David Farina Turnbloom has taught at the University of Portland since 2015. He specializes in Liturgical and Sacramental Theology with a special focus on the relationship between worship rituals and ethics.  He is married to Katie Turnbloom and has an adorable cat named Chloe. 

Brandy Daniels has taught at the University of Portland since 2020. Her work stands at the intersections of constructive and political theologies, ethics, and feminist and queer theories. She has published over 14 peer-reviewed articles chapters, and is working on her first book. Brandy co-chairs the Queer Studies in Religion unit of the American Academy of Religion and the LGBTQIA+ working group of the Society of Christian Ethics. She is an ordained Disciples of Christ minister and serves as a street chaplain with Portland Interfaith Clergy Resistance. Brandy lives across the bridge in Vancouver with her partner and 2 pups, Karly and Scout.

Emma (she/they) is a junior Political Science and Spanish double major with a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Portland. Emma is passionate about a variety of social justice issues, such as fundamental policy change with respect to gender and racial equality and the current global climate crisis. Through research and other modes of inquiry, she hopes to utilize her acquired knowledge and understanding to be a better informed individual and community member. When not occupying her favorite chair in the library, Emma can be found fawning over cute animals, getting tattoos, or rewatching Hannibal.

Kate is a junior Social Work and Criminology double major with a minor in Theology at the University of Portland. Kate has been a part of the CHIRP lab since May 2021. She believes that in order to fully understand the human condition, it is imperative to focus on the role that religion and power plays within ourselves, social structures, and the world as a whole. When she is not researching or studying, Kate enjoys working out, hammocking, and finding new coffee shops.

Malia Kaiser is a sophomore at University of Portland. She has a major in psychology and a minor in fine arts. With these two studies she wants to pursue how different forms of expression, like art, can be utilized in therapy. She is also interested in how diverse identities interact within a community, creating new cultures and with it power dynamics. Malia hopes to research how rhetoric, media, and art plays a part in these interactions in order to create meaningful change towards social justice. Additionally, Malia is passionate about acrylic painting, the reality TV show Survivor, and mochi donuts.

Maya is a senior at University of Portland majoring in Psychology and minoring in Neuroscience. Maya is passionate about cognition and mental health. Hoping this research will make a change and educate, Maya hopes to investigate how power dynamics and language can impact the way we perceive the world. During free time Maya enjoys crosswords, cooking, camping, and coffee.

Meg is a Senior at the University of Portland pursuing a B.A majoring in History with a minor in Communications. Meg’s approach to research centers around Ethnographic work with the intention and goal of uplifting the voices of those who have been historically marginalized and silenced. Meg’s research focuses on the intersection of class, gender, race, sexuality, and religion. Her idea of a perfect day includes lounging in Cathedral Park alongside her dog, a good book, and a fresh charcuterie board.

Noah Lamberger is a senior at University of Portland and is a philosophy major, theology minor, and has been a member of the CHIRP Lab since May 2021.  Noah is especially interested in ethics, and presented a paper on ethics and gender at the Pacific University Undergraduate Philosophy Conference in 2021 and competes on UP’s Ethics Bowl team.  Noah aspires to work in the field of bioethics and, when not reading philosophy, can be found longboarding, climbing, or playing video games. 

Sophia is a junior studying communication and ethnic studies at the University of Portland. She researches with the intention to make a change. Sophia is passionate about acting to dismantle injustice and has a particular interest in the role that rhetoric plays in this process. She enjoys investigating through a communication lens to understand how language and behavior make meaning, influence, and establish power. In her free time, Sophia enjoys crocheting, exercising, and watching MTV’s Catfish.