April 1, 2015

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU names provost and vice president for academic affairs

Dr. Charles D. “Chuck” Sands, founding dean of the College of Allied Health and professor of public health at California Baptist University, has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs, effective July 1, 2015.

Sands was selected from scores of applicants following a months-long nationwide search. He succeeds Dr. Jonathan K. Parker, who announced last December that he will return to full-time classroom teaching after serving 15 years as vice president for academic affairs.

“We are very pleased that Dr. Sands is joining the executive leadership team at California Baptist University,” said Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president. Ellis noted that Sands brings a proven track record of academic leadership in faith-based higher education to his new position as well as demonstrated entrepreneurial ability and a keen global awareness.

Sands was raised in South Korea where his parents served as missionaries. That experience has influenced him throughout his career. Since 1992 he has traveled more than two dozen times to South Korea, North Korea and China on a variety of educational and service-related projects.

“I believe that Chuck’s background, experience and skills will make a significant contribution as we continue to build CBU’s strong academic programs and global impact,” Ellis said.

Sands received his bachelor of science in education degree from Samford. He received master of arts in education and doctor of philosophy in public health degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

Before beginning his duties as dean of the College of Allied Health at CBU in July 2010, Sands held a succession of teaching and administrative positions at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. Hired as an instructor in Samford’s Department of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine in 1999, he eventually achieved the rank of associate professor. He also served as a fellow in the department of pediatrics in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine and has held adjunct academic appointments in the McWhorter School of Pharmacy at Samford and the department of health education at UAB.

In 2007, Sands attended the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University, earning a certificate in the management development program. From 2007 to 2010, Sands was associate dean of Samford’s Orlean Bullard Beeson School of Education and Professional Studies.

Sands’ previous experience in health care includes working four years at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., where he rose to the position of manager of outpatient rehabilitation.

He recently completed a two-year appointment to the governing council of the American Public Health Association and is active in numerous professional and community organizations. He currently serves as a board member for Riverside Community Hospital; the American Heart Association, Inland Southern California Division; Partners in Medicine; the Inland Empire Coalition for Health; and Sandals Church.

Sands said he is “very, very excited” about taking on the role of provost and vice president for academic affairs at CBU.

“I am pleased to have this opportunity and I look forward to the continuing growth of the university and development of new programs that will further enhance the quality and reputation of CBU,” Sands said.

 

CBU students care for the campus, community by planting trees

About 60 California Baptist University students celebrated Arbor Day by doing their part to better the environment and their community March 28.

Organized by Faculties and Planning Services and the Environmental Science Club, the volunteers planted 10 Chinese Pistache, two Jacaranda and two Chinese Flame trees on the campus along the Magnolia entrance.

“This is God’s creation and it’s important we use it wisely and take care of it and tend to it,” said junior Eric Lewis, an environmental science major and vice president of the Environmental Science Club.

The Arbor Day Foundation recently recognized CBU as a 2014 Tree Campus USA. The Arbor Day tree planting meets some of the requirements for CBU to apply to be named a Tree Campus USA for 2015.

“Planting trees is very important for our environment,” said Dr. Bonjun Koo, professor of environmental science and adviser to the science club. “If we lose our trees, we lose oxygen production, and it can contribute to global climate change.”

“We are committed to planting trees,” said Ed Schmachtenberger, grounds and landscaping manager. “We are trying to help the environment and encourage students and future generations to volunteer.”

The volunteers worked tirelessly in the hot sun digging holes to plant the trees, but the students did not seem to mind.

“Protecting the environment is very important to me. It is where I live and thrive,” said Ashley Vidaurri, a freshman psychology major. “I didn’t know planting trees with my friends could be so much fun.”

 

CBU Gallery hosts annual Honors Exhibit

Scores of art lovers filled the CBU Gallery in downtown Riverside during the opening reception March 26 for the third annual Honors Exhibit.

California Baptist University students, faculty, family and friends came to see the artwork students had created. Visual Art faculty chose the pieces from the work their students completed for various classes. The exhibit featured about 200 pieces, including ceramics, drawings, paintings and sculptures.

Any student in an art class may have work chosen, said Kristi Lippire, assistant professor of visual art, whose classes include sculpture and 2D design.

“You don’t have to be an art major to be in this show or to have a piece in the gallery here through CBU. You just have to make really excellent work,” she said. “We’re such a small department on campus, it’s just a way to highlight what amazing talent we do have here.”

When selecting pieces for the exhibit, Lippire looked for “work that goes above and beyond whatever I asked for just in time and energy, but also in concept and idea.”

“I always tell them the weirder the better. We usually try to push what is your normal instinct to represent something,” she said.

Jenna Mohn, a sophomore graphic design and photography double major, filled the requirement for weird. For her mixed media project, she made a color wheel using teeth. Real teeth. Her dad is a dentist and supplied her with what she needed.

“I wanted to use something that nobody else would use, and I knew no one else would have access to teeth,” Mohn said. Her piece won the Mixed Media award.

Nancy Ward, a visual art lecturer, considered the idea, skill and craftsmanship when choosing work for the exhibit.

“Some of my students have never taken a drawing class before,” Ward said. “It’s exciting to see that talent come out.”

Julianna Anderson, a visual art senior, had several pieces in the exhibit including a large wood sculpture. Ideas and opinions from her classmates and professors help guide her in her creativity. Being in the Honors Exhibit gave her acknowledgement that she can do this, she said.

“It means a lot when you think you did a good job, but then someone else also gives you that approval,” Anderson said. “It kind of gives you that push into everything else that you do.”

The exhibit will be at the CBU Gallery, 3737 Main Street, Suite 101, Riverside until April 2, then it will travel to CBU’s Community Life Lounge for the CREATE(D) event on April 9.

Awards were given for the best of each media and, for the first time, an Audience Choice Award was chosen by the guests attending the reception.

Painting: Nicole Statham, senior

Drawing: Jessica Schoellerman, junior

Sculpture: Julianna Anderson, senior

Ceramics: Tawni Franzen, junior

Watercolor: Lynnae Maki, senior

Mixed Media: Jenna Mohn, sophomore

Audience Choice Award: Samantha Morales, sophomore

 

CBU earns Tree Campus USA recognition

California Baptist University has earned a 2015 Tree Campus USA recognition.

Tree Campus USA, a national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota, honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation. CBU received notification last week that it received the honor.

To earn the distinction, CBU had to meet the five standards required by Tree Campus USA: establishment of a tree advisory committee, evidence of a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and the sponsorship of student service-learning projects.

Dr. Bonjun Koo, professor of environmental science, is on the CBU Tree Campus USA committee.

“California Baptist University is very proud to receive the 2015 Tree Campus USA recognition,” Koo said. “Our effort of conservation, sustainability and environmental stewardship is part of CBU’S core value. The passion of our students, faculty and staff is the reason for this achievement.”

 

 

Family Updates

Scott Dunbar, assistant professor of human resource management for Online and Professional Studies, and Kenneth George, assistant professor of business administration for Online and Professional Studies, participated in the Christian Business Faculty Association Western Dialogical Conference 2015, which met in San Diego March 27.

 

 

 

 

Faculty and students in the athletic training program participated in several events in March for National Athletic Training Month.

• Dr. Lindsay Warren, assistant professor of athletic training, visited CrossFit Proper in Corona with graduate students.
• Dr. Jolene Baker, associate professor of kinesiology, and Dr. Nicole MacDonald, professor of kinesiology, and members of the Athletic Training Student Organization provided medical care for the Sandals Church Fit 5K event on March 7.
• The M.S. in athletic training program (MSAT) hosted a manual therapy course March 14, which included participation by Warren, MacDonald, MSAT students and alumni.
• MacDonald and graduate students participated March 17 in the Mountain View Elementary STEM Career Day for K-6^th grade students.
• Zachary Norton-Martinez, a first year graduate student, presented information March 17 to the Riverside City Council in honor of National Athletic Training Month.

 

A CBU research grant titled Parallel Optimization of Bootstrapping in R was awarded 50,000 hours of National Science Foundation national supercomputing resources from the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE).  As XSEDE designated coordinator, Dr. Linn Carothers, professor of mathematics, is able to assist faculty members with a supercomputer-related project or idea. This is a time-sensitive allocation for 60 days.

 

 

 

Dr. Jeff Barnes, dean of academic services, and Steve Neilsen, director of student retention, presented research Feb. 3 titled Developing and Implementing a Comprehensive Retention Plan at the Jenzabar Student Success Forum in Claremont, Calif.

 

 

 

 

Elisabeth Murillo, assistant professor of aviation science, and eight aviation science students participated in the full-scale emergency exercise March 24 at Burbank Bob Hope Airport. Each participant received a practice scenario, along with an assigned injury, to effectively serve as victims of the simulated aircraft crash. Also, Murillo and Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, participated in a STEM Career Day at Mountain View Elementary School on March 17. Prather’s Airport Management II class enjoyed a tour of LAX on March 21, including the Flight Path Museum, Aircraft Rescue Fire Station, Tom Bradley International Terminal, A380 operations, airfield and Airport Response Coordination Center.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Shasha Zheng, assistant professor of nutrition and food sciences, became an American citizen during ceremonies at the Los Angeles Convention Center March 18.  Zheng is originally from China.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. William Flores, associate professor of Spanish, made a presentation titled Rómulo Gallegos’ Doña Bárbara and José Vasconcelos’ The Cosmic Race: Identifying Latin American Perspectives on the Environment at the XV Congreso Internacional de Literatura Hispánica, held in Antigua, Republic of Guatemala March 4-6.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Allan M. Bedashi, professor of allied health, spoke on the topic Physician Assistant: An Exciting Profession at the 2015 Inland Coalition Health Professions Conference at California State University-San Bernardino on Feb. 25.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, assistant professor of psychology, presented research at a poster session during the Society for Research in Child Development Conference and the Spiritual and Religious Development Preconference, which met in Philadelphia, Pa. March 18-21. The research, Church Support as a Predictor of Children’s Spirituality and Prosocial Behavior, was co-authored by Dr. Robert G. Crosby, assistant professor of psychology for Online and Professional Studies.

 

 

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, associate professor of kinesiology in Online and Professional Studies, Dr. David Pearson, professor of kinesiology, and Samuel Baird, a kinesiology student in Online and Professional Studies, presented research titled Cardiorespiratory Activities with a Purpose: Increasing Motivation & Learning at the Society of Health and Physical Education national conference, which met in Seattle, Wash. March 17-21.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Candace Vickers, associate professor of health sciences, presented a mini-seminar March 7 titled Speaking Loud and Clear: A Communication Recovery Group therapy for persons with dysarthria at the California Speech Language Hearing Association Annual Convention in Long Beach.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jacob Lanphere, assistant professor of environmental science, co-authored an article titled Stability and Transport of Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles in Groundwater and Surface Water, which was featured in the Environmental Engineering Science journal. He also co-wrote an article titled Effect of hydration repulsion on nanoparticle agglomeration evaluated via a constant number Monte–Carlo simulation, which was published Jan. 8 in Nanotechnology.

 

 

Dr. Joseph Pelletier, assistant professor of behavioral sciences, co-authored an article titled Children’s prosocial behavioural intentions towards outgroup members, which was published March 16 in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates