Be Known at George Fox University

What does it mean to Be Known ...

At George Fox, each student will be known – personally, academically and spiritually.

To Be Known

It’s the hope each student brings to the college experience. To be known by name. To be understood, valued, and encouraged.

At George Fox, to be known means that professors and staff connect with students in authentic ways – personally, academically, spiritually – recognizing that we all come to this place with different backgrounds, life experiences and dreams for the future. To be known means that students not only learn new ideas, they share their own. To be known means to be heard.

When students feel what it’s like to be known in this way, they become inspired. And that’s when real change happens. Knowledge moves from the mind to the heart. Careers turn into callings. Faith turns into action. And that’s why we begin with a simple promise, that each student will be known.

Maddie’s Be Known Story

“On a late Sunday night, I went to an empty classroom in the Stevens Center to practice a presentation I had to give the next morning.

I was feeling pretty unprepared and anxious about the presentation, so I was just rehearsing all my material when the classroom door opened. A security guard walked in to check who was in the room.

He didn’t see me at first. I said hello and startled him!

I was around the corner so he didn’t see me, but after I apologized for scaring him, he, without hesitation, sat down at a desk and asked me to give my presentation. With open ears and a kind heart, he listened to my presentation and gave me extremely helpful feedback.

To my surprise, he revealed that he used to be a language arts teacher for 20 years! He joked about coming to watch my presentation and helped calm my nerves about my public speaking assignment. It was at that moment I felt known not only as a student but as a person in this community. It was a really sweet experience, and he didn’t even hesitate to listen to me.”

Isabela Flores

Recent graduate (Kinesiology)

Through my deepest struggles and my greatest joys and accomplishments, the community here at George Fox has surrounded me and supported me in so many ways. Between professors, faculty and the friendships I have made, every single one has shown me what it is to Be Known as a person and a student and what it is to be truly cared for.

Faith’s Be Known Story

“When I first arrived at George Fox, I had little to no idea what I was doing. It was the first time I had ever stepped foot in Oregon. I remember feeling excited and confused when the taxi dropped me off outside of Edwards Hall. I stood in the parking lot with my suitcases watching parents, football players, PAs and RAs run back and forth from the dorms to the cars helping students move in. My parents were 2,000 miles away from me. Because flights were so expensive, both of them remained back home on Kauai. I remember having no idea where Hobson Hall was located and felt unsure how to ask for help.

Thankfully, a group of student leaders saw my distress and came to my assistance. They not only directed me where to go, but actually ended up taking my suitcases and rolling them all the way to Hobson. When they did this, I suddenly felt less alone because these people who didn’t even know me went out of their way to help me.

I highly doubt they knew their kind act would be one that would stick with me throughout my college experience. It was the kindness shown to me that day that motivated me to want to become a student leader myself. I spent my last three years on campus in residence life, and I have loved being able to encourage and walk alongside fellow students on their college journeys.”

The Martin Family

The thing that we appreciate the most about this community is that Be Known is not just a phrase that’s used, it’s not just a tagline. It’s something that there’s intentionality behind.

Inviting Christ into the Classroom

Watch as professor Pete Rusaw turns an engineering project into a spontaneous baptism.

Mitchell Henry

Recent graduate (Business Administration)

My professors are incredible. They want to see you succeed in a way that’s hard to describe – almost akin to the way a family roots for each other’s success and helps in any way possible.

Ronnda Zezula

Recent graduate (Adult Degree Program)

My experience at George Fox changed everything. From the minute I started interacting with admissions counselors, I knew that there would be grace for me as a human being. I had such a negative past experience of being looked down upon and judged as incapable. It was tremendous to be lifted up and supported by my professors and the program staff.

Jonah’s Be Known Story

It was a long and winding path that brought Jonah Wafula to George Fox. He had to leave his family in Uganda in the hopes that he could one day provide them with a better life. Along that journey, Jonah met engineering professor Neal Ninteman. “I became good friends with his son, I met his wife, it was like family. He was like a father figure for me – he understood me. He said, ‘Come to my office whenever you have a question or you’re struggling with anything. Just talk to me and I’ll help.’

I felt comfortable going to other professors too, but Neal was my go-to.”

It wasn’t easy, but thanks to the support of his professors and lots of hard work and studying, Jonah was able to navigate his way through the university’s rigorous engineering program for nearly two years, despite coming to the U.S. at 15 with the equivalent of just a fifth-grade education.

But even as he was on his way to a career as an engineer that could one day help support his family back home, something didn’t feel right. Engineering wasn’t for him, and it seemed like every project was a struggle. What he really loved was telling stories, and he loved movies. Near the end of his sophomore year, Wafula began looking at the university’s cinematic arts major. “What if I could support my family doing something I really enjoy?” he thought.

But he wondered if his engineering professor and mentor would be disappointed in him for changing majors. Just the opposite turned out to be true. “Neal was really happy that I got to find what I enjoy. He wasn’t disappointed at all.”

Cinematic arts turned out to be the perfect fit for Jonah. “It’s just wonderful. I really enjoy all my classes. It’s not easy, but it’s what I love.”

As for Neal, he’s just happy to see Jonah discover God’s plan for his life. “What I’m most excited about is George Fox being the vehicle for helping Jonah find what he’s made for, to help him find what God has for him to do,” he says. “He discovered his gifts here, and now he has the skills to follow that path.”

Shaun Davis

Recent graduate (Doctor of Psychology)

I had really not expected to form the kinds of relationships that I did at George Fox. I felt like I was just going to go to school, do my homework and graduate. But the cohort model really fosters you stepping into a group of people and becoming family. It was something so surprising to me, and I don’t know that I could have done the program without it.

Watch video: Stories of Faith, Grit and Joy

Be Known Spiritually

Anthony, Dayana and Abigail share how they’ve grown in their faith during the hard times, thanks to support from their George Fox community.

Lydia Taw

Recent graduate (Computer Science)

My professors encouraged me to look beyond what I thought I was capable of. They literally took me from ground zero to a job at Amazon. They played a major role in helping me believe in my ability to do this and developing my confidence.

Be Known.