A note from Dale Soden, professor of history

You may remember that we tried to get you to think about the idea of vocation on more than one occasion while you were undergraduates.  We talked about the importance of identifying your gifts and following your passions.  In almost every case, and this is still true, students want to apply it to their choice of a major or a career.

All of that makes sense, but I continue to think that there are a couple of ways that may be as important or perhaps even more important than what career should I pursue.

I just got back from a funeral of an 86 year-old gentleman, World War II veteran, who lived up in Chewelah but ended up coming to probably more Whitworth public lectures with his wife than any other person I can remember.  His memorial service was striking for what it said about what mattered to him and how he thought about vocation.  He indeed had several “careers” but he developed a passion for books, rocks, ideas, and teaching English to refugees.  He faithfully taught English as a second language at his church for many years.  At his service, scores of people wanted simply to say thank you to him and his wife for their simple but powerful sense of calling and vocation to the people around them.

Vocation is all about finding joy in doing something for others.  Vocation provides a sense of meaning and purpose for what it is that we love to do.  In the oft-quoted words of Frederick Buechner, “the vocation for you is the one in which your deep gladness and the world’s deep need meet.”  So it’s never too early to take stock of what you are doing or what you might do for others because you love doing it.  I guarantee that your life will be the richer for it.

On behalf of my faculty colleagues, thanks for staying connected to Whitworth.  We miss you.

by Josie Camarillo, ’14

Though he first began dancing as a child, it wasn’t until he was in college that Rick Davis, ’03, really caught the “dance fever.” Now, Davis, a native of Tigard, Ore., keeps in step in Portland, Ore., working as a technician by day and teaching dance nights and weekends.

As a competitive dancer, he won second place with his partner at the 2010 USA Dance National DanceSports Championships in the Adult Silver International Standard Division (Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep). Since July 2012, Davis has also been ranked as an Intermediate level competitor in West Coast Swing through the World Swing Dance Council. We caught up with him to learn more about his passion for dance and where that has taken him in life.

Can you tell us a little bit about your time at Whitworth?

I majored in computer science information systems following the networks track, and my minor was in theatre.  I was also in the Whitworth and jazz choirs.  I was the first swing dance team leader for Jubilation, and I participated in many of the other Jubilation dance groups, too.  The most influential classes for me were all of those ballroom dance courses I took over and over and over again with Janie Edwards.  Janie’s spark for life, people, and a love for dancing inspired me to pursue a future with dance.  My senior year, I had a really great time serving as an RA in Stewart Hall, and also acting as president of the newly formed Ballroom Dance Club.

How did Whitworth play a role in your love for dance? How long have you had a passion for dance?

People ask me all the time how I became so good at ballroom dancing, and I tell them it’s because I spent four years practicing the same basic patterns two to three times a week in college.  It was fast and easy for me to learn because I had previous jazz, tap, and ballet experience from my childhood.  During my first two years though, I was terribly embarrassed to label myself as a dancer.  With so many gender biases about dance, I was scared that my masculinity and sexuality would perhaps be unfairly questioned by others.  Eventually, I was able to fully embrace my love for dancing and decided that it was my true calling, and therefore had no reason to feel any shame.  I believe it was my junior year at Whitworth when I attended my first dance competition.  After that I had “the fever,” and it never went away.

Rick and a partner performing the tango.

Can you tell us a little bit about your jobs as a technician and as a dance instructor? Have you always wanted to teach dance?

I work as a technician at David C. Smith and Associates, which is an aerial photography and digital mapping small business in Portland, Ore.  I specialize in scanning high resolution digital color images of aerial photos, and I also use software for making seamless orthophoto maps.  It’s a very specialized business. This past summer, I mapped a large section of the Columbia River Gorge, which spanned an area covering both The Dalles and Multnomah Falls in one seamless high resolution image.

For a long time I did not want to teach dancing, because I thought that if it became my work, I would no longer enjoy it.  That has not been the case for me, as my passion for dance has skyrocketed ever since it has become my secondary profession, and I will always consider myself a student of dance.  Currently, I teach ballroom, swing, and Latin dancing in Beaverton, Ore. at Tatyana’s Ballroom.  I teach group classes, private lessons, and also host dance parties there as an independent instructor with Linda Springstead, a well-known master teacher and owner of DanceWell Ballroom.  Additionally, I volunteer to teach West Coast Swing for the Portland Swing Dance Club.

What is it like leading a “double life” working as both a technician and a dancer/dance instructor?

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, but ultimately I love what I do.  Both of my jobs have a lot of flexibility in hours now, so I can spend as much or little time as I want focusing on training and promoting my dance activities.  Usually I am very calculated in how I proportion my time between lessons and other work.  One of the best things about dance is that it is one of the most natural ways in life to release stress, socialize, improve memory, and exercise all at once, which is fantastic for overall health.

Rick and a partner competing in the Northwest Regional dance competition.

What would you suggest to people who are interested in taking dance classes?

Don’t have high expectations.  Instead, have fun.  Never compare yourself to others.  Only compare your progress to your own previous abilities.  Frustration and negativity is the number one obstacle to learning anything.  I don’t believe there is such thing as a natural born dancer.  There are those who frequently train and practice, and those who don’t.  Another piece of advice I would say it to not get hung up on mistakes or perfection.  Everybody makes mistakes.  It’s how well the dancer recovers from mistakes, and the attitude the dancer puts forth that makes the difference between mediocre and excellent.

What advice do you have for other young college graduates who are pursuing their passions?

This is the social media age, which is the evolution of social networking.  Be active and diligent in constantly promoting your goals everywhere.  Don’t be afraid to dream big, and share those dreams with the entire world.  I’m amazed when I find out sometimes years later that somebody I met at a dance has been reading my online posts all along.  Often times, opportunities come up simply because somebody saw a picture or a video I posted on Facebook. Everyone I meet in my life wants me to succeed, and often times they are willing to help me reach those goals as if I just put the word out.

If you would like to learn more about Rick’s dance classes, please, visit his website at www.abandonedadventures.com/rickdavis

Lopez in Obama’s Pasadena campaign office.

In August 2012, Luis Lopez, ’09, received an email asking if he was interested in applying to be a fellow with the Obama campaign and within a few short weeks, he was working long hours to propel the President’s reelection efforts.

By September 8, the Obama campaign promoted him to one of five Deputy Regional Field Directors for Region 5. This region includes Pasadena, Calif. and the surrounding areas all the way down to San Diego. Lopez was one of two directors working out of Pasadena.  Lopez had always wanted to work on a political campaign, but never took the opportunity until after he graduated with his master’s degree.

Raised in Los Angeles, Calf., Lopez was recruited to Whitworth by his high school friend Alyson Tucker,’07. Lopez graduated from Whitworth with a degree in political science. He was involved in ASWU, the Whitworthian, the Natsihi, theatre, radio, and providing campus tours to prospective students. Lopez is also very thankful to have had the opportunity to study abroad in England, Scotland, and China during his four years at Whitworth and notes professors Dale Soden, Julia Stronks, John Yoder, and Patrick Van Inwegen all as being influential during his undergraduate days.

In July 2011, Lopez began his studies at Syracuse University’s television, radio, and film master’s program. As part of his program, Lopez was required to have an internship, so after graduation from Syracuse in June 2012, he traveled across the world to Mumbai, India.

Sunrise at the Taj Mahal.

“All of my classmates looked at internships either in L.A. or somewhere on the East Coast.  I wanted a unique experience, so I sought out programs that took place abroad,” Lopez says. “Once I found out about the India internship program, I knew I had to take the opportunity.”

Lopez’ internship in India was a particular highlight.  As an intern in the television industry, Lopez worked on a show called Coke Studio @MTV and transcribed episodes of a makeover show to help translate the show into other languages.  Lopez notes that “the most beneficial aspect of the internship was observing and seeing how an Indian television show operated.”

Upon returning to the United States in July, he hunted for a job until he received a position with the Obama campaign.  As a fellow with the campaign, Lopez had certain goals to meet each week like meeting a quota of hours making phone calls. Then, as the Deputy Regional Field Director, he primarily trained others on the campaign and contacted locals in the Pasadena area to ask them to volunteer.

“The most rewarding aspect of the job was working with the volunteers that would come into our office,” Lopez says. “It just blew me away to see people so dedicated to a cause!”

Lopez with Valerie Jarrett.

Other high points of the job included meeting a number of celebrities and being introduced to senior advisor to the president, Valerie Jarrett. Lopez was also present at a fundraiser in Los Angeles where there were appearances by President Obama himself, Stevie Wonder, Bon Jovi, Jennifer Hudson, and Earth, Wind, and Fire, among other celebrities.

On the other end of the spectrum, working an average of 12 hours each day, seven days per week, was simply exhausting for Lopez and others on the campaign. It was the first time that he had a job that demanded so much time. Now that the election is over, Lopez is glad that the long hours of making phone calls are over. “We did what we set out to do,” he says, “which was to re-elect the President.”

Lopez is not sure what is next for him, but hopes to go back to school soon to earn his PhD and then teach at the college level.

Dustin Benac

Story: it is that which captivates us, that which can move us beyond expression, that which speaks to our soul in a language it did not know.  In his book, Many Colors, Soong-Chan Rah writes, “The power of story is the power to change how we view the world and our place in it.”  The mystical intertwining of plot, characters, and events, the rhythmic cadence of a mesmerizing voice around a fire, the whisper of school children, the gentle expression of a mother to her child.  It has the power to move men and women to action, elicit the most tender emotions, and alter the trajectory of one’s life.  From our youngest memorable moments to our closing hours on earth, story surrounds us.

For the last two years I have had the privilege to listen to and tell the stories of others.  Stories of resisting racial injustice during Apartheid South Africa, fighting tirelessly for the abolition of nuclear arms, looking for hope on the streets of New York, running while two students fire on their peers at Columbine High School; these are some of the plot lines and for brief moments I have been the privileged recipient of these stories.  Somewhere in this process, I’ve been transformed.

This journey began my junior year at Whitworth when Dr. Terry McGonigal asked me to collaborate with him on his forthcoming book about Shalom Theology.  Although I did study Theology, I was an unlikely candidate as my knowledge of shalom did not extend much beyond knowing that it was Hebrew for peace.  Yet my task was straightforward: first, to provide “student perspective” on the academic content, and second, to apply the content by means of personal applications and shalom biographies.

The latter seemed safe and uncomplicated—identify, interview, and write biographies about individuals who exemplify a particular theme of shalom.  I didn’t realize it would change me.

My first call was a halting conversation with Whitworth Alumnus Jena Lee Nardella about her work with Blood:Water Mission.  As she spoke about her experience starting Blood:Water Mission with Jars of Clay, living a life with one foot firmly rooted in Nashville and the other in the Savannahs of Africa, I found myself profoundly humbled and thankful for her story; I began to see differently.

Fly fishing in North Carolina

As I listened to their stories, my vision expanded. Tyler Wigg-Stevenson from Two-Futures Project shared about his commitment to nuclear abolition, Kevin Parker who was at Columbine during the Columbine shootings shared about this experience and what later led him to the Washington State House of Representatives, Soong-Chan Rah shared about the joys and challenges of leading an interracial church, Paul-Gordon Chandler shared about serving in Cairo, Egypt during the Egyptian revolution and his wonderful Muslim friends who protected him, Peter Storey shared about his role in the Anti-Apartheid movement in south Africa and his profound encounter with John Wesley.  Though these were the stories of men and women who had done great things, they didn’t see it as such.  For them, each day was a day of faithfulness and service.

As I listened to their stories, I encountered wonder in both the ordinary and painful.  Equally captivating were the stories of men and women whose lives were characterized by everyday gratitude and faithfulness, even amidst incredible suffering.   A father shared about losing his daughter, wife, and mother in a single car accident and the decisions he made to love his children even after unbearable loss.  A young man shared about how he declined a chance to play pro-football in order to work as a train conductor and take care of his family.  A couple shared about losing their 18-year-old son, the grief that followed, and how today they are sustained by a new hope for the resurrection.  In everyday places, in everyday neighborhoods, these stories are being written.

As I listened to their stories, I saw Jesus Christ take form.  With each story I was struck by a profound sense of the faithfulness, vision, and compassion that animated each of these individuals’ lives.  I learned it was not by chance as each shared how their commitment to Jesus informed both their everyday decisions.  I realized it was this commitment that enabled them to live with distinct zeal, passion, and faithfulness.

As I listened to their stories, I was transformed.  I began to understand my story in relation to theirs.  As I encountered similar circumstances I found myself recalling their decisions, their struggles, their faithfulness.  In this there was a wonderful security in knowing that I was not alone.

Story: it is the fabric of our lives.

Dustin is a graduate student at Duke Divinity School in Durham, N.C.  To learn more about Dustin and the forthcoming book about Shalom Theology, follow Dustin on Twitter @dustindbenac and the book @worldpeace_now.

After working as a reporter in her hometown of Elko, Nev. for a year after graduating from Whitworth, Andrea Glover, ’11, felt drawn to the field of social work because of how the profession values the stories and experiences of each individual and because of the diversity of a social worker’s responsibilities.

Glover in the window of a World War II bunker on Inchcolm Island, outside of Edinburgh.

Having always had an interest in the British social welfare system, it did not take long for Glover to begin researching graduate programs in the United Kingdom. She finally decided on Scotland’s University of Edinburgh, where she knew she would have the opportunity to work alongside the School of Social and Political Science’s faculty who are frequently asked by the Scottish Parliament to consult on draft framework policies.  Glover also works for the University of Edinburgh’s Alumni and Development Office, contacting alumni to ask for donations to the Edinburgh Fund, which provides bursaries and grants to students.

Glover graduated from Whitworth with a degree in journalism and mass communication and a minor in visual communications.  She also hosted a Whitworth.fm radio show with her roommate, Felicity Brigham, ’12, led Young Life at Salk Middle School, and traveled to New York City and Washington, DC on Whitworth’s Media Impact trip led by Jim McPherson, and spent two of her years at Whitworth as the production manager of The Whitworthian campus newspaper.

Glover feels blessed to have had the opportunities that she did while living in Spokane. She appreciates how the communication department, and especially Professor Jim McPherson, challenged and encouraged her during her time at Whitworth.

Standing with a friend on the wall of the ruins of St. Andrews Castle.

Living in Scotland has certainly been a new experience for Glover. She lives in on the Royal Mile, one block away from Edinburgh Castle, in a flat that was built in the 1600’s. She loves living in a historical, international city where she can walk across the cobblestones to class and hear dozens of languages. It still feels a bit like home though with a Starbucks on nearly every corner and weather similar to Spokane’s. Glover says it is the small things that usually remind her that she is no longer in the United States though. Cilantro is called coriander. Zucchini is referred to as courgette. Measurements are in milligrams and litres (which Glover still has not gotten used to). Stores are much smaller, and in order to satisfy a craving for pumpkin anything, Glover has to seek out a specialty American shop, because pumpkin puree is not sold anywhere else.

The most difficult part of studying abroad for Glover is the lack of a support system. “I’d imagine this is a universal feeling when you move to a new place,” she says. “But moving to another country, studying on a professional course, and having to relearn all the statutory laws and responsibilities of social workers as well as the set of unwritten, cultural aspect…was quite daunting the first six weeks.”

Glover and friends at the ruins of St. Andrews Castle.

Despite missing her American friends and families, Glover’s advice to anyone who wants to study abroad after undergrad is to try to bond with people of other nationalities. She says it will greatly enrich any study abroad experience, and it has allowed her to be more adept at working with different cultures and viewpoints.

Glover is set to graduate with her master’s in social work in September 2014. After graduating, she plans to move to England in hopes of joining a Community Mental Health Team to provide specialized services to individuals with mental health needs. Someday, she wants to find a position in academia as well as to return to the United States. Glover has found that the United Kingdom practices a very successful inter-agency model and would like to eventually be able to apply what she learns abroad to further good practice in social work in the United States.

Born in South Korea and raised from toddlerhood in the Seattle area, Kyle Kim, ’11, knew since high school that he wanted to work in international journalism. This was a dream that he continued to pursue as an Act Six student leader at Whitworth. Kim majored in journalism and mass communications. He also worked as a cultural diversity advocate in Arend and as staff member of the Whitworthian newspaper during his time at Whitworth. In addition, Kim spent a year in Australia doing a media program through ISEP.

His most influential class during his time at Whitworth was a general introduction to political science class with Julia Stronks. Kim says that class helped with life lessons beyond academia and reaffirmed his natural proclivity toward inquisitiveness and critical thinking, which have been essential to his career as a journalist.

“At first it was scary knowing that if I publish something online it’s going to be viewed instantaneously by a large number of people,” Kim says. “So just making sure not to make any mistakes is part of the challenge every day.”

Though fond of Whitworth, he also felt that Spokane was too small for him. Kim loves living and working in the fast-paced locale of Boston.  He loves big cities and says that in many ways Boston is like his hometown of Seattle. Having a bicoastal family, Kim frequently travels back and forth across the country between the two cities.

Kim’s advice to other young alumni pursuing their vocational dreams is to “find people in your industry” and to network even while still in college. Especially in his competitive field, Kim says that having practical skills and being aggressive are more valuable than earning a 4.0 grade point average. He found it essential to find and pursue good mentors at Whitworth and beyond to launch him into the position he has today.

A typical editorial meeting at GlobalPost offices in Boston, where top stories of the day, updates from correspondents and discussing future projects take place.

Did you know…10 recent Whitworth alums currently work for GreenCupboards?  Today we’re highlighting three of them, all from the Class of ’11: Hannah Kinnier, Kenny Dill, and Kyle Scott.

GreenCupboards Whitworthians: Kneeling (left to right): Hannah Kinnier, ’11, Aaron Farance, ’12, Kenny Dill, ’11. Standing (left to right): Mitchell Bailey, ’11, Will Higgins, ’11, Aaron Newby, ’11, Amber (Todd) Darling, ’12, Kyle Scott, ’11, Kris Mayhew, ’10. Not pictured: Luke Laughlin, ’12.

Based in Spokane’s Gonzaga neighborhood, GreenCupboards was founded in 2008 by Gonzaga alums Josh Neblett and Sarah Wollnick, now married. They won the regional university

business plan competition with the idea of selling eco-friendly products online. With the help of their Gonzaga University professor, Tom Simpson, Neblett’s “glorified science project” turned into a profitable and rapidly growing business. The company sells over 15,000 green products on their website annually and continues to seek out new brands with which to work.

These products are listed under a variety of “eco-traits” including vegan, free trade, organic, kosher, handmade, energy efficient, and cruelty-free. The company’s goal is to become the leading online retailer of eco-friendly products.

Kinnier hails from Portland, Ore. and graduated from Whitworth with a marketing degree and an athletic coaching minor. She participated in track and cheerleading as well as working as the ASWU special events coordinator. Kinnier was also involved in intramurals.

She is GreenCupboards’ cost-per-click coordinator, in charge of non-social media and paid online advertising. “Although I am technically working a job within my major, we didn’t really study online advertising in class,” says Kinnier. “But I feel like I have been able to take the general marketing mindset that was molded during my four years and apply it to every aspect of my job.”

Dill was involved in the ultimate Frisbee club during his four years at Whitworth.  He was also a resident assistant in Stewart and still remains in contact with Landon Crecelius, ’04, a former resident director and Whitworth’s current Student Success Advocate, and with Dick Mandeville, Whitworth’s vice president of student life.  Dill is originally from Kauai, Hawaii and also graduated with a marketing degree.

“Whitworth gave me the ability to walk into something completely new and feel confident” Dill says. Everything he loves about GreenCupboards can be summed up in one word: culture. “It’s not the type of company where people just show up, put in their eight hours, and leave,” he says. Dill works as GreenCupboards’ United Kingdom sales manager.

Scott is from Everson, Wash. and graduated with a degree in speech communication and minors in leadership studies and philosophy. He played on the Frisbee team and participated in intramurals. He was also a resident assistant in McMillan, sang in the men’s chorus, and played guitar on the Hosanna worship team. “As cliché as it may sound, a Whitworth liberal arts education really does teach you how to learn,” he says of how Whitworth prepared him for GreenCupboards. “I can adjust quickly and competently to whatever the situation requires.”

Scott is a member of GreenCupboards’ merchandising team.  Reflecting on the youth of the company, he says, “There aren’t old traditions and ways of doing things.  This keeps things interesting and can become a hindrance to efficiency as there isn’t just ‘one best way’ to go about completing projects.”

Each of these three Whitworthians has a different piece of advice for current student and recent graduates who are interested in or currently working for young companies:

“My advice would be to come in with an open mind,” Kinnier says.

“Be proactive,” says Scott. “Don’t wait for a job to come to you. Actively look for tasks and complete them.”

“Get to know the people around you,” says Dill. “Whether you want to start your own business or be a part of someone else’s, college is a great place to build your network.”

…you know that this will be a great event.

If you’re in the Seattle area, grab a friend and join Assistant Vice President for Diversity and Intercultural Relations Lawrence A. Burnley, Ph.D., for dessert and conversation as we hear his presentation, “An Inclusive Education of the Mind and Heart: Preparing Global Citizens for Christ,” on Friday, Nov. 2.

Larry’s presentation will help guests to understand the university’s commitment to intercultural competency and will engage guests in dynamic conversation and thoughtful reflection.

Join us from 7-8:45 p.m. in the Murray Boardroom in the Wheelock Student Center at the University of Puget Sound, 1500 North Warner Street, Tacoma, Wash.

Cost: $8. Hey, if finances are an issue, let us know, we’ll see what we can do to help you out.  Please click here to register by Wednesday, Oct. 31. Registration is required. 

Questions? Email alumni@whitworth.edu.

Among Whitworth’s new arrivals this fall, you’ll find three “Tenners” in the psychology department:  lecturers Cara Bellwood, ’08, and Joelle Czirr, ’06, and assistant professor Elizabeth “Bethy” Campbell, ’05. We thought we’d introduce you to these Whitworth boomerangs by sharing a bit about their backgrounds, what they’ve been up to since graduation, their mutual love for Tigger, and what brought them back to the pines.

Cara Bellwood, ’08

Birth place: Corvallis, Ore.

Hobbies: Playing and coaching rugby, cooking, knitting, crocheting, reading, camping

What is your life motto? It’s not what you do or where you go, it’s the relationships you make.

Best high school class subject: Psychology; Anatomy & Physiology

What have you been up to since you graduated from Whitworth? I moved back to my hometown of McMinnville, Ore., for a year while applying to graduate schools. I attended a master’s program at the University of Oregon (GO DUCKS!) in Eugene, and then obtained a master’s degree in psychology (with specified interest in developmental-social-neuroscience) in June 2010. I taught multiple psychology course for Chemeketa Community College (Yamhill Valley Campus) in McMinnville, Ore., for two years. During this time I was also involved in coaching and running high-school boys’ and girls’ rugby teams.

What activities were you involved in at Whitworth? Hawaiian Club (4 years), Psi Chi (3 years), theme house residents (2 years).

Which Whitworth professor(s) most influenced you? Every faculty member in the psychology department contributed great influence over my time at Whitworth. The faculty member that influenced me the most is Dr. Patty Bruininks. I only had one year with her, but she encouraged me academically and personally. I was able to learn classroom management from her, that I now apply to my classes, obtained great research experience as a study coordinator, and went on to U of O, where she also studied.

What led you back to Whitworth to teach? I greatly enjoyed my time teaching at community college, but was debating what my next step would be. My interests in the field of psychology are in teaching and in research. I had kept in contact with the department over the years and learned of an open lecturer position. I had such a positive experience at Whitworth as a student that I was honored to get the position.

In transitioning from a Whitworth student to a professor, what’s changed for you? Having previous teaching experience has helped with the transition. My old professors (that I still look up to) have now become my colleagues. I am definitely at an interesting stage in my life where I am no longer a student, but not quite settled either. It’s an exciting time though!

What advice would you give to current Whitworth students? The same advice that someone gave me: make sure you find a balance in your academic and social life. Your studies should be your number one priority, but seeing friends and being involved in extra-curricular activities is also important. And sleep – make sure you get sleep.

Is there anything else you’d like to add that you feel readers should know? I am happy to be back in Spokane. I’m looking forward to meeting students and being involved in the Whitworth community.

Joelle Czirr, ’06

Birth place: Orange County, Calif.

Favorite music: I’m a sucker for pop music! I love anything from Gwen, Katy Perry, and of course, Britney Spears.

Favorite animal: dogs – always dogs

Guilty pleasure: The Twilight books…and the movies

Best vacation ever: Riding bikes in Munich with my husband

What cartoon character best describes you? Probably Tigger. I tend to get extra excited about just about anything.

If you could try anything and not fail, what dream would you attempt? I would be a rock star or actress.

What is your life motto? Be graceful to yourself.

What have you been up to since you graduated from Whitworth? I worked as a youth director, missions coordinator, and assimilations coordinator at New Community Church in Spokane. A year after graduating I married my best friend from Whitworth, Jim Czirr. I then got a master of science in mental health counseling at Eastern Washington University while working as an aerobics instructor at OZ Fitness. I teach turbo kick, step, lift, RIPPED and cycle. After graduating from Eastern, I worked at Spokane Public Schools as a Family Mental Health Therapist working at Rogers High School and Bancroft School. Jim and I are also expecting a baby boy in the beginning of January!

What activities were you involved in at Whitworth? I played soccer at Whitworth for the first two years and volunteered as a junior high leader at Life Center church. I then began an internship with New Community Church as a part of the Certificate for Ministry program. I worked as a teacher’s assistant in a Spanish class for Senora Hernandez. I also worked as a research assistant for both Adrian Teo and James Waller.

Which Whitworth professors most influenced you? Dr. James Waller and Kim Hernandez. Dr. Waller was my academic advisor and I worked as a research assistant for him as well. Waller encouraged me to continue on in academia and taught me to be confident of my gifts and abilities. Kim Hernandez was like a mother to me during college. She and her husband took me in and mentored me and helped me process life.

Do you have any other Whitworth connections? My husband graduated from Whitworth and has worked for Whitworth for the past five years. He currently works for Institutional Advancement as a director of development. My sister Karina Boslet graduated from Whitworth seven years before me and worked at Whitworth as a resident director and in service learning. Finally, my cousin Briana Gordon attended Whitworth and graduated in 2004 with a nursing degree.

What advice would you give to current Whitworth students? Don’t worry about the grades, worry about the learning. Whitworth has so many opportunities for growth and learning and taking the easy way to get a better grade is never satisfying in the end. Soak up as much as you can for you and for no one else.

Elizabeth (Bethy) Campbell, ’05

Birth place: Spokane

Favorite book: The Grasshopper Trap by Patrick McManus. Hilarious!

Favorite quote: “A man has to work so hard so that something of his personality stays alive. A tomcat has it so easy, he has only to spray and his presence is there for years on rainy days.” -Albert Einstein

Favorite animal: Cats! I’m a crazy cat lady.

We’d be surprised to know that… My husband and I are avid geocachers and have found over 3500 caches. Geocaching is basically an outdoor treasure hunt. We use a handheld GPS device to locate containers, called geocaches, hidden all over the world. There are even a few hidden on Whitworth campus!

I collect… smashed pennies and amusingly-shaped stress balls

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Middle Earth

What cartoon character best describes you? Tigger from Winnie the Pooh because he’s curious and excited by his interests, goofy, caring, and… he’s a cat.

If you could try anything and not fail, what dream would you attempt? Make the Star Trek universe a reality, minus the interstellar conflicts.

If the whole world was listening, what would you say? “Thank you for all the good you contribute to this world. Let’s do more.”

If you could go on a road trip with anyone, who would you choose and where would you go? Doc Brown in the DeLorean and we’d go any when we wanted. “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.”

What have you been up to since you graduated from Whitworth? After graduation, I moved to Denton, Texas, where I earned my master’s and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from University of North Texas. During school, I also worked as a therapist and psychology instructor. In 2011, I moved back to Spokane and worked at Whitworth for a year as a lecturer in the psychology department and was promoted this year to assistant professor. My husband and fellow alum, Casey Pettitt, ‘04, and I got married in 2009. We just bought our first home and have nine-month-old twin boys: our kittens, Sagan and Ramsey.

What activities were you involved in at Whitworth? I double-majored in psychology and sociology. I was president of our Psi Chi chapter and played flute and piccolo in the wind symphony. I loved the trips and study abroad opportunities I had as a student: touring with the wind symphony in California and Hawaii, working at a psychology practicum in inner-city Chicago, learning about cultural anthropology in Oahu, and studying art in Rome and Munich.

Which Whitworth professors most influenced you? My psychology professors supported me through pivotal moments in my life as a student and continue to inspire me now as colleagues. Dr. Strauch inspired me to study at Whitworth; Dr. Wescombe encouraged me to consider graduate school; and Dr. Wiersma helped me discover my career path. It is through their outstanding dedication to teaching and mentoring that I discovered my vocation and model my own work with students.

What led you back to Whitworth to teach? As an alum, I know and value Whitworth’s outstanding education and transformative “mind and heart” mission. Having personally experienced how Whitworth transformed my life, I am eager to share this most amazing gift with my students. I was so eager, in fact, that I returned to Whitworth a week after I completed my graduate degree!

In transitioning from a Whitworth student to a professor, what’s changed for you? What has stayed the same? There are certainly a few more buildings and a few others are missing! My first question when I returned to campus was, “Where did the rest of the Village go?” But the important things about Whitworth remain the same: the community remains close-knit and incredibly supportive. The students are dedicated to learning and incredibly insightful, and they continue to inspire me each day.

What advice would you give to current Whitworth students? I encourage students to embrace Whitworth’s vision to have “courage at the crossroads.” Fearlessly seek answers to tough questions by opening your mind and heart to explore a broad range of perspectives and opportunities. Show empathy and compassion for each other while celebrating your similarities and differences.  … And have fun along the way!

At age 16, Kris Asleson, ’10, began to feel burdened by the inequalities between the United States and impoverished countries and even more so by the lack of exciting and relevant ways to engage the problem. Out of this need, Kris, along with two of his childhood best friends, formed Truth x Vision.

Founded in 2008, Truth x Vision, “the Charity of the Future,” began its mission to help some of the poorest people in the world. Truth x Vision uses pop culture to reach out to the youth of areas such as Ghana and Sierra Leone and then works to set up agricultural development projects to support the communities. Kris believes the pop culture aspect is vastly important to the relevancy of the charity.

“Everyone has a small section of their brain dedicated to charity, but a much larger space devoted to their lifestyle. If we could build our brand in a way that appealed to both areas, we believe we’d have access to a largely untapped and very thirsty spiritual market share.”

Kris and his team have worked though challenges to get Truth x Vision to the point it is today, but with faith and hard work, the organization is moving forward. Kris says, “We have had to consistently work at effectively sharing our story, but we are definitely gaining momentum. We aren’t there yet, but God has continued to affirm and reward our hard work, and it is very humbling.”

Whitworth was formative in Kris’ growth as a leader and in Truth x Vision’s beginning. He says, “Truth x Vision is a big idea and in college I didn’t really quite know how to handle it. I had a lot of growing up to do, and the culture of Whitworth really helped me stay focused through it all.” He names John Hengesh, Bill Robinson, and Jack Burns as mentors who have supported Truth x Vision as it has grown.

Truth x Vision’s most recent project is called the Ghana Development Initiative, which is targeting youth unemployment and the possibility for agricultural growth. Truth x Vision is using pop culture to reach the youth sector and to offer them economically sound ways to create a supplementary income as well as to nourish themselves by means of projects such as “Farm-in-a-Barrel,” which gives them miniature poultry farms to manage.

Kris and Benjamen Okyere, the Development Director from Ghana will soon be visiting Spokane to meet faculty and friends at Whitworth as well as to interview candidates for a Banquet Coordinator internship that Truth x Vision will be offering to Whitworth students.

When asked about the future of Truth x Vision, Kris is very hopeful and excited, “There are plenty of youth looking for positive, creative outlets, and Africa is a pretty big place, so we are hoping the party really starts to get loud over the next few  years, and after that—who knows!”

To learn more about Truth x Vision, or to get involved, please visit the Truth x Vision Facebook page, or visit their website.