Alumni News 

STM Alumni: Shaping the Future

Leadership Makes the Difference…in service by our students and alumni/ae engaging others at the deepest level of the human heart and mind

Nancy Bock, MATS, 2009, successfully defended her dissertation in February 2011 and spoke at the Leadership Conference at Seattle University in April.

Meredith Dodd, MDiv, 2011, has been assigned by Rev. Pat Simpson, Seattle District Superintendent, as half-time Pastor of Green Lake United Methodist Church, effective January 1, 2011.

Peg Faulmann, MDIV, 2011, was approved for ordination in February, 2011. She has been called as Associate Pastor of Keystone United Church of Christ in Seattle. Her ordination will take place at Keystone on Sunday, June 26.

Elizabeth Felt, MDiv 2010, was ordained into word and sacrament ministry in the ELCA on April 29 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Freeland, WA. She has been called as pastor at Peace Lutheran Fellowship in Port Ludlow. “My ecumenical training at STM seemed to be just what the congregation was looking for!”

Linda Fowler, MDiv, 2007, was ordained into Word & Sacrament at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church on Sunday, April 10. She is serving as a chaplain at Providence Hospice of Seattle. “The School of Theology and Ministry prepared me well academically, practically and spiritually. I am so thankful for the many ways faculty and staff participated in my education and preparation.” 

Molly Fraser, MDIV, 2011, was called to serve as pastor at Light of the Hill United Methodist Church in Puyallup, Washington. 

Daryl Grigsby, MAPS, 2002, published Celebrating Ourselves: African-Americans and the Promise of Baseball in December 2010, about the role the game has played in enhancing black social, political and family life from slavery to today. Visit: www.celebratingourselves.com for more information. Since moving with his wife to Pomona, California in 2009, Daryl has also become a member of the Pomona Valley YMCA Board of Directors, and is a participant in the Inland Valley Faith Consortium—a group of black pastors and lay people who tutor elementary-age African-American students. In 2009, Daryl was named one of the Top Ten Public Works Officials in North America by the American Public Works Association.

William Graves, MDIV, 2010, assumed the position of full time minister of the Tahoma UUA Church in Tacoma on January 1st. Bill was ordained into Unitarian Universalist Ministry on January 22, 2011.

Paula Harris-White, MATS, 2008, is one of three participants from the Seattle/King County area invited to attend the W.K. Kellogg Foundation America Healing Conference, May 24-26, 2011, in Asheville, NC. Participants will include Peggy Macintosh, filmmaker Dr. Statki Butler, Ben Jealous, president of the NAACP, and other prestigious leaders for racial justice and healing.

Deacon Katherine “Kedda” Keough, MDIV, 1991. On March 5, 2011, Right Reverend Peter Hickman of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion will join in the celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Orders Conferred on Deacon Kedda Keough, at St. John‘s Episcopal Church in Olympia.

Jill Komura, MDiv, 2009, serves as On-Call Chaplain at Providence St. Peter's Hospital. Her ordination service is scheduled for Friday, June 10th at University Congregational UCC.

Margaret Kuehn, MAPS, 2010, accepted a position with the Veterans Administration in El Paso, Texas. She is a clinical social worker and will be working with a group of other professionals as part of a home based team for vets who are homebound or bedridden, yet in need of physical, occupation, speech therapy etc., as well as their caregivers. Speaking at the STM graduates’ luncheon last year, Peggy said “My dream is to eliminate the word ‘homeless’.”

Ben McConaughy, MATL, 2011, has been selected as a participant in the 2011 Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE) Seminary program! Bennet was chosen by the Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, based in New York City, from a large and highly competitive applicant pool of many talented and extraordinary individuals.

Carmen Danette McDowell, MDiv, 2010, met with the Ministerial Fellowship Committee in Boston and was welcomed into fellowship as a Unitarian Universalist minister.

Eliana Maxim, MDiv, 2009, celebrated her ordination and installation to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament on Saturday, April 16, at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church Ministry. She is now Associate Executive of Multicultural Ministry at Seattle Presbytery.

Rev. Dr. Kathy Morse, MDiv 2001, PLP 2008, received the Doctorate of Ministry Degree (D.Min) in June 2011 from the San Francisco Theological Seminary. Congratulations, Kathy! 

Sr. Jane Frances Nabakaawa, MDIV. 2010, is now a teacher at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in the new branch of Elderot—Kenya. Many priests and religious of different congregations applied for the position and her superiors entered her name while she was still a student at STM. She was chosen after passing a series of tests on theological aspects by the Episcopal Conference.

Margaret Pierce, MAPC, 2009, now serves as a counselor with the Lutheran Counseling Network.

Tamara Roberts, MDiv, 2007, was welcomed as the new interim youth minister at Eagle Harbor UCC on Bainbridge in February 2011.

Jane Sorenson, MDiv, 2003. The Congregational Council of Plymouth Church UCC announced the appointment of the Reverend Jane Sorenson to succeed Tom Stiers as Plymouth’s Interim Senior Minister. Jane will be at Plymouth part-time starting on April 27 and full-time starting at the All-church Retreat, May 13-15. She plans to serve as our Interim until Plymouth calls a new permanent Senior Minister.

Allison Spiceland, MAPC and her husband, Mike Mondragon, welcomed a baby boy on April 23, 2011.

Joan Staples, MAPS/PLP, 2007, received the President’s Merit Award from Catholic Community Services, having demonstrated extraordinary dedication to clients and exemplifying the mission of CCS and CHS. The President's Awards are inscribed with a quote from Les Miserables: To love another person is to see the face of God.

Eric Stroo, MAPC, 2009, passed the licensing exam for Mental Health Counseling in May 2011.

Sian Wiltshire, MDiv ’10, met with the Ministerial Fellowship Committee in Boston and was welcomed into fellowship as a Unitarian Universalist minister. Speaking at the STM graduates’ luncheon, Sian commented “Someday I will be in a room and be able to point at all these people who are changing the world and say ‘They are all from STM.’ What we are doing here is wonderful.”

Becky Withington, MDiv, 2011, was approved for ordination pending call by the United Church of Christ on February 10, 2011.

Pastoral Counseling in the SU Spectator

I would like to congratulate Sarah Swenson, a second-year MAPC student who is currently interning at Harborview Hospital. During this busy quarter, she was able to send a letter to the editor of SU's Spectator. Her letter explored the need for Pastoral Counseling, especially during the holiday season. Here is a link:

Kathleen MacInnis Kichline, M.Div, 2000, wrote, Sisters in Scripture: Exploring the Relationships of Biblical Women published by Paulist Press, March 2009.

A scripture study ideal for small group use in either parish or home settings, Sisters in Scripture focuses on several pairings of women in both the Old and New Testament to help contemporary women consider the relationships in their own lives with one another and with God. Engaging both mind and heart, sessions offer background material, reflection questions and prayer to enlighten the scripture as the participants reflect on the sacred text. Participants gather in small groups to share their responses and to learn more in a closer look at the text which introduces the tools of biblical scholarship. Sisters in Scripture introduces the Jewish concept of Midrash, a creative way to enter imaginatively into the text. Kichline has served as Pastoral Associate at St. Thomas More Parish in Lynnwood, Washington, for more than twenty years.  

Rose Shandrow, MDiv, 2000, is the 2008 recipient of the prestigious Mid-Career Award from the Catholic Health Association for outstanding leadership in pastoral and spiritual care. Shandrow is director of spiritual care services for the Tacoma-based Franciscan Health System. The award was presented during a special ceremony at the Catholic Health Assembly in late June. "I am deeply honored to have been chosen for this very special recognition for doing work that, in itself, is so rewarding," Shandrow said. "I feel blessed to be a part of our organization's healing ministry that touches hearts and changes lives."

Read more from "Around the Archdiocese"

Read more from "Franciscan Health System News & Information"

Jocelyn Carson, MDiv ’05, was installed as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Everett on September 21, 2008.

Karen Davison, MDiv/PMC ’08, was appointed as pastor of the Oroville United Methodist Church in Oroville, WA.

Sr. Paula Marie Derise, Carmelite, MAPS ‘89, celebrated 50 years of service. She is now at St. Angela Merici Church and School in Metairie, Louisiana.

Liz Ellman, MDiv ’98, Valerie Lesniak, Rabbi Ted Falcon, Spring Cheng and Brother Jamal Rahman presented a free workshop at the Seattle Center as part of the Seeds of Compassion.

Daryl Grigsby, MAPS ‘02, published In Their Footsteps: Inspirational Reflections on Black History for Every Day of the Year. STM hosted a reception and book signing on February 28, 2008.

Jimmie James, MAPS ’07, was a panelist on “Ending Homelessness: Policy and Practice” on 4/2/08. He is pastor and founder of Greater Things Ministries in Federal Way.

Mike Mains, MATS ’97, and Cindy Fisher Rose, MAPS ’90, directed an Ignatian silent retreat, March 14-16, 2008

Erica Martin, MAPS ’99, is completing her doctorate at the Graduate Theological Union.

Kathy Morse, MDiv ’01, was awarded the Turnagain United Methodist Church Preaching Fellowship, which recognized authentic and prophetic preaching.

Emily Kelly-Peterson, MDiv ’05, founded Ritual & Remembrance, a ministry to honor life’s transitions with creativity and grace.

Lee Peterson, MATS ’03, is the assistant director for choral music at Seattle University. She was also a faculty member for the STM summer institute.

Michael Ramos, MDiv ’93, was selected as the new executive director for The Church Council of Greater Seattle.

Mirya Munoz-Roach, MAPS ’07, is pastoral assistant for faith formation at St. Theresa Church in Tacoma.

Cindy Fisher Rose, MAPS ’90, and Mike Mains, MATS ’97, directed an Ignatian silent retreat, March 14-16, 2008

Edward Salazar, MDiv ’98 was honored in June for 10 years of service to Seattle University. Eddie works in the office Jesuit Mission and Identity.

Julie Kae Sigars, MDiv ’02, served as a faculty member for the STM summer institute. She is also an adjunct faculty member in music at Seattle Pacific University

Maria L. Thompson, MATS ’04, is a spiritual director who offered three retreats in the Seattle area this year, in December, March and June.

Dr. Peter J. Zografos, MDiv, ‘02, was elected to the Board of NETWORK, the National Catholic Social Justice Lobby in Washington, D.C.

In Memory:

Virginia C. Howell, mother of Fr. Patrick Howell SJ who passed away on February 3, 2008 in Minnesota.

Sr. Karen Larkins, CSJ, MAPS 1996, who passed away in March 2008.

We know this only scratches the surface of alumni news. Please let us hear from you.

stm@seattleu.edu