(Ana Fonseca | THE BEACON)
By Ana Fonseca, Staff Writer fonesecaa16@up.edu
Five professors received tenure this year, ensuring their position until retirement. Tenure gives professors the freedom to develop and grow in their field through research and teaching.
Andrew Nuxoll
Computer science professor Andrew Nuxoll said that in October, he will have lived in one place longer than he has lived anywhere.
"I'm an army brat, so I'm not from anywhere," Nuxoll said. "I have lived in Washington state, Idaho, Turkey, South Carolina, Indiana, Kansas, Colorado, South Korea, Michigan, and I think I might have missed one."
Nuxoll said Oregon is his favorite.
Nuxoll knew he wanted to work with computers from the time he was 10 years old. He also knew he wanted to work for IBM.
After five years at IBM, Nuxoll made two critical discoveries.
"One is that just because you're good at something doesn't mean you'll like it," he said. "The other is that a big salary does not solve problems."
Nuxoll also realized he wanted to teach.
"I came to my wife, who I had only been married to about 18 months at the time, and said, 'I'd like to quit the job with the great big salary and go into debt and go to graduate school,'" Nuxoll said. "So that didn't go over very well, but we went with it."
Senior Michael Liedtke said he likes Nuxoll's energy.
"He's just a fun guy," he said. "He holds game nights so we can just have fun and play games."
Nuxoll is looking forward to his remaining time here at UP.
"I've never been happier than I am today. I've been richer, but I've never been happier," he said.
Edward Valente
Chemistry professor Edward Valente first became interested in chemistry in high school.
"When I got to chemistry, I had wonderful mentors who influenced me," Valente said.
Valente now specializes in structural organic chemistry.
Valente is a San Francisco native and did his undergraduate work at UC Berkeley. He received his doctorate from the University of Washington.
After teaching at Mississippi College for 26 years, Valente was ready for a change. UP proved to be the perfect combination of the qualities that he was looking for.
"The physical and moral and spiritual life of the place, I think, cannot be found outside of an environment like this: small, undergraduate, liberal arts and religious affiliated," Valente said.
Junior Katie Schloesser has worked with Valente in the classroom and through research.
"It's interesting and cool to experience someone so passionate about chemistry," Schloesser said. "He's very good to his students."
William Curtis
Political science professor William Curtis joked that he's glad to be sticking around.
"Glad they're not booting me out," he said. "In one way, it's the end of a 19 year journey."
Curtis is from Missoula, Mont. and earned his bachelor's from Dartmouth College and a law degree from University of California Hastings.
He worked as a lawyer in Denver, Colo. but realized he was interested in studying issues of legal philosophy. He went back to school for a Master's from Stanford University and a Ph.D. from Duke University.
Curtis is interested in political philosophy because it asks bigger questions.
"The problems of political philosophy have to do with what a good life is, what justice is, how people should live together fairly," Curtis said. "These are important questions that we all worry about."
Freshman Will Gunnels likes Curtis' energy.
"He's a very interactive and fun professor," he said. "He's a great lecturer."
Curtis said that now he'll be at UP for good, he's more invested.
"I'm looking forward to playing a bigger part in shaping the future of University of Portland," Curtis said.
Warren Wood
Chemistry professor Warren Wood decided to specialize in organic chemistry because of its connection to life.
"It explains the basic chemistry of organic molecules at a very simple level," Wood said.
Wood is from Eureka, Calif. He did his undergraduate work at Willamette University in Salem, Ore. and his doctoral work at UC Berkeley.
He then went on to do post-doctorate work at University of California San Francisco and Oregon Health & Science University.
Wood is pleased to have found a home here at UP.
"I'm not sure whether it's fully sunk in yet," Wood said.
Senior Andrew Harm said Wood is helpful and supportive.
"He's very oriented toward students," he said. "He's very nice, very easy to talk to, and he makes sure that everybody understands what he's teaching."
Wood is excited for the years ahead of him at UP. He hopes to continue to improve as an instructor as well as delve into more research.
Elena Bernard
For business professor Elena Bernard, networking, creativity and entrepreneurship have always been a part of her life.
Bernard is originally from Kyrgyzstan. From age 16, she managed three businesses involving Russian - to - English translation and teaching.
Before focusing on business, Bernard was oriented toward music.
"I translated for a group from Mississippi, and they helped me get a scholarship to William Carey College," Bernard said. "The dean of admissions said, 'Alright, sing for us,' and I was like, 'Oh my God.' So I had to sing 'Oh My Darling, Clementine,' that was my auditioning song."
When she was 19, Bernard enrolled at William Carey College on a music scholarship and earned a bachelor's in business before getting a master's from Henderson State University. She briefly worked in retail before realizing she enjoyed academia and earned a Ph.D. from Louisiana State University Baton Rouge.
She taught at Canberra University in Australia and was looking to return to the U.S.
One of the major reasons Bernard was attracted to UP was its commitment to service.
"You have this overall philosophy that service is really integral to human growth," Bernard said.
Junior Sara Collette appreciates Bernard's dedication to teaching.
"She teaches herself new things so she can teach us," she said. "She is willing to go above and beyond to help you learn."
Bernard is pleased with how far her determination and hard work have brought her.
"I think what I'm the most proud of is that I came to the U.S. full of ideas and inspiration and 600 bucks in my pocket - basically all my parents' savings - and I was thinking, 'I can become anything I want to become,'" Bernard said.
After one of the most closely contested ASUP Presidential campaigns in UP history, sophomores Quinten Chadwick and vice presidential running mate Elvia Gaona sealed the race with 51 percent of the student vote over sophomores John Julius Muwulya and his running mate Andrew Bosomworth.
45.2 percent of students voted in the runoff election, a 2 percent decrease from last week.
Sophomore Jesse Robinson swept the treasurer vote with 60.9 percent over junior Lane Ryan, who received 39.1 percent.
After receiving only 38.8 percent of the vote last week, sophomore Alysse Thomas campaigned hard Monday to defeat junior Kaile Erhart with 53.6 percent of the student vote.
Chadwick and Gaona said they plan to consistently connect with students and bring student concerns to the administration.
"I am extremely ecstatic and really happy to start this project and really have an influence on this school in a positive way," Chadwick said.
As senator this year, Gaona drafted Resolution 13-06, which recommends adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the Nondiscrimination Policy. Gaona said they will work hard as senators to get the resolution passed this semester.
"We don't want to let it sit and fade out over the summer," Gaona said. "We need to push to get it passed so that as soon as we are in office, we can really say, 'So how can we actually make sure that this is happening and the atmosphere at the university is changing?'"
As secretary, Thomas plans to be a liaison between students and ASUP.
"I didn't know what ASUP was my entire freshman year," Thomas said. "I want to change that."
Robinson is relieved to be finished campaigning.
"Thank you for everyone who voted and everyone who put up with us all for the last few weeks," Robinson said. "I am so happy to be done annoying the crap out of people. It was getting to the point where I was even annoying myself."
Robinson summed up the feelings of all victorious ASUP candidates:
"I am so so stoked. I am so happy. I am so excited."
Studied more than 10 hours on average per week
Partied 3 or more hours per week on average
Excercised or played sports more than 10 hours a week on average
Drank beer 'frequently' in the past year
Did community service frequently in past year
Attended religious service frequently in past ear
Social networking 3 or mroe hours on average per week
Entering Students
Senior Students
