More than 640 Linfield College graduates will be honored during commencement exercises Sunday, May 29, at 10 a.m. in the Oak Grove at Linfield.
Michael Lindblad, the 2015 Oregon Teacher of the Year and a 1994 graduate of Linfield College, will deliver the commencement address to the Linfield class of 2016. Margaret Marcuson, an ordained American Baptist minister living and working in Portland, will present the baccalaureate address Saturday, May 28, at 5 p.m. in Ted Wilson Gymnasium, located in the Health, Human Performance and Athletics Building at Linfield College.
Commencement speaker
Lindblad is in his 20th year as a bilingual teacher and coach. He taught for three years at Lakeridge High School and the last 17 at Gresham High School (GHS). He was named Oregon Teacher of the Year by the Oregon Department of Education for his commitment to educational equity and his focus on preparing all students for the rigors of college and the workplace. Lindblad developed his school’s International Baccalaureate history program, and then advocated for intensive outreach to recruit more students of color into the course. The global studies curriculum he developed was based on travel and cultural experiences on four continents. He designed a special history class for English language learners that paired high expectations with an appreciation for their own language and culture.
Lindblad was also named the 2016 OEA/NEA Oregon State Teacher of the Year and has received numerous other honors and awards. In 2013, the Oregon Council of Social Studies recognized him as Oregon Social Studies Teacher of the Year. From 2000 through 2015 he created the Humanitarian Project at GHS and taught the project to regional and national audiences. He developed and led the first-ever Oregon elective proficiency program, and served as a mentor teacher for more than 35 interns at three colleges.
Lindblad graduated from Linfield with degrees in history and mass communication. He participated in the study abroad program in Nottingham, England, while researching Roman ruins in Africa and Europe. He was team captain of the baseball team, all-league pitcher, and Most Inspirational Player four years in a row at Linfield College. After teaching for three years, Lindblad wanted to improve his Spanish language skills, and work more closely with Latino students. He took a Linfield Division of Continuing Education (now Online and Continuing Education) class in Peru, taught by Professor Tom Love, and remained in Peru to continue his language studies. After returning to the U.S., he accepted a position at GHS, which serves students from some 20 countries. He has a master’s degree in teaching from Lewis & Clark College.
His love of baseball and teaching continues on the field. He has been a baseball/pitching coach for 17 years, helping lead teams to state titles, league titles, and giving life lessons to players.
Baccalaureate speaker
Marcuson was a parish pastor for 13 years in Massachusetts and now she speaks and writes on leadership and works with faith leaders nationally as a consultant and coach. Her work focuses on how leaders manage themselves in relation to those they lead. They can challenge those they lead, and nurture their relationship with those they lead, but they cannot will others to change.
Marcuson is on the faculty of the Leadership in Ministry workshops and is a frequent guest preacher in churches. Her seminar and conference speaking and consulting crosses denominations, including the American Baptist Churches, United Methodist, United Church of Christ, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church of God (Anderson), Lutheran, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Unitarian and Episcopal. She is the author of several books and numerous print and online publications.
She has a Master of Divinity degree from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, and is a member of the First Baptist Church in Portland. She is the president-elect of the Board of Directors of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.
Baccalaureate has existed for centuries in colleges and universities as a time of worship for graduating members of the senior class. College officials, faculty and graduating seniors wear academic dress for the occasion. Linfield’s baccalaureate service is ordered according to the traditions within Protestant Christianity and strives to touch on the universal theme of common humanity that can be found in all of the world’s great religions.
Commencement ceremony guests are encouraged to dress for unpredictable spring weather. For more information, call 503-883-2408 or visit www.linfield.edu/commencement.
