61 and Counting

Nancy surprised me with 4.5 pounds of New York steak from COSTCO as a birthday present. At least it will not clutter the house. 

We had a family party and Nathanael shared it with me since the week-old Seahawks cakes we got for him were not real birthday fare.

Annie and Thomas got Nathanael the Guillotine Card Game. In the inaugural playing of that game,
I surprisingly beat Annie and Nathanael.  Jean joined us late after ushering at the SPU play.

Silent Sky Strikes a Blow for Women

This year I purchased Taproot Theatre season tickets for Nancy and myself.  Silent Sky was the first play of the season.

"Let one scientist’s quest take you beyond the stars. At the dawn of modern astronomy, Henrietta Leavitt maps the night sky, intent on measuring the distance to the stars. A true story of discovery, Silent Sky invites you to revel in the magic of the universe on this historic journey of love, family, science and determination." 

Henrietta Leavitt was never in the spotlight, but her diligence led to others computing the true size of the universe.  An amazing story.

The phrase "afar but not apart" struck a chord, but the play also sparked a memory from my past.  While teaching at the UW, I recalled thinking that those twelve years were my time, like Moses, on the back side of the desert.  I recall thinking even then that I was called to Christian higher education.  I had no idea how I would get there, and did not seek to leave the University of
Washington, but God apparently kept me on the path I first pictured at least as far back as 1982. 

Our New School of Business, Government, and Economics Dean?

The first two weeks of the month found the SPU business school interviewing candidates for our open dean position.  Our internal candidate, Dr. Denise Daniels, interviewed first.  She is much loved by her peers, both in the business school and across campus.  She could have had the job, but insisted upon a national search.  Her presentation was articulate and polished, and all of her interviews went well.  She is our current Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies.  I work closely with her and we work very well together.  It would be hard to imagine an outside candidate making a better impression.

The following week, we welcomed Dr. Jason Garrett, Associate Dean of the Bradley University Foster College of Business (Peoria, IL).  Alas, I was put off at the start by his poorly written application.  In his interviews, he proved only adequate.  At one point, toward the conclusion of his main talk to the combined faculty and staff, he spoke about the Apostle Paul's example from Acts 17:17 of the intersection of the gospel and the world of commerce.  He began to explain how Paul spoke to the people in Rome.  I could not contain myself, and corrected him with the one word, "Athens."  Surprisingly, the whole room broke out in laughter.  I was not intending to be humorous, but have a reputation for a ready wit.

We devoted our mid-month faculty meeting to discussing the two candidates, and it was clear to me that the Search Committee would be recommending Dr. Daniels to the Provost Jeff Van Duzer.  At the end of the month however, our next dean has yet to be announced.