M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust

As we prepare to turn the page on another season and welcome the bright opportunity of spring, we are excited to share that two new faces have joined the Murdock Trust this season.

A woman with long, dark, curly hair wearing gold hoop earrings and a blue shirt smiles for the camera.

Luisa Gallagher (Visiting Scholar)

Originally from Wollongong, Australia, Luisa Gallagher has been part of the Pacific Northwest community since 2011 and currently serves as a pastor at The Evergreen Community and teaches leadership, spiritual formation, and biblical studies at Portland Seminary and George Fox University.

She holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University and a master’s degree in Educational Ministry from Wheaton College Graduate School. Prior to her current roles, Luisa spent over 12 years in higher education, working alongside emerging adults in student development and has worked in areas of social justice education and service-learning among marginalized populations.

Luisa’s book Unscripted Spirituality: Making Meaning of Faith and Leadership in College will be published with Wipf and Stock in 2019.

We are beyond pleased to welcome Luisa and Jordan to our team and we are grateful for the positive impact they are already having on our work. Please join us in extending a warm welcome!

A man with a beard and glasses smiles for the camera.

Jordan Skornik (Research Fellow)

Jordan Skornik recently graduated from the University of Chicago Divinity School, where he received his M.A. (2010) and Ph.D. (2018) in Biblical Studies, and is excited to return to the Pacific Northwest, where he got his start in higher education as an undergraduate at Warner Pacific College (now University) (2004).

Prior to joining the Trust, Jordan served in a variety of adjunct professorial roles at the University of Oregon, the University of Chicago, Rockford University, Rock Valley College. He is currently teaching in the same capacity at Warner Pacific University and Concordia University-Portland. Outside the fields of liberal arts and theological education, Jordan is drawn to any and all opportunities that might help improve our world and the lives of those who live in it.

As a Research Fellow, Jordan will help support a variety of initiatives, including convenings of community leaders and facilitating relationship-building across sectors.  

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