Faculty President's Message

Faculty colleagues,

With my head draped back on the sink of the local beauty salon, I unsuccessfully tried to move my feet out of the way of a stylist trying to get around the belly of her eight-month pregnant coworker as she applied color.

“Sorry,” I offered pathetically. In the din of scissors, blow dryers, running water and the conversations of a dozen women, she failed to hear me.

“Don’t worry about it,” my hairdresser replied. “We make it work around here.”

They did, indeed, I noticed. With eight stations, two sinks, a juice bar and product display case next to a small entry couch – all crammed into less than 500 square feet – they had to! Only my female college dorm could boast of more estrogen.

The bell of the door rang then as the salon owner entered, a Costco bundle of paper towels in hand. My hairdresser took the opportunity of my conditioner-soaked hair to approach the woman and mumble something in her ear.

The young entrepreneur cocked her head to the side thoughtfully as she pondered the personnel issue raised by my beautician. She considered for mere seconds before naming a solution: “Sounds like we need to get together for dinner and drinks.”

So much wisdom in those words. When challenges present themselves, as my hairdresser informed me they had, the key is to join together. Look each other in the eye. Reconnect with our common humanity. Eat and drink and discuss.

We do this well at Whitworth. Looking back on my 24 years here, I am struck by the commitment we have to our students, to the mission and to each other. Faculty Retreat is just one small example. There, we will reconnect as a faculty; we will eat, maybe drink and unite around our collective mission.

The theme of this year’s retreat: Back to the Future – Whitworth 2035.

Great Scott! You might be thinking. I’ve always wanted to get my hands on the flux capacitor and take the DeLorean for a spin! Well, you are certainly in for a treat. If our calculations are correct, when this group of brainiacs revs their intellectual engines, you’re gonna see some serious… idea generation. For, as Marty McFly reminds us: “If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.” Indeed, we might not even need Doc Brown’s time machine.

We will join the productivity of dreaming big about the Whitworth of the future with the pleasantries of a 1980s and/or Back to the Future costume contest AND game of trivia. (You will want to begin preparing. There will be prizes.) Bring your hopes and dreams for Whitworth, bring your best ideas about the future of higher education, bring your hot pink headbands or Calvin Klein underwear, and join us at the Barn. View the event flier here.

All in all, it should be a memorable event.

Our next academic year will kick off Wednesday, Aug. 27, when we gather to worship together at the staff chapel service. This will be followed by President McQuilkin’s State of the University Address and lunch. Thursday, Aug. 28, is our retreat at Big Barn Brewing Company; please bring an outdoor lawn chair and plan to arrive by 11:15 a.m. That afternoon, on campus, we will officially welcome and install the newest faculty members to the Whitworth community. The day will conclude with a catered faculty and staff picnic. Departmental retreats are scheduled for Friday.

Praying many blessings on your heads as you wind down summer and wind up for the new academic year.

Warmly,
Bendi