In this issue…
Current News
$10 million gift is largest ever for California Baptist University
California Baptist University President Ronald L. Ellis announced a $10-million gift during the January meeting of the CBU Board of Trustees. It is the largest gift in the history of the institution.
Trustees applauded the announcement that Ellis said had been in the works for well over a year.
“We are very excited to announce this wonderful gift,” Ellis said. “It’s not that uncommon today for universities of our size to receive seven-figure gifts. We’ve received several. But to get an eight-figure gift is quite an honor.”
Ellis said the donor wishes to remain anonymous. The gift will help fund construction of a three-story building encompassing 100,000 square feet to house the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering. With an estimated total cost in excess of $50 million, the CBU engineering building project is targeted for completion in the summer of 2018.
“This is going to accelerate the trajectory of the engineering program at CBU,” Ellis said. “It is a tremendous highlight for CBU and we praise God for his providence.”
Founded in 1950, California Baptist University is a private comprehensive institution located in Riverside, Calif. CBU offers more than 150 majors, minors and concentrations, as well as more than 40 graduate programs and two doctoral programs. Affiliated with California Southern Baptist Convention, CBU is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities, and the Consortium for Global Education.
Spirited crowds add to exciting basketball victories
The California Baptist University men’s and women’s basketball teams both soundly defeated Fresno Pacific University in front of a packed Van Dyne gym audience on Jan. 9. The back-to-back games drew more than 1,000 spectators per event, which was broadcast nationally on ESPN 3 as part of its NCAA Division II Game of the Week coverage.
A large portion of the crowd sported CBU T-shirts and some fans even painted CBU blue across their faces. The CBU “Crazies” helped lead the crowds in chants and cheers throughout the evening, creating an electric atmosphere in the gym.
“It was very exciting to go to a game that was covered by ESPN,” said Trisha Smith, a public relations freshman. “[The game] made me really happy to be a Lancer.”
The Lancer women won, 93-53. They improved their season record to 13-1 overall and 5-1 in the PacWest, and extended their winning streak to six-straight. They are currently ranked No. 5 in the NCAA Division II. The men’s team grabbed its third consecutive 100-plus point win, with a 108-95 victory. With the win, the Lancers move to 14-2 overall and 5-1 in the PacWest. The men’s team is currently ranked No. 8.
“This (women’s) game was one of the most fun games I’ve been to all year,” said Sarah Hernandez, a pre-nursing freshman. “Everyone in the crowd was really loud and spirited, and it made me get really into the game.”
Kamille Diaz, a shooting guard for the women’s squad, also enjoyed the enthusiasm of the crowd.
“We’ve never had a crowd like this; it was full since tip-off,” said Diaz. “The atmosphere of the crowd definitely helped the team.”
Spring 2016 semester begins at California Baptist University
California Baptist University kicked off the spring 2016 semester recently, starting off with orientation activities for freshman and transfer students.
New students moved into residential facilities Sunday, Jan. 3. The next day they attended a welcome session and luncheon. Later, students participated in the traditional Kugel Walk for newly enrolled students. Tradition calls for students to touch the Kugel, a floating granite globe structure that symbolizes Christ’s Great Commission, as they begin their educational experience at CBU.
FOCUS groups – short for “First-Year Orientation & Christian University Success” – began Jan. 4 to help acclimate students to campus life. Those groups will provide support for students as they begin their first semester at CBU.
Other activities planned for the new students included various information sessions, a resource fair and a festive dinner at Medieval Times in Buena Park.
Classes began for the spring 2016 semester on Jan. 6.
Recreation Center offers “Fitness Frenzy” week
Dozens of workout classes were highlighted at the California Baptist University Recreation Center recently to help members of the university community set and achieve realistic fitness routines.
Stefani Plummer, director of the CBU Recreation Center, said a common question heard at the center is, “What was your wagon?” Plummer said the question involves why someone quit a workout routine, or “fell off the wagon.”
“Having a realistic expectation is the key to a successful routine,” said Plummer. “Understanding what your potential wagon is could be is just as important.
“I hear of unrealistic goals all the time such as working out for 28 straight days,” she explained. “When you start a workout routine, you need to take into account all of your time commitments.”
Plummer said she wants to help students, staff and faculty minimize “the wagon effect.”
To help establish a realistic routine, Plummer’s team set up a program the first week of the semester called “Fitness Frenzy,” which offered a variety of exercise sample classes in a 30-minute format.
The assortment of workouts—such as Boxing Boot Camp, Bodyworks + ABS, Cycling or Cardio Kickboxing—displayed a healthy sampling of possible exercise routines for participants to join this semester.
“We wanted to find a way for people to try classes but to avoid the commitment right away, Plummer said. “These classes will give people a taste of what [the workouts are] like.”
Family Updates
Dr. Alex Chediak
Dr. Alex Chediak, professor of physics and engineering, had his book, Beating the College Debt Trap: Getting a Degree without Going Broke, published last month.
Noemi Hernandez Alexander
Noemi Hernandez Alexander, visiting professor of political science for Online and Professional Studies, presented research on California’s Social, Political, and Economic influences that lead to the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. The presentation was at the annual meeting of the Politics of Race, Immigration and Ethnicity Consortium held Nov. 20 at UC Riverside.
From left: Audrey Meekins and Dr. Ronald L. Ellis
Audrey Meekins, financial aid loan counselor/debt management, was named CBU’s Employee of the Month for January. The nomination form included the following statements: “Dealing with potential defaulted students, requires a lot of patience and persistence. Often they may be frustrated, upset, or unwilling to resolve their issues. Audrey provides sound guidance and walks them through the process with clarity and patience. She was given the difficult task to lower the default rate. She achieved the goal of reducing the rate to under 5% in just a few years.”
Dr. Lucas Stamps
Dr. Lucas Stamps, assistant professor of Christian studies, wrote a chapter in a book, Locating Atonement: Explorations in Constructive Dogmatics, edited by Oliver D. Crisp and Fred Sanders, which was published in November. Stamps’ chapter was titled The Necessity of Dyothelitism for the Atonement.
Dr. Jong-Wha Bai
Dr. Jong-Wha Bai, associate professor of civil engineering, has been selected to receive the 2015 ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award by the ASCE Committee on Student Members. He was nominated for this award by the student officers of CBU ASCE student chapter, which he has served as a faculty advisor since 2012.
Dr. Kenneth Minesinger
Dr. Kenneth Minesinger, associate professor of law for Online and Professional Studies, wrote an article, 2015 Conference of California Bar Associations, which was published in the December 2015 issue of the Riverside County Lawyer Magazine.
Krista Wagner, an English adjunct, recently had her book published. Rian Field is a mystery thriller.
Terri Thompson
Terri Thompson, assistant professor of nursing, received the first DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Faculty Award given at CBU on Dec. 11. This award is part of a national program that recognizes nursing faculty for their commitment and inspirational influence on their students. Her nomination included the following comments: She incorporates Christ in her teaching and everyday behavior; she is passionate about her work in OB and as an educator; she cares about her students and wants them to succeed.
The Academic Success Center hosted Late Night Study Hall on Dec. 13. Per tradition, Late Night Study Hall takes place the night before the start of finals in the fall and spring semesters. This year a record number of students, 410, attended the event. The staff at the Academic Success Center wants to thank the CBU community for supporting the students and specifically the faculty who attended and provided extra tutoring and educational support.
Dr. William Flores
Dr. William Flores, associate professor of Spanish, wrote a book review that was published in the December 2015 edition of Hispania. The review is titled Venegas Jose L. Transatlantic Correspondence: Modernity, Epistolarity, and Literature in Spain and Spanish America, 1898-1992.
Dr. Ogbochi McKinney
Dr. Ogbochi McKinney, assistant professor of public health for Online and Professional Studies, co-authored two papers. The first, Faith-Based Hospitals and Variation in Psychiatric Inpatient Length of Stay in California, 2002–2011, was published in the Journal of Religion and Health in December. The second, Mental health and food consumption among California children 5–11 years of age, was published in Nutrition and Health in November/October.
Dr. Susan Drummond
Dr. Geneva Oaks
Dr. Geneva Oaks, dean of the School of Nursing, and Dr. Susan Drummond, associate professor of nursing, co-authored an article, A Curriculum Found on Humanbecoming: Educational Endeavoring, that was published in the January issue of Nursing Science Quarterly.
Dr. Namhee Kim, assistant professor of communication disorders, and communication disorders students volunteered at a Christmas event for children with special needs and their families with The ARC of Riverside County in Riverside on Dec. 19.
Jude Samuel Ramos
Sam Ramos (’13), residence director-Lancer Arms, and his wife, Emily (’13), welcomed their first child on Nov. 22. Jude Samuel Ramos weighed 8 pounds and 4 ounces and measured 19 inches long.
Personnel Updates
