Andrews University Agenda

Andrews University Agenda http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/ News and Events at Andrews University en-us Copyright 2026, Andrews University Wed, 17 Jun 2026 01:03:00 +0000 Wed, 17 Jun 2026 01:03:00 +0000 webmaster@andrews.edu webmaster@andrews.edu Student and Faculty Member Lead Trauma Training http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/69345 Andrews University’s International Center for Trauma Education & Care, which is run by the University’s School of Social Work, extends its trauma training and education services to professionals, churches, communities and families across the globe. Most recently, an Andrews professor and student delivered an in-person training, titled Project RENEW, to 77 Adventist pastors and teachers on the border of Thailand and Myanmar from March 15–18. Julia O’Carey, Master of Social Work student, was a part of the team who provided the trauma awareness training. O’Carey, who graduated from Andrews in 1997 and 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and master’s degree in education, respectively, started her social work career after deciding to pivot toward focusing on clinical counseling for children and adolescents. Through personal experience living in Thailand for nearly 10 years, as well as her work with ASAP Ministries in Berrien Springs, O’Carey recognized that many of the teachers and pastors in the area could benefit from the center’s programs. “I grew up in Thailand and my parents worked in refugee camps,” she explains. “So I observed a lot of trauma and when I came back to the U.S. in high school, my heart was still with the people there.” O’Carey, with help from Ingrid Slikkers, executive director of the International Center for Trauma Education & Care, and Charity Garcia, director of K–12 initiatives for the center and associate professor of curriculum and instruction in the School of Education, was able to launch a pilot program centered on bringing culturally sensitive care to those living near the Thailand-Myanmar border. To prepare for the training, O’Carey designed and developed workbooks and other materials before field testing them in Thailand during December 2025. “I was able to really encourage one of the teachers and spend some quality time with her,” O’Carey shares of her field-testing experience. “I wish I could have done much more because there’s so much need there.” Many in the region have been affected by the Myanmar civil war that has been ongoing since 1948, occasionally spilling over into Thailand and other nations. This led to participants attending the training from a variety of countries, including Myanmar, some having to travel several days to the event location. “The basic approach was to help them understand what the impact of trauma is on their brains and their bodies, and what can be done about it,” says Garcia, who accompanied O’Carey in Thailand. “We did that by doing an activity called the ‘Brain Architecture’ game with them, where they literally used pipe cleaners and straws to build a brain and see the impact of positive, toxic and tolerable stress on brain development.” They also led attendees through activities focused on nature and spirituality that helped develop and inform both “trauma awareness and trauma responsiveness,” as Garcia puts it. The Stevens Foundation contributed the majority of the funds needed for the services, which included materials for the entire program as well as Week of Prayer resources for participants to use moving forward. The curriculum included what O’Carey described as “culturally appropriate” and Bible-based materials for understanding trauma, its impacts specific to cultural context, and responses. The instructors discussed the types of traumas participants faced as they performed their ministries in the church and in the classroom. Special prayer sessions were also integral to the program. The International Center for Trauma Education & Care team hopes this pilot program can be developed further and provide even more robust training and care for those in other war-torn countries and developing nations. “It was, honestly, one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, because to have this dream and then see how God opened the doors and how supportive the International Center for Trauma Education & Care was to do this, was a mighty blessing,” says O’Carey. “I really hope to stay involved with the center. I’d be happy to help facilitate more trainings and adapt this curriculum or empower other interns to do it.” Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:10:17 +0000 Alumnus Pays Homage to Late Andrews Professor http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/69344 Violinist Mailyn Iribar Corpas, an alumnus of the Andrews University Department of Music, recently received the first prize Nerenberg Award and Farwell Trust Award in the Senior Instrumental Division from the Musicians Club of Women and won the inaugural Ruthmere Solo Strings Competition. For her senior violin recital, she also performed an original violin sonata composed by late Andrews Professor Blythe Owen—the first time the piece had been played in over two decades. Iribar Corpas began her bachelor’s degree in music performance in the fall of 2022 and completed her studies in spring 2026. Leaving her native Cuba to come to Berrien Springs, she quickly established herself as a talented performer and pupil. She shares that the collaboration and support she received from department faculty helped her grow academically and as a performer. “I’m so grateful for everything that I learned and the support that I got from all the professors.” Iribar Corpas says. “I got opportunities to play with the orchestra three times while being at Andrews and that was a highlight for me because you don’t get to play a lot with the orchestra during your bachelor’s.” These skills encouraged Iribar Corpas to participate in the Musicians Club of Women Instrumental Competition on March 7 in Chicago, Illinois, as well as apply for the Ruthmere Museum’s string competition during her senior year. “I actually applied to the Ruthmere competition without having any expectations,” she says. “You do this kind of stuff to try to put yourself out there and try to push yourself to grow. … It helped and I’m so grateful.” After winning the Ruthmere competition, she was invited to give a solo concert performance on April 23 at the museum. Along with these important competitions, Iribar Corpas faced a busy final semester, balancing a full class load, research assignment and several performances. On April 10, she presented her senior recital, titled “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WomWkps85w">Reflections</a>.” During the concert, she played works by composers Richard Strauss, Paul Schoenfield, Jessie Montgomery, Amy Beach and more. The evening also featured the first movement of Blythe Owen’s violin sonata, which Iribar Corpas helped research. In her work on Owen’s sonata, Iribar Corpas worked with Marianne Kordas, associate professor and director of the Music Materials Center, who has been studying the composer’s letters and documents for the past decade. Owen taught, composed and performed throughout the last half of the 20th century, leaving an indelible mark on the Andrews University Department of Music and its students. The sonata was only recently rediscovered and had not been played since the composer’s death in 2000. Kordas’ research pointed to Owen’s inspirational character, and she shares, “I appreciate that realistic perspective of somebody who’s just trying to do their life in the best way they can and also trying to be a good teacher and be a good artist.” Two annual scholarships have been established in Owen’s memory. These help students like Iribar Corpas—whose enrollment largely relied on scholarships—giving them the opportunity to attend Andrews University and make similar impacts through their music. Building on her undergraduate experiences at Andrews, Iribar Corpas plans to continue pursuing music academically and professionally by joining DePaul University’s graduate music program. She later hopes to pursue orchestral and solo performance and competition opportunities. To learn more about the Andrews University Department of Music please visit its <a href="https://www.andrews.edu/cas/music/index.html">web page</a>.  Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:56:47 +0000 Students and Faculty Win Awards at MBAA Conference http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/69341 Graduate students and faculty in the Andrews University School of Business Administration (SBA) won five awards and presented 17 papers at the Midwest Business Administration Association (MBAA) International Conference, held annually in Chicago. The MBAA International Conference is a multidisciplinary academic gathering, bringing together more than 6,000 academics and professionals, with the goal of sharing research, teaching and creating networking opportunities. Edna Kim and Frank Gondwe, Andrews MBA students, were awarded in the Best Conference Research Paper category. Jerry Chi, professor of management and SBA graduate program director, also won two awards for Best Student Management. He explains that there were “hundreds or thousands of submissions … These awards are heavily restricted, sometimes granted to fewer than .25% of all accepted papers. Winning an award provides global visibility for the author's institution and research findings.” Gondwe, whose paper was titled “The Relationship Between Faith-Based Resilience and Academic Persistence Among Graduate Business Students,” shares, “I chose this topic because I have personally experienced how faith sustains perseverance. As an international student in Malawi, I dreamed of studying at a Christian university like Andrews. Despite financial challenges and not being able to obtain a student visa, I did not give up. I continued to trust God, and He opened a way for me to study remotely. That journey of faith inspired my research on resilience and academic persistence.” Gondwe also won a Distinguished Research Poster Award for a project titled “Global GDP Growth, Economic Development, and Regional Disparities: A Three-Way Multivariate Analysis.” In his poster, he analyzed 113 countries over five years. He discovered “geographic continent” is the strongest predictor of GDP growth, a finding that challenges universal development models while supporting region-specific economic policies. Kim’s paper was titled “Impact of Economic Size and Pandemic Period on Economic Performance: A 3×2 Factorial Design Across Five Years.” She notes, “This study looked at how a country’s economic size affected its performance before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic over five years. The key finding was simple: larger economies didn’t just handle the crisis better; they pulled further ahead over time … For policymakers, this research means that one-size-fits-all crisis responses don’t work. Understanding how size shapes recovery can help leaders design smarter, more targeted support for economies of different sizes during any future global crisis.” Kim, who also serves as program operations and student success coordinator in the School of Nursing, reflects, “I am the only one in my immediate family who holds any type of degree in higher education. Winning this award feels like validation for every late night, every moment of doubt, and every time I had to choose between work, school, family and rest … This award isn’t just mine. It belongs to everyone who carried me here.” She shares, “I’m also grateful for Andrews University for creating space for students like me, working, parenting, trying to balance it all and to still be seen, still be challenged and still be celebrated.” “These awards are a confirmation that persistence and faith truly open doors,” Gondwe echoes. “They represent the encouragement of my mentor, Dr. Jerry Chi, and the support of Andrews University.” Chi, who coordinated the Andrews cohort at the conference, notes, “These awards demonstrate the Andrews University School of Business Administration’s commitment to high academic rigor, impactful real-world application, and the development of both faculty and student research.” He adds, “Student and faculty research is critical because it bridges the gap between theoretical learning and real-world application. It actively solves pressing global challenges and directly trains the next generation of critical thinkers.” The School of Business Administration offers several undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as a variety of learning pathways and research opportunities for students. In addition to participation in the MBAA International Conference, faculty and students presented seven articles at the 2026 Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters Conference. “Our MBA curriculum in business research and quantitative methods and optimization modeling directly prepares our MBA and MSA students to influence top-tier business decisions and propels their future consulting, industry or academic endeavors,” Chi shares. Additional information can be found at the school’s <a href="https://www.andrews.edu/cp/sba/index.html">web page</a>. Tue, 16 Jun 2026 10:35:15 +0000 MAPM Program Coordinates With North Pacific Union http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/69334 Ministerial Association serves pastors and their families across North Pacific Union through local conferences, providing resources that support spiritual growth, strengthen their calling and encourage professional development for effective ministry. The department provides resources and training to support pastors and conference ministerial teams, including coordination with Andrews University to serve twice yearly as a host site for the Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry program, offered in English and Spanish. An annual ministerial retreat provides training, encouragement and renewal for ministerial leaders, along with ongoing mentoring and professional development for pastors across the territory. <<< Read the full story at the Northwest Adventists <a href="https://nwadventists.com/news/2026/06/ripples-gods-rain-departmental-reports-20212025">site</a> >>> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:33:32 +0000 Now Enrolling K-8 students at RMES http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/69325 Ruth Murdoch Elementary School offers Christ-centered education, strong academics, STEM/STEAMS learning, music, robotics, leadership opportunities, scholarships and more!  Discover a nurturing school community where every child can thrive. Learn more at <a href="https://myrmes.org">www.myrmes.org</a> or by calling 269-471-3225.  Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:18:21 +0000 Deer Path Gardens Charity Tour http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/69333 Heart for Home invites the community to enjoy the beauty of Deer Path Gardens during a self-guided charity garden tour on June 13 & 14 from 4–7 p.m. at 4224 Pinewood Drive in Benton Harbor, MI. Hosted by Glenn and Margaret Poole in memory of Margaret's mother, Sarah Conard, this special fundraiser supports local foster children through the purchase of character-building books. Guests can explore the gardens at their own pace, engage in the children's activity (with prizes) and enjoy cookies. Entrance donations are $10 for adults and $5 for youth. To learn more about Heart for Home, visit <a href="http://www.heartforhome.info">www.heartforhome.info</a>. Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:15:41 +0000 St. Joseph SDA Church Service, June 13 http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/69332 The St. Joseph Seventh-day Adventist Church invites you to join them at 9:30 a.m. for Sabbath School and worship at 10:45 a.m. This week, Maboshe Makesa leads out in the worship service. The church is located at 1201 Maiden Lane, St. Joseph, MI. Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:11:00 +0000 Niles Westside Church Services, June 13 http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/69331 Niles Westside Adventist Church 1105 Grant St (at Fairview Ave) Niles, MI 49120 <a href="https://nileswestsidemi.adventistchurch.org">www.nileswestside.org</a> Pastor: Alexander Rybachek Sabbath School: 9:45 a.m. Church Services: 8:30 a.m. & 10:55 a.m. June 13 Sabbath 8:30 & 11 a.m.: Kaoru Soneda Sermon Title: God's Promises The love of Christ is profound, steadfast and intimately personal, as demonstrated by His ultimate sacrifice on the cross; it is an enduring love that ensures we are forever held within His grace. All are welcome to join us for our picnic potluck following second service. Please bring your own chairs, and dishes must be ready to serve. Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:09:39 +0000