Abstract:
For the last couple of decades, Catholic universities shared a confidence and institutional stability around programming and activities to impact student formation. Turbulent times upended that stability and certainty, and the grace and grit that drove us through the pandemic demanded new perspectives and new dynamics. The Holy Spirit has moved us, and so the question I pose is how we will take up and follow through on this calling into new ways of being a university. While our core principle of educating the whole person remains, grace and grit are not survival tools. They carry transformative powers that require us to lean in to change and possibility.
Biography:
Dr. Lauretta Conklin Frederking was appointed President of Brescia University College on August 1, 2021.
A passionate and experienced educator and leader who believes in educating the whole person, Dr. Frederking has 25 years of teaching and research experience, with leadership and administrative roles that transformed her knowledge into practice in the areas of social justice and inclusion.
Dr. Frederking began teaching as a political science graduate student at Washington University in the areas of comparative politics and immigration, and was honoured with her first teaching award within the School of Arts and Sciences. Over the next 16 years at the University of Portland, she contributed to the discipline as author and editor of books and articles on comparative immigration, comparative political economy, interest group politics, the politics of literature and social justice.
At the University of Portland, Dr. Frederking quickly rose from Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and then Professor – with teaching and mentoring commendations and an outstanding research award that celebrate her contributions and commitment, serving as the Chair of the Department of Political Science, the Director of the Social Justice Program and Associate Provost. In her role as Associate Provost, she served as a member of the President’s Leadership Cabinet and was responsible for many key successes at the University, including: a new faculty orientation program; centralizing initiatives promoting attention to diversity and inclusion and coordinating plans to overhaul the University Core Curriculum.
In July 2018, Dr. Frederking joined the Brescia community as Vice-Principal and Academic Dean. At Brescia, Dr. Frederking launched a number of new programs and initiatives, including: conceptualizing and leading the Brescia Bold first-year course; amplifying the University’s experiential learning offerings; the formation of the Dean’s Speaker Series; establishing the Master of Engineering in Food Processing program; building key relationships with future donors and partners and creating the “Resilience” podcast, while fostering a community of collaboration and respect amongst Brescia’s faculty.
Dr. Frederking holds a BA from the University of Toronto (Political Science), MA from Columbia University (Political Science) and a PhD from Washington University in St. Louis (Political Science).
Learn more about Dr. Frederking’s thoughts on leading at her institution.
Panelists:
Hannah M. Pick, M.A. serves as the Program Manager for UP’s Dundon-Berchtold Institute for Moral Formation and Applied Ethics. She oversees the Institute’s Ethics and the Professions undergraduate summer internship program and Young Professionals @ UP group, amid other programmatic efforts. Her work focuses on accompanying students and colleagues in their personal and professional journeys of character formation and leadership growth.
Dr. David Farina Turnbloom is an Associate Professor of Theology who has taught at the University of Portland since 2015. He specializes in Liturgical and Sacramental Theology with a special focus on the relationship between worship rituals and ethics.
Abstract:
For more than two years we have needed to navigate our communities through unprecedented public health, political and social dynamics. These times have seen a rise in intergroup conflict, increased activism and fragmentation of relationships and communities. This is a challenging time in which to be a leader, while also being a time where thoughtful, focused, clear-eyed leadership is most needed. During our time together, we will explore the responsibility each of us has to restore health and hope to our campus communities and the charge before us to claim the sacred ground upon which our missions are constructed.
Biography:
Dr. Larry Roper is Emeritus Professor of Language, Culture and Society and formerly Coordinator of the College Student Services Administration program and the undergraduate Social Justice Minor at Oregon State University. Previously, he served Oregon State University as Vice Provost for Student Affairs from 1995-2014, as Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and later as Interim Director of the School of Language, Culture and Society.
Larry currently serves as a Commissioner with the State of Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission and as Chair of the NASPA Faculty Fellows. He served a 4-year term as Editor of the NASPA Journal, and 6 years as a Commissioner with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Panelists:
Dr. SimonMary Asese Aihiokhai is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Portland. Dr. Aihiokhai has worked extensively with communities at the margins in Nigeria and in the United States of America. He has held academic positions at Loyola Marymount University; Valparaiso University; Saint Leo University; and the Institute of Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana.
Dr. Eduardo R. Contreras serves as the inaugural Associate Provost for International Education, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of Portland. This executive role combines the functions of the Chief Diversity Officer and Senior International Officer for the university. He also teaches undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Portland in a variety of programs.
University of Portland
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.,
Portland, Oregon 97203-5798
503.943.8000
