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George Fox University | Offices and Services | Student Life | Orientation | First Year Seminars
2008-2009 First Year SeminarsThe First Year Seminar (FYS) is designed to assist first-year students become engaged members of the George Fox University community. All first-year students select a seminar-style topical course for the first five weeks of the fall semester, meeting weekly with an instructor and a peer advisor. This course is required of all first-time students and is a Pass/Fail course. **ATHLETES should choose Monday or Tuesday night seminars;**SOCCER players should choose Monday night only
Jim Foster – Psychology Description of Course: We will explore creativity and genius from several perspectives, and in its many forms including the arts, sciences, and business. Topics will include the origins of creativity, talent and genius, the creative process, and the nature and nurture of creativity. Students will explore methods of assessing creativity and the controversies over defining creativity. GEED 130B: “Using a strengths based approach to achieve success at GFU” Joel Perez – Student Life Description of Course: This course is designed to help first-year students adjust to GFU by developing a better understanding of the learning process and acquiring essential academic survival skills. By identifying your strengths as a foundation to build on you will begin to understand how you have been uniquely “wired” in the hopes that you will achieve your potential as a student at Fox. The focus will be on developing and owning strengths as central to one’s relationships, choice of major, career exploration, and life-long vocation. Joel is the director of student transitions and directs the Act Six scholarship program, new student orientation, and first year seminar programs. He has been married to Jennifer for over eleven years and moved to Newberg two years ago from southern California. He has three boys, Samuel (4), Noah (2) and Seth (4 months). He loves baseball and is a huge Dodger fan. He plays percussion and loves to read books on spiritual formation, leadership and ethnic diversity.
Steve Sherwood – Religious Studies Description of Course: How can looking at and discussing music videos help us to understand GFU's motto, "Christianity and Culture"? To what degrees is it appropriate or even helpful for Christians to engage with pop culture? Are the only options to completely avoid pop culture or to indiscriminately consume culture?
Rhett Luedtke – Performing Arts
Jeff Duerr – Biology and Chemistry Description of Course: The aim of this seminar is to address the broad impacts of biological science on contemporary society. Topics will focus on the relationship between biology and the Christian faith. Discussions will focus on the role of the life sciences as a way of learning about God and how one may foster a concurrent study of nature and the Bible. Further discussion will focus on bioethical cases raised by recent advances in biological research: cloning, stem-cells, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), etc. Another equally important component to the seminar is to help students adjust to their first year at GFU. The course will provide a forum for sharing common experiences among new freshman and act as a support group. Hopefully, students will gain an increased awareness of their academic strengths and weaknesses, learn about University resources that are available to them, and enjoy a productive first year of college. GEED 130F: “Positively Interesting: Exploring Positive Psychology and Its Effect on You.”
Polly Peterson – Writing and Literature Description: Focusing on exploration, the class will help you navigate your new surroundings, showing you how to get involved in various social and faith-based events, make cultural connections and plan for global adventures. During the course of this seminar, Valerie and Polly will take you on a tour of your new world, starting with the campus and Newberg. Expanding even wider, you will take a trip into Portland, grabbing a bite to eat downtown. Finally, you will complete your journey by investigating global travel opportunities proved by George Fox and the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities. Valerie is the awesome Administrative Assistant and leader of the Minthorn Minions; Polly is an Assistant Professor of Writing. In addition to working in the same department, Valerie and Polly are friends who like to travel and dine-out together. Their hobbies include food, fun and travel.
Rebecca Ankeny – Office of Academic Affairs Description: This section will explore the differences between the hopes professors have for students and the goals students have for their classes. We will do goal-setting relevant to students’ goals and also think about the larger purposes of education. To that end, we will read an article from The Chronicle of Higher Education and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. I have taught Writing and Literature and been an administrator at George Fox for 20 years. At present I am also a student in the Oregon Executive MBA, so I have a current student’s perspective as well as a long-time professor’s hopes. I was raised in central Africa, specifically Burundi; my hobbies include playing recreational soccer and preaching. I can be found online at http://blogs.georgefox.edu/chapel/?cat=1&paged=5 GEED 130I: “Pursuit” Kelly Chang – Psychology
Jere Witherspoon – Student Life Class Description: What does our culture tell us about ‘college’ through the viewfinder of television and movies? From ‘Orange County’ to ‘Boy Meets World’ we are given insight to what college is like. But are these messages correct? GEED 130K: “Science and Christianity: No final conflict” Paul Chamberlain – Biology and Chemistry Description of Course: This course will look at the interaction between science and Christianity. Topics to be studied include creation-evolution, the big bang theory, quantum mechanics, and origins of life. We will look at the interaction of science and the Bible, and how this affects our view of the creation and maintenance of our world. We will also discuss why ultimately there cannot be any conflict between God’s word and His creation. Students will read, write, and discuss, as well as take part in the other learning exercises in the classroom and outside of the classroom. GEED 130L: “Allegorical Fiction: Theological Themes in C.S. Lewis' ‘The Silver Chair’” Phil Smith – Philosophy Description of Course: Besides reading, watching a video, and writing in response to Lewis’s book, the course will help orient students to college life. GED 130M: Finding Your Strengths Cara Copeland – Adjunct Description of course: You have within you every talent you need to be successful at college and anything you put your mind to! But what is keeping you from tapping in to these strengths a living the life you were created to live? This course will help answer that question by introducing you to a process to help you recognize and utilize the strengths inside of you. As you identify your strengths you will learn strategies that will help you improve your relationships, learning, academics, service, leadership and career aspirations. Developing and applying strengths results in reaching levels of personal excellence and becoming the person you have the potential to be -- and that is exciting!
Cliff Rosenbohm – Social Work Description: This first year seminar will take a look at the values of society through the eyes of the characters in the Office series, as well as select movies. We will discuss views of society, service, different worldviews and because this is an election year of course politics. Expect to have fun and laugh as you get to know peers and interact with both silly and serious issues facing our society. I was born and raised in New Orleans and love New Orleans cuisine. I have had 25 plus years working with Young Life as a leader, area director, board member, and volunteer. I lived in Alaska for 10 years and worked in child welfare during that time. I have five kids, two cats, a dog, and a hamster known as Hannibal “Bitsy” Lector. GEED 130O: “The 24/7 Window: Vocation, Community, and Culture” Darren Noble – Student Life Description of course: This course will introduce first-year students to the George Fox community. Christians who live our their faith in both higher education and the workplace will also be a focus . The course text is Life During College: Your Guide to Success. Students will be encouraged and supported to develop effective study strategies and to integrate faith and learning in their educational journey. Darren Noble is the Associate Director of Career Services at George Fox University. He earned his Master’s degree in English & American Literature/Creative Writing Minor from Oregon State University, and he has more than 16 years of professional experience in the following industries: nonprofit, employment, corporate, and higher education. He and his wife Sheila have been married for 10 years, and they have two children (Sabrina, 7 and Lawson, 3).
GEED 130P: “ Fully Engaged at Fox” Andrea Crenshaw – Student Life Description of Course: This seminar will address how one can fully be “engaged” (not the ring type though I’m sure that topic will come up) in college life with the 24 hours in each day that we’ve been given. We will discuss patterns and habits in our lives that prevent us from succeeding physically, emotionally/relationally, mentally, spiritually and culturally and look at new ways to prepare and plan for an incredible journey during your time here at Fox. Andrea has been working in Student Life for seven years as the Director of Outreach and Service. She is energized by journeying with students as they discover who they are and affirming the gifts, direction and passions they’ve been given. She re-charges by listening to music, going to great concerts, being in the outdoors, golfing and spending time with friends and family. She loves a great game of euchre and traveling all over the world to re-connect with the amazing friends that she’s made over the years.
Terrie Boehr – Family and Consumer Science Description: We all know that food is essential to our survival, but what else can we learn about ourselves and global societies by food choices? This course explores the culinary heritage of global cultures, allowing us recognize and appreciate our similarities and differences. Be prepared for numerous samplings and experience preparing dishes representative of our world! GEED 130R: “In Pursuit of a Life Well-Lived: Making Decisions that Count!” Brad Lau – Student Life Description: College life is filled with numerous decisions and choices. Who do you want to become? What will you be about? Who will you choose as your friends? What does it mean to live a Christ-centered life? How will you live with authenticity & integrity? How will you not just survive, but truly thrive in your academic endeavors? We will look at how to become a successful decision-maker as you journey through the changes you’ll experience in college. We’ll discuss how to prioritize your life, maximize relationships, invest your time wisely, and how to fully embrace life as an adult. This is my 9th year as the vice president for student life at GFU and I love working with students as they pursue God’s call on their lives. My wonderful wife (Pam) and I have three daughters (Gabrielle – 8, Annalise – 9, and Michaela – 11), a dog named Biscuit, a cat named Sally, and a bunny named Snowy. Since I’m originally from Colorado, I’m an avid Denver Broncos football fan and I also enjoy reading, theological/Biblical studies, tennis, movies, and spending time with family and friends.
Meredith Dougherty – Student Life/Adjunct Description of Course: “Following Jesus is an adventure and never-ending journey in which we all have much to experience! This first year seminar will use Portland author Don Miller’s book, “Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality”, the Bible, music, movies, journaling, and discussion to explore what following Jesus means in this adventure of college. You will also have opportunities to connect—academically, socially, and spiritually—at George Fox.” Meredith was born and raised in Anchorage, AK. She loves reading, going out for coffee, and spending time with her husband and two year old son. She is a fan of college basketball, has traveled to every state but two, and has climbed Mt. Sinai. Dave was born in Canada, raised in Brasil and moved to the USA in 1998. He and his family have lived on campus for the past six years. His perfect moment is having tea in evening with his wife, sitting by a lake surrounded by the woods, with the sound of bagpipes reverberating over the water. GEED130T: “Life and Learning – the Great Balancing Act” Mark Terry - Assistant Professor of Art Description: This seminar is designed to introduce students interested in Visual Art to the liberal arts experience at George Fox in a holistic sense. Topics will cover a broad range of subjects including learning styles & study skills, integrating faith and learning, and finding pathways to a healthy balance while in pursuit of excellence. In the ‘quest for balance’ most class meetings will take place off campus and at least one will be out of town for First Thursday gallery openings in Portland. Students will need to budget a few dollars each evening for refreshment on the road or at meeting sites. Ceramic artist & studio potter, teach Ceramics, Art History, Graphic Design & Humanities Seminars abroad in Europe. 12th year at Fox and my 25th year in the classroom
Brent Weaver – Performing Arts Description of Course: In our First Year Seminar we'll be examining questions surrounding Christian calling by watching several movies about musicians as examples of people following God's leading in their lives. We'll also be reading, discussing, praying together and looking for ways to help you make the transition into life at GFU: balancing study, worship, play and life's many other challenges. Dr. Brent Weaver teaches music theory and composition in the GFU Performing Arts Department. An avid musician, film buff and cook, he has taught almost as many people to bake bread as to understand hexachordal combinatoriality. He also is convinced that his house is one of two decent barbecue joints in the greater Portland area. Dr. Weaver lives a stone's throw from campus with his wife, two teenage daughters, a 2-year-old son and a neurotic border collie.
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