Pacific Honors 2019-2020 Retirees

Pacific University is proud to recognize the long-time contributions of its retiring faculty and staff members.

The university has bestowed faculty emeritus status on seven retiring faculty members, as well as Creighton Honored Retiree status on eight retiring staff members.

Retirees and employee award winners typically are recognized at a ceremony each May. Though this year’s Faculty & Staff Honors & Awards Ceremony was canceled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the contributions of employees has never been more important. Retiring employees are listed in order of years of service.

JIM GOODRICH
Faculty Emeritus

Jim Goodrich joined Pacific in 2017 as the university’s Stoller Distinguished Endowed chair and dean of the College of Business. Under his leadership, the College of Business strengthened its curriculum, built up its MBA program, created a Placement Office to support students and alumni, and took significant steps toward accreditation with the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

STEVE ARENDT
Retired Faculty

Steve Arendt spent 40 years practicing and teaching pharmacy. He worked in acute care settings, as well as in management, and his research interests included management and leadership, law and ethics. He has a great love of teaching and says that he "reached my highest professional fulfillment by teaching at the Pacific University School of Pharmacy."

CASSIE WARMAN
Creighton Honored Retiree

Cassie Warman came to Pacific University in 2012 as vice president for University Advancement. In her eight years leading the division, she oversaw more than $50 million in fundraising, deepened alumni engagement and special events, and a transformation of the university’s digital presence and brand recognition. She was a mentor and champion to students and employees alike.

ANNE HERMAN
Creighton Honored Retiree

Anne Herman became registrar for Pacific University in 2009. In more than 10 years, she oversaw significant technology innovation within the Registrar’s Office, including the implementation of online grading, online registration, online transcript ordering, and an online catalog. In those 10 years, she has served students through an enormous growth in academic programs and enrollment.

LAURA DIMMLER
Professor Emeritus

Laura Dimmler was appointed director of the Master of Healthcare Administration program in 2008. She led the university’s first primarily-online program and went on to establish a cadre of additional hybrid or online programs, from the bachelor of health science to the PhD in education and leadership as she became director of the School of Healthcare Administration and Leadership. Her innovation led to the development of the Center for Educational Technology and Curricular Innovation and the widespread use of technology in health professions programs.

JONI HEVERON
Creighton Honored Retiree

Jodi Heveron has served as executive assistant in University Information Services since 2008. In addition to her work managing purchasing and accounting for the department, she also served 11 years on the Honors & Awards committee, three years on the Caring Committee and Welcoming Committee, and five years on the All-Staff Conference Planning Committee. She also has been an important member of the university’s Budget Committee.

MICHAEL MILLARD
Professor Emeritus

Mike Millard joined the Pacific University School of Pharmacy in 2008 as an assistant professor in pharmacy practice. He has successfully developed curriculum for the Social Administrative Sciences programs in the school, as well as elective courses in leadership for pharmacy students. He also served as assistant dean for clinical services from 2013 to 2015. He has served in numerous service positions within the school, as well as with the state’s two major pharmacy organizations.

JEAN FLORY
Creighton Honored Retiree

Jean Flory began at Pacific in 2006 after a long career in nonprofit development. She spent 13 years as the housing specialist in the Housing Department, supporting Pacific students’ residential experiences in Forest Grove. Since retiring earlier this year, she has enjoyed travel with her husband, time with her children and grandchildren, and enjoying the Northwest outdoors.

MARK ANKENY
Faculty Emeritus

Mark Ankeny came to Pacific in 2006 as the dean of the College of Education. He was instrumental in the creation of the Early Learning Community, the School of Communication Sciences & Disorders, and the Woodburn Campus. In 2012, he was appointed vice president of enrollment management and student affairs, where he has overseen the expansion of student services, including the creation of the Hawai‘i Office in Honolulu, the Student Multicultural Center, the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and the Veterans Resource Center. He also has led the university’s ongoing enrollment growth.

SHELLEY WASHBURN
Creighton Honored Retiree

Shelley Washburn created the Master of Fine Arts in Writing program and nurtured it to nationally recognized status. She has recruited high caliber authors to serve as faculty and brought students from around the world to the program and to Oregon for outstanding residency programs. She also created a Friends of the MFA group that has accomplished significant fundraising in support of students in the MFA program.

SUSAN TINSLEY-LI
Professor Emeritus

Susan Li has served as a full-time faculty member in the School of Graduate Psychology for 16 years. She has been a champion for increasing diversity in the school and throughout the program and made valuable scholarly contributions ot the field of psychology in multicultural psychology, working with underserved populations, children, youth and families. Most recently, she served as diversity domain director in the school.

PAULA THATCHER
Creighton Honored Retiree

Paula Thatcher came to Pacific in 1994 as the performing arts manager, a role that eventually evolved into events manager and director of university events. She has planned 100 commencement ceremonies, dozens of convocation ceremonies, 10 incredible Legends fundraising events, The Forum Debate, Family Weekends and more. She also served on numerous campus committees, including Faculty & Staff Honors & Awards and assisted with community events such as Stars in the Grove and the Chamber of Commerce Corn Roast.

TIM THOMPSON
Professor Emeritus

Tim Thompson has taught in Pacific University’s English Department for 26 years, garnering a reputation as an enthusiastic and gifted lecturer in literature, writing and disability studies. In 2002, he helped create the minor in disability studies, and he has served as director of that program since its creation. He also has served as chair of the English Department and the Faculty Development Committee, and he sat on the task force that implemented the new core requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences in 2017-2018.

ROYLENE READ
Creighton Honored Retiree

Roylene Read joined the Pacific University staff in 1994 and has spent 25 years helping faculty, staff and students have coordinated access to the facilities and services they need to do their work and thrive. She has managed the motor pool, work orders and key distribution, maintained building schematics, helped launch the Forest Grove Campus’s first online room scheduling tool, and supported campuses, events and guest housing. She also is widely known for her creativity as the queen of Halloween, an organizer for the city’s annual Chalk Art Festival, and a bagpiper in local parades.

DAVID DEMOSS
Professor Emeritus

David DeMoss came to Pacific in 1990 as an assistant professor of philosophy. In the past 30 years, he has been promoted through the ranks to full professor, served as chair of the Humanities Division, and taken on the role of director of the School of Arts & Humanities and associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. He has been recognized for his passion for teaching, extraordinary leadership and advocacy.

KEN SCHUMANN
Creighton Honored Retiree

Ken Schumann joined Pacific in 1984 as assistant men’s basketball coach, sports information director and an instructor in physical education. In 1992, he was promoted to associate athletic director and head men’s basketball coach, where he served for 13 years, becoming the winningest coach in the team’s history. He was named Northwest Conference Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year in 1993 and again in 1997 and was honored as Little All-Northwest Coach of the Year in 1997. He has served as director of athletics in 2004 and has led the growth of Boxer Athletics, adding six varsity programs and several junior varsity programs. He also spearheaded the expansion of Pacific’s athletic facilities, helped develop the Legends fundraising event, and was named NCAA College Division Fundraiser of the Year in 2011.

Pacific also proudly recognizes its annual faculty and staff award winners, as well as its longevity award recipients.