June 2019 | University of Portland

News - June 2019

Bee on a flower

The Language of Nature

Portland Magazine

Mathematics

College of Arts and Sciences

June 25, 2019

What language would God use to describe the laws of nature? Mathematics, of course.

Revlon, 280 Bubbly: A champion markswoman reflects on her shooting career and public persona

Alumni

Portland Magazine

June 24, 2019

Katherine Gamble rose to fame on the junior marksmanship circuit after an improbable perfect debut. She leaned into a carefully curated competition persona, but despite her successes, she questioned her place in the sport and her ambitions.

Devin Ajimine

From magic wallets to product management, Entrepreneur Scholar Devin Ajimine learned to take chances and embrace failures

Portland Magazine

Alumni

Franz Center

Engineering

June 21, 2019

Devin Ajimine recently graduated from University of Portland. He credits the Entrepreneur Scholars program with teaching him how to travel globally, network, and communicate clearly. Now a product manager at T-Mobile, Devin is also pursuing a master's in human centered design and engineering.

Devin Ajimine

Think Big, Think New: Entrepreneur Scholars Program Turns 20

Alumni

Portland Magazine

Franz Center

June 21, 2019

University of Portland's Entrepreneur Scholars program is turning 20. More than 300 students have participated in the program. Some ideas are still going strong; some have lived a full life; some flopped and inspired the next idea. Here are stories of five alumni from the program.

photo of Salvador Orara

University of Portland welcomes new Innovation minor director, Salvador Orara

Engineering

Franz Center

June 20, 2019

The University’s new campus-wide minor in innovation will be led by Salvador Orara, who has been hired as a Franz Center professor of practice. Orara’s experience includes UX (user experience design) roles and considerable teaching experience.

Fatima Ruiz Villatoro

Entrepreneur Scholars program leads Fatima Ruiz Villatoro to career in hospital construction

Alumni

Engineering

Portland Magazine

International Languages and Cultures

Franz Center

June 20, 2019

A 2015 graduate with degrees in engineering management and Spanish, Fatima Ruiz Villatoro's Entrepreneur Scholar student project of decorating hospital rooms for terminally ill children turned into a career project managing medical facility construction.

Vail Horton

Vail Horton uses Entrepreneur Scholar program to launch innovative crutch, found a non-profit

Portland Magazine

Business

Philosophy

Alumni

Franz Center

International Languages and Cultures

June 20, 2019

A life-long user of crutches, Vail Horton knew first-hand the need for an ergonomic crutch. With a team of fellow Entrepreneur Scholar students at University of Portland, he founded Keen--an innovative crutch company. He now runs a non-profit.

Thomas Iwasaki

Entrepreneurial spirit takes root in Thomas Iwasaki '14

Franz Center

Business

Portland Magazine

Alumni

June 20, 2019

Entrepreneur Scholar alum Thomas Iwasaki '14 designed a customizable bluetooth speaker for his project and went on to a career at Nike. He's now the co-creator of Usonia, a business data company.

Molly Gowan

From founding a business to corporate sales: Skills learned in Entrepreneur Scholar program serve Molly (Sexton) Gowan throughout her career

Alumni

Communication Studies

Franz Center

Portland Magazine

June 20, 2019

Molly (Sexton) Gowan '00, created an executive management seminar for parish priests for her Entrepreneur Scholar project. After graduation, she founded her own company and eventually found her way to corporate sales, noting that entrepreneurial skills are beneficial in every career.

John Carroll Jr

J.H. Carroll Jr., We Remember You

Alumni

Portland Magazine

June 19, 2019

University of Portland's Praying Hands War Memorial is the only marker on U.S. soil for alum John H. Carroll, Jr., who perished in World War II. His family only recently discovered its existence.

Russ Butkus

All Things Wise and Wonderful: Russ Butkus' 34-year career at UP comes to an end

Portland Magazine

Environmental Studies

College of Arts and Sciences

Theology

June 19, 2019

Russ Butkus combined his theological background with a passion for protecting the environment during this 34 years at University of Portland. Along with Steve Kolmes, he founded the environmental studies majors on campus, writing an award-winning textbook along the way.

Bell Tower

The little-known history of "Amazing Grace"

Garaventa Center

Portland Magazine

June 17, 2019

In March 2019, Christopher Pramuk, Chair of Ignatian Imagination and Thought at Regis University, came to University of Portland and spoke to a packed room in Franz Hall. What follows is an excerpted version of his talk, “Amazing Grace: Diversity, Deep Listening, and the Anatomy of a Song.”

Dylan Hite in classroom

Teacher to Teacher: Bonnie Robb and Dylan Hite use neuroscience to improve educational outcomes

Education

Alumni

Portland Magazine

June 17, 2019

Under the mentorship of Bonnie Robb ('95, '01 MEd, '16 EdD), Dylan Hite '19 used best practices in neuroeducation to help second graders at Duniway School in Portland understand and learn new concepts.

Itzel Moreno-Vega

Warm and Proud: Itzel Moreno-Vega teams up with Operation Warm to provide coats for students

Social Work

Alumni

Portland Magazine

College of Arts and Sciences

June 17, 2019

When Itzel Moreno-Vega noticed that many of the students at Cesar Chavez School in North Portland were coatless during the winter months, she turned to Operation Warm to provide coats to every single student.

Travis Vetters

More Ties that Bind: Gus Little and Travis Vetters

Portland Magazine

Alumni

Business

Athletics

June 17, 2019

After Travis Vetters successfully donated a kidney to his friend and baseball teammate Gus Little, the connection between them remains strong.

Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse and his father, Pierre

Like father, like son: Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse follows in his father's footsteps to win French cross country championship

Portland Magazine

Athletics

June 16, 2019

A last-minute entry into the French Cross Country Championships earns Emmuanel Roudolff-Levisse his first national title--a feat also accomplished by his father more than three decades ago.

chapel doors

And Yet: A Catholic grapples with his faith

Portland Magazine

June 14, 2019

Writer Philip Metres asks (and answers), "Why, in spite of the betrayals of my Church, do I keep coming back?"

Message from Fr. Mark Poorman, CSC

President

June 12, 2019

A message from Fr. Mark Poorman, CSC

photo of Ami Ahern-Rindell

Ami Ahern-Rindell awarded the Council on Undergraduate Research Biology Division Mentor Award

College of Arts and Sciences

Biology

June 10, 2019

University of Portland biology professor Ami Ahern-Rindell has been awarded the Council on Undergraduate Research Biology Division Mentor Award (Advanced Career), a national award that honors biology mentors for their long-term efforts in supervising undergraduate research students.

Megan Rapinoe

Pilot soccer alums Megan Rapinoe, Christine Sinclair, and Sophie Schmidt set to shine on the Women's World Cup stage

Athletics

Portland Magazine

Alumni

June 7, 2019

University of Portland alumni and former Pilot soccer stars Megan Rapinoe '08 (USA), Christine Sinclair '06 (Canada), and Sophie Schmidt '10 (Canada) are set to lead their countries on the world stage at the Women's World Cup, June 7-July 7 in France.

photo of Franz Hall

Pamplin School of Business to host “Wine, Beer & Spirits: Portland’s Past, Present & Future” event, Wednesday July 24

Business

June 5, 2019

The Pamplin School of Business will present “Wine, Beer & Spirits: Portland’s Past, Present & Future” on Wednesday, July 24 from 4-7 p.m. at Cerulean Winery (1439 NW Marshall St). The event is sponsored by the Bauccio Lecture series.