September 28, 2017

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Film and TV composer shares experience with CBU students

Composer, arranger and conductor J.A.C. Redford spent a day with students at California Baptist University on Sept. 26, sharing his experiences and offering advice at several sessions.

“Music is supposed to be vital. It’s supposed to have life. Don’t ever forget that when you’re sitting and scratching down [notes] or on your computer entering notes. Don’t forget it’s supposed to be a life-giving thing,” Redford told students.

Redford has composed music for feature films and television shows, such as “D3: The Mighty Ducks” and “St. Elsewhere.” He has also orchestrated, arranged or conducted for composers such as James Horner, Rachel Portman and Danny Elfman. Additionally, he has worked on theatre scores in addition to concert and choral music.

“I really think it’s important to stay curious throughout your life. If you lose the desire to learn, you’ve lost a lot of your vitality in life,” Redford said at one of the sessions.

As students pursue a career or projects, the way may not always be clear, he said.

“We often don’t get the big picture. We often only know the next step,” Redford said. “The thing you have to trust is that because Christ has promised that He will indwell you, that whatever that next step is, even if it’s the wrong step in your perspective, that He will redeem it, that He will make it purposeful.”

Dr. Josh Rodriguez, assistant professor of music theory and composition, said hearing from an experienced musician can inspire students.

“He has a lot of experience and is still involved in the industry,” Rodriguez said. “It’s important to us [at CBU] to be bringing people who are committed to their craft, who are excellent in what they do, who also care about other people and care about passing their learning on.”

Dr. Scott Key, professor of philosophy, has known Redford for nine years and arranged his visit.

“He brings that vision of excellence and a humble capacity to live out his faith in a world of real challenges,” Key said. “He tells our students that they can be authentic followers of Jesus Christ and strive for excellence in film, in music, in the world of the arts, and if they persist, if this is their calling, God will walk along with them.”

 

President Ellis delivers 2017 State of the University address

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of California Baptist University, delivered his 2017 State of the University video address at two chapel services on Sept 26. The address reported on key accomplishments at CBU over the past year and also highlighted significant upcoming events.

Students enjoy a concert by The Native Sibling on Sept. 25 in Stamps Courtyard as part of TWIRP week at California Baptist University.

 

 

 

 

 

CBU observes TWIRP week to help students build community

It is officially TWIRP (The Woman Is Required to Pay) week at California Baptist University, one of many campus traditions designed to help students connect and form friendships.

During TWIRP Week, women have the opportunity to ask men to join them at different social activities, said Kristin Holderman, director of campus activities for Community Life. The week is more about developing a positive social environment on campus rather than just dating, she said.

“We promote attending with groups of friends, as a duo or on your own to make new friends,” Holderman said.

This year the week’s activities started with a concert by The Native Sibling (an acoustic folk band) on Sept. 25. Later in the week, students can also attend a Dodgers’ MLB game, a barn dance, an outing to Sky Zone (a trampoline park) or a trip to Disneyland.

Kendall Morris, a communication studies senior, attended the concert and he also plans to go to the barn dance and to Disneyland.

“I think the environment is just fun,” Morris said. “It is not just couples but also the whole community hanging out and having a good time.”

Emily Hagar, a pre-nursing freshman, looks forward to the barn dance set for Sept. 28.

“I enjoy that TWIRP makes girls put themselves out there and ask the guy out – it’s something we wouldn’t [normally] do,” Hagar said.

As a senior, Matthew Brungardt, a mechanical engineering major, is an experienced “TWIRPER.”

“My favorite part about attending [the dance] as an upper-classman is watching it dawn on freshmen who show up in Western clothing that it is actually a costume party,” Brungardt said.

Holderman said the week is also aimed at fostering school spirit.

“It is a week full of events designed to build community, enhance the student experience through traditional events and experience something new,” Holderman said. “This has been a long-standing tradition at CBU and a fun way to kick off the year with friends.”

 

CBU students enjoy mountains during Outdoor Adventures trip

Community Life at California Baptist University hosted its first Outdoor Adventures trip of the semester to San Bernardino Mountains on Sept. 22-24. Twenty-two students and two staff members backpacked part of the Pacific Crest Trail near Big Bear Lake, camped and enjoyed the outdoors as they formed new friendships along the way.

“These trips benefit students because we offer a way for them to connect with students with similar interests,” said Tucker Carl, program coordinator for outdoor adventures. “This allows us to create the opportunity for people to have a community with others while doing the activities they love.”

The Outdoor Adventures program provides opportunities for students to enjoy iconic destinations and national parks. Community Life furnishes, for a nominal fee, transportation, appropriate gear for the adventure and most of the food.

The camping trip was originally scheduled to take place in Mammoth Lakes. However, due to severe weather, the trip was changed to the Big Bear Lake area.

For Rochelle Fisher, an intercultural studies sophomore, backpacking made the trip special.

“I loved the community and the campfires,” Fisher said about the outdoor adventure. “The opportunity to build relationships with new people is one of the things I look forward to most on these trips. It’s a great way to get connected within the larger campus community.”

Emily Anderson, an actuarial science junior, went on the “Glamping” adventure last spring. This fall semester, going on a backpacking adventure caught her interest.

“I had never backpacked before, and I loved it,” Anderson said. “It was also fun getting to experience the trip with new people. Already, a day after the trip, I have waved at new friends from this trip [on campus].”

 

Trauma recovery is focus of Culture and Justice Lecture

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at California Baptist University launched its Culture and Justice Lecture Series on Sept. 21 with a discourse on the effects of trauma. Dr. Becca Johnson, a licensed psychologist for more than 25 years, shared how she has developed a trauma recovery model based on understanding and empathy for trauma victims.

Johnson serves as the clinical director and oversees individual and group therapy for Engedi Refuge Ministries, a residential recovery home for women victims of domestic sex trafficking. Johnson also consults and provides training for organizations that help human trafficking victims.

“I was shocked with all my travels that people who work with the traumatized don’t really understand trauma,” said Johnson of her early professional consulting opportunities. “Or if they do, it’s in their head and not in their heart…and to me that is like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”

Johnson said that if you do not have the understanding or the heart for traumatized people you will not be able to help them effectively.

“My motto used to be, ‘I want to help the hurting heal,’ but now it is, ‘I help helpers help the hurting heal with God’s hope,’” Johnson said.

In her training others to help the victimized, Johnson said she wants individuals to become “trauma-sensitive.”

When working with victims we have to honor them and use our words wisely, Johnson said. People use the word trauma too flippantly. Trauma affects everybody differently, she added.

Johnson said that depending on several factors and the types of trauma a person faces, the road to recovery is a long and complex one. It is not an easy task to help a traumatized patient. However, it can also be a rewarding experience, Johnson added.

 

Constitution written for “do-it-ourselves citizens,” lecturer says

The U.S. Constitution was written to establish a limited government for unlimited citizenship engaged in the common good, Pete Peterson, dean of the School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University, told an audience at California Baptist University on Sept. 21. Peterson spoke at a Constitution Day event, marking the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.

“The Constitution provides an outline for a free people to work with and independently from government, in the provision of services and the creation of community, from disaster recovery on a massive scale to disaster recovery at the personal level,” Peterson said.

Peterson serves on the leadership council for California Forward, a nonprofit organization that aims to inspire better decision-making by governments at all levels. He is also a national speaker and writer on issues related to civic participation and the use of technology to make government more responsive and transparent.

“In the First Amendment, we see a wall built, not between government and religion but between Congress and the establishment of churches and the free exercise of believers,” Peterson said. “It is through this mechanism that the founders laid the groundwork for the world’s most vibrant civil society, once again shaped by people of faith.”

Peterson highlighted the writings of Alexis de Tocqueville, a French diplomat who visited the United States in the 1800s and then wrote about his experiences in the “Democracy in America.” Faith’s ability to form self-governing citizens while providing them opportunities to exercise this self-governance surprised Tocqueville, Peterson said. Tocqueville also warned that if religion would lessen then Americans would become more demanding of government, Peterson added.

Peterson said government does not have the capacity to meet all of the people’s needs. Citizens today are demanding more customized attention and service, Peterson added, calling it the “Amazonification” of government.

“If citizens can order a television online for delivery tomorrow, why can’t they get their street repaired or school fixed or crime reduced by tomorrow?” Peterson said.

Government is simply incapable of adequately addressing all the people’s issues, Peterson said. However, a multi-sector response involving government alongside the civic and private sectors, such as in the relief responses to hurricanes Harvey and Irma, gives Americans a chance, Peterson argued.

“What’s happening in Texas and Florida is an American story and in these ways, not a lot has changed since 1787, when a constitution was written by a group of self-governing do-it-ourselves citizens for generations of self-governing do-it-ourselves citizens,” Peterson said.

 

College of Health Science launches Distinguished Lecture Series

The College of Health Science at California Baptist University hosted Dr. Roderick Stuart to kick off its 7th annual Distinguished Lecture Series on Sept. 18. Stuart, a psychiatrist with Kaiser Permanente, highlighted his career path and offered insight into his professional duties.

Stuart, an Inland Empire native, practices at the Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center in Fontana, Calif. He received his post-graduate training at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and is a certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

After receiving his undergraduate degree, Stuart spent the next four years trying to get into medical school.

“I kept trying and trying to get into medical school and finally got in at Loma Linda, and from there the journey was difficult but doable,” Stuart said. “Getting through medical school is an obtainable goal but you have to work hard.”

Stuart said his profession allows him to be there for a person in their most broken hour. He treats clients with a variety of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

“When a person starts to recognize that their mind isn’t working the way it’s supposed to, people start to get desperate,” Stuart said. “People can be in their worst hour when they come to see me.”

Stuart is trained to offer traditional therapy practices in addition to prescribing medication for any physical ailments he diagnoses.

“My personality played a lot into my decision to become a psychiatrist,” Stuart said. “To be a good therapist, one must listen to and feel the emotions of the patients. It’s all about the connection.”

Stuart said that there is no shortage of jobs in the mental health profession.

“Anytime you receive training in the mental health field you are going to have a job,” Stuart said.

After the session, students had an opportunity to participate in a question and answer session.

 

CBU earns top national and state rankings for campus life

California Baptist University has once again received high marks for campus life in national rankings, coming in at No. 4 for “Best College Campus,” No. 9 for “Best College Food” and  No. 12 for “Best College Dorms,” according to a 2018 Niche Best Colleges list.

The Niche 2018 Best College rankings are based on numerous statistical analyses per category, according to the site. For instance, in the Best College Campus category, Niche used key statistics and student reviews in addition to data from the U.S. Department of Education. The Best College Campus standings also take into account the quality of housing, food services and students’ reviews of the campus.

CBU was ranked tops in the California standings at No. 1 for “Best College Campus” and “Best College Dorms.” CBU also ranked No. 2 in “Best College Food,” No. 6 for “Best Christian Colleges,” and received two No. 10 spots for “Best Colleges for Education” and “Colleges with the Best Student Life.”

The latest rankings come on the heels of CBU’s No. 31 ranking by U.S. News and World Report in the category of “Best Regional University” earlier this month.

 

Intramural football kicks off hunt for the Fortuna Bowl Trophy

The 2017 intramural flag-football season started with a slew of games played out on the Front Lawn at California Baptist University on Sept 18.

Flag football is the most popular intramural sport at CBU. This year’s 29 teams, combined in the men’s and women’s leagues, represents the largest number ever to chase the coveted Fortuna Bowl Trophy in a single season.

The championship games will be held Nov. 11 during the inaugural Parent and Family Weekend. Last year’s Fortuna Bowl games drew thousands of spectators, and the games are usually among the most highly anticipated campus sporting events of the year.

Tyler Cox, director of recreation programs at CBU, said that the university is intentional in offering constructive and competitive environments where students can build and forge meaningful relationships.

“Our whole goal is to bring students together and build a community and get them tied stronger to the university,” Cox said. “Some of these teams come out and practice four times a week. There is some intense competition out there.”

Cox said that more than half of the squads are legacy teams that in some cases have been around for more than a decade.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biology, and Dr. Hyun-Woo Park, professor of biology, co-authored a paper that was published in the journal Scientific Reports (September 2017). The paper was titled Highly Effective Broad Spectrum Chimeric Larvicide That Targets Vector Mosquitoes Using a Lipophilic Protein.

 

 

 

The Department of Aviation Science hosted the annual University Aviation Association (UAA) Conference in Riverside Sept. 13-15. Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation, recently completed a one-year term as president of UAA and received a plaque of appreciation for his service. Prather also made a presentation, New Program Challenges. Creighton Goodman, assistant professor of aviation flight, and Elisabeth Murillo, assistant professor of aviation science, presented America’s Airports: The Threat from Within. Jared Tapsfield, chief flight instructor, and Orlando Martinez, director of aircraft maintenance, presented Challenges of Transitioning to Internal Maintenance. Dan Westermann, associate vice president for University Advancement, and Curt Jarboe, director of development, presented Fundraising for Aviation Programs.

 

Victoria Brodie, visiting professor of public relations, served as the chairperson for the first day of Leadership Riverside’s class of 2018 on Sept. 8. Leadership Riverside is a 10-month program developed to empower and educate decision makers in the community by immersing them in the issues and challenges that shape Riverside’s future. Brodie has chaired the first day, known as Discovery Day, for eight years.

 

 

 

Dr. Sanggon Nam, associate professor of public health, has been named to the editorial board for the International Journal of Geriatrics and Gerontology.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Namhee Kim, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, and 20 communication sciences and disorders students volunteered at the Grove SOS program on Sept. 15. SOS is a monthly program held at the Grove Community Church to serve children with special needs and their families in Riverside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robert Pate, associate professor of psychology, served Sept. 13-18 in Honduras with Ignite Missions, a Baptist-affiliated missions group that serves missionary couples. Pate provided individual, couples and family therapy; presented a workshop on increasing connection in the family; preached a sermon on A Biblical and Psychological View of Self-Care in a church serving missionaries and another sermon on biblically based marriage roles in a church serving Hondurans.

 

 

 

Melissa Anozie (nee Marshall, ’01, ’13), assistant professor of nursing, and her husband, Benjamin Anozie, welcomed a daughter on Aug. 2. Abygale Ogechukwu Patricia Anozie weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 20 1/4 inches long.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates