Morelli Has Love of Technology, History by WANDA LAUKKANEN Some People Might Call Dave Morelli a Computer Geek

INSIDE Faculty and Staff Highlights | Page 3 University Announcements | Page 4 pacificu.edu FACULTY & STAFF NEWS August 2013 Two sided Morelli has love of technology, history BY WANDA LAUKKANEN Some people might call Dave Morelli a computer geek. After all, his title is enterprise database administrator, meaning he manages computer database systems at Pacific University. The title, however, reflects only a part of the man, who not only manages the modern-day conveniences of electronic systems but also is an advocate for remembering the past and is a staunch proponent of brick-and-mortar colleges. “Half of what you get in college is the education,” he said. “The other half Photo by Stacie Struble is the people you meet. And if you’re Dave Morelli watches over databases at Pacific πand is a long-time contributor to the university. not building relationships while you’re in college, you’re missing half of your In addition, the two are very much California when he was 10, because, he education. ... Pacific actually gives involved in local historical events. said, “My aunt lied to my dad.” something you can’t get online.” They are members of theFriends of Apparently, Morelli’s father came to Morelli puts his money where his Historic Forest Grove and can often be visit earlier during a nice spring week. mouth is. Together with his wife, Jo found in period dress at various venues “He asked if it was always like this, Morelli, who worked at Pacific for celebrating history. and she said, ‘Sure.’” several years in the 1990s, Morelli Morelli moved to the unincorporated Morelli graduated from Jesuit High has donated to the university for 17 rural community of Midway, located School, attended Seattle University for a consecutive years. between Hillsboro and Newberg, from See Morelli, page 2 pacificu.edu/marcom/pacnews.cfm | 1 Faculty, staff give back to Pacific University It may not be a traditional inter- President Phil Creighton. Employee giving, Contribute one time, monthly collegiate competition, but Pacific Employee giving rate is a point by university, FY12 or annually. University is outpacing many of of pride, Brynteson said, because 66 percent Make donations online, by Pacific University its peers in an important category: it speaks to how much staff cash or check, or with a 60 percent employee giving. payroll deducation. and faculty members value and Willamette University For the 2012 fiscal year, July support Pacific. 47 percent pacificu.edu/giving Linfield College 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012, some “Not only do corporations and 33 percent 66 percent of Pacific employees foundations look at that number Whitworth College 32 percent made donations to the university, ranging down to 27 percent. for grants, but it is a great way for Whitman College said Meredith Brynteson, assistant Pacific’s percentage is alumni, parents and students to 27 percent Lewis & Clark College director of annual giving. impressive on a regional and see how caring everyone in the * FY2012 (The 2013 giving rate was a national scale, too, said Brynteson. Pacific community is.” Employee giving, bit lower at 63 percent, and the “People were incredibly In the 2012 fiscal year, by year, Pacific comparative data from other impressed that we are able to do five groups of employees at 63 percent schools isn’t available yet.) this,” she said of her colleagues. Pacific achieved 100 percent 2012-13 That marks a larger percentage giving rates: President’s Office, 66 percent Employee giving has grown 2011-12 than employees from at least significantly from its 19 percent University Advancement, Career 57 percent 2010-11 five other private schools in the rate in January 2009. That’s Development Center, School of 62 percent Northwest Conference, she said. when the university put in Dental Health 2009-10 Closest is Willamette place a dedicated program for Science and the Facilities 58 percent 2008-09 University at 60 percent, and soliciting staff and faculty gifts, at Department in the Office of 19 percent other schools had giving rates the urging of former university Finance and Administration. January 2009 Morelli: Find what gets you in trouble, get paid for it Continued from Page 1 Six years later, he said, he took advice was working plastics. We were selling from the opening line of the movie The the company so I knew I had to get to couple of years, then joined the Graduate in which a character said, “I a different job … my boss walked in U.S. Navy. just want to say one word to you. Just (to my office) and says, ‘Are you playing His job? “I was a nuclear extortionist one word. ... Plastics!” with the damn computer again?’ for six years,” he said with a chuckle, So, he managed Morelli’s Q & D “So I knew the answer to that adding that he served on a missile- Plastics, a Forest Grove firm that does question … I went to school and got a carrying, atomic submarine. injection, compression and transfer bachelor’s degree in computing.” “I was part of a team that ran around molding, for 15 years before deciding to Morelli spent two and half years the world threatening people with return to college. earning his bachelor’s degree at Portland nuclear destruction if they didn’t do His advice for anyone deciding on State University with his wife supporting what we wanted them to do … our job a major — “If you’re having trouble him and three young children at home. was basically to run around and say, deciding what to do, find out what Later, he worked for several companies ‘Don’t do anything stupid or we’ll blow you get in trouble for doing, and find and also did private consulting before you away.’” a way to get paid for it. In my case, I being hired by Pacific in 1999. pacificu.edu/marcom/pacnews.cfm | 2 Faculty & staff highlights DONNA HEPLER and JUDY COOK, Mail Services, each earned Smythe is third woman optometry Executive Mail Center Manager certifications in May. The Executive grad to earn historic presidency Mail Center Management program, designed by the U.S. Postal Service Pacific University College of for mailing industry professionals, is a Optometry dean Jennifer Smythe comprehensive training program. Two ’90, OD ’93, MS ’00, has been U.S. Postal Service instructors from elected the first woman president the Postal Service’s Oklahoma division of the Association of Schools and traveled to Portland to conduct the Colleges of Optometry. certification course. Smythe assumed the presidency at the ASCO annual meeting in San DON SCHWEITZER, Social Work, Diego on June 26. and his research on formerly homeless young people was the subject of a In 2010, she became the first woman elected to the ASCO executive National Clearinghouse on Families & committee. Later that year, Smythe received the Optometrist of the Year honor Youth report titled “Offering a New by the Oregon Optometric Physicians Association. Perspective, Learning New Skills: Youth Engagement in Research.” The story Since her residency at Pacific in 1993, she has held various roles within the included Schweitzer’s unique approach College of Optometry, including professor, chief of contact lens services and in using young people to help analyze associate dean for academic programs. his research interviews. He found Dr. Smythe was in a private practice in Beaverton, Ore. for 12 years. She is a the young analysts by posting a job contributing editor for Primary Care Optometry News, a fellow in the American opportunity at a local basic center and Academy of Optometry and a diplomat in the Section on Cornea and Contact transitional living programs. Lenses. She was also a charter board member of Women of Vision. JULES BOYKOFF, Politics and In 2006, Smythe was named to Vision Monday’s “50 Most Influential Women Government, authored “At Brazil’s in Optical.” Smythe earned her doctor of optometry from Pacific in 1993 after Confederations Cup, A Dress Rehearsal earning a bachelor’s degree. She also earned a Master of Science degree from for Dissent” in the July 3 issue of her alma mater in 2000. Dissent A Quarterly of Politics and Culture. Founded in 1941, ASCO represents the interests of the schools and colleges of optometry in the United States and Puerto Rico. The organization is committed to helping its member institutions prepare well-qualified graduates SHARE YOUR NEWS for the optometry profession. Is there a staff or faculty member you would like to see profiled? With Smythe’s installation as the first female president in ASCO history, Pacific’s College of Optometry has now produced three female optometrists Do you have a presentation, who have ascended to the presidency of a national association. publication or other professional achievement to share? Joan Exford, OD ’66, an optometry alumna of both Indiana University Send your story ideas — for Pacific and Pacific, became the first female president of the American Academy of News, Pacific magazine, press releases Optometry in 1993. Dori Carlson OD ’89, became the American Optometric and more — to [email protected] Association’s first female president in 2011. pacificu.edu/marcom/pacnews.cfm | 3 MayAugust Birthdays Birthdays 1 Matt Brown 9 Ann Matschiner 14 Aaron Livingston 23 Yemaly Alexander 1 Jason Brumitt 9 Pamela Lopez 14 Suzie Brandes 23 David Cassady 1 Mary Von 9 Nicole Irons 14 Diana Watkins 23 Neeru Shore 2 Ralls Hall 9 Tami Grotte 14 Miguel Cervantes 24 Robin Shallcross 2 Tedd Livengood 9 Tyra Peters 15 Heather Young 25 Sara Harsin 2 Morgan Crabtree 10 Kenneth Baker 17 Blair Lonsberry 25 David Keene 2 Lisa Sardinia 10 Jean Flory 17 Derrick Alex 25 Joni

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