June 21, 2017

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU alumni reflect on crossing paths during combat missions

While serving in the U.S. armed forces, two pilots fighting ISIS in the Middle East crossed paths in the air—literally—and quickly realized they had something else in common; they were California Baptist University Lancers.

“I was thrilled to have a fellow Lancer in the air with me over a combat zone,” said Keli Kaaekuahiwi (2006-08), who was piloting an A-10 Warthog. “It’s very cool knowing that over a combat zone, halfway around the world, there’s a guy who went to the same small—when we were there—Christian school and share the same beliefs.”

Daniel Greer (’06) pilots a KC-135 Stratotanker military aerial refueling aircraft for the Air Force Reserves. Greer was stationed in Turkey this spring, where he and his crew provided air refueling for fighter jets. While refueling Kaaekuahiwi’s jet, the two pilots discovered they were Lancers. A week later, Greer and his team once again refueled Kaaekuahiwi’s fighter jet and a few weeks later the two CBU alumni met in a chow hall at a military base in Turkey.

“We agreed it was pretty cool that two former CBU undergrad students got to do air refueling while flying missions in the war against terror,” Greer said.

Kaaekuahiwi, a captain now stationed in Korea, said flying in the Middle East had its rewards.

“We were constantly flying over specific places that we all remember from the Bible. I could see the ancient ruins of Nineveh, and the Euphrates River,” Kaaekuahiwi said. “It was very rewarding knowing that we were there to save some really good people who are just in a horrible situation.”

Greer, also a captain, has returned to March Air Reserve Base, where he coordinates missions for KC-135 Stratotankers.

After his return, Greer spoke to an aviation class at CBU. He said he is excited to see how CBU has grown, especially the Department of Aviation Science.

“I would encourage all the students to be open what God may have in store for them because it may not have anything to do with what they’re majoring in,” Greer said, noting that he was a college senior before setting his sights on being a pilot in the U. S. Air Force.

“You never know where God is leading you or what He’s going to do,” Greer said.

 

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

California Baptist University launched the fourth and final wave of 2017 volunteer global service teams this past weekend. Teams will continue to depart from CBU through July 12.

The last wave of service projects involves seven teams scheduled to serve in Central Asia, Belize, France, Spain and South Africa. The teams join eight other teams currently serving in various locations. A number of other teams already have returned after completing their projects.

Kris Smith, assistant director of mobilization, said the International Service Project/Summer of Service program (ISP/SOS) is about the participants learning Christian discipleship.

“Our hope is that this prompts a lifestyle change,” Smith said. “Even though they are going abroad and have the opportunity to share the gospel, our goal is for them to do in their own neighborhood.”

Devon Emans, a mathematics senior, recently returned after participating in a service project in Southeast Asia. Emans said he enjoyed the relationships he formed with his team as they hosted basketball clinics and games.

“I have learned what it looks like to truly love someone that you don’t even know,” Emans said. “God has done a work in my heart and if I can love someone from a different country who is a stranger, how much better should I be able to love those around me back in the states that I do know and I do care about?”

Justina Dreschler, a nursing senior, recently returned from South America with her ISP team, which provided assistance to a mobile health clinic in an underserved area.

Dreschler said a highlight for her during the trip was watching Christians shine for Jesus.

“I continued to learn how big God is as I learned about another culture,” Dreschler said.

This summer, more than 300 volunteers comprising 36 teams will serve in 23 countries, assisting with English clubs, university ministry, engineering projects, healthcare support and sports and children camps. The 2017 ISP/SOS schedule marks the 21st year of CBU’s flagship global mobilization program.

 

Lancer ace Garett King selected by Tigers in MLB draft

Garrett King, starting pitcher for California Baptist University during the past season, became the 31 Lancer to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft. King joins a growing list of Lancers at the next level with six former players participating in the minor leagues.

Read the full story here.

 

 

 

 

 

Master of Social Work program at CBU gains candidacy status

The School of Behavioral Sciences at California Baptist University will launch its fifth graduate program—Master of Social Work (MSW)—starting fall 2017. The MSW program has been granted candidacy status by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).

Dr. Satara Armstrong, director of the social work program, said the MSW program comes at a much-needed time with a shortage of social workers in California.

“We have a number of social needs in our communities to deal with, issues such as intimate partner abuse, child abuse, human trafficking and access to affordable health care. The Inland Empire ranks higher than the national averages in these reported areas,” Armstrong said. “Our courses will be designed and tailored to equip our students to face these complex issues.”

Social work is a profession that is committed to enhancing people’s well-being and helping those in need, especially vulnerable populations, Armstrong added.

All students accepted to the program will be retroactively recognized as having graduated from a CSWE-accredited program when MSW achieves full accreditation, said Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, dean of the School of Behavioral Sciences at CBU. Gustafson said the inaugural class is expected to draw nearly 50 students.

Gustafson said the MSW program has undergone a significant development phase to ensure CBU will launch a relevant program.

“Our school has spent time researching the needs of our communities,” Gustafson said. “We have also formed significant community partnerships with government agencies and nonprofit organizations that have an understanding of the issues that affect our surroundings.”

Gustafson said the MSW program is tailored toward working adults with a flexible schedule option. Students will be assigned a faculty mentor who will help them identify a specific field of calling. Additionally, leadership-training aspects of the program will help prepare students to succeed in endeavors such as operating a social work practice. Students also will receive opportunities to work alongside government and community partners in their field practicum courses.

Students may choose between two tracks of study: Clinical Social Work or Community Social Work Practice. Additionally, there will be three optional focus areas: Children and Families; Older Adults; and Global Justice.

Gustafson said students will benefit from the diverse faculty who have spent significant time practicing social work.

“CBU School of Behavioral Science has been graduating successful students in the social work field for more than 20 years,” Gustafson said. “We have a solid reputation in the community, and we plan to continue to contribute to the growing needs of our community.”

For more information on the MSW program, please click here.

 

Students grateful for spending time in prison to capture stories

For Randy Plavajka, a senior at California Baptist University, going on a third consecutive trip to the Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola) was an opportunity he could not miss.

“The people there are what keep me going back each year. Everyone I meet along the way is genuine and passionate, despite being incarcerated,” Plavajka said. “If you want to be challenged and have your worldview expanded…try and understand the viewpoints and lives of the incarcerated.”

Plavajka, a journalism and new media student, along with eight additional CBU students spent time in May to capture stories of the ministries Awana Lifeline offers at Angola. The students created content through articles, photographs and video for the nonprofit group.

Plavajka was one of two students responsible for producing a video on the Returning Hearts Celebration, an event that reunites inmates with their children for a day of fun.

“The most important takeaway [I got] is the heart some of these inmates have for people,” Plavajka said of the inmates who participate in the ministries Awana offers. “The inmates are more intentional, more meaningful with their conversations than anyone I’ve ever met outside of prison. They genuinely listen to your life story as if you were one of their own children.”

For Olivia Quebe, a liberal studies sophomore, this was her first trip to Angola. She wrote stories of inmates involved in Malachi Dads, which teaches biblical parenting concepts to inmates.

She said she could see the fruits of the ministry.

“The inmates that I had the chance to speak with who graduated from the Malachi Dads program were true testaments of God’s mercy and love,” Quebe said. “I believe there is something to be learned from the vulnerability and perseverance of these men.”

Dr. Michael Chute, professor of journalism, said the experience teaches students how to work on deadline and to strike a conversation in unique circumstances. The students also learn there is a ministry aspect to journalism, he added.

“I think these students are starting to realize—journalism is about bringing some understanding,” Chute said.

 

Associate vice president for University Advancement named

Dan Westermann, a veteran development officer with extensive experience in higher education fundraising, has been named associate vice president for University Advancement at California Baptist University. He began his new duties at CBU June 12.

“I am delighted to welcome Dan to our team at California Baptist University,” said Paul Eldridge, vice president for University Advancement. “He brings a wealth of experience to this position and I believe he will make a significant contribution to our work of advancing the mission and programs of CBU.”

Westermann comes to CBU from the advancement team at Colorado State University, where he led the gift planning team as executive director of gift planning (interim), director of gift planning, and regional director of principal gifts.

Prior to his work at CSU, Westermann was director of development and planned giving at Colorado Christian University for six years and was instrumental in setting new fundraising records at CCU.

Westermann has earned the certified fundraising executive credential and holds a B.A. degree in biblical studies and an MBA from Colorado Christian University. He also holds an M.A. degree in nonprofit management from Washington University in St. Louis.

Westermann and his wife, Bonnie, have two sons.

 

Vi Estel, CBU archivist, retires after living the history of CBU

Vi Estel, former CBU archivist, has filed her last book; she retired June 2 at the age of 74. During her career at CBU, Estel became the go-to person for research pertaining to history on California Baptist University and the California Southern Baptist Convention (CSBC) for the past 13 years.

“My story is they looked around campus for the oldest Southern Baptist and there I was, so they asked me to come and be the archivist,” quipped Estel, who originally started in the Office of Admissions at CBU in 2002. “That was one of the strengths I brought, because I’ve lived the history, both of this school and of the convention.”

Estel’s connection to CBU predates her years as an employee. She graduated from CBU in 1964, met her husband at CBU, served on the Alumni Association Board and two of her sons attended CBU. She formerly worked at the CSBC and currently is president of the California Baptist Historical Society.

One of her tasks as an archivist was responding to calls from church historians and researchers seeking information on projects. CBU is home to the Southern Baptist Depository and Archive that resides on the second floor of the Annie Gabriel Library. The depository has become a prominent source of information on Southern Baptist life and thought with its collection that contains nearly 3,000 books on church history, biblical studies and theology. Additionally, there is also a California Baptist University Queenie Simmons Archive dedicated to CBU history. The archive provides access to CBU yearbooks, campus publications, photographs and other historical documents. It also includes historical records and photographs related to the history of Tahquitz Pines Conference Center.

Estel described archiving as a never-ending job. She worked on digitizing photos and issues of The Banner (campus newspaper) and The Roundtable magazine (alumni publication). She also archived and ensured proper storage of historical outdated electronic media such as reel-to-reel film, reel-to-reel recordings and even wire recordings.

There will continue to be photos to identify, scan and store, but Estel said that is a good thing.

“Hopefully we’re never caught up,” Estel said.

Estel said she was grateful to be a part of God’s work at CBU.

“One of the things I’m most grateful for and proud of is how, even in exponentially dramatic growth, CBU is still keeping the main thing the main thing, and that is its Christian heritage and roots,” Estel said. “No matter what you study here, you are impacted by the truth of God’s Word.”

After retiring, Estel said she plans to continue her ministry as director of senior adult ministries at Magnolia Church in Riverside.

 

Michael Smith claims another player-of-the-year award for CBU

Michael Smith, an all-American senior guard for California Baptist University this past season, was named the “Area College Men’s Player of the Year” by The Press-Enterprise. The announcement comes on the heels of Cassidy Mihalko winning the Women’s Athlete of the Year award from the PE.

Head coach Rick Croy called Smith the “best player” in Lancer men’s basketball history. During Smith’s career, CBU advanced to the NCA Division II playoffs all four years and had an impressive 104-23 overall record. This past season, Smith averaged 24.9 points (third best national average) and finished his career as the all-time leading scorer at CBU and in the PacWest with 2,031 career points. Smith is a two-time PacWest Player of the Year, D-II West Region Player of the Year, top-10 finalist for the Bevo Francis Award, six-time All-American honoree and PacWest Tournament MVP.

Smith graduated this past spring with a degree in business administration.

Read The P-E story here.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Candace Vickers, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, provided information and assistance to people with aphasia and their families at the Stroke Awareness Picnic at University of California, Irvine, Medical School on May 13. She also served as a subject matter expert for the Aphasia Practice Portal, which provides clinicians with access to information on a number of clinical and professional issues, on the American Speech Language Hearing Association website.

 

 

Mary Ann Stahovich, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, and 30 CBU physician assistant students volunteered at the Mental Health Fair at Fairmount Park in Riverside on May 25. They conducted nearly 185 glucose and blood pressure screenings.

 

 

 

 

Cecelia Aboytes, transport manager in Public Safety, Linda Valenzuela, manager of Accounts Payable, and Allison “Allie” Floyd, secretary in Natural and Mathematical Sciences, graduated in May with their master’s degrees in Organizational Leadership through Online and Professional Studies.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, associate professor of public administration for Online and Professional Studies, presented a paper at the Teaching Public Administration Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, May 31-June 3. The paper was titled Two Minutes Before Class.

 

 

 

 

Kipp Smith, web applications developer for ITS, and Rich Simpson, registrar for Online and Professional Studies, presented at Jenzabar’s Annual Meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, May 31-June 3. The presentation was on how OPS automated its graduation application. Rhonda Moll, director of program administration for OPS, contributed to the presentation.

 

 

 

 

 

Randy Markley, adjunct professor of management, recently completed the Certificate in Faculty Preparation: Teaching in Higher Education program at Humboldt State University. The program is designed to meet the needs of current and aspiring faculty who are interested in enhancing their careers.

 

 

 

Ruth Noemy Wheeler, music lecturer, was selected for the third time to participate at the Starling-DeLay Symposium on Violin Studies at Juilliard School of Music in New York from May 30-June 3. Wheeler was also selected to attend an orchestra conducting workshop with conductor Donald Schleicher, of the University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra, at the New York Conducting Institute from June 4-6.

 

 

 

Jennifer Zamora, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, went to San Quintin, Baja, Mexico, on a medical missions trip with Mexican Medical Ministries on May 21-25. The team visited rural villages and distributed patient education, healthcare and medicines. The team also had games and activities for the children where they could learn more about hygiene.

 

 

 

Dr. Patricia Kircher, professor of political science for Online and Professional Studies, was named Outstanding Educator by the Inland Empire Chapter of the American Society of Public Administration (IEASPA) at the organization’s annual awards banquet on June 15. Nominations for the outstanding educator award are for those who exemplify and advance the art, science, teaching, and practice of public and nonprofit administration, and are advocates for greater effectiveness in government. Additionally, three OPS students in the Master of Public Administration program received scholarship awards from IEASPA. Erika Herrera, Scott Nyland and Michael Jones were awarded $1,000, $750 and $500 respectively.

 

 

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, visiting professor of kinesiology for Online and Professional Studies, and Bryce Bovee, kinesiology student, and Brian Berthod, Christian ministries student, made presentations at the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure, and Sport Studies International Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, June 7-9. Bovee presented Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: Integration of Christ-focused Learning in the High School Anatomy Classroom. Berthod presented Understanding Faith, Fitness, and Idolatry: Crossfit and FaithRx. O’Rourke presented Professional Development Web Tools that Enhance Online Kinesiology Courses. O’Rourke was also awarded the Presidential Award for service to the organization.

 

 

Gavin Andrew, graduate admissions counselor, and his wife, Jennifer, welcomed a son on May 31. Davison John weighed 8.28 pounds and measured 21 inches. He joins older brothers Calvin, 4, and Everett, 2.

 

 

 

 

 

Kristen Holderman, director of campus activities for Community Life, and her husband, Donald, welcomed their son on May 26. Finn Ezekiel William weighed 7 pounds and measured 19.75 inches.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates