June 28, 2016

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU leads Academic All-PacWest Selections

California Baptist University placed a conference-high 167 student-athletes on the 2015-16 Academic All-PacWest teams. This is the third year in a row that the Lancers have grabbed the most distinctions, with 11 more student-athletes earning the honor from last year’s results.

To earn the Academic All-PacWest recognition, athletes must have achieved at least a cumulative 3.0 grade-point average and be eligible for participation or practice in their sport.

“I’m so proud of our student-athlete success in the classroom,” said Dr. Micah Parker, director of athletics. “Our student-athletes are competing in all aspects of their opportunities at CBU.”

CBU’s women’s cross country and track team garnered the most Academic All-PacWest honors, placing 18 student-athletes on the list. Both Lancer baseball and softball teams were close behind with 17 each, while women’s soccer had 15 Lancers on the list.

SEE FULL LIST OF PACWEST ACADEMIC HONOREES

This past year, CBU also boasted its highest Academic Success Rate at 92-percent and highest department grade point average at 3.241. Lancers women’s volleyball team boasted the highest team GPA with a 3.809 over the year (3.864 in the spring). The Lancers men’s golf had the highest men’s GPA with a 3.276, while men’s basketball won the spring with a 3.261.

 

MBA students gain global business experience on trip to Asia

Twenty-two MBA students from California Baptist University embarked on a trip to Asia in order to gain global business experience by spending time with corporate executives. The students traveled to Hong Kong and Taiwan as part of their Global Business Management course from June 3-12.

Dr. Steve Strombeck, interim dean of the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business, accompanied the students on their trip.

“We want to give them a taste of what business is like overseas, how companies are operating, how they’re competing,” Strombeck said. “It’s one thing to read about these experiences in a textbook, it’s another thing to see it and to hear it.”

The CBU class visited corporations such as FedEx, Nestle, Acer Corp. (computer hardware manufacturer) and Giant Corp. (bicycle manufacturer) and heard executives speak on a variety of topics related to day-to-day operations.

Student Robert Sekula said his experience went beyond anything he could gain from a textbook.

“Meeting with all of the executives on the trip was very interesting, and not something you could ever get from a case study or textbook,” Sekula said. “Everyone we met reinforced one of the key leadership concepts we have learned about throughout the MBA program: that people are your most valuable resource.”

Student Nicole DeFranco said the trip opened her eyes to working internationally.

“The idea of working abroad sounds great, but without actually going to the cities and visiting corporations, you’ll never have any idea of [what it’s like],” DeFranco said. “CBU offered a first-hand experience for me.”

 

Ceremony marks a milestone for CBU Events Center project

Site found for a 153,000-square-feet building at California Baptist University—check. Foundation dug out and cement poured for CBU’s new Events Center that will seat 5,050 people and can expand to more than 6,000 seats—double-check. All steel beams set in place, including the framework for the 100-foot tower that will adorn the building’s north side—triple check, exclamation point.

California Baptist University along with Sundt Construction hosted a Topping Out Ceremony on June 22, celebrating placement of the symbolic last steel beam for the Events Center.

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis addressed a crowd of university dignitaries and other CBU staff along with the construction team from Sundt.

Ellis thanked the Sundt crew and other contractors for their work on the project. He also noted anticipation for future athletic events to be hosted in the arena, the applause of friends and family for future graduates and the weekly chapel services that will fill the arena with worship.

Dr. Micah Parker, athletic director at CBU, found himself in awe standing in the middle of the construction site.

“It is humbling to stand in the middle of the Events Center and think about all the great things that are going to happen there,” Parker said. “So many people are working to make this a special place that will serve our students well and allow us to showcase great student-athletes to the Inland Empire community.”

The Events Center is being built adjacent to the CBU Recreation Center. The north-facing front entrance will be located on Lancer Lane. The design of the two-level building complements the Mission Revival architecture style that is a hallmark of the CBU campus. The arena is scheduled to open in April 2017, in time for spring commencement activities.

 

Graduate student’s passion leads him to low-income students

Michael Deatherage, a California Baptist University education graduate student, wants to make a difference in the lives of students living in poverty. He recently took his first step in fulfilling this passion by joining Teach For America (TFA), a nonprofit organization that recruits individuals to become teachers in low-income communities.

Deatherage will depart for Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, next month to teach fifth-grade students. He will complete his graduate degree through the Online and Professional Studies program at CBU.

Deatherage realized that many people might think he will be living in paradise, but he said it is not all palm trees and surfing. The cost of living is high and there are pockets of poverty in Hawaii.

Deatherage believes he has a specific message for these students: “Don’t give up on your dreams…be that person that you have always dreamed about being.”

Deatherage can relate to living in poverty. When he was a child in Texas, his family lost everything when a tornado destroyed his home.

“I know that there are these kids who (are in situations) like I was, who probably have no clue that they can [succeed in] school,” he said.

Deatherage’s own road to success in academics was a journey. He dropped out of high school at 17 to work. Then he joined the Marines in hopes of building a military career. While serving in Iraq, however, he suffered injuries from a rocket attack that hit his Humvee. The injuries resulted in a medical discharge.

After his injury, a new passion was sparked in his life—a desire to teach.

Deatherage earned his undergraduate degree in English at CBU. He is set to earn his master’s degree in the fall.

“I think CBU helped stoke the fire, that passion, of being able to be who you are,” he said.

Along with his message of hope, his inspirational life story will be a source of motivation for his students.

“I want to reach students who may not have ever been reached or have listened to too many wrong people. What I want my students to know is [they should] never stop trying,” he said.

 

CBU sends out season’s final wave of service project teams

California Baptist University sent out the final wave of International Service Projects, United States Projects and Summer of Service teams from June 12 – June 20.

Seven teams departed from CBU to serve in Southeast Asia, Kosovo, Japan, Russia, South Africa and Spain. The teams joined 12 others serving in Central Asia, Thailand, Japan, Germany, Spain and Canada. This summer marks the 20th year of CBU’s flagship mobilization efforts, with more than 300 volunteers comprising 37 teams serving in 17 countries.

Jeff Lewis, interim director of the Office of Mobilization, reminded friends and families of the teams leaving on June 20, of the importance of the Great Commission at CBU.

“It’s part of who we are as a university. It’s infused and integrated into everything that we are and everything that we do,” he said. “Our prayer is that [this experience for the students] will help them develop a vision for the rest of their lives.”

Lewis sees these service opportunities as one part of the students’ overall development at CBU.

“Hopefully, within their academic journey here at CBU they’re not just learning about their discipline, but they’re learning about how their discipline can be used around the world,” Lewis said.

Teams served in a variety of roles such as conducting sports camps, teaching English, interacting with students from elementary to college, building latrines, and assisting in medical clinics as well as helping and encouraging fieldworkers in locations around the world.

 

CBU wrestler honored as area’s male athlete of the year

Joesph Fagiano, a California Baptist University heavyweight wrestler, was named The Press-Enterprise Area College Men’s Athlete of the Year.

Fagiano’s awards have piled up after a successful year (29-6 overall record), which included the program’s first D-II heavyweight championship. He was also named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and West Region Wrestler of the Year. Additionally, he went on to be voted the CBU Senior Male Athlete of the Year.

Read the Press-Enterprise article on Fagiano’s award here.

 

 

Machado named new head coach for CBU women’s golf

Marc Machado has been named the women’s head golf coach and interim men’s golf coach at California Baptist University. Machado had spent the previous five seasons at CBU as the men’s and women’s golf assistant coach.

“I’m excited to announce that Coach Machado will be leading our women’s golf program,” said Dr. Micah Parker, director of athletics at CBU. “We decided to split the golf program and have one women’s coach and one men’s coach. Marc has proven himself to be a talented coach who has a passion for the mission of our university and athletic department.”

This past year, the Lancer women won their second straight PacWest Championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II Regional playoffs. Erica Wang won the individual championship on a playoff hole and went on to represent CBU at the NCAA Division II Championship.

“I would like to thank Dr. Parker, Kent Dacus and Dr. Ronald L. Ellis for this tremendous opportunity and for believing in me,” Machado said. “I am very excited to continue my work with such high-level student-athletes in a Christian environment.”

A national search is still underway for the Lancers men’s head golf coach.

 

CBU to offer unlimited number of Yellow Ribbon scholarships

California Baptist University will offer an unlimited number of Yellow Ribbon scholarships for veterans pursuing their undergraduate or graduate degrees for the 2016-2017 academic year. Previously, the veteran’s program offered a limited amount.

Josh Morey, director of financial aid, said the Yellow Ribbon scholarships are available to CBU veteran students that also meet the scholarship requirements.

“This is a great opportunity that we have to serve our growing veteran population in Riverside,” Morey said.

Edward Figueroa (’16) will start working on his MBA program at CBU this fall.

“The Yellow Ribbon Program has been essential to my educational goals. Because of this program, I was able to go to the first school of my choice, CBU,” said Figueroa, who served eight years in the U.S. Air Force. “I was able to find a great home at CBU, and pursue all my educational goals and dreams in a veteran-friendly environment.”

CBU currently has the sixth largest population of veterans among private colleges in California with more than 400 using their GI Bill benefits during the past 2015-2016 academic year.

CBU accepts several federal GI bills, with the majority of veterans or their beneficiaries attending on the post 9/11 GI bill. In conjunction with that bill, CBU participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which provides additional assistance to veterans who qualify.

For more information about veteran educational benefits at CBU, please visit www.calbaptist.edu/veterans.

 

School of Education at CBU hires new faculty

The Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education at California Baptist University announced the hiring of three new faculty members for the fall 2016 semester. The School of Education will now have 18 faculty positions within the college.

“The hires will accommodate the school’s growth in enrollment,” said Dr. John Shoup, dean of the School of Education. “The new faculty members come with strong academic pedigrees and relevant experiences that will serve our students well.”

The new faculty members are Dr. Theodore Murcay, associate dean; Dr. Denise L. McLurkin, assistant professor; and Dr. Jin-Sil Mock, assistant professor. The new facility will transition to CBU from across the U.S.

Murcay comes from Nashville, Tenn., where he completed a doctorate in education from Vanderbilt University and most recently served as the principal at Creswell Middle School. He was also an adjunct professor at CBU (’05-’08). Murcay will oversee the development of student teachers in the teaching credentials program.

“CBU’s School of Education has a reputation for preparing the best teacher candidates,” Murcay said. “I am humbled and excited to join that excellent work.”

McLurkin comes from New York where she was a tenured professor at the City College of New York. She also was also an undergraduate coordinator in the childhood education department. McLurkin, a native Southern Californian, most recently received her doctorate in educational studies in literacy language and cultures program from the University of Michigan. McLurkin will teach various courses for students seeking their teaching credentials.

Mock was an instructor at Vanderbilt University in the department of teaching and learning. She is a doctoral candidate at Vanderbilt University. She will be teaching in the credentials program at CBU.

Shoup said the School of Education goal is to equip twenty-first-century educators who can create lifelong learners in schools, government, workplaces and nonprofit organizations.

The School of Education offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs in education and leadership studies, including various credential programs, master’s programs in education, leadership, organizational studies and higher education leadership and student development.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, received his MBA from the University of North Alabama in May. He also recently completed a national research project for the Transportation Research Board, Airport Sustainability Practices – Drivers and Outcomes for Small Commercial and General Aviation Airports.

 

 

 

 

Dr. David Pearson, dean of Health Science and Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR), participated in a presentation at the 2016 NCAA Regional Rules conference in Dallas, Texas, on June 15.  The presentation was titled When things go wrong, and Pearson addressed the working relationship between the campus FARs and athletics compliance staff members with the goal of modeling and establishing best practice guidelines.

 

 

 

Daniel St. Marseille, adjunct professor of music, has released a new jazz CD, Invitation, by The Daniel St. Marseille quintet. St. Marseille plays tenor saxophone and clarinet on the CD.

 

 

 

Shawn Wilhite, assistant professor of Christian Studies for Online and Professional Studies, presented a paper, Bless those who Curse You: Persecution and Martyrdom as it Shapes Christian Identity in the Didache at the North American Patristics Society meeting in Chicago on May 26-28. He also had three book reviews published in Trinty Journal (Spring 2016): review of The Genre and Development of the Didache by Nancy Pardee; review of Augustine’s Theology of Preaching by Peter T. Sanlon; and review of Ancient Christian Worship: Early Church Practices in Social, Historical, and Theological Perspective by Andrew B. McGowan.

 

 

Dr. Elaine Ahumada, associate professor of public administration for Online and Professional Studies, co-presented at the Midwest Public Affairs Conference in Columbus, Ohio, on June 3. The presentation was The Dissertation and Beyond: Developing Outcomes for the Public Affairs Practitioner.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biology, coauthored a paper, MALDI-TOF portrait of emetic and non-emetic Bacillus cereus group members, that was published in the journal Electrophoresis (May 2016).

 

 

 

 

Dr. William Flores, associate professor of Spanish, authored a book review in the June 2016 edition of Hispania. The review is titled Pérez, Alberto Julián. Literatura, peronismo y liberación nacional.

 

 

 

 

Russell L. Meek, adjunct professor of Christian Studies for Online and Professional Studies, had an article, Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Readings of Hebel in Ecclesiastes, published in Currents in Biblical Research, June 2016.

 

Dr. Juliann Perdue, professor of nursing, and her therapy dog, Rugar, are part of the volunteer services at Kaiser Permanente-Riverside Medical Center.  Rugar and his friends visit patients and staff at the hospital on a weekly basis to provide comfort to those in the hospital.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jeff Gage, professor of nursing, has co-authored two articles. Both were published in the April 2016 edition of the Scholars Journal of Dental Sciences. The articles were Oral health literacy of adolescents of Tamil Nadu, India and A cross-sectional study examining the association between dental caries and oral health literacy among adolescents in Tamil Nadu, India.

 

 

 

 

Tad Hove (’12), an adjunct professor of management, was recently recognized by the California Assembly and U.S. Congress for his involvement with a vocational program designed for at-risk students within the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD). Also, as a member of the Gaining Purpose and Stability Committee for Foster Youth within RUSD, he recently hosted and moderated its first conference for foster youth, which focused on presenting pathways for success to foster students.

 

 

 

Dr. Debra Coleman, assistant professor of nursing, successfully defended her dissertation at Azusa Pacific University. It was titled The Lived Experience of Nurses Transitioning from Personal Bereavement to Providers of Compassionate Nursing Care.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Teresa Hamilton, assistant professor of nursing, successfully defended her dissertation at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. It was titled The Influence of Transcultural Humility Simulation Development Activities on the Cultural Competence of Baccalaureate Nursing Students.

 

 

 

 

Twelve faculty members attended the Institute of Humanbecoming in Pittsburgh, Penn., May 31-June 4 to study with nurse theorist Dr. Rosemarie Rizzo Parse and participate in panel discussions. Those attending were:  Dr. Gayne Anacker, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Cynthia Anderson, assistant professor of nursing; Dr. Deborah Bobst, assistant professor of nursing; Dr. Karen Bradley, associate professor of nursing; Christy Cotner, assistant professor of nursing; Dr. Susan Drummond, associate professor of nursing; Dr. Jeffrey Gage, professor of nursing; Nia Martin, assistant professor of nursing; Dr. Geneva Oaks, dean of the School of Nursing; Anthony Phillips, assistant professor of nursing; Jasmine Schmidt, assistant professor of nursing; and Dr. Lorraine Shields, assistant professor of nursing.

 

 

Judy Quinn, public safety dispatcher, was one of 27 women from The Grove Community Church in Riverside who went to Thailand June 10-19. The group spent time with Remember Nhu, an organization dedicated to preventing children from being sold into sex slavery.  The group included several CBU alumni: Jennifer Price (’08), Becky Lance (’00), Robin Sarabia (’09), Natalie Bishop (’09), Kinsley Kuhn (’07), Jodie Beuch (’17) and also Janice Bishop, wife of Mike Bishop, who is CBU’s senior director of Career Services.

 

 

Kimberly Holcomb, accounts payable, and her husband, James, welcomed their first child on March 7. Hudson James Holcomb weighed 7.5 pounds and measured 20 inches long.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates