The Beacon - Spring 2023

Impact Players

Dear friends,

I suppose my earliest recollection of the phrase “impact player” was in sport, where an athlete’s special effort would transcend the moment and propel themselves or their teams to victory.

I remember vividly, at the age of eleven, watching Jim Craig’s improbable, yet successful defense of the men’s U.S. Hockey Team’s goal against the favored Soviet Union on the way to winning the gold medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics. His extraordinary contribution led his team to unlikely success as sports commentator Al Michaels famously asked his audience, “Do you believe in miracles?”

High impact people, according Liz Wiseman, CEO of The Wiseman Group and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, allow their behavior to create “...a culture where people are deeply engaged, learning rapidly, and contributing to their fullest potential.” Through the years, I’ve been blessed to observe such people in churches, non-profit organizations, and businesses. I’ve benefited from impact players in and through family relationships and personal friendships. And professionally, I have certainly witnessed the benefits of impact players in university life.

On this campus these are people who, by the strength of their presence, talent, and faith, bring to life the mission of Bushnell University. Faculty and staff “continue to work out their salvation in fear and trembling, knowing that it is for God who works in them to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.”

(Philippians 2:12-13)

This edition of The Beacon is a modest effort at celebrating just a few of our impact players. You’ll read about students who shape the Bushnell experience by being faith-filled, creative contributors to our campus life. We acknowledge notable retirements which punctuate the enormous role that our faculty and staff play in advancing our mission. You’ll see how partner organizations and donors make us stronger by resourcing our work and mentoring our students. We also highlight alumni who take seriously their role as Beacons for life, proving that investing in Christ-centered higher education is a wonderful way to make an impact on the work of our Lord in the world.

Please read and enjoy. As you do, imagine yourself into the pages of this magazine and into the life of this University as an impact player. God is doing something extraordinary on this campus. Your committed contributions make our growing momentum even more encouraging.

Joseph D. Womack, Ed.D. President

Dr. Joseph Womack, President

Spring 2023

VISION + CALL = IMPACT

President

Joseph Womack ’89, Ed.D.

Vice Presidents

Gene De Young, MBA

Michael Fuller, M.A.

Reed Mueller, Ph.D.

Keith Potter ’84, D.Div (hon) ’11

Editor

Corynn Gilbert, Ph.D.

Contributors

Mason Delamarter ’23

Corynn Gilbert, Ph.D.

Ryan Melton, Ph.D.

Keith Potter ’84, D.Div (hon) ’11

Ali Savage, M.A.

Joseph Womack ’89, Ed.D.

Photography

Logan Adams, M.A.

Tom Boyd, AHM Brands

Lucas Pauly

Art Direction, Design, and Production

The Beacon is published by Bushnell University as an information service and is posted on the Bushnell University website. For information, call 541-684-7318. Readers are encouraged to submit text for publication via email to alumni@bushnell.edu or via mail to:

Office of Advancement

Attn: Corynn Gilbert, Editor 828 E. 11th Avenue

Eugene, OR 97401

Bushnell reserves the right to edit all copy. Articles should include names and class years (if applicable) for all individuals mentioned.

Need to Update Your Information?

Bushnell.edu/alumniupdate

Murdock Trust Fuels Vocational Exploration

A JOYOUS TURN

Kent Willocks Passes on His Penchant for “Sub-creating”

HOPE FOR THE HURTING PIZZA WITH THE PRESIDENT COACHING FOR LIFE

Our Growing Impact in Mental Health Care

Dr. Womack Makes the Case for Bushnell Mentoring and Teaching the Whole Student

Historic Grantors and Donors Give Goodrich Hall a Future

Bushnell’s School of Nursing Answers the Call

Song Nai Rhee Honors Program Gains Traction

Pastors Lead in the Venture Forward

Vision + Call = Impact

Murdock Trust Fuels Vocational Exploration

The Christian vision for a life well-lived is irrevocably tied to one’s ability to listen to God’s call. And yet “calling” can be a slippery concept to pin down in our lives, filled as they are with desires, both rightly ordered and not, duties that we embrace or shirk. In a contemporary culture ever redesigned to fill all our spare moments like spackle on a wall, our lives lack purchase for the Spirit to take hold. Discerning a calling takes time, energy, space, and community. It requires both work and rest, solitude and community, conversation and silence. Bushnell University has long been committed to creating a vibrant campus community intent on empowering purposeful graduates, each of whom has been given the opportunity to flourish.

It is a great privilege to partner with other organizations for the same purpose. In Fall 2022, a generous grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust launched Bushnell's first cohort of the Vision and Call Internship Program. The V + C program is an opportunity for Bushnell graduate students (and graduate-age young adults) to continue to discern their calling through a meaningful work experience within the Christian higher education realm and worked out through a community of mentors and peers. The Murdock Charitable Trust defines the purpose of the program as three-fold: “(1) to provide a transforming experience for young adults; (2) to increase the pool of talented emerging leaders entering the workforce; and (3) to educate and empower a commitment to the development of young leaders on the part of Christian organizations.”

The Murdock Trust funds the program for the first six years, with Bushnell taking over the responsibility for funding the program at the end of that season. The grant funds, totaling

over $250,000 over a six-year period, provide administrative and program support, and a living stipend for students. Funding is also available for each of the interns to join a professional society and for additional training or conferences according to their areas of interest. Each intern fills a specific need within the Bushnell campus community, while they themselves receive training and mentorship – a symbiotic relationship in the ecosystem of our university.

Intern Jordyn Ramos ’22 explains, “Our internship positions are designed to help others thrive, while we learn how to thrive as well.” Program advisor Angela Doty ’00, M.A. ’05 and Bushnell’s Dean of Career and Academic Resources, emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of the internship program, and the unique makeup of this class of interns. All six of the interns are women and each provide critical leadership and growth in the different departments in which they serve.

Doty, who is herself completing doctoral studies at Azusa Pacific University in higher education, reflects, “Bushnell’s superpower is creating meaningful experiences. The intent is not to leave the grunt work for interns, but they are getting to be part of something bigger than themselves. They are contributing towards Bushnell’s mission by developing projects they care about.” Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student Samantha Silver ’22 said it best: “I would already be doing this work, but it would have taken more energy and time. The Murdock Vision and Call grant has given me the capability to achieve my dreams.”

As these six interns find their way, both Murdock and Bushnell can achieve their goals as well.

“The vision is to assist recent graduates to consider their vocation direction while gaining meaningful ministry or work experience.”

Meet the Interns

Jordyn Ramos ’22

Hometown: Turlock, CA

Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Graduate degree program: Master of Arts in School Counseling

Internship title: Commuter Life Graduate Intern in Student Life

Internship goal: To create commuter programs and spaces unique to commuter students’ needs to foster community and inclusivity. Post-internship plans: I plan to become a school counselor.

Samantha Silver ’22

Hometown: Mount Vernon, WA

Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Arts in Communications

Graduate degree program: Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Internship title: Student Athlete Mental Health Counseling Intern

Internship goal: To establish a robust mental health counseling program for Bushnell student athletes.

Post-internship plans: My future goal is to eventually expand my model of the Student Athlete Mental Health (SAMH) Program to other colleges and universities. I would also like to open a private counseling practice for athletes, coaches, and trainers.

Brooke Molina ’22

Hometown: Vacaville, CA

Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Graduate degree program: Master of Arts in Leadership

Internship title: Academic Advising Intern

Internship goal: To ensure students are on track to graduate on time and to provide academic support during their time as undergraduates.

Post-internship plans: I hope to serve as an assistant coach for the Bushnell Women's Soccer team alongside a full-time role as an academic advisor.

Isabell (Webber) Johnston ’22

Hometown: Roseburg, OR

Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology; minor in Christian Ministry

Internship title: Graduate Intern for Campus Ministry

Internship goal: To learn about and participate in all the different parts of Campus Ministry, from small groups to missions planning to the team chaplains program.

Post-internship plans: My husband and I are expecting our first child in May, so I will transition to pouring into our family and specifically caring for our child. I will also be continuing my education and discerning what it looks like to live out my vocational calling while also parenting.

Awbrie Ammons-Jackson ’22

Hometown: Harrisburg, OR

Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Science in Teacher

Education: Elementary

Graduate degree program: Master of Arts in Leadership: Higher Education

Internship title: Admissions Visit and Event Intern

Internship goal: To help coordinate campus visits and assist with recruitment activities and enrollment events.

Post-internship plans: I plan on seeking a position within higher education that allows me to work with students in developing their own goals and plans.

Mari Dayley

Hometown: Vancouver, WA

Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Arts in General Psychology (BYU-Idaho, May 2018)

Graduate degree program: Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Internship title: Graduate Counseling Intern

Internship goal: To help the Bushnell Counseling Clinic run as smoothly as possible by working closely with the clinic director, supporting other graduate students, and helping clients navigate the process.

Post-internship plans: After graduation in December, I plan to work part-time as a counselor associate for the next few years until I gain my licensure.

Bushnell

Kent Willocks Passes on His Penchant for “Sub-creating”

All created things shine light on the generosity and creativity of God. Landscape, and horticulture in particular, invite co-creation and partnership in shaping the potential for beauty and purpose.

While many college campuses have picturesque grounds, most universities cannot boast of the profound impact of a groundskeeper who is theologian, philosopher, artist, mentor, and worker. Bushnell University has benefited from such a unique person for 17 years.

Master gardener Kent Willocks grew up as a missionary kid in South Korea, an experience which shaped his view as a citizen of a big world and, later, of the Kingdom of God. Living in fenced, gated, guarded missionary compounds gave Willocks the freedom and safety to dig in the dirt with other kids, building miniature roads, bridges, and brick houses. His father became a librarian at universities in the eastern United States, culminating in free tuition at Syracuse University. Willocks

J.R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

meandered through college, majoring mostly in the Outing Club, where excursions into the wilderness stoked his love for nature and fine arts. Transferring to the University of Oregon, Willocks became a sculptor, concentrating mostly in ceramics, achieving his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. At that point in his life, Willocks’ landscaping experience was limited to “yard work for neighbors – and I hated it.”

At age 23, Willocks gave his life to Christ and began a quest to find God’s call and a sense of real impact in that call. He drove milk trucks until he bought a landscape business for $800 in 1985. The business included two lawn mowers, an edger, hand tools, and one client – a condominium complex paying $800.00 each month. Over fifteen years, the company grew until it serviced 120 properties with a large crew.

But with the challenges of a brief first marriage and two children, Willocks was still asking hard questions about calling and real impact. Without studio space and with the demands of a thriving business, he felt as if his

artistic gifts were languishing. Bethel, his second (and current) wife, urged him to sell the company and set up a studio. As an accountant, she could provide their financial base while he explored his artistic path. “I made some work that I was proud of, but I felt isolated and alone, spending more time working in the garden than in the studio. And I didn’t have as much impact as I’d hoped.” Willocks describes the thin victory of getting a showing, with opening night accolades, followed by the demands of marketing and selling pieces to help feed the family. “I was losing the joy. I needed meaningful relationships.”

He had imagined working as a groundskeeper on a large, private estate – creating and developing a scheme and managing its unfolding beauty. When a former Bushnell University adjunct professor called him about a groundskeeper position opening, Willocks realized that the University would afford the peculiarities of a private estate with the greater benefit of life in community. This call opened the door to Willocks’ true calling in life.

“It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule.”

While Bushnell has always been a picturesque slice of beauty in the University District of Eugene, Willocks has taken excellent raw material and turned the Bushnell campus into a marquee setting which draws accolades from the community and elevates University reputation.

He describes his motivation: “God embodies three transcendental qualities: truth, goodness, and beauty. In Christian higher education we have a long tradition of teaching truth, and maybe even goodness and moral character. But we’ve so often neglected beauty. God is truth. Truth is beauty. And beauty is good.” This view of God propelled Willocks beyond a “mission of tidiness to expand the

full mission of the University to include God’s qualities of creativity and beauty.”

As for relationships and human impact, Willocks has poured into generations of students. “In my landscape company, I enjoyed supporting the talent and developing the potential of my employees. But that all seemed incidental to the bottom line of profit. But at the University, the students are the bottom line. They are not incidental to the goal. They are the goal.”

Working with teams of student workers, Willocks was challenged even by the ones without interest in the art of landscaping. “My job has

been helping them find joy in their accomplishments and to develop their sense of discipline to explore their own callings in life.” Willocks has also guest-lectured in the University’s All are Gifted; All are Called classes, which are required of every Bushnell student.

The one student who “showed the greatest curiosity about plants and landscape design” was alumnus Tysen Buhler ’16, who now has the difficult challenge of carrying on this impactful role. “Following in Kent’s footsteps will be a daunting task, no doubt, but he has left behind a wonderful canvas and structure to which I can add and refine.

“Oh, Bushnell? You’re the place with the flowers.”

I have looked at the pictures and seen campus back when I was a kid, and I often say, ‘If only everyone could see what campus looked like before Kent’s time, they would understand how far it has come.’ My goal is to have an impact like that by the time I leave.”

Beyond his role in the work itself, Buhler (pictured right) comments on Willocks’ role in shaping people. “Kent has been a great mentor in both the technical aspects of this job and the spirit behind it. He taught that the focus of our work isn’t just efficiency or quality for quality’s sake, but to truly embody Colossians 3:23 that says, ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.’”

Toward that end, Buhler brings his own set of images and driving forces to the task. “When it comes to applying my faith to this job, I really love the Martin Luther King, Jr. quote,

If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry.

He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, “Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”

“But in my case, it’s not ‘the hosts of heaven and earth’ that I want to comment on my work, but the audience of one, THE one, who will hopefully say on my final day, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’”

While Willocks final days on campus approach, the University pauses to add our “well done”. In the meantime, Bushnell’s beautiful campus incites awe and generosity. A few years ago, the University received a gift of $42,000 with no name attached. With respect for privacy, the Advancement Office set out to find and thank the donor for this significant contribution. After some discovery, a story began to unfold of a woman who would walk across the Bushnell campus frequently. Two influences inspired her generosity. First, “The students and faculty were always so friendly,” greeting her along the way. And second, “The flowers were so beautiful in every season.” She added her voice to a common refrain. “Oh, Bushnell? You’re the place with the flowers.”

Willocks is both humble and honest about his role as an impact player at Bushnell, citing another influence that informs his calling and impact. “I had no idea how my affinity for J.R.R. Tolkien would prepare me for faith and my calling. While Tolkien’s fantasy world is pre-faith, it’s written from an ethical system with moral victories that are unique to the Christian faith. Tolkien had the concept of sub-creator, joining God in the work of creating. He coined the term effoliate, or to bring something to leaf, as opposed to exfoliating.”

Tolkien also penned the term eucatastrophe to describe that

moment in a story when, at the darkest moment, all seems lost and the enemy seems to have won. Then a sudden "joyous turn" for the better emerges and delivers a deep emotional reaction in readers: "a catch of the breath, a beat and lifting of the heart" (excerpts from On Fairy Stories).

Kent Willocks' retirement appears to be such a moment – a hard departure leaves a dark void. But his commitment to sharing his art and passing the torch brings us a “joyous turn.” The expanding mission of sub-creating goes on, for the sake of putting God’s creativity and beauty on display.

Hope for tHe Hurting

Our Growing Impact in Mental Health Care

In response to an unprecedented need for mental health care in our community, state, and nation, Bushnell University’s School of Psychology and Counseling has responded to this crisis by doing what it has always done – focus on the mission and values the University.

Bushnell's School of Psychology and Counseling offers a Community Mental Health Clinic, something innovative and unique among other psychology and counseling programs in the state. In the clinic, led by Assistant Professor Mindi Barta ’ 00, M.A. ’ 02 , the school has four counseling rooms where 20-30 counseling graduate students under the supervision of faculty and a clinic manager serve the Bushnell community (students, employees, and family members), along with community members near and far. The clinic has typically only served clients on campus, but during the pandemic it expanded its services to include telehealth which expanded access to clients across the state of Oregon.

The clinic allows the counseling program to live out Bushnell’s mission of wisdom, faith, and service.

As for wisdom, the clinic provides a professional environment for students to learn how to utilize electronic medical records, apply advanced assessment tools, diagnose mental health conditions, create treatment plans, practice state-of-the-art, evidence-based counseling techniques, and provide feedback-informed, culturally-humble therapeutic services.

As for faitH , a ministry-minded program allows students of all faith backgrounds to experience what it’s like to be part of a Christian faith community. Both students and clients are encouraged to explore and develop faith.

As for service, the clinic allows Bushnell counseling students to serve our community firsthand. With increasing community need and long waitlists, the clinic assists in removing barriers by offering free or inexpensive services so community members can access affordable care. The clinic currently serves almost 200 students and community members.

After completing a semester at the clinic, students move on to internships in the mental health field. The School of Psychology and Counseling has internship agreements with 60 mental health centers, hospitals, non-profits, schools, and churches. Internship supervisors around the community routinely report that Bushnell students are more prepared than the students of other institutions.

Internship supervisor Corey Jackson, M.A. ’ 04, Executive Director of Christians As Family Advocates (CAFA), a Eugene-based counseling center, faces the counseling crisis first-hand on a daily basis. “ I honestly do not know how we would have survived without our partnership with Bushnell University’s counseling program. Bushnell counseling interns arrive with fresh energy and a can-do spirit that is exactly what our agency needs.

“ I also appreciate the combination of faith and service exemplified by Bushnell interns. CAFA treats individuals with a wide variety of mental health needs. I can trust that they will honor the faith values of clients seeking services at CAFA. I also have seen them treat all people at our agency with dignity and respect. Bushnell interns exemplify the belief that all are created in God’s image. They also come out of their internships fearless and ready for any challenge in the professional world. ”

Dr. Ryan Melton, Dean of the School of Psychology and Counseling and Mindi Barta ’00, M.A. ’02, Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Corey Jackson, M.A. ’04, Executive Director of CAFA

After internship, the students enter the field as professional counselors dedicated to purposeful service. This three-part process of rigorous and interactive coursework, seeing clients in the Bushnell Counseling Clinic, and diverse internship options has resulted in outcomes that give testimony to faithful stewardship in the lives of these emerging professionals.

According to an annual survey of those who employ Bushnell counseling student graduates, 100% felt that the Bushnell University counseling program prepared students to work in their respective settings. 100% of employers indicated they are “likely to more likely” to hire a Bushnell University counseling graduate. Half of the responders stated that they are more likely to hire a Bushnell graduate over students from similar institutions. These findings have remained consistent over the last three surveys.

Students who pursue Bushnell's counseling program have a calling to care for the broken people in our world. Recent graduate Tiffany (Cvitanovich) Morris, M.A. ’ 21 entered Bushnell following her own recovery from addiction, a season that shaped her faith in Jesus and His plan for her life. She shares, “ During my time at Bushnell, I made friendships and connections with people who are still in my daily life. I learned about who I am and developed skills for counseling. There was a turning point during the beginning of my final year at Bushnell where all the information and skills really came together. I felt a sense of courage and wisdom about graduating and entering the field of counseling. I matured as a person and professional. ” Despite many obstacles along her educational path, Morris celebrates the “ miracle ” of the chance to impact clients' lives as they reach goals, share big life events, and experience restored well-being. She also celebrated her own “ miracle ” – being able to purchase her first new car, a shiny red Dodge Charger.

Recent graduate Tiffany (Cvitanovich) Morris, M.A. ’21

BusHneLL eXpands to dougL as count Y

and receives $7m grant to kickstart program enroLLment

the need for mental health services is wider than Lane County. Douglas County has a limited number of agencies providing focused mental health for general outpatient children, adults, and families. With so few agencies and private mental health providers, and with the recent challenges of Covid-19, existing agencies have six month (or longer) waitlists or are closed to referrals altogether. Agencies also express significant concern about having a fully staffed mental health workforce to address the vast number of individuals in Douglas County who need services. This provider gap is amplified by the lack of nearby universities, provider education, and licensing systems.

Childcare needs, costs, and existing student loans can also be barriers. In response, Bushnell University's School of Psychology and Counseling has developed an articulation agreement with Umpqua Community College (UCC) to build a local education path from a UCC student with an associate's degree to a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bushnell, as well as offering master’s-level courses in counseling in Roseburg. This allows Douglas County residents interested in a career in mental health to complete the full education path with practical support to overcome barriers.

Dr. Georgann Willis, professor of psychology at UCC, has championed the partnership, primarily because of the limited educational options in Roseburg. “The Bushnell University-Umpqua Community College agreement is so valuable. Having the ability to take live classes while staying in Douglas County allows students to complete their B.S. in Psychology on the UCC campus and enjoy the benefits of interactive instruction and opportunities to engage in practical application in their own community.”

The agreement with UCC creates a partnership that will benefit a community in need. The expansion of the School of Psychology and Counseling will facilitate the education of students who may not have otherwise had the opportunity.

This is certainly true for current Bushnell (at UCC) student Kelsey LeRoy Gomez, who is now able to complete her bachelor's degree and consider a future clinical mental health career. After experiencing mental health challenges first-hand and in the lives of her family members, she wants to become a source of healing for others. “For the longest time I did not think I would be able to go back to school and obtain my bachelor’s degree. I will be the first generation in my immediate family to complete college. Having classes provided by Bushnell at UCC makes a world of difference. I did not think that I would be able to afford travel and fees, let alone be able to juggle my family while going back to school and traveling out of the county. Now I can go to work fulltime and then go to school without having to take time off work or adjust my schedule to do so. Attending Bushnell through the UCC partnership program will allow me to achieve my dream, further my career in mental health, and become a therapist or a school counselor.”

The Douglas Education Service District (ESD) has stepped up to support this initiative through the Grow Your Own program. The program recently awarded Bushnell a $7 million grant which established 15 full-tuition scholarships for master’s students in the CHMC program. The scholarship recipients will simultaneously be employed across 13 school districts in the organization’s service area.

Dean of the School of Psychology and Counseling Dr. Ryan Melton has led the programs since 2018. As Dean, Dr. Melton has focused on a culture of feedback as a guide to leadership and development. “We as a professional program need to hear from our community, our stakeholders, and our students to guide our next steps. We have the outcomes and program development we have achieved thanks to the guidance from those who walk beside us in service, and the dedicated and faithful faculty and staff.”

cLinicaL mentaL HeaLtH counseLing facuLt Y and staff

Ryan Melton, Ph.D. Dean of the School of Psychology and Counseling

Mindi Barta ’00, M.A. ’02 Assistant Professor

Adam Duprez, M.S. Clinic Director, Field Experience Coordinator, Instructor

Tammy Hatling ’00, M.A. ’16 Academic Advisor

Joshua Kulmac-Butler, M.A., M.A.T.S. Administrative Assistant

Marilyn Montgomery, Ph.D. Professor

Adjunct Faculty:

Abraham Cazares-Cervantes, Ph.D.

Taylor Guthrie, M.S.

Kaj Kayij-Wint, Ph.D.

Roger Kennedy, M.A. ’20

Marcy Samaha, M.A.

Bushnell (at UCC) student Kelsey LeRoy Gomez (Photo courtesy of Umpqua Community College) Bushnell

Pizza With The President

Dr. Womack Makes the Case for Bushnell

What, in your opinion, makes Bushnell University (specifically) and Christian higher education (generally) unique?

Kelly Monroe-Kullberg, the founder of The VERITAS Forum at Harvard proposed “the search for truth in response to the most important questions of life” as the highest mission for higher education. What does it mean to be human? Why is there evil and suffering in our world? Can meaning be found in life; in death? Does the individual life have meaning? The hunt for answers to such questions, void of a perspective of faith, is truncated at best...at worst it represents a dishonest pursuit.

Institutions that have defined themselves as Christian colleges or universities have long espoused a foundational appreciation for the integration of faith and learning. Regardless of subject matter, be it the liberal arts and science, theology, business, or the helping professions, the examination of each is enhanced by study within the perspective of Christian faith. With faith as the lens through which we view subject matter, ourselves, and our world, we recognize that knowledge and meaning are gifts from our Creator.

As a young master’s student years ago I was, in part, motivated toward a lifelong career in Christian higher education by what Dr. Monroe-Kullberg wrote about the honest pursuit of truth:

Today our constant challenge and privilege, whether we’re in a secular or a Christian school, is to revive and to nurture the knowledge of truth as a Person – as the Life-Giver. As the relentless lover. The author who enters the play. Truth who awakens wonder and the mind. Truth who is a revolution

of tenderness for the least and the lost and all of humble heart. Truth that connects us to the heart and mind and power of God by his Holy Spirit within us. Truth who exchanges his wholeness for our brokenness, who loves us enough to die for us. Truth who rises from the grave because his love is stronger than death. Even now.¹

Those of us inspired to engage the educational mission of Bushnell face this challenge and privilege today – to seek truth not only regarding subject, philosophy, theory, or need, but (and most importantly) in the person (the life and teachings) of Jesus Christ. In doing so we can inspire in our students an attitude and character of inquiry surrounding the deeper questions of life – meaning, purpose, and faith. The pursuit of such a character and attitude continues to inspire me as an educator and is at the heart of my hope for our students in their search for God’s call on their lives.

Why is it important to maintain the option of Christ-centered education among all the other choices within higher education?

Secular higher education generally maintains no consensus on what is true due to the denial of the existence of divine Truth. What is true for one may not be true for another. Yet, through the lens of Christian faith, we realize that truth is not going to be found within ourselves – we will always be disappointed if we search for it there. For those of us who lead and teach at Bushnell, we reinforce the truth that wisdom, faith, and service are not about the individual. What’s learned, developed, gained, and realized here must be surrendered to its right use – chasing after the “wisdom of God that is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30) – this is not something we can achieve on our own.

The unique and necessary value for Christ-centered education requires the marriage of two things: first, an honest pursuit of the questions that matter to a well-examined life in the pursuit of Truth, and second, a surrender to the right use of that knowledge manifest in a calling worth pursuing. Therefore, we must align our mission and our environment to those goals. We believe all students are worthy of our focused attention because each is an image-bearer of God and a gift to us from God. They are each worthy in and of themselves, no matter how they perform as students, no matter their gifts or deficits. Students are genuinely known and loved, and we create a space in which faculty and staff help them discover their giftedness, seek after and answer God’s call in their life. We attempt, with great humility, to create an atmosphere for God to transform lives.

What makes a Bushnell University graduate different or special?

My hope and prayer has long been that of the Apostle Paul recorded in Philippians 1: 9-11. “That [their] love would abound more and more in the knowledge and depth of insight, so that [they] may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.” (NIV). Our prayer for students is that they may be able to choose wisely what God will have them do and that they would know where the fruit of righteousness comes from. It is so important to reinforce this during the critical years of college, years that serve as a bridge for the tender transition between adolescence and adulthood, when so many important decisions are being made

We believe all students are worthy of our focused attention because each is an image-bearer of God and a gift to us from God.

I think this manifests in what I often hear from employers – our graduates serve well. They show up on time, they respect others, they respond well to their supervisors, they contribute to their peers, they think critically and evaluatively, they speak effectively. We know they are gifted and capable, but they are also simply good employees who can be counted on. We know they are intelligent and sought after by employers. But more than that, they look beyond a paycheck for ways to serve and love and care for and contribute to the world. This makes a great employee, but it also makes a great friend, a great spouse, a great community member, a great parishioner.

How does a Bushnell education foster wisdom, faith, and service?

It is the heart of our mission – to chase after the wisdom of God, centered on faith be graduated to service in His kingdom. At Bushnell, faith and learning are integrated in all areas of the collegiate experience. In one way of thinking, what a student chooses to major in while here is secondary. Of course, students need to be prepared for specific service, but more importantly, I want them to walk away with the knowledge of who they are in Christ.

The biblical lens through which we teach and learn (we continue to require biblical studies as part of the undergraduate experience) gives us the tools to navigate our callings. Our faculty are experts in their fields, who have a professed, personal faith in Christ and apply their faith to the instruction of their subject matter. Our coaches help our students understand what it means to compete as Christians. Our music instructors teach what it means to perform as Christians and to what purpose. Our student life staff encourage the examination of faith as it pertains to students’ daily lives. We integrate our Christian faith in our studies, in our relationships with one another, and in our motivations and aspirations. We want our students to experience how our Christian faith is manifest in the pursuit of wisdom, the exercise of faith, and a life of service.

hearts, their willingness to engage, and their desire to stand in the gap. They are, to their credit, willing to take on old problems with new paradigms and they remain willing to being transformed by Christ.

What gets you up every morning for this job?

The chance to witness to how God transforms the lives of our students. I look forward every day to working with people whom God has brought here to give energy to the Bushnell mission.

What would you be doing if you weren’t president of Bushnell University?

I’m not sure I spend much energy thinking about that. I just want to do well today. My Grandpa Mac (Mom’s father) used to say, “If you’re going to sweep the floor, sweep it well.” That has resonated with me to this day.

1. Monroe, K. (1999). Reaching the post-Christian university: Lessons from Harvard. In D.S. Dockery & D.P. Gushee (Eds.), The future of Christian higher education (pp. 183-196). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

WISDOM • FAI

TH • SERVICE

COACHING FOR LIFE MENTORING AND TEACHING THE WHOLE STUDENT

“A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life.”

-John Wooden

With 17 collegiate teams on campus and over 40% of undergraduate students participating, Bushnell University Athletics is a significant part of life as a Beacon. The Tri-Athlete model encourages students to excel in competition and in the classroom while at the same time growing in character. Teams become family and coaches are often the most impactful mentors and teachers in the lives of student athletes. For many coaches and their players, the relationship they build during the college years is just the beginning of a lifelong friendship.

COACH AS MENTOR

Women’s Basketball Head Coach Chad Meadors exemplifies the special role of “coach” at Bushnell, with undeniable success both on and off the court. While only half-way through his fifth season, he is the all-time winningest coach in program history. He led his team to their first two Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships (2020 and 2021), and a trip to the NAIA National Championship in 2020. Even more notable, in 2021 his team was voted the “CCC Les Schwab Team of Character” and he was selected as the “CCC Les Schwab Coach of Character.”

Prior to arriving at Bushnell, Meadors was the head women’s basketball coach at Lower Columbia College, a community college in Longview, Washington. In addition to coaching, he served as the Director of Advising and Testing, providing him the opportunity to engage with students in their academic endeavors. Over the course of his collegiate coaching career, however, Meadors discovered that his focus began to shift from coaching the game to coaching the people.

“This is my calling. To play an integral part of my athletes’ lives and to be a part of their journey. They arrive on campus as young women, but they don’t yet have the experience, knowledge, and maturity they will need after graduation. I want to instill in them the strength and courage they need to stand up for themselves in our world today. It’s not easy – we need faith and support and many people in our corners to thrive. I get to be a small part of that.”

As a country boy who grew up on a cattle ranch in St. Paul, Oregon, Meadors values old-fashioned hard work and asks a lot of his players. He expects them to be coachable, to be problem-solvers, and to be great teammates. His players know to be on time, to serve and respect one another, to lead by example, and to maintain a positive ‘can-do’ attitude. “I seek to instill a culture of grace on our team. Nobody has walked in anyone else’s shoes.” Meadors wants to model the kind of values that students will carry with them into the world as they lead and live in relationship with others. “I’m not easy – I give my players what they need, not what they want. At the same time, when they need support, we are there and ready to go through hard things with them.”

Meadors has reinforced these values through creating opportunities for his team to serve the community together. They have participated in food and clothing drives, joined holiday gift programs for local families, built sheds for people experiencing homelessness, and even picked up trash around the campus and neighborhood. He believes the integration of wisdom, faith, and service into the entire student experience is what makes Bushnell so unique. “Bushnell is an amazing community that gives students a safe place to develop as

individuals, while at the same time they are encouraged to go out into the surrounding community and discover their unique roles in the world.”

When one of his athletes graduates, his hope is that he has helped prepare her to face the challenges in the world head-on, with faith and grit and grace. After all, his impact off the court is the one that he hopes lasts forever.

COACH AS TEACHER

Men’s Soccer Head Coach Joao Ehlers, M.A. is a recent addition to Bushnell Athletics staff and is excited to inspire his students in the classroom as much as on the field. Originally from Brazil, Ehlers came to the United States to play collegiate soccer. His first coaching job was at another Christ-centered institution (Montreat College in North Carolina), where he simultaneously completed a master’s degree in management and leadership.

He just finished his first coaching season and was immediately impressed by the campus. “Bushnell has such a strong sense of community. If you want to be known and seen for the person you are and if you want a deeper connection with people, this is the place to be.” He loves being at a Christ-centered institution where he can integrate his personal values into the University mission and vision.

In addition to coaching, Ehlers teaches undergraduate courses in economics, leadership, and sports management, as well as leadership courses in the online MBA program. He is simultaneously pursuing a doctorate in higher education leadership from the University of the Cumberlands and loves integrating his own Ph.D. studies into his courses. He models life-long learning and encourages his students to aspire to high academic goals.

On the field, Ehlers’ own educational experiences inform his coaching philosophy. When he first came to the US to play soccer, he didn’t speak much English and initially prioritized his sport over his education. He had to learn that soccer was simply a vehicle to make the educational experience more memorable and formative, and that education is the goal. For many, the field becomes the place where students can set aside all of their problems and challenges and, for that moment, it’s “just soccer”.

Ehlers’ international soccer experience has provided him the unique opportunity to recruit students from all over the world – from Guam, New Zealand, Portugal, Mexico, and beyond. For many of these students, a college degree might never have seemed possible. “They arrive on campus and are exposed to a Christ-centered environment where we show them what it means to be a Christian. Bringing together students from multiple countries teaches them to celebrate our differences while finding our commonalities. As one cohesive team, they represent Bushnell and our University values,” Ehlers explains.

Ehlers has high expectations for his players. As a culture-builder, he is fair yet demanding. He makes himself available to students and is ready to walk with them through all their challenges. “It’s the great thing about my role – off the field, I get to connect with my players at a deeper level and show them I’m there for them. On the field, I expect them to take their training and competition seriously, while not forgetting the other aspects of academics and character development.”

In the classroom, his role as a coach informs his educational philosophy. Coaching has helped him understand that not every student enters at the same level. Some of them need more support and require more patience on the part of the faculty member, while others need additional challenges. The small classes at Bushnell allow for this personalized instruction. When his soccer players enroll in his courses, he finds particular satisfaction in how they integrate their personal athletic experiences into their academic coursework.

While most Bushnell athletes won’t compete at a professional level after college, Ehlers treasures the role athletics plays in students’ lives. “Athletics is a great platform for experiencing crucial aspects of life such as teamwork, leadership skills, depending on others, losing and winning, managing emotions, communication, negotiation, sacrifice, and compromise.” Ehlers has high hopes for his future at Bushnell and for the soccer program. He is becoming an integral part of the student experience and is confident in the momentum he is building for Bushnell athletics, both on the field and in the classroom.

STUDENT → PLAYER → COACH → TEACHER

The Oregon Small Schools Association (OSSA) selected alumnus Jordan Buhler ’16 as the 2022 – 2023 Teacher of the Year in celebration of his commitment to impacting his community through education. He was presented the award at the statewide celebration in Portland, Oregon in November 2022.

A former Beacon men’s basketball player, Buhler is pretty honest about his life as a student at Bushnell University: “I was completely apathetic at times with both my faith and my academics during my time on campus.” He chose to major in elementary education but didn’t immediately pursue a career in teaching. He instead launched out overseas and played semi-professional basketball in Moldova. But as he says, “The ball stops bouncing at some point” and he returned to the United States with a renewed passion to explore his calling as an educator.

Buhler was an impact player on the Beacons men’s basketball team, playing in 80 games with an average of 10 points and 6 rebounds per game, even earning All-Conference Honorable Mention his senior year. But he credits people like Corey Anderson, Director of Athletics, and Dr. Brian Kaelin, Professor of Teacher Education, as having been the impact players in his educational life. Despite some of his challenges as a student, Bushnell faculty advocated for him at every turn, even vouching for him when he needed supplemental references to obtain his teaching license.

He returned to his hometown to take his first job as a 5th grade teacher at his former grade school, Harrisburg Elementary. After three years in 5th, he filled a 2nd grade role for one year, and for the last two years has served as the K-4 physical education teacher. Bushnell prepared him

to take on any grade level or classroom setting (K-8) but he believes his role as a male elementary educator provides him the opportunity to bring stability, comfort, and mentorship to children who are experiencing single parent households, economic challenges, and trauma.

Receiving the award was never on Buhler’s radar since he did not submit an application, but was rather nominated by his school administrator. When he heard he was chosen, even Buhler admits he “may have shed a tear or two.” He explains, “It’s a God thing, totally. I wasn’t chasing after this. I work hard and I am blessed to have great relationships with people who have believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. As I press on into the work that God has called me to do in education, I see Him orchestrating it all. The seeds of everything in my past are coming to fruition.”

The OSSA comprises 150 of the 180 school districts across the state of Oregon. During the awards ceremony, Buhler was cited as a perfect example of the influence of small schools. Buhler was a “kid who grew up in a small school and came back to teach in a small school, now doing as much as he can to pour back into his community through his small school.” In his acceptance speech, Buhler talked about God and how his faith has influenced his calling.

Buhler married fellow Beacon Danielle (Willyard) Buhler ’19 and they recently welcomed into the world their first child, daughter Eisley. In addition to teaching, Buhler coaches boy’s basketball at Harrisburg High School and referees elementary and middle school KidSports recreational basketball. He is currently completing his master’s in education online through University of Northern Colorado.

Alum Jordan Buhler ’16 Honored for Excellence

Impact Partners

Historic Grantors and Donors Give Goodrich Hall a Future

Bushnell University reached out to a longtime partner, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, to bolster the renovation of our most historic building, Goodrich Hall. The Murdock Trust is a huge impact player in the Pacific Northwest, providing grants, enrichment programming, and other resources to enhance education, health, scientific research, human services, arts, and culture throughout the region. At Bushnell, previous Murdock grants have had a growing impact in the funding of the Morse Center (2004), technology upgrades (2009), a new student information system (2019), and six Vision + Call graduate student interns (2022).

Now the Murdock Trust has awarded Bushnell University $800,000 to assist with construction costs of the Goodrich Hall project. Murdock CEO Romanita Hairston writes, “We extend our congratulations and best wishes as you seek to strengthen and implement the ideals and mission of Bushnell University.”

Built in 1908, Goodrich Hall has been the centerpiece of campus life – home to classrooms, administration, student life, and even the library at different stages of its history. Renovation and modernization of Goodrich Hall requires the construction of a 3,100 square foot bell tower, with elevators, bathrooms, HVAC equipment, and a cross on top. The interior of the old building has been thoroughly gutted, prepared for a revitalized interior with classrooms and administrative offices that bring 15,000 square feet of the campus “old main” back into full service.

Alumni Jim ’64 and Donna ’63 Pomajevich, high impact donors for decades at Bushnell, were inspired by the potential Murdock partnership to incentivize both the Trust and other alumni and donors. They offered to match the Murdock grant and did so within days of the Murdock decision. “When we learned that the Murdock Trust was considering a grant to the Venture Forward capital campaign, we wanted to show our conviction that this is a more than worthy cause. We agreed to match their grant as evidence that those already committed to the campaign would carry through on pledges already given and more. We feel honored to be able to partner with the Murdock Trust in this way.”

This $1,600,000 gain from the Murdock Trust and the Pomajevich family dramatically boosts the effort to fund this project, while the larger goals of the Venture Forward campaign continue to gain momentum.

Gifts to Venture Forward can be directed to historic Goodrich Hall for those who want to help us finish this strategic project, bringing it back into service for future generations of Beacons.

Jim ’64 and Donna ’63 Pomajevich

Vital Signs

Bushnell’s School of Nursing Answers the Call

The first cohort of Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) students graduated in December 2022 after an intense 11 months of on-campus clinical and academic instruction, followed by rotations in local medical settings. Every graduate was employed prior to graduation, with placements all over the state, including PeaceHealth (Riverbend and University District), Asante (Medford), Oregon Health Sciences University (Portland), Providence (Portland), and Legacy (Salmon Creek). In addition, within one month of graduation, 100% of the ABSN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN, the national nurse licensure exam. This passing rate is significantly above

the average national first-time passing rate (86%), proving the value and quality of Bushnell’s academic and clinical nurse education.

Dean Linda Veltri, PhD., RN explains, “The success of this first cohort of accelerated BSN graduates is an example of how Bushnell is quickly and effectively responding to the nursing crisis in our community. They are already ‘boots on the ground’ and providing evidence-based, compassionate nursing care in a variety of health organizations.”

The Blessing of the Hands ceremony (pictured right) takes place prior to the commencement

ceremony and characterizes the heart of Bushnell’s School of Nursing. Through symbolism and prayer, faculty bless the graduates and the work of their healing hands as they enter the sacred profession of nursing.

Accelerated nursing students complete their clinical rotations in surrounding healthcare settings such as PeaceHealth, McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, Lane County Health, Serenity Lane, schools, detention centers, rehabilitation centers, hospice care facilities, in-patient mental health care facilities, and even social service agencies such as the Eugene Mission and Trillium Farm Home.

Bushnell’s School of Nursing (BSN) is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). In addition, the University hopes to establish an additional pathway to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing for traditional, on-campus undergraduate students in the future.

Even More Room

Our partnership with PeaceHealth continues to grow, with the expansion of the clinical skills lab to be housed at the University District hospital facility across the street from the center of Bushnell’s campus. Nearly 10,000 new square feet of classrooms, exam rooms, nursing stations, and offices will provide a premier setting for future ABSN cohorts starting as early as August 2023. This shared space will allow Bushnell’s program to potentially double in size by the end of the calendar year.

The School of Nursing fundraising goal of $1M helps us offset the costs of renovating the nursing skills lab, purchasing simulation equipment, and hiring the faculty needed to teach more students.

Please consider making a gift to help us reach our Venture Forward campaign goal to grow our School of Nursing and make an immediate impact in healthcare in our region.

Honoring a Legend, Building a Legacy

Song Nai Rhee

Honors Program Gains Traction

The Song Nai Rhee Honors Program continues to reach new fundraising and programmatic goals. In November, students, faculty, and staff gathered for the Autumn Honors Banquet. Each attendee was blessed by the wisdom and storytelling of Academic Dean Emeritus Dr. Song Nai Rhee ’58, who recalled his journey to the University from South Korea, his years on campus, and his life as a scholar and Christian.

Over 30 students are participating in the honors program this school year. Special honors program events include a trip to the Hult Center to see the Broadway production of Hamilton, phone-free hikes exploring the local area, a trip to the Ashland Shakespeare Festival, and a dessert reception to welcome new honors students to campus. In addition, eleven honors students were chosen to receive a Merrill Award in celebration of their pursuit of academic excellence.

Program Director and Associate Professor of English, James Watson, Ph.D. recently announced that starting in the 2023 – 2024 academic year, high school graduates who seek honors at entrance upon their application to attend Bushnell can compete for one full-tuition, four-year scholarship.

For more information about the Song Nai Rhee Honors Program, visit https://www.bushnell.edu/ academics/honors-program/

Gifts to the Venture Forward campaign will help the University expand the Song Nai Rhee honors program and undergraduate research opportunities. Gifts of any size to this endowment ensure Dr. Rhee’s legacy of scholarship and faith will be carried forward into generations of students yet to come.

“The Honors Program has allowed me to partner with and grow connections to faculty by engaging in projects that are of significant interest to me and enrich the learning experience in the classroom. I am able to dig deeper and learn more about myself and my world through Honors.”

— Senior Jamison Hanson ’23

A Home Run Beacon Baseball Stadium Nears Completion

The Beacon baseball team is currently in its second season, with 41 student athletes. The Springfield Drifters summer collegiate wood bat league hosted their first season at the new field and the community is thrilled to have another local semi-professional baseball team in town. The stadium is used by Springfield High School and is frequently a site for local baseball clinics, KidSports, and other community entities. It is one of the marquee stadiums in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.

We are still pursuing Starting Nine ($50,000 or more) and Founder’s Club ($25,000 to $49,000) gifts and pledges to fulfill our portion of the Bushnell University Baseball Stadium costs. In addition, outfield signage sponsorship is still available at $5,000 for a two-season contract. Gifts of any size to Venture Forward help offset ongoing startup costs related to the program, including equipment purchases and finalizing spaces such as locker rooms, the pitching machine, batting cages, and coaching staff offices.

Starting 9 ($50,000 +)

Joe & Cathleen Karcher

Bruce ’84 & Carol Shelby

Dale & Kim Williams

Darryl & Gail Womack

Founder’s Club ($25,000 +)

Mike ’83 & Patty Petersen

Greg & Sharree Strausbaugh

“The Honors Program provides a supportive community of students and faculty who challenge me to think critically and pursue a deeper level of knowledge.”

— Sophomore Alsea Diffenderfer ’25

Pastors Lead in the Venture Forward

Pastors and retired pastors, along with their spouses, have always made up a generous portion of the alumni base at Bushnell University. Bushnell has educated and sent out hundreds of pastors, including the current ministry-focused students who graduate each year.

Many of those ministry families stay connected to the University in significant ways. At the onset of the Venture Forward capital campaign, many of the first commitments to the effort came from pastoral families with a rich legacy of impact at Bushnell and in God’s church.

Under the initial leadership of University Trustees and pastors Clare ’80 (and Twila ’80) Buhler, Gene Hill ’75, Barry ’84 (and Michelle ’08) Lind, Deleesa (and Norval) Meashintubby, Ron ’74 (and Kay ’74) Naff, Sandy (and John) Park, John (and Diana) Richardson ’73, the momentum began to build.

Barry and Michelle Lind serve Northwood Christian Church in Springfield, Oregon and “are excited at the sense of purpose and direction in which Bushnell University is heading. We have seen firsthand Bushnell’s wonderful ability to transform lives and encourage students to follow God's call in their lives.”

Sandy Park, a pastor at First Baptist Church of Eugene (and parent of recent graduate Caitlyn Park ’22), writes, “John and I feel passionate about investing in the future of the generations coming up behind us. Bushnell’s commitment to not only provide higher education to the future leaders of tomorrow, but also to shepherd them toward using that education and training to further God's kingdom purposes is why we chose to invest our resources into the Venture Forward campaign. We are excited for what God is doing and will continue to do through Bushnell University in this community and beyond.”

Rev. Gene Hill writes, “As a proud alum and active retired minister, I could not be more excited to support all of the growth and change at Bushnell University. It is a wonderful time in the history of the institution – committed to Christ with Christian values, ideals, and principles in every area of

academia. As a student in the early ‘70s, I never dreamed that we would see all of the positive growth and change at the ‘Best College On Pacific Shore!’ I am so proud of the great Christian education that is provided for so many. It takes us all: donors, students, faculty, administrators. Thank you for giving!”

Visits to Trustees Emeriti Roger Davidson ’60, D.Div ’90, Marvin Eckfeldt ’57, D.Div ’86, and Jim (and Linda) Huckaba ’69, brought added energy. Eckfeldt shares, “The Bushnell campus and academic programs today are so different than when I set foot on campus seventy years ago. The liberal arts offerings equip students to offer servant-leadership in so many places of need in our world.”

Other pastoral households are joining in. Now 20 of the first 135 lead gifts and pledges to Venture Forward have come from pastoral households, giving and pledging a total of more than $94,000 out of $16.2 million raised.

Californians Gene ’56 and Barbara Swanson combined a long pastoral career with artistic ventures. Gene is the artist who sculpted the busts of Eugene Sanderson, Barton Stone, and Alexander Campbell that animate the lobby of the Ross Evans Chapel on campus. Their donation arrived with an encouraging note: “The Venture Forward efforts are well-founded and exciting. We are happy to share in its success. Our gift is from our hearts.”

While the University celebrates almost 128 years of intimate partnership with Christian Churches, Disciples of Christ churches, and Churches of Christ, we also enjoy the partnership of numerous congregational types as Bushnell becomes a source of inspiration for Christians in service all over the world. These lead gifts represent ministry families across the denominational spectrum and reflect a core value of our Stone-Campbell heritage and our current campus culture.

As Venture Forward continues, the University celebrates lead pastoral donors who are making a bold impact and a loud statement for others to follow suit. Will you join them?

An Ever-Growing Impact

Venture Forward launched in October of 2021 with a small group of highly invested donors and a determined leadership team intent on raising $18,000,000 by October of 2024. At the date of this magazine’s print, campaign gifts and pledges have reached $16,224,620 with donations from 135 households. Four families and organizations have donated $1,000,000 or more. Fourteen families have given between $100,000 and $800,000. Twenty-nine more households have given $10,000 to $99,000.

As we enter the second half of campaign efforts, we are still pursuing large donations from families and granting agencies. But we also ask you and other alumni and friends to consider making a significant gift according to your means that will help finish Venture Forward and turn the corner toward the next steps in developing our campus. programs, and services.

CAMPAIGN TOTALS

You don’t have to be a philanthropist to make a significant difference. SMALL GIFTS ADD UP!

Approximately $2M remain to reach our goal:

to give $10,000 = $500,000

We ask you to please make a gift or pledge (over 1-3 years) that represents your faith and confidence in the mission and students of Bushnell University. Every gift gets us closer to our goals!

Creating a will or a living trust is far more than just a legal process. It is an important way to extend your love, care, and generosity to family and friends. It is also an excellent way to support organizations you care about. Gifts to nonprofit organizations such as Bushnell University or your church can be as simple as adding a single sentence in your will or living trust. You can choose to designate a fixed amount or a percentage of your estate. Your attorney or tax advisor may suggest additional components.

What does a will do?

• Names the executor or personal representative of your estate

• Gives your property to those you choose, including gifts to nonprofit organizations such as your church or Bushnell

• Sets up trusts to save on taxes and provide financial management

• Names a guardian for minor children, or caregivers for pets

• Ensures lifetime care for a child with a disability

• Sets guidelines for distribution if you and your spouse die at the same time

How we can help

Bushnell University offers a suite of free estate planning resources at plannedgiving.bushnell.edu.

Bushnell University also offers alumni and friends a comprehensive and free service to create your legal will at bushnell.edu/givingdocs.

Bushnell

AUGUST | The inaugural Carry the Torch 5k run was held at Dorris Ranch in August, including the Alumni Challenge Race for former cross-country athletes to compete against current team members. It was followed by a community race and a kids’ dash. Over 200 runners participated in the event, co-hosted by Eclectic Edge Racing and Bushnell University Athletics.

AUGUST | “You Got Served” is a popular orientation event during which new students dive right into the local community through service. Beacons helped local students get ready for the upcoming school year by handing out supplies, clothing, and shoes.

Did you know that 67% of U.S. adults have not created a will?

Around Town

SEPTEMBER | Bushnell hosted the 28th Annual Beacon Classic, presented by Kendall Auto Group. Nearly 200 golfers participated in the tournament held at Shadow Hills Country Club, and over $100,000 was raised by sponsors and players for the Beacon Fund for student scholarships.

NOVEMBER | In conjunction with One Hope Lane County, local pastors attended ministry and professional development events on campus hosted by the School of Bible and World Christianity. Topics included how to utilize humor in preaching and healthy approaches to technology in ministry.

NOVEMBER | The 13th annual Evening of Tribute: The Beacon Awards was held at Grace Community Fellowship in November. Honorees included Northwest Community Credit Union, community member Trace Skopil, and alumnus Gabe Piechowicz ’19 for their significant contributions to the Eugene/Springfield community.

NOVEMBER | Bushnell honored veteran students, staff, and faculty on Veteran’s Day, including a luncheon and chapel dedicated to their service and providing special gifts to students in the Student Veteran Association.

Faculty Research, Presentations, and Awards

Melisa Ortiz Berry, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of History and World Christianity, completed a Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning grant and participated in a retreat entitled “Supporting Holistic Latina Excellence in Theological Religious Education.”

Ernest Bonat, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Computer Science and Software Engineering, published “Building Machine Learning Clustering Models for Gene Expression RNA-Seq Data” on Medium, an online writing site, in Fall 2022. His prior blog posts on the site boast over 44,000 views.

Gene Chin, D.M.A., Assistant Professor of Music, presented a voice workshop to 300 high school choir students at the Willamette Valley Collaborative Choral Festival hosted at Lane Community College.

Corynn Gilbert, Ph.D., Director of Development, presented her doctoral research on alumni role identity at the regional conference for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The workshop, entitled “Alumni in Training,” provided alumni directors and university fundraisers the skills and knowledge to teach undergraduate students the impact of donor giving on their university experience.

Ryan Melton, Ph.D., Dean of Psychology and Counseling and Associate Professor of Counseling, co-authored a book chapter with three Bushnell CHMC graduate students entitled “System Focused Therapy and Other Psychotic Disorders, DSM 5 and Family Systems” to be published by Springer. In addition, Dr. Melton presented two conference presentations at the most recent gathering of the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (WACES) held in Portland, Oregon.

Marilyn Montgomery, Ph.D., Professor of Counseling, co-authored a book chapter entitled “Ethical and Legal Considerations in Telemental Health” published in the text Telemental Health: What Every Student Needs to Know (McKenna & Nunnery, Eds.).

Reed Mueller, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, co-authored a peer-reviewed article entitled “Metacognitive Awareness for IL Learning and Growth: The Development and Validation of the Information Literacy Reflection Tool (ILRT)” in the journal Communications in Information Literacy (Volume 16).

Latrissa Lee Neiworth, Ed.D., Dean of the School of Business, Leadership & Technology, has been selected to teach doctoral students at Pepperdine University in addition to her leadership role at Bushnell. She will teach “Ethical Leadership, Equity, and Justice” for the Graduate School of Education and Psychology.

M.Tip Phaovibul, Ph.D., Instructor of Computer Technology, serves on the organizing committee of the USA Mathematical Olympiad, sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America.

Ray Ricks, M.Ed., Assistant Professor of Education, was inducted into the Washington State Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. Ricks was recognized for his career achievement in coaching high school basketball. In addition to his faculty role, Ricks serves as an assistant coach for the Bushnell University women’s basketball team.

A.J. Swoboda, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies and World Christianity, spoke at over 50 churches, conferences, universities/seminaries, and small groups over the last year, including the North American Baptist Pastors conference (Idaho) and in Sweden where his book After Doubt (Baker Press, 2021) was translated. In addition, Dr. Swoboda is a frequent guest on numerous national and international podcasts, blogs, and websites. He most recently spoke at the Santa Barbara Missions Conference “Engage 2023” at First Presbyterian Church (Santa Barbara, California).

Doctoral - Graduate School Partnership with Pepperdine University

Bushnell's School of Business, Leadership, and Technology has entered into a strategic partnership agreement that allows Bushnell MAL (Master of Arts in Leadership) and MBA (Master of Business Administration) graduate students to take up to two courses in Pepperdine's Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership Program (EDOL) and apply those to their graduate education. This growing partnership celebrates the common faith heritage shared between these two historic schools and allows Bushnell University graduate students to engage a prestigious doctoral level program, with the hopes of getting a jump start on their doctoral degrees.

Time Well Served

Mick Bollenbaugh, Ph.D, Professor of Philosophy and Biblical Studies, retired after nearly 29 years of service to Bushnell University. Dr. Bollenbaugh taught both traditional undergraduate and graduate students during the course of his career, both on-campus and online. His areas of teaching expertise included ethics, thought and culture, and philosophy of religion. Dr. Bollenbaugh is renowned for his thoughtful, humble, engaged, caring, rigorous teaching and his ethics course was considered a “must-take” experience by decades of Bushnell students. From 2006-2009 he served as Dean of Arts and Sciences. He was presented with the President’s Teaching Award for Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership in 2006 and received Best Professor Award from the student body in 2014. In his nearly three decades of service and scholarship, he served on numerous curriculum and search committees and was faculty representative for the Morse Center fundraising campaign.

Linda Veltri, Ph.D., R.N., Dean of the School of Nursing, retired in January 2023. Dr. Veltri’s passion for bringing nurse education to Bushnell University was the driving force behind the rapid development, accreditation, and expansion of the School of Nursing. Her fierce commitment to the integration of faith and learning in the healing profession of nursing served as the foundation for the curriculum. Dr. Veltri had served Bushnell since 2016 and launched the RN to BSN degree program, followed by the MSN, and most recently the ABSN program which included the creation and expansion of the on-campus nursing skills lab. Dr. Veltri received the President's Award for Exceellence in Teaching in 2021. At her retirement celebration, she was noted for being both “wizard” and “warrior” in her quest to bring nursing to Bushnell and described by her fellow faculty as “an inimitable combination of faith and feistiness.”

In Memoriam

In Memoriam features departed friends and alumni who have shone bright in the world. Please contact the Office of Advancement to share obituaries of those from our Bushnell community who have passed on.

JEAN MILLER DOTY ’50 passed away on June 18, 2022 at the age of 94. Born in Montana she was the fifth of eight children. She would eventually move to Eugene to attend the University. She met her future husband, Orris Lee Doty ’49, and they were married in 1949. Jean worked alongside her husband in various churches in Oregon until they moved to Kansas, where Orris worked at a college. During their time there she was involved in different women’s ministry conferences. They retired in 1990 and moved back to Turner, Oregon. During that time, they served interim roles at different churches. Jean was preceded in death by her husband Orris, two sisters, and two brothers. Jean is survived by three siblings, two children, six grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren, including many family members who attended Bushnell.

Friend of the University MAMIE ALYS

ARNOLD passed away on August 4, 2022 at the age of 96. Originally from Longview, Wash., she was the only child of Patrick and Gladys Blessington. Patrick was a Titanic survivor. She married her first husband (Thomas McVicker) in 1948 and the couple moved to Corvallis soon after. After a divorce in 1968, she moved to Eugene with her three children. Arnold started a successful jewelry business that would soon cover ten states. She married her second husband (John Arnold) in 1993. After retirement, she dedicated her life to charity and was an active member of the Catholic church. She is survived by her husband John, children Pat and Sue, five grandchildren, and three greatgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter Jan.

MARVIN OWEN SCHERPF ’74 passed away on August 25, 2022 at the age of 87. Marv was a three-sport athlete for Linfield College, playing football, basketball, and baseball. After graduation, he played semi-pro baseball while teaching high school history. While teaching he met his future wife Pamela in 1959. In 1972 he left teaching to attend the University while also ministering at Fall Creek Christian Church. At the completion of his ministry training, Marv moved to Idaho to preach at Emmett

Christian Church. He and his family served at various churches across Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. Marv is survived by Pam, his wife of 63 years, two children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Friend of the University CARROL LEE LAWHORN passed away on September 25, 2022. He met his wife Peggy Blankenship in 8th grade. They were married in December of 1955. Carrol Lee held various positions at MIT, PanAm, IBM, and the Idaho Department of Education, as well as founding the Student Loan Fund of Idaho and Adiuvo. At Bushnell, Carrol Lee established the Kathleen Marie Carr Endowment for Bushnell students who need emergency funding during their final year of college to assist them in finishing their educational journeys. His generosity helps many students in financial distress reach graduation day. He is survived by his brother John, children Tim Lawhorn and Kay Jones, five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Peggy.

REV. FRANCIS HAMILTON ’65 passed away on October 6, 2022 at the age of 80. He attended the University before going to the Claremont School of Theology in California. He held various pastoral roles in Washington and California, including his last stint at First Christian Church in Ontario, where he served for 34 years. He is survived by his wife, his children and their families, as well as his sister and her family.

EVELYN FAITH FABIAN ’48 passed away on October 9, 2022, following a battle with cancer and other health issues. She graduated from the University with a degree as a nursing assistant. She then married Larry Fabian in December 1958. They moved to Washington to farm alongside her parents until retirement. She also served as a telephone operator for Pacific Northwest Bell. She is survived by her husband Larry, two sons (Greg and Todd), four grandchildren, and one greatgrandchild.

REV. RICHARD SPECK ’58 passed away on October 26, 2022. He attended the University to pursue a degree in ministry.

He was also a part of the school’s quartet and loved to sing. He married Joreta (Hart) Speck in June of 1956, a student at the University of Oregon. He was a minister for Grove Street Christian Church in Tonawanda, New York from 1972 until 1984. He served as a Disciples of Christ pastor for 45 years. He is survived by Joreta (his wife of 66 years) two daughters and one son, eight grandchildren, and eight greatgrandchildren.

Former University Trustee NORVAL JAMES RITCHEY passed away November 2, 2022 at the age of 90. He attended the University of Oregon where he was on the baseball team and part of the Sigma Nu fraternity. He joined the US Air Force ROTC. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers minor league team before being called to active duty in the US Air Force in the Korean conflict. He remained in the active reserves for years, eventually attaining the rank of Colonel. He married his wife Mary in 1955. Upon returning from military service, he was hired as the freshman baseball coach and athletics fundraiser at the University of Oregon. He dedicated 20 years to Oregon’s athletic programs, including a five-year stint as Athletic Director. He was a 65-year member of the United Methodist Church in Eugene. He was married to his first wife, Mary, for 57 years before she passed away in 2012. He is survived by his second wife, Barbara, three children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

MARCELLA IRWIN TICHENOR ’52 passed away on November 4, 2022 at the age of 91. She attended the University to study music. She met her husband Gerald (Jerry) ’52 singing as a member of the school’s quartet. They were married in 1950. They served in different churches around the country. Marcella taught music and elementary school classes in Gilroy, California, for over 20 years. She and Jerry moved back to Oregon where Marcella taught an additional nine years. She then became Director of Christian Education and organist at Rockaway Community Church for an additional 20 years. She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Jerry, her sister, four children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Friend of the University KENNETH EARL BLUST passed away on November 10, 2022 at the age of 96. He and his wife Dolores (Herr) were both originally from Silverton, Oregon. Dolores attended the University and Ken served in WWII in the Navy. He and Dolores were lifelong members of the Christian church. They lived in Washington, where Ken worked for Alaska Airlines. In 1963, the family moved to Taiwan where he worked for Air Asia and Dolores volunteered teaching English to Taiwanese students. In 1966, they moved to California where he taught aeronautics at the College of San Mateo until his retirement in 1983. They eventually moved to Salem, where they became active members of the First Christian Church. He and Dolores moved to West Virginia to live with their daughter before their deaths. Ken is preceded in death by his wife Dolores (2019), and son Dean, and survived by his daughter, Diane.

DENNIS WAYNE ERICKSON ’73 passed away on November 12, 2022 at the age of 73. Dennis was raised in Burley, Idaho before attending the University. He would eventually earn his bachelor’s degree and meet his future wife, JoEllen (Cedergreen) ’73. They, along with their three children, moved to Forest Grove, Oregon, where he owned and operated The Shoe Clinic for 33 years. Dennis is survived by his brother, his three children, and seven grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, Jo.

STEVEN BEADLE ’70 passed away on November 26, 2022 at the age of 75. Steven would meet his wife Kathie of 54 years while attending church in Milwaukie, Oregon. He graduated from the University with a Bachelor of Theology. Steven was an avid woodworker and novelist, publishing six novels on Amazon Kindle. He also wrote a few songs that highlighted both his adolescence and, more importantly, his love for Jesus. He is survived by his wife, three children, three brothers, three grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, as well as various nieces and nephews.

PEGGY KNOWLES RICE ’55 passed away on December 7, 2022 at the age of 89. While attending the University she met Richard (Dick), her husband of 69 years. Peggy started off as a bookkeeper for her

husband’s CPA firm before opening a florist business with friends. She played a huge part in the development of Ruff Park located in Springfield. Peggy also enjoyed volunteering for the Springfield Library and played a part in the University of Oregon’s Friendship Foundation that helps foreign students become adjusted to the University. She is survived by her husband, three children, nine grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.

Former University Trustee CHARLES

KIZER passed away on December 23, 2022, a day after his 97th birthday. Charles spent his whole life farming in Harrisburg, Oregon. He was a lifelong member of the Harrisburg Christian Church and spent his time volunteering on the boards of different Christian organizations, including faithful service to and support of Bushnell University. Charlie was preceded in death by both his first wife (Jean) and his second wife (Evelyn).

EARNEST LEE FREEMAN ’71 passed away on December 9, 2022. He was born in Longview, Washington (son of Barbara and Richard Freeman), however most of his life was spent Mill City, Oregon, where he was living at the time of his death. Earnest was a dedicated member of the Mill City Christian Church and a frequent participant at the Oregon Christian Convention, Camp Arawana, and Camp Adams. While at the University, he was a devoted musician, playing many instruments (including the organ) and singing in both the college and Eugene First Christian Church choirs. After graduation, he attended Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) in Indianapolis. He served as a youth minister many times over, in both the Midwest and in the Pacific Northwest. After his years in church ministry, Earnest worked for the DMV, but continued to serve churches (and the occasional ballpark) as a frequent organist. Earnest is survived by his younger brother Paul Freeman ’77, sister Esther Freeman Woodcock ’74 and her husband Keith, and sister-in-law Laura Jackson and family. Memorial gifts may be given to Bushnell University, CTS (through the Freeman Family Endowed Scholarship Fund), or the Salem First Christian Church choir.

Why Bushnell?

Christ-centered Community. Spiritual formation is integrated in the classroom and throughout the entire Bushnell experience. Since 85% of a student’s time is spent outside of the classroom, Bushnell provides ways for students to grow together in community and faith. Through campus ministry, residence life, student programs, and athletics, students find meaningful opportunities to get involved and build friendships that last a lifetime.

Location. Bushnell is part of the University District in the college town of Eugene, Oregon. There are numerous benefits to living in a college town that is a short distance from both the Oregon Coast and the Cascade Mountains. Attending college in Eugene means living in the 2nd largest city in the state of Oregon, providing access to dozens of eateries, coffee houses, hiking trails, bike paths, and commerce. But that’s not the only option, as students can also attend from anywhere with Bushnell’s online bachelor’s and master’s programs.

Work Ready. Bushnell emphasizes career preparation and practical education. 100% of traditional undergraduate students graduate with at least 135 hours of field experience. 95% of internship supervisors rate Bushnell students' career readiness as above average or exceptional. Bushnell partners with over 190 companies, non-profits, local schools, and field experience sites to provide expansive career and pre-professional opportunities.

Mentorship and Coaching. Faculty, staff, and dedicated academic advisors work closely with every student to provide academic resources and support to ensure student success, both in and out of the classroom. Bushnell offers free tutoring and educational access services as well. As a result, 95% of traditional undergraduate students who attend full-time complete their degree in 4 years.

Affordable. Committed to providing an affordable private university education, Bushnell provides an average of $19,600 in scholarship aid to first time undergraduate students. In addition, 99% of all traditional students and 95% of the total student population receive some form of financial aid.

Beacon Points of Pride 2022 – 2023: Bushnell by the Numbers

45,000+ Hours of internship/field study hours contributed to the local economy during the last academic year

5,000+ Hours of community service given by Bushnell students, faculty, and staff

285 Formal campus activities offered for Bushnell students annually

99 Percentage of traditional undergraduates who receive some form of financial aid

95 Percentage of traditional undergraduates who finish in four years

17 Intercollegiate sports teams

3.47 Average GPA of incoming first year students

bushnell.edu/admissions

FROM MY POINT OF VIEW

WRITTEN BY DIANE ALLEN

Dear Dr. Womack,

Iam writing to thank you for your leadership and to express my gratitude and praise for your campus community. My husband and I had the pleasure of attending Orientation Weekend as we were getting our son, Cooper, settled in for his first year as a transfer student at Bushnell. A recap of the caring and capable staff that we encountered during our weekend follows:

Admissions: Cooper’s initial interview and campus tour created a critical first impression. Their efficiency and kindness put Bushnell immediately at the top of our list. Our counselor provided excellent attention to detail and follow-through which were both major contributors to our final selection of Bushnell.

Career Development: The staff was extremely kind, knowledgeable, and helpful as we walked through some of the challenges Cooper faces as a student. We were left with peace of mind and reassurance that he would be well taken care of.

Academic Advising: Cooper’s academic advisor met with him during the first week of classes. Her knowledge and experience are paired with care and compassion. She only wants the best for her students.

Financial Aid and Student Accounts: These individuals have tough and sometimes thankless jobs, yet were upbeat, kind, and articulate. They helped us solve financial details swiftly and accurately.

Residence Life: From helping with special requests to answering all our questions, the residence life staff is passionate and thoughtful about their work and highly understanding about what students need to thrive on campus.

Student Life & Orientation Team: The entire orientation team was professional, personable, and welcoming. In addition, the event was well-organized and blessed both parents and students alike. Student leaders were gracious and patient at every turn, accommodating our needs and creating a friendly environment.

As John Maxwell says, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” Having met you personally, I see how your leadership style and capabilities are reflected through the actions we encountered among your staff. I look forward to Cooper’s college success at Bushnell with great anticipation and cannot wait to see how God uses his experiences there to launch his future.

With respect,

Diane Allen

Central Point, Oregon

Parent of Cooper Allen ’24

P.S. We continue to be blessed by the caring actions of Bushnell staff even well into the school year. What really impresses me is that each individual keeps responding in the same excellent and compassionate way they did during orientation and move-in week. A high standard of interaction has been upheld throughout the entire semester, which speaks a lot to the genuineness of the Bushnell community. You are all the "real deal"!