May 15, 2013

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Happening today

UCO performance to be webcast from Houston

The University Choir and Orchestra will perform at First Baptist Church, Houston, Texas on May 15. The full 90-minute concert will be available by webcast at 5 p.m. PDT. The link is http://houstonsfirst.org/media/webcast/.

 

 

 

 

Current News

CBU sends season’s first wave of volunteers to fields of service

California Baptist University sent its first 16 teams to their respective fields of service May 8-10 in the 2013 season’s first wave of volunteers participating in International Service Projects (ISP), United States Projects (USP) and Summer of Service (SOS).

Forty-one teams will serve in 19 countries this summer, with more than 370 participants involved. Groups departed May 8 and 10 for Spain, Russia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, France, East Africa and Japan.

As they leave the campus, each team gathers to pray at the Kugel, a 10-ton granite globe inscribed with the Great Commission. This year’s theme for the programs is “Awaken.”

“Biblically, we are called to the idea of awakening to what’s going on in the world,” Jared Dobbins, assistant director of mobilization, explained to parents and friends at the send-off on May 10. Dobbins said that it wasn’t that anyone in the group was special for contributing their time and energy but that they were willing to follow God’s leadership to various regions of the world.

CBU contributed nearly 35,000 service hours in 2012 through ISP/USP/SOS, administered through the Office of Mobilization. The flagship programs, which celebrated its 15^th year in 2012, sent a record 422 volunteers to 20 countries.

 

 

CBU ranks #10 in best online programs for veterans

California Baptist University (CBU) has earned the no. 10 spot in the 2013 Best Online Programs for Veterans rankings by U.S. News & World Report. 

The rankings are the first by U.S. News to help veterans choose a quality online program. Ranked programs have taken steps to improve the higher education experience for veterans, and all are certified for the G.I. Bill and participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, two federal initiatives that help veterans reduce college costs. The institutions have also pledged to consider granting academic credit for military training and offer flexibility for distance learners taking courses at several schools.

CBU entered the online education market in the spring of 2010 with programs offered by the university’s Division of Online and Professional Studies. CBU now serves more than 2,500 students online throughout the United States and offers 29 online undergraduate majors, nine master’s degrees and two certificate programs.

“We are all thrilled to be recognized again by U.S. News & World Report,” said Dr. David Poole, vice president for CBU’s Online and Professional Studies. “This news, coming on the heels of our 25^th in the nation ranking for online undergraduate programs back in January confirms our dedication to delivering quality programs that serve the needs of  veterans is being recognized nationwide. We are committed to assisting active duty troops and our veterans complete their educational goals.”

Also named by G.I. Jobs magazine as a 2013 Military Friendly School, CBU offers accelerated degree completion programs, with classes accessible fully online or in a hybrid format (virtual and synchronous) at educational service centers near some of California’s largest military bases.  Courses begin every eight weeks and faculty is committed to student academic, professional and spiritual success.

More information on the U.S. News Top Online Programs for Veterans rankings is available at http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education.

 

CBU graduates 1,117 at spring commencement ceremonies

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of California Baptist University, congratulated 1,117 graduating students May 3 and 4 during commencement ceremonies at California Baptist University (CBU). The graduates included 308 candidates for master’s degrees and 210 undergraduates completing degrees in Online and Professional Studies programs during May 3 exercises. Another 599 traditional undergraduates received diplomas on May 4.

“Remember that the path you take largely will be determined by the choices you make,” Ellis said in his commencement address. “Not just directional choices, but spiritual choices, relationship choices, occupational choices and even recreational choices. The key is to make sure you demonstrate integrity in those choices as a fundamental expression of your character.”

Ellis reminded graduates that they needed to live the purpose for which God intended them.

“The challenge that confronts all of us in life offers limitless possibilities that are as unique as each individual member of the Class of 2013,” he said. “It involves continually determining what it means to ‘Live Your Purpose.’… Whatever you determine that to be, the challenge is to use who you are — your unique character — and what you have — your talents and gifts — to serve others.”

Awards for student achievement were presented at both ceremonies. Donald Stolan, a nationally recognized loan officer, was honored as the Outstanding Online and Professional Studies Student. Leyi Ling, a music education major from Hangzhou, China received the Min Sung Kim International Student Award, and Gabriel Muhire Gihana, a biochemistry and molecular biology major from Kigali, Rwanda, received CBU’s Outstanding Senior Award.

Combined with the 285 students who graduated last December, the Class of 2013 included 1,402 degree applications, the largest number of candidates for graduation for a single year in CBU’s history. It is the fifth consecutive year that the annual total exceeded 1,000.

 

CBU honors faculty and staff at annual awards banquet

California Baptist University honored faculty and staff achievements May 2 at the Annual Faculty and Staff Awards Banquet, held in the Alumni Dining Commons. The event was sponsored by CBU’s Board of Trustees.

Dr. Susan Studer, professor of education, received the Trustees’ Distinguished Professor Award. She joined the CBU faculty in 1995 and “has championed a culture of research and high expectations among education faculty and students,” according to Dr. John Shoup, dean of the Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education.

In nominating Studer, Shoup wrote about her crucial role as research coordinator for the School of Education: “Dr. Studer works with all of the graduate students completing a research thesis or project. She consistently goes to great lengths to provide detailed feedback to multiple iterations of the students’ research.”

Dr. Angela Butler, associate professor of music, was awarded the Trustees’ Distinguished Scholar Award for her research proposal to identify composers contemporary to Shakespeare and some that have connections to his plays.

“Finding dance music of the 16^th century is not very difficult, but assigning any music to specifically Shakespeare or to a play is indeed troublesome,” Butler wrote in her proposal. “Since recently playing for a Romeo and Juliet production, I have continued to have interest in this field, even though the research (at least in the instrumental genre) seems to be complete.”

Lupe Solano, administrative assistant in the Office of Institutional Advancement, received the Employee of the Year Award. Solano, who began working at CBU in 2000, began as evening college secretary, then served as data/research technician in the Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education, department secretary in the Department of Modern Languages and Literature and administrative secretary in the School of Christian Ministries. She was Employee of the Month in October 2012.

Solano “excels in her customer service,” wrote  former supervisors Dr. Anthony Chute and Dr. Chris Morgan in their recommendation. “She does not rest until others have been served, and she clearly demonstrates a compassionate attitude toward all who come her way.”

Awards also were presented to employees with significant periods of service.

Dr. Beverly Howard, professor of music, and Dr. Dave King, professor of education, were both honored for 35 years of service, while Dr. Alan Fossett, professor of chemistry, and Dr. Scott Key, professor of philosophy, received recognition for 25 years of service.

In addition, Dr. Toni Dingman, assistant professor of English; Dr. Andy Herrity, professor of business; Dr. Pat Kircher, professor of political science in Online and Professional Studies; Dr. Frank Pankowski, professor of mathematics, and Michele Vasquez, athletic trainer, received awards for 20 years of service.

Forty-eight employees received pins for five years of service, 22 with 10 years and 17 for 15 years of service.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Guy Holliday, director of bands, recently completed the doctor of musical arts degree in conducting at Claremont Graduate University. His dissertation was titled Steven Bryant’s ‘Concerto for Wind Ensemble:’ Musical Analysis and Considerations for Conductors.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dan Wilson, professor of biblical studies, was elected vice-chairman of the board of trustees at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Wilson, who has been on the board for six years, also serves on the executive committee and instruction committee.

 

 

 

Robert Shields, online learning systems administrator for the Online and Professional Studies Division, was a presenter at the California Blackboard Users’ Group (CaliBUG) Spring Learning Day in Los Angeles on April 5. His session was titled “Access Online Learning Anywhere with Blackboard Mobile.”

 

 

 

 

Dr. Richard Mobley, professor of New Testament studies, was the speaker for an annual conference of “desert churches” on Sunday, May 5. The conference was sponsored by Palms Baptist Church in 29 Palms.  His presentation was “The Times  Between,” a consideration of the significant events which form the period between the Old and New Testaments.  He also preached in both services that morning at Palms Baptist, where David Squyres, a CBU alumus, is pastor.

 

 

 

Dr. Matthew Rickard, associate professor in mechanical engineering, and Joseph Nelly Sugu Sugira ’13 presented a poster at ARVO (the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) 2013 in Seattle on May 8. The poster was titled An Engineering Model for Predicting the Aqueous Humor Flow Rate through the Natural Pathway Following Glaucoma Surgeries.

Their engineering model predicts that the aqueous humor outflow through the natural pathway can be significant for common conditions following Glaucoma surgery. The conclusion is of interest because it helps in understanding patient-to-patient variation in success following glaucoma surgery, as well as provide new scientific insight to understanding the eye’s response to such surgeries. Approximately 12,000 eye researchers attended the conference.

 

 

 

Dr. Matthew Barrett, assistant professor of Christian studies in Online and Professional Studies, recent published an article titled ‘We Believe in the Holy Spirit’: Revisiting the Deity of the Spirit in Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 16, no. 4 (2013): 32-53. He is also author of a book, The Grace of Godliness: An Introduction to Doctrine and Piety in the Canons of Dort, published in April by Joshua Press. Click here for more information about the book.

 

 

 

Dr. Andrew Herrity, professor of business administration, was a coach and mentor at the Inland Empire’s first-ever Startup Weekend, held May 3-5 in downtown Riverside. About 100 current and aspiring entrepreneurs came together from across Southern California for an entire weekend of learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures.  California Baptist University School of Business was a silver sponsor of the event.

Herrity also made a presentation to the Riverside Technology CEOs Forum on May 7 titled The Three Causes of Entrepreneurial Success. The presentation revealed preliminary findings from his fall 2012 research project that involved interviewing 30 successful Inland Empire business founders.

 

 

 

LTC Evan Wollen, professor of military science, administered the oath of office to second lieutenants Jacob Wilkins ’13 and Jonathan Cook ’13. 2LT Cook commissioned as an active duty ordnance corps officer. He will report for the Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Lee, Va., with his first assignment at Fort Stewart, Ga. 2LT Wilkins commissioned as an active duty military police officer. He will report for the Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo, followed by his first assignment at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

The Claremont McKenna College Army ROTC held its annual awards ceremony April 30. CBU cadets received the following awards:

• Kyle Feldman: Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Pistol & Box (Top Cadets in the program
• Marcellino Valdez: AUSA Omar Bradley Award for a MS IV that exhibited the traits and attributes of General Omar Bradley
• Jonathan Cook: United Services Automobile Association (USAA) Spirit Award
• Christina Downing: Daughters of the War of 1812
• Nathan Shimabukuro: Veterans of Foreign Wars

CBU President Awards:

• Lorelyn Lucas: Top MS IV
• Stephen Rolle: Top MS III
• Kevin Valenzuela: Top MS II
• Darnell Mauricio: Top MS I

 

The College of Allied Health hosted the Chick-fil-A ® Leadercast ® on campus May 10. About 150 participants attended the one-day leadership event broadcast LIVE from Atlanta, Ga. to hundreds of locations around the world. Speakers included Jack Welch, former chairman and CEO of General Electric; Andy Stanley, best-selling leadership author; Mike Krzyzewski, head basketball coach for Duke University and Team USA; John C. Maxwell, best-selling author and leadership expert; and Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. secretary of state.

 

 

 

 

 

Kim Bailey, graduate nursing admission specialist, presented The Business of Recruitment: Building Relationships that get Results at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Graduate Nursing Admissions Professional Conference in Charlotte, N.C. in April.

 

 

 

 

R. Lucas Stamps, assistant professor of Christian studies in Online and Professional Studies, presented a paper titled By the Finger of God: The Biblical and Theological Limits of Spirit Christology at the Far West Regional Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society held at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa on April 19.  The theme of the meeting was The Spirit and the People of God: Evangelical Perspectives.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Frederick Pontius, associate professor of civil engineering, recently received an award plaque recognizing his service as past president of the New England Water Works Association, a non-profit organization to educate people about drinking water. The plaque referenced his “excellence in professional writing”—and was dated 1999.

 

 

 

 

Jeff Lewis, assistant professor of intercultural studies, taught a perspectives course in Nairobi, Kenya April 22-26 to 58 participants. The course included 15 sessions that promoted a biblical awareness of global missions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jessica Alzen, adjunct professor in English for Online and Professional Studies, presented two papers recently. Evaluating the Effect of the Online Course Format on Collegiate Student Learning, co-written with Derek Briggs from the University of Colorado, Boulder, was presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association in San Francisco on May 1. A Characteristic of Sorting and Implications for Value-Added Estimates, co-authored with Ben Domingue from the University of Colorado, Boulder, was presented at the annual meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education in San Francisco, April 28.

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, taught a four-day Airport Certified Employee-Airfield Operations course for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in Manhattan April 29- May 2. He also conducted a two-day Advanced Airport Safety and Operations Specialist (ASOS) School in Buffalo, N.Y. on April 20-21 during the International Aviation Snow Symposium.  Prather conducted both training courses on behalf of the American Association of Airport Executives.

 

 

 

The Department of Natural & Mathematical Sciences honored Gabriel Muhire Gihana with their Outstanding Senior award. Gihana, a biochemistry and molecular biology major from Kigali, Rwanda, also received CBU’s Outstanding Senior Award during commencement ceremonies May 4.

 

 

 

 

 

CBU students were honored April 19 for their work at the Riverside International Film Festival. Kevin Sorbo, best known for his acting roles as Hercules in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Captain Dylan Hunt in Andromeda and Kull in Kull the Conqueror, presented certificates to the winners. The Riverside International Film Festival recognized Sorbo with a lifetime achievement award. The student winners included:

Best Film-Fiction

• 1. Lucy, directed by Trever Merrill
• 2. Heart Beats, directed by James Christian Dose

Best Film-Non-Fiction

• 1. Making of a Mural, directed by Jacob Armstrong

Best Actor

• 1. A.J. Paulin, Playback
• 2. Taylor Bujr, Heart Beats

Best Actress

• 1. Jessica Massey, Playback
• 2. Jessie Douglas, Expectancy
• 3. Kelsie Knight, Heart Beats

Best Music/Soundtrack

• 1. Desmond Clark, Lucy

Best Special/Visual Effects

• 1. Going Under, Alexis Whitlock and Joshua Reichert

 

Five new CBU alumni—all biology majors from the Department of Natural & Mathematical Sciences—have been admitted to professional schools for the fall 2013 semester:

• Hannah MacDonald will attend the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the number two ranked veterinary school in the country. MacDonald hopes to treat animals in the United States and in other parts of the world.
• Alexandria Taylor will attend the Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy. She hopes to work in the area of neuropsychopharmacology in rehab settings.
• Trevor Graifman has been accepted to the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He has spent the past year working as a teaching assistant for CBU human anatomy and physiology labs, as well as working as a medical scribe in a health care facility.
• Matthew Johnson has been accepted to the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine.
• Samantha (Kasi) Stalnacker has been accepted to the Loma Linda School of Medicine.  Stalnecker,  a December graduate, has served as a lab teaching assistant, as a medical scribe, and in medical mission opportunities in Thailand and elsewhere.  She hopes to serve overseas as a physician upon graduation.

The Department of Natural & Mathematical Sciences hosted the annual Forensic Science Day for North High School’s Law Academy on May 7. About 60 students investigated a mock crime scene. The event included an admissions tour and a student panel, led by CBU students Victoria Offerman and Jenna Mattice.

Misty Ward, OPS admission counselor, won the $50 Alumni Dining Commons/Wanda’s gift card. Ward was selected from among 224 faculty and staff who participated in the recent electronic Commuter Transportation Survey.

 

Cesar Menjivar, undergraduate admissions counselor, and his wife Dayna welcomed a baby girl on April 28. Her name is Mya Joy Menjivar, and she weighed 6 lbs.13 ozs. The couple also has a son named Josiah.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

DATE	DEPARTMENT	POSITION	NAME	STATUS
5/6/2013	Global Initiatives	Associate Director of International Admissions	Nathan Stucky	New Hire
5/6/2013	Athletics	Athletic Academic Counselor	Rachel Keys	Change