The Doctor is in.

March 2016

35 Years

Life is short. That was the main point I took away from Billy Graham back in 1983 in Kansas City. Looking back over the last 35 years of married life, it all compresses to a foreshortened image. It went by so fast.

Nancy is already looking forward to a 40th anniversary celebration. She and Susan threw a big surprise party for her parents on their 40th at the Officers Club at the Sand Point Naval Air Station. She was greatly saddened when a fire later destroyed that building, home to so many wonderful after-church buffet breakfasts.

The photo above left is a good one of our small family. I expect at our 40th, we will be a larger clan.

Randy stopped by, which gave me a chance for seconds on corned beef. My friend Steve White got there before we did, and his daughter Charlotte joined us too. She graduated from SPU last year and she and Jean still get together sometimes. Steve's twins, Charlotte and Andrew, came to most of our kids birthday parties. Being home schooled, our kids did not have the traditional group of school friends.

It seems we celebrate nearly every important holiday and anniversary at Susan's house. Easter dinner this year included leftover chocolate COSTCO cake that Annie brought home from Seattle Christian. She wouldn't have been allowed to serve "wedding cake" to conclude her unit on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice at a public school. The indoor egg hunt was more to satisfy the tradition than a rigorous quest.

We learned at the end of the month that Steve White will be installed as an Elder at Bellevue Presbyterian Church. I once thought that I would someday be selected as an Elder, but I specifically choose not to seek that since I prefer the "layman" title when I offer myself as a Bible teacher.

And our 6th Dean is . . . Dr. Ross E. Stewart!!!

OK, I was wrong. I was sure Dr. Denise Daniels, our Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, would be named this month as our next dean. But then I was told to adjust her 2016-17 teaching schedule to add three more courses. She was going back to full time teaching and would not even retain her Associate Dean position. Her bid to become our next dean had fallen short. Knowing this privileged information, I wondered and waited for the next shoe to fall. Dr. Ross Stewart, Professor of Accounting, was serving as our interim dean. I was completely surprised to receive the late Friday (March 11) news that my friend and colleague Ross Stewart, native of New Zealand, would be named our sixth dean. Here is the email to the business school faculty and staff from our 4th dean, now Provost, Jeff Van Duzer.

Friends:

I’m writing to advise you that I have asked Dr. Ross Stewart to accept an appointment to serve as the Dean for the School of Business, Government, and Economics, and he has graciously agreed. It has been a joy to work with him this year, in his role as Interim Dean, and he has impressed me and his colleagues with his understanding of the position and his thoughtful advocacy for your School. I am confident that he will be a strong leader for you as we move forward together.

A word about the process. As you know, shortly after Dr. Williams’ departure, we established a search committee chaired by Dr. Kim Sawers which included representatives from the faculty and staff of SBGE, as well as two faculty members from other schools. This committee shepherded a very thorough process, securing input from a number of different constituencies. I am very grateful for the careful work done by this committee and, in the final analysis, have accepted its majority recommendation to the effect that none of the applicants were the right fit for the School at this time.

Dr. Stewart was not a candidate in this search, although as most of you know, he was one of two finalists for the position of Dean just three years ago. I have concluded that Dr. Stewart is likely to receive the broad support of the SBGE community and will be readily accepted as Dean of SBGE by colleagues across campus. I am very grateful that Ross is willing to serve in this capacity.

Why not simply extend Ross’ term as “Interim Dean”? Several of you have suggested that I ask Ross to extend his term as interim for an additional two years. I have chosen not to do this for couple of different reasons. First, Ross and I agree that the interim designation limits what he is able to do on behalf of the School. (Apparently this year the School was denied a grant in part because the granting agency was unsure about the direction of a school functioning under the leadership of an “Interim Dean.”) Beyond that, however, I believe that the School of Business, Government, and Economics needs some stability and certainty for the future. I know that this has been a tumultuous two to three years for the School. I’m aware of a number of challenges that need to be addressed and of a number of exciting opportunities that need to be explored. I have concluded that having a dean who is unencumbered by the status as “interim” will serve all of you better.

Please join me in thanking Kim, Caleb, Don, Kenman, Mark (and Jeff Keuss and Paul Yost, as well) for their service as your search committee, and please join me in congratulating Ross on this appointment. As you know, I have a real soft spot in my heart for your School, and I’m very excited about what the future may hold under his leadership.

Jeff

______________________

Ross and I have a good working relationship, as this shot of him wearing one of my hats attests. This is a very comfortable change which removes the fog of mystery from my work life.

Not Yet Graduated But Already Cast for Summer

Jean has been actively auditioning for acting roles. She got a call back for a production of Much Ado About Nothing with Bainbridge Performing Arts in Winslow on Bainbridge island, and she was offered the part of Ursula, one of Hero’s waiting women. She has accepted that part. She loves doing Shakespeare.

But the first part she landed was in the chorus for The Little Mermaid with the Kitsap Forest Theater. She now needs to negotiate rehearsal schedules with these two groups. She'll be getting in a lot of time on the Puget Sound Ferry System this spring and summer. It's a good thing she's taking only 12 credits in her final quarter at SPU.

1335 99th Avenue N.E.

As expected, construction of the next new house on our block has begun. The old house was torn down early in the month, and the foundation was excavated. Alas, they will not be digging a basement. So the next few months will find a number of construction vehicles in our cul-de-sac. I suspect this house will go up fast, and we'll have new neighbors before the next school year starts.

JB Plays Six Roles in Check, Please

Jean acted in her last SPU performance this month. She played six different women in one act of the "Student-directed One Acts," and of course got lots of positive reviews. She was a Chicago Bears fan, a southern belle, a kleptomaniac, an old lady, a girl with multiple personalities, and lastly a mime! It was hilarious.

She is now actively auditioning for parts all over the Puget Sound area.

Dr. Vicki Eveland from the business school had this to say.

Hi Dick,

I have been meaning to tell you that I got to see your daughter act in the recent One Acts. She was wonderful in Check, Please. I have seen that play before, but I don’t think I have ever seen a better performance in that role. My son was in a different play that night. I asked him if he had met your daughter. He told me that she was really nice. Congrats on your son’s engagement.

Vicki

Spring Cleaning at SPU

Years of accumulated technology junk at SPU (right) finally got packed off to CIS. Some of this equipment I've been too busy to dispose of is over 20 years old.

And in line with a renewed health consciousness, I purchased the top end Veridesk Pro 48 model height-adjustable standing desk (left). I'm really enjoying it and hope the fun of standing for much of the day does not wear off. So far, I seem to be more productive standing.

I've also started some healthy liquid lunches based on Amazing Grass Green Superfood bought online from COSTCO. I don't eat nearly enough vegetables, but I'm willing to drink them. It makes for quick, healthy lunches. In addition, I've been cooking steel cut oats at home and having them for breakfast at work. We'll see in June if all these moves improve my blood numbers.

Bits and Pieces

♦ Peter, Paul, and Mary have finally been moved off of Nancy's kitchen counter and given a starring role in the dining room. Mary (the white one) has grown especially large for a goldfish in a ten gallon tank.

♦ Ed Sloan, Bellevue Christian teacher and coach, and my particular friend, did not return to BCS after his winter sabbatical, but instead went on personal leave from the school. The details of this surprise are murky, but at least I know this career interruption for him was not his own choice. I continue to take Track & Field photos. The athletic director and all the coaches are also long time friends. This is my 12th season with BCS Track.

♦ Nathanael was not accepted to graduate school by Seattle University but has been called back for multiple interviews at Seattle Pacific. He also surprised us with news that he has been in conversations with the Principal at Annie's school, Seattle Christian in SeaTac. Private schools do not have the same requirement for certified teachers. Apparently, SPU has also been in contact with Seattle Christian. This is a very interesting turn of events. On the 30th, he interviewed with an instructor in SPU's Master in Teaching Mathematics and Science program.

♦ Earlier this month I went through a few days of depression. What was worse, not knowing who my boss would be, or Nathanael losing his one car key? Well, both problems got resolved. Nate found his key in his pajama drawer. He's since paid to have a second electronic key made, something that was long overdue.

♦ Annie surprised us at Easter dinner to announce that she had applied to an online graduate program through Fairleigh Dickinson University of New Jersey. It is an MA in Creative Writing and Literature for Educators. "Our unique program—the first and only one in North America—is designed for middle- and high-school teachers, and gives you the perfect mix of an MFA in Creative Writing and a traditional MA in English Literature, in a single well-coordinated package." It sounds perfect for Annie.

♦ We are at 2 Corinthians 6 on Saturday mornings.

My Quote from March

This quote (below right) was included in my weekly undergraduate newsletter.

Q: So the tipping point for you came when Trump made outright claims of being a Christian and associated himself with evangelicals?

A: Yes. There was one occasion he held up a Bible. On another occasion, at Liberty University, he read from Scripture. On multiple occasions he’s said “Of course I’m a Christian.” There was a time in Iowa when he said “I’m a Christian,” and somebody asked about forgiveness and he said “I’ve never asked God for forgiveness.”

I can’t imagine that. I’m just shaking my head going “How does that work?” Does a swimmer say “I’ve never gotten wet?” Does a musician say “I’ve never sung a song? How does a person claim to be a Christian and never need to ask for forgiveness?"

Pastor and author Max Lucado, interviewed by Christianity Today, 2/26/16.

All of us who are concerned for peace and triumph of reason and justice must be keenly aware how small an influence reason and honest good will exert upon events in the political field.

― Albert Einstein

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