Anthropocene, the context of increasing environmental degradation accompanies ongoing ill and worsening human health, both disproportionately affecting the most marginalized humans and environmental spaces among us. Embodiment is a complex concept with the potential to help health professionals understand integral ecology and the importance of the Laudato Si’ platform to which Seattle University is committed. Embodiment is also a potential pathway for enacting a truly holistic view of health as framed by Indigenous knowledges and Catholic Intellectual Tradition principles, which both honor “the accumulated wisdom of the past.”

In this presentation, ICTC Faculty Fellow Dr. Jennifer Fricas of the College of Nursing will share findings from an initial literature review of the concept of embodiment, contextualize these with data from research into well-being in Ecuador and discuss implications for the education of health professionals.

Wednesday, May 1, 4–5:30 p.m.*
STCN 160 (LeRoux Room)

You are warmly invited for connection and conversation at the next Colleagues in Jesuit Education featuring SU colleagues:

• Shannon Britton, Grounds Manager
• Catherine Punsalan-Manlimos, VP for Mission Integration
• Jason Wirth, Professor, Arts & Sciences, Philosophy

Program:

*3:45 p.m. | Enjoy time to connect over food and wine

4:15 p.m. | Program

5:30 p.m. | Further conversation and refreshments

The Center for Jesuit Education hopes you’ll join for wine, conversation and community. All are welcome! For an Outlook invite, centerforjesuiteducation@seattleu.edu.

Happy Earth Month! Do you have old desk phones, monitors, keyboards/mice or any other electronics collecting dust in your office? ITS Service Desk is available to pick up your workplace electronic recycling. Please complete the quick Electronic Recycling Pickup Form to send in your request and ITS will stop by as soon as they can. You are also welcome to drop off unneeded electronics at the Service Desk in Lemieux Library, 3rd floor, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday–Friday.

Wednesday, May 1
Lunch for in-person attendees begins 11:45 a.m.; program at noon
RSVP here

RoundGlass India Center presents a timely panel featuring experts in higher education, food sciences, agricultural development and food security as they explore the growing opportunities for collaboration between India and the U.S.

Moderated by KV Raman, adjunct professor in Cornell University's School of Integrative Plant Science and faculty fellow in the David R. Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, the speaker panel includes:

• Girish Ganjyal, professor of Food Science at WSU;
• Meetu Kapur, director, Nutrition in Global Growth & Opportunity at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation;
• Peter Kelly, CEO of Grow Further;
• Vijay Raghavan, CEO of Sathguru Management Consultants (Hyderabad, India); and
• Sonny Ramaswamy, president of the North West Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Cosponsored with Seattle University’s Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability, admission is free to the public (with advance registration). In-person registrations will receive a complimentary lunch at the event.

Friday, April 26, 4–6 p.m.
Stuart. T. Rolfe Community Room (Advancement and Alumni Building)
RSVP Here

Join the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center to learn how Hello Robin went from a hobby to being Yelp’s best chocolate chip cookie at Founder Friday with Hello Robin.

Robin Wehl Martin, ’92, founder of Hello Robin and Seattle University alum, is taking Seattle by storm with cookies that all started from humble home kitchen beginnings. After a successful collaboration with and encouragement from close friend Molly Moon in 2013, Wehl’s innovative and bold cookies have been the talk of the town. While they started from simple beginnings, Hello Robin has grown to having two storefront locations in Capitol Hill and University Village.

Harness AI Today to Create Future Success
with Trent Gillespie, MBA ’10, CEO of Stellis AI
Tuesday, April 30, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Oberto Commons (Sinegal Center)

Open to all SU faculty and staff. Lunch provided, please RSVP here. 

The College of Science and Engineering and the Albers Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) present the Spring Innovation Lunch & Learn—a new quarterly event for SU faculty and staff who are interested in STEM innovation.

AI presents a profound opportunity to unlock breakthrough success, yet few leaders are poised to capitalize on it. In this talk, you will discover how AI will generate up to $30 trillion in global value and learn the mission-critical strategies needed today to avoid getting left behind. With the AI SPRINT framework and real-world implementation examples, you will gain the tools to move beyond fear and uncertainty, transform your organization and advance your career, leveraging AI for continuous innovation, competitive advantage and enduring growth.

Dear SU Faculty and Staff,

As many of you may have heard from students, it’s time for this year’s Search Retreat (May 3–5). Put on by Campus Ministry, Search is an opportunity to deepen spirituality in the context of community. Given the important role that you play in so many students’ lives, you can help to make this experience meaningful and memorable by writing letters for students attending the retreat. You can access a list of students who will be attending or leading Search by following this link. Please take a few moments to review the list and see if you know any students attending and, if so, consider participating by writing Palanca letters.

• Palanca comes from palancar, Spanish for “to lever” or “to lift up or raise.” On the Search Retreat, Palanca serve as a special gift that consists of letters and notes of love and support written for retreatants by family members, friends, professors and mentors.
  
  
• Your letters can express your love for the retreatant, the encouragement you want to offer them, the special memories you have shared with them and/or your gratitude for the gifts they have offered you. It can be as simple as an inspirational quote, a poem, a photo or a fond memory. Palanca letters are a central part of the retreat, which also includes talks by peer leaders, small group conversations and time for reflection and relaxation.
  
  
• Please note that Palanca is a surprise, so Campus Ministry asks that you not mention it to your students until after the retreat. 
  
  
• Please e-mail your letters as soon as possible to searchretreat@seattleu.edu and no later than Wednesday, May 1. In the subject line, please write “[Student Name]: Palanca” (e.g., “Jane Doe: Palanca”). While Campus Ministry will open your e-mail to print your letter and put it in a sealed envelope, they will not read it.
  
  
• If you prefer to turn in a hard copy, letters can be deposited in the Search drop box in the Campus Ministry office (STCN 120) during business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.). Hard copies are due by the end of the business day on Wednesday, May 1. Please do not submit any letters by mail or drop off packages. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Stevi Hamill, Campus Minister for Retreats, at 206-296-5731 or hamillstevi@seattleu.edu. 

– Campus Ministry

The spring quarter open forum for Slate for Student Success will take place virtually on Thursday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to noon. An update will be provided on the project progress, some of the latest functionality will be showcased and there will be time for questions and feedback. If you would like to attend, please use this link to sign up.

Friday, May 24, 10:30 a.m. – noon
Harding 141

Join the Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement and other community partners in a discussion of the book Project Unlonely by Jeremy Nobel. During Mental Health Awareness Month, we turn our focus to the crisis of disconnection in our university, our communities of belonging and other terrains, with the hope of destigmatizing loneliness and creating pathways to connection.

CEIE is sponsoring this event in its office. Light refreshments will be served. Please send questions and RSVP to Rev. Dr. Kara Markell, assistant director, at markellk@seattle.edu.

Hello Campus!

Pre-College Program applications are live for Summer 2024. If you know of a rising 10th, 11th, or 12th grader interested in experiencing life at SU for the summer encourage them to apply. Program offerings include AI for Equity, Albers Summer Business Institute and Urban Sustainability. 

Not sure what Pre-College Programs are? Pre-College programs are college access programs that allow current high schoolers to explore their future education track through experiential learning, campus life immersion, college and career readiness and community building. Scholarships are available for these programs. 

Students: Looking for a summer role? Undergraduate Admissions is hiring Program Advisors. Apply on Handshake.

Faculty/Staff: If you have ideas about starting a new Pre-College Program, please contact precollege@seattleu.edu. 

Please note: Undergraduate Admissions oversees the Pre-College Programs.

Learn more: Pre-College Postcard.

Thursday, May 2, 4–6 p.m.
Oberto Commons (Sinegal 200)

You are cordially invited to attend the 2024 Peter L. Lee Endowed Lecture in East Asian Culture and Civilization. This year’s lecture, titled “East Asia in a Larger World: Cross-Cultural Contacts in the Globalizing Middle Ages,” will be delivered by Professor Hyunhee Park, Ph.D. (Department of History, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the CUNY Graduate Center, the City University of New York). 

Dr. Park is an accomplished author, having written Mapping the Chinese and Islamic Worlds: Cross-Cultural Exchange in Pre-Modern Asia (Cambridge 2012) and Soju: A Global History (Cambridge 2021). Her research has focused on the historical cross-cultural contacts between East Asia and the Islamic World, especially in the areas of Sino-Islamic interactions during the Mongol Empire and broader aspects of global history. 

A reception will start at 4 p.m. and the lecture will be between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Learn more at Peter L. Lee Lecture Program 2024.

Tuesday, May 7, 4 p.m.
Casey Commons

The Departments of Philosophy, Political Science and Sociology-Anthropology, with support from the Mellon Foundation and College of Arts and Sciences Events Committee, are hosting a lecture titled “The Only Thing That Hasn’t Changed About Black Politics Since 1965 is How We Think About It” Dr. Adolph Reed, Jr.

Dr. Reed, a professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania, has written extensively about black political thought and American politics. His work has focused on the social inequality and economic insecurity experienced by the Black American working class and the mechanisms that create and sustain inequality. He is a columnist for The Nation and frequently appears in other major national publications. 

The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Dr. Sarah Cate at scate@seattleu.edu.

See the event flyer at Adolph Reed Talk.

The Albers School’s direct trade coffee brand, MotMot, is running a “thank you to the community” sale from April 22–25. Take 20 percent off (discount applied automatically) when you purchase any coffee product from MotMot on those dates. Delivery is free to Seattle University. Visit motmotcoffee.com to stock up.

MotMot is also available at The Bottom Line, the coffee shop in Pigott Building. And if you order catering through Emerald Plate/Chartwells, MotMot is now available upon request!

Monday, April 29, 5–6:30 p.m.
Pigott 102

Nervous about the future? Want to hear more about what your life could look like in various career fields as a disabled or neurodivergent person? Join the Infinity Club for our annual legacy panel to hear Seattle University professors, staff and faculty discuss their experiences navigating their career fields as a neurodivergent or disabled person.

Snacks will be provided. Have any questions? Please contact zdar@seattleu.edu and agetz@seattleu.edu. 

Wellness and Health Promotion is excited to offer Mental Health First Aid free of charge to any Seattle University student, faculty or staff member. Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based program developed by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

Certified facilitators have trained more than 3 million people in US, and peer-reviewed studies offer strong evidence that Mental Health First Aiders are more knowledgeable and confident when it comes to identifying and helping an individual in distress. Mental Health First Aid uses community-specific scenarios, activities and videos to teach the skills needed to recognize and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges as well as how to provide initial support until appropriate professional help is received.

Participants must complete all nine hours of training (12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. across both days of training) to receive Mental Health First Aid certification. Available sessions are:

• Session 1. Thursday, April 25, and Friday, April 26, from 12:30 to 5 p.m.
• Session 2. Monday, May 6, and Monday, May 13, from 12:30 to 5 p.m.

Space is limited to 30 participants. Please complete this form to request a spot.

If you have any questions, please e-mail Dr. Chris Fiorello, Director of Wellness and Health Promotion, at wellness@seattleu.edu.

Staff and faculty are invited to help find candidates for open staff positions. Please view the full list of postings or check out this week’s highlighted opportunities: 

Academic Specialist: Records and Data Management (Office of the Registrar)

Director of Alumni Engagement (Alumni Engagement)

Thursday, April 25, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Pigott Auditorium
Register to save your seat

Join the Albers School of Business and Economics as it hosts its final guest of the 2023–24 Albers Executive Speaker Series, PCC Community Markets President and CEO Krish Srinivasan. He will be sharing his experiences leading the country’s largest cooperative retail grocer in his talk, “People, Planet, and Profit: A CEO's Perspective on Leading a Food Co-op Steeped in Community and Purpose.”

Tuesday, April 30, 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Register for the workshop on Tockify

Faculty: Are you looking for alternatives to expensive textbooks for your students? Do you want to integrate more free learning content into your courses? In this free workshop, the Center for Digital Learning & Innovation (CDLI) will help you navigate the world of Open Educational Resources (OERs) and get you started finding free resources for your courses—including textbooks, journals, assignments, activities, assessments, images and video!

This event is co-sponsored by the Open Education Task Force.

Thursday, April 25
5:30 p.m. reception; 6 p.m. event begins
Wyckoff Auditorium, Engineering Building
Register here
Appetizers and refreshments will be served before and after the event. 

Please join in commemorating the launch of the Department of Public Affairs and Nonprofit Leadership with this special event featuring Deepa Iyer, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Building Movement Project and writer. The event will be moderated by Dr. Maureen Emerson Feit and Dr. Rashmi Chordiya and will include a student-led panel discussion and an interactive exhibit on Iyer’s Social Change Ecosystems framework.  

“NOVA” Opening Reception
Thursday, April 18, 4:30–7:30 p.m.
Vachon Gallery (Fine Arts Building)

Join in celebrating the hard work of the 2024 Design Cohort at the opening reception for “NOVA.”

From the exhibition team:

“‘NOVA’ is a culmination of our hard work and evolution as designers at Seattle University. A nova is an astronomical event that translates to ‘new star’ in Latin. 

“While coming up with a theme that represented us as a cohort, we first landed on the idea of a constellation, with each of us as unique, individual stars unified. This evolved into 'NOVA,' symbolizing us as new stars in the professional design world. Like a nova’s light suddenly brightens, we wanted to highlight the best of our work in the Design program. 

“The explosion of light reflects our launch into different artistic directions as our time as a cohort together comes to an end. 'NOVA' celebrates the 2024 Student Design Cohort as 14 individual designers and their growth in this senior exhibition."

The exhibition runs through May 8. Learn more at Arts at Seattle U.

Members of the Laudato Si’ Action Plan Priority 2 Zero Waste Working Group are partnering with the Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN) to complete Seattle University’s first comprehensive campus-wide waste assessment. The information gathered will enable SU to develop a strategic action plan striving toward zero waste. This is a university goal adopted as part of our sustainability commitment and institutional participation in the Laudato Si' Action Platform.

Celebrate Earth Day by deepening your connection with the more than human world through this short online prayer video from the Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement. Join with practitioners from our SU community and beyond in this meditative prayer for the earth.

The Procurement Office, Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability and Laudato Si’ Action Platform are seeking community members’ feedback on a draft Policy on Sustainable Procurement. The policy is intended as a resource to facilitate purchasing products and services in a manner that minimizes the harmful effects on people and the planet. The draft policy is available for review on the university’s Policies page. Please direct any questions or comments to Associate Director of Sustainability Yolanda Cieters at cietersy@seattleu.edu.

Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Parking Lot P6 at 1313 E Columbia St.

Looking to discard unwanted or expired prescription medications and shred documents you no longer need? The Department of Public Safety is working with the Seattle Police Department to host DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and a Shredathon at three drop-off/drive-thru locations including SU.

Shredding requirements:

• Limit of three bags/boxes per vehicle.
• Box size requirements: 10 L x 12 W x 15 H or smaller.
• Plastic Items such as credit cards, notebooks and compact disks CANNOT be accepted.
• Documents should be free of paper clips and other metal (staples do not need to be removed).

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will dispose of the unwanted medications. Iron Mountain Shredding is generously donating their shredding services. Canned and dry goods will also be accepted to benefit the local community.

For more information, contact Nikki Maryanski in the Department of Public Safety at drm@seattleu.edu.

Assistant Professor in Film and Media Studies Benjamin Schultz-Figueroa, PhD, was awarded a Summer Stipend from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The stipend will support Dr. Schultz-Figueroa's project, Beastly Futures: Multispecies Documentary in the Time of Mass Extinction, a book on the ways documentary films about animals have evolved as makers and viewers come to better understand environmental change and the mass extinction of species.

A highly competitive program, this is the first time in more than 20 years that an SU faculty has received a Summer Stipend. More information on this award can be found in the NEH Press Release and on the application process on the OSP webpage.

Read more at Animal Stories on The Newsroom.

Tuesday, April 23, 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Via Zoom (link provided in advance): RSVP HERE

The Office of Sponsored Projects is excited to partner with the Office of Strategic Initiatives to host a series of Lightning Talks in AY23-24 centered on the three thematic curricular priorities under our Reignited Strategic Directions, Goal 1: Reimagine and Revise our Curriculum. The third and final installment in spring quarter will highlight faculty scholarship related to racial injustice and widening economic inequality.

Learn from six colleagues from across Seattle University's colleges whose scholarship embodies this theme, including:

• Janie Ng, Albers School of Business & Economics | Empowering our Community: Fostering Growth for Underserved Small Businesses
• Janet Hayatshahi, College of Arts & Sciences | Nation of Immigrants
• David Fainstein, College of Education | From Community to Classroom: Supporting School Tutors with Instructional Science
• Gayle Robinson, College of Nursing | Engaging in Reckoning with Racism in Nursing
• Mark Jordan, College of Science & Engineering | The Seattle University Math and Science Scholars: A Program for Improving Outcomes in STEM for Low Income Students
• Danieli Evans, School of Law | Belonging, Equity, and the Law

The application deadline for students to present at the Student Research and Creativity Conference (SRCCon) ’24 has been extended to April 22. Students can apply at the SRCCon website.

SRCCon, which showcases undergraduate and graduate student research and creativity presentations, takes place Friday, May 10, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. 

Presenting at SRCCon offers many benefits including:

• Campus involvement and networking opportunities with peers and faculty.
• Provides valuable real-world experience, potentially confirming career paths or unveiling new ones.
• Strengthens scholarship and graduate school applications.
• Provides a platform for personal growth and confidence-building.

Friday, April 19, noon–1 p.m.
LeRoux Conference Center (+ virtual option)
Register here
This free hybrid event includes lunch with in-person registration or livestream viewing from anywhere.

What factors are most likely to influence Indian Americans’ voting patterns and political beliefs? In the coming 2024 election year, with South Asian candidates on the ballot and American democracy in transition, these questions matter more than ever. Join the RoundGlass India Center Indian American Community Services for this timely event.

Karthik Ramakrishnan is professor of public policy at the University of California, Riverside and the founder of AAPI Data, a nationally recognized publisher of demographic data and policy research on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. He has published many articles and seven books, including most recently, Citizenship Reimagined (Cambridge, 2020) and Framing Immigrants (Russell Sage, 2016), and has written dozens of op-eds and appeared in nearly 3,000 news stories. 

Wednesday, April 24
4:30–5 p.m. | Reception
5–6:30 p.m. | Lecture and Q&A
Rolfe Community Room, Advancement and Alumni Building

Dr. Ryan W. Booth (member of the Upper Skagit Tribe), a postdoctoral fellow in the History Department at Washington State University–Pullman, presents this year’s Al Mann Lecture.

Dr. Booth researches Jesuit Native American Boarding Schools in the Pacific Northwest to examine the historical legacy of the boarding schools and to help identify gravesite locations and student identities within historical archives. In this talk, Dr. Booth examines the history of the Jesuit-Native American boarding school at DeSmet, Idaho as a case study. The boarding school among the Schitsu’umsh (Coeur d’Alene) operated from 1878-1974.

Friday, May 10, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Virtual: Register here  

All are invited to this free online event to explore the fascinating intersection between technology, criminology and criminal justice.

Sunday, April 28, 2 p.m.
Oberto Commons (Sinegal Center)

"Dancing in a Circle" will bring to life many of the stories in Nobuko Miyamoto’s memoir, Not Yo’ Butterfly, with an opportunity to dialogue with her as she "talks story."

Rev. Don Castro will introduce the program with a short chanting invocation, explanation of the Buddhist meaning of “mottainai” and introduction of Nobuko. Bon odori dancing including Nobuko’s “Mottainai” and “Kangie” will be presented for all to join and dance in a circle at the conclusion.

Donations from this event will go to Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple to support ongoing educational programs.

Saturday, April 27, 7 p.m.
Pigott Auditorium

Nobuko Miyamoto’s 120,000 Stories is a multi-generational journey with stories that address issues such as race, gender, multiculturalism and climate change. Miyamoto is an iconic dancer, creative artist and activist, who will be presenting an intimate concert through storytelling of her amazing life. She will be accompanied by music director Derek Nakamoto and guest artists Chic Street Man and Francis Wong.

Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple is grateful to Miyamoto for presenting this concert, hosted by Seattle University as a fundraiser for the Seattle Betsuin Arson Fire Restoration Fund.

On New Year’s Eve, SU's neighbors at the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple were victimized by arson. The damage was significant, including the loss of an invaluable archive. It will be many months before they can open again and the costly repairs have begun. Donations from this event will go directly to support the repairs.

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,  

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Burkhard Englert has been appointed the Department Chair and Amazon Endowed Chair of Computer Science. Dr. Englert currently serves as the Department Chair of Computer Science at Norfolk State University after being in the same position at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. He will begin at Seattle University on July 1. 

Dr. Englert brings a wealth of experience and a long track record of leadership, advocacy and scholarly excellence to the College of Science and Engineering. Those skills will be vital given the increasing popularity of computing programs, including software engineering, cybersecurity, information and data science and computer engineering, among others. 

As the Department Chair and Amazon Chair, Dr. Englert will be able to support the growth of our existing as well as new programs, both at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Additionally he will help address persistent issues of equity and access in collaboration with the faculty and staff in the college. His vision for growth of computer science as a discipline as well as infusing computing around the campus is aligned with our strategic directions. 

As the Computer Science Department Chair/Amazon Endowed Chair, Dr. Englert will be tasked with overseeing the implementation of a strategic vision for the department while supporting and hiring faculty. He also looks forward to developing partnerships both within Seattle University and in industry to help attract students from diverse backgrounds. He said he is most excited to work with our outstanding faculty as they take on the challenge of an ever-changing cyber world, including the increasing use of and issues around artificial intelligence.

“What I really like is Seattle University is always looking forward and the leadership deeply understands the challenges and opportunities that we face,” Dr. Englert said. “I’m excited to be part of that commitment. The faculty is outstanding. They see what the problems are and they aren’t running away, they’re looking to see what has to happen next. It won’t be easy, but it’s exciting to be a part of. I think it’s a perfect fit.”

Beginning his career with teaching positions at UCLA and California State University Long Beach (CSULB), Dr. Englert did a two-year stint as coordinator of Graduate Programs in the College of Engineering at Cal State Long Beach. At Long Beach he also served as the Department Chair for Biomedical Engineering and Computer Engineering/Computer Science before moving on to Dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado, where he also served as Special Assistant of the Provost.

Dr. Englert has been honored for his work several times, including the CSULB Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award, the Robert Sorgenfrey Distinguished Teaching Award for the Department of Mathematics at UCLA, the Louis J. DeLuca Memorial Award as outstanding Teaching Assistant in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Connecticut as well as the CSULB Leadership Fellow and the Project NExT (New Experiences in Teaching) Fellow from the Southern California Section of the Mathematical Association of America.

Dr. Englert has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from University of Tübingen in Germany, a Master’s in Mathematics and a Master’s in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Connecticut and a PhD in Mathematics (Theoretical Computer Science) from the University of Connecticut.

Much of Dr. Englert’s research involves issues of cybersecurity as well as machine learning, distributed computing, distributed algorithms and transportation network modeling and optimization. He has presented at conferences around the world.

I thank the Search Committee, whose members are listed below, for their hard work in leading a successful process that led us to adding a fantastic candidate to our team. Please join me in giving a very warm welcome to Dr. Englert. We are looking forward to his arrival later this summer.  

Sincerely, 
 

Amit Shukla, PhD
Dean, College of Science and Engineering

Computer Science Department Chair and Amazon Endowed Chair Search Committee  

• Amit Shukla, Dean, College of Science and Engineering (Committee Co-Chair)
• Wan Bae, Professor, Computer Science (Committee Co-Chair)
• Braxton Cuneo, Assistant Professor, Computer Science
• Sheila Oh, Associate Teaching Professor, Director of Computer Science Fundamentals Certificate Program
• Narissa Tsuboi, Graduate Research Assistant
• Jeff Boersema, Mathematics Department Chair