4 In memoriam: Kristine Nelson, 1943 - 2012 ristine Nelson, Dean Emerita of the School of Social Work, was born Aug. 23, 1943 and died April 22 after a long fight with cancer. She received her BA from Stanford University and her MSW from Sacramento State University. In 1980 she received her PhD from the University of California Berkeley. She joined the PSU School of Social Work in 1993 as a Professor and was named dean in 2005. Dr. Nelson’s leadership was felt at all levels of the Kristine Nelson school through community service, teaching, and administration. During her tenure the SSW implemented a Bachelors of Social Work program, added Child and Family Studies to undergraduate offerings, and expanded distance education dramatically. Kristi's leadership was also critical in the process of moving the home of the SSW to the new Academic and Student Recreation Center. She was a tireless advocate for Social Work within the University System, as well as within state and national networks. In 2010 Kristi received the Lifetime Recognition Award from NASW-Oregon. She was nationally recognized for her rigorous research-based work on family preservation and child neglect. She believed deeply that children and families are best served by building strong community supports. She saw child welfare in the context of social justice and evidencebased practice. Early in her career she worked in child welfare in Harlem and carried in her heart a deep understanding of the demands of social work and the courage of people who do it. She was a child welfare historian and understood that our very best practices are bound by the limited view of our point in time, and will be replaced as our understanding evolves. Kristi was a woman of courage who made many contributions to the School of Social Work and the world that she believed in. She was a passionate advocate for social justice. She enjoyed hiking, travel, meditation, and living well. She is survived by her daughter, Katryn Adams, and her partner, Steve Richardson. A memorial is scheduled Sunday, May 20 at 3:00 pm in Lincoln Hall, with a reception following at the Simon Benson House. Gifts in Kristi’s memory may be directed to the Dean Kristine Nelson PhD Fellowship in Social Justice, PSU Foundation, PO BOX 243, Portland OR 97207. --adapted from the PSU School of Social Work website RAPS club reports Bridge Group shuffles May 8 The RAPS Bridge Group meets at 1:00 pm Tuesday, May 8 at Friendly House, 1737 NW 26th Ave. For further information, call Colin Dunkeld, 503-292-0838. For those who would like to play at the next gathering, please call no later than noon Friday, May 4. --Colin Dunkeld Book Club reads ‘Blood Brothers’ The RAPS Book Club meets at 2:45 pm Tuesday, May 15 at the home of Felicia Wirtz at 16344 NW Avamere Court, #8 in Portland. (Note the time change.) Contact her at 503-645-0947 to RSVP and for directions. We will discuss Blood Brothers by Elias Chacour, with a presentation by Marge Terdal and Maxine Thomas on their trip to Palestine and Israel. Chacour’s nonfiction book is described on the back cover as follows: As a child, Elias Chacour lived in a small Palestinian village in Galilee. The townspeople were proud of their ancient Christian heritage and lived at peace with their Jewish neighbors. But early in 1947, their idyllic lifestyle was swept away as tens of thousands of Palestinians were killed and nearly one million forced into refugee camps. An exile in his native land, Elias began a years-long struggle with his love for the Jewish people and the world's misunderstanding of his own people, the Palestinians. How was he to respond? He found his answer in the simple, haunting words of the Man of Galilee: "Blessed are the peacemakers." In Blood Brothers, Chacour blends his riveting life story with historical research to reveal a little-known side of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the birth of modern Israel. He touches on controversial questions such as "What behind-the-scenes politics touched off the turmoil in the Middle East?", "What does Bible prophecy really have to say?", and "Can bitter enemies ever be reconciled?" Looking ahead, we will read Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof for June. --Mary Brannan RAPS Club Reports continued on page 6 K
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