January 17, 2019

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Kay Warren speaks about Christian discipleship at CBU chapel

“What would move some of you in the crowd to be a disciple of Jesus?” Kay Warren asked a California Baptist University chapel audience on Jan. 15.

“Jesus drew a crowd wherever He went. It was usually people looking for a miracle. These were people in deep need,” Warren said.

Warren is co-founder of Saddleback Church with her husband, Dr. Rick Warren (’77), and she is also an international speaker, best-selling author and Bible teacher.

Warren expounded on Mark 8:34: “And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, ‘If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.’” (NASB)

“Jesus makes it clear what disciples need to do—deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him,” Warren said.

Warren said that she has interpreted Jesus’ words in her life to mean, “Be dangerously surrendered, become seriously disturbed and become gloriously ruined.”

“The Bible says to deny one’s self, and that is an unpleasant place to start,” Warren said. Surrender is not an attractive word to Americans, she added.

“Yet in God’s vocabulary, the word surrender is probably the most beautiful word that He ever hears come from our mouths–when we say ‘yes, God, I will do what you want,’” Warren said.

Jesus was so disturbed by people’s sin and their separation from Him, that He chose to come to earth, take up the cross and die, Warren said.

“We get disturbed by things that are about an inch deep, when our world is drowning in things to be disturbed about,” Warren said. “When was the last time something in our world so disturbed you that you moved from that comfortable place, that comfortable life you’re building for yourself, to the place where you said, ‘I have to do something about it?’”

Finally, Christians should aim to be gloriously ruined, Warren added.

“What would it look like if Jesus was able to shift your passions and your priorities in such a way you became ruined for the average, ordinary life and instead you became a disciple who was fully surrendered,” Warren said. “If I’m going to be ‘ruined,’ I want to be ‘ruined’ for the Kingdom of God because it is eternal.”

 

Spring Registration starts the 2019 semester at CBU

California Baptist University kicked off the spring 2019 semester with welcome activities for freshmen and transfer students during Spring Registration on Jan. 7.

The day after new students moved into residential housing and registered for classes, students attended sessions that covered CBU’s vision, student services, academics and how to become involved on campus. Students also participated in the Kugel Walk, a CBU tradition in which students touch the floating granite globe structure that symbolizes the Great Commission as they begin their educational experience at CBU.

On Jan. 8 the FOCUS program—short for “First-Year Orientation & Christian University Success”—began to form groups. The small communities provide support as students begin their first semester at CBU and help them adjust to campus life.

The registration activities help students become familiar with the campus, services and traditions, said Jay Stovall, director of new student programs.

“We’re trying to be intentional about getting them connected,” Stovall said.

Brittany Van Wagenen, an early childhood studies freshman, said the CBU campus and community helped her finalize her decision to become a Lancer.

“I came to the campus and thought ‘this is what I’ve been looking for,’” Van Wagenen said. “The feeling of people caring and wanting to be proud of their school.”

Marissa Lemos, a biology sophomore who transferred to CBU, said she chose CBU because of the location and its Christian values.

“I’m looking forward to the community,” Lemos said. “I have a lot of friends who go here and they’re always talking about the great events and the great instructors.”

Classes for the spring 2019 semester began on Jan. 9.

 

Lancer men’s basketball secures 1,000th win in program history

California Baptist University men’s basketball secured the 1,000th win in program history and closed out 2018 competition with a 97-46 victory over the University of La Verne on Dec. 29.

The Lancers later picked up its first Western Athletic Conference road win with a 77-75 victory at Chicago State on Jan. 12. CBU has won eight of its last 11 games.

The Lancers will host CSU Bakersfield on Jan. 24 and Grand Canyon on Jan. 26.

Read the full game recap of the CBU milestone win here.

 

 

Partnership brings aspiring musicians and actors to CBU

“When you’re dancing on stage, you need to move together,” Lisa Lyons, adjunct professor of theatre at California Baptist University, gracefully instructed her students. Responding to Lyons’ direction, 20 students, ages 8-17, practiced the moves repeatedly. Then they progressed to perform the routine while singing “Be Our Guest” from the Broadway show “Beauty and the Beast.”

The musical theatre class Lyons was teaching is one of several offered through an education partnership between CBU and Inland Empire Musical Arts (IEMA). Approximately 130 children were on campus during the fall semester, gaining knowledge and experience in the world of music and theatre.

The musical partnership is a testament of the desire for quality music and theatre training for youth, said Michelle Elliott, director of IEMA.

Elliott was homeschooling her children several years ago and unable to find music programs for them nearby. That led to her start IEMA in 2016. IEMA initially offered beginning music classes only to homeschoolers but when inquiries about the classes spiked, she opened up the classes to the public.

Elliott then contacted the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music at CBU, looking for referrals for music teachers. Since then the School of Music and IEMA have formed a partnership. Children start with IEMA for beginning and intermediate music, sometimes taught by a CBU student. They then can advance to the classes offered at CBU.

For music, students can take classes in piano or audition for an ensemble group such as the symphonic band, string orchestra or choir. While string and choir students make up their own groups, the band students participate with the CBU Symphonic Band.

Dan St. Marseille, director of jazz studies at CBU, conducts the Symphonic Band, which currently includes 10 IEMA students.

“To play with the university’s Symphonic Band challenges them to improve on their instrument and gives them exposure to the rigors of our performance ensembles,” St. Marseille said.

The Youth Acting Academy portion of IEMA provides students ages 8-17 with a theatre arts experience that integrates drama, movement, music and stagecraft. CBU faculty and students teach acting fundamentals, Shakespeare and musical theatre. The IEMA students will perform “Seussical” next spring, using the same set CBU students will use for their production of “Barnum.”

The benefits to CBU are several, said Lee Lyons, professor of theatre. They include introducing families to the CBU theatre program, having child actors to draw from if a CBU production needs one, and preparing youths for theatre at CBU if they choose to enroll, he added.

“The No. 1 benefit is having access to the CBU faculty,” Elliott said. “They have wonderful faculty members who now have access to invest in, instruct and mentor students at a young age.”

 

Assistant dean working to create a mentor-type experience

Dr. Tad Hove addressed the necessary components for a business plan in his graduate management class at California Baptist University. He made sure students’ plans were detailed.

He also stopped to encourage his students with a biblical theme referencing Jeremiah 29:11.

“God has a business plan for your life and it was made before you even were born,” said Hove, assistant dean for graduate programs in the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business. “As believers, we can rest in that, because starting a business and running your own personal life is not easy.”

Hove became assistant dean for graduate programs within the School of Business on July 1, 2018. Prior to his new role, he was an adjunct professor at CBU. He is also a businessman with more than a decade of experience at Qualcomm, working on cell phone design and battery technology. Additionally, Hove has invested in real estate.

Hove is big on developing mentor-based relationships with his students.

Because mentors helped Hove get through some tough situations during his teen years, he now seeks a similar way to help others.

“The goal for me is that the students do something that they never thought they could do before. We all fear change and to some level, fear different challenges,” Hove said. “I want them to be able to look back and say ‘this is what I got from the MBA program that I never thought I would get.’”

As assistant dean, Hove said he wants to build graduate programs to well equip every student. That may mean building supplemental plans for those students who struggle with writing and research or helping executives who want to climb the corporate ladder, he added.

Moving forward, Hove also plans to interview each applicant applying for a graduate business program. He is looking at the student’s prior journey and their strategy in attaining a master’s, Hove said. The fact-finding process is both educational and spiritual.

“The education piece looks at the student’s goals and what can be nourished and blossom within the program,” Hove said. “The spiritual piece evolves around relationship building, removing fear and doubt and building intrinsic motivation to move forward.”

 

CBU names new VP for Online and Professional Studies

Veteran educator Pamela Daly was named vice president for Online and Professional Studies at California Baptist University. She started her new position Jan. 2.

“We are pleased to welcome Pamela Daly to the executive team at CBU,” said Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president. Ellis noted that Daly brings a proven record of private higher education finance and administration experience to her new role.

“I am confident that Pamela’s background and skill set will help to increase enrollment and advance CBU’s distinctive brand and quality academic programs in the increasingly important and highly competitive online education marketplace,” Ellis said.

Daly comes to CBU from the Los Angeles College of Technology. From 2008 to 2017 she served in various administrative roles at DeVry University locations in San Diego and Fremont, California. She also taught psychology and management leadership courses at DeVry. Previously, Daly was vice president for sales at Goal Financial, LLC, in San Diego, a start-up financial institution assisting students with federal and private higher education funding options from 2001 to 2007.

At CBU Daly will oversee the Division of Online and Professional Studies, including enrollment management, marketing administration, operations and program development.

Daly received a Bachelor of Science in Counseling Psychology from San Diego Christian College and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Education Leadership from the DeVry University Keller Graduate School of Management and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Higher Education at Liberty University.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Bruce Stokes, professor of anthropology and behavioral sciences, published an article in Kesher: A Journal of Messianic Judaism (Summer/Fall, Issue 33). The article was titled Cultural Adolescence or Biblical Youth: A Religious Parent’s Challenge.

 

 

 

Dr. Barry Parker, reference and serials librarian, spoke at Fontana Middle School on Nov. 26. He talked to seventh-graders about creative writing.

 

 

 

 

The CBU chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma has received the Chapter Recognition Award. Eta Sigma Gamma is the national honorary society for health education. The award represents excellence in teaching, research and community service. CBU’s chapter was awarded the honor based on community service activities for the 2017-18 academic year, increased student participation in faculty research, and improvements to strengthen the undergraduate curriculum in 2016-17.

 

 

Dr. Robert Grand, adjunct professor of education for Online and Professional Studies, presented a paper at the Oxford Education Research Symposium in Oxford, United Kingdom, on Dec. 5-7. It was titled A Collective Case Study in Expectant Father Fears.

 

 

 

Dr. Adele Harrison, professor of finance, had an article published in The DeVoe Report (Fall/Winter 2018). It was titled Not Withholding Good.

 

 

 

 

Jessica Alzen, adjunct professor for Online and Professional Studies, co-wrote a paper that was published in the International Journal of STEM Education (December 2018). It was titled A Logistic Regression Investigation of the Relationship between the Learning Assistant Model and Failure Rates in Introductory STEM Courses.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dominick Sturz, associate professor of public health, Dr. Riste Simnjanovski, dean of faculty development, Dr. Scott Dunbar, assistant professor of human resource management, and Dr. Richard Ardito, assistant professor of accounting, all for Online and Professional Studies, presented at the 2019 Clute International Conference in Maui, Hawaii, on Jan. 3. Their presentation, titled Effects of Time Limitations in Non-Traditional Learning Environments, received the Best Presentation award. Dr. Andrew Harveson, assistant professor of kinesiology, Dr. Bochi McKinney, assistant professor of public health, Dr. Kathryn Norwood, dean of assessment and accreditation, and Dr. Dirk Davis, associate vice president for academics, all for OPS, also were co-authors of the study.

 

 

Dr. Gene Peterson, associate professor of music, had an article published in the Choral Journal (December 2018). It was titled The Legacy of Choral Singing: A Directors’ Choir Experience.

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Zamora, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, and CBU students provided a medical outreach for an immigrant population from Michoacán, Mexico, in Thermal, California, on Dec. 1. The CBU group was joined by a University of California, Riverside, professor and medical students. The group set up screening stations, provided patient education and treatment.

 

 

 

Dr. Seong Kong, associate professor of bioengineering, had a paper published in Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials (volume 473). The title was The Use of Magnetic Targeting for Drug Delivery into Cardiac Myocytes.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dominick Sturz, associate professor of public health for Online and Professional Studies, presented research at the Oxford Symposium for Religious Studies held in Oxford, United Kingdom, on Dec. 6. The title was Spiritual Meaning’s Influence on Future Job Satisfaction.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Keanon Alderson, professor of management, had a book chosen by Harvard Business School Publishing to be paired with a Harvard Business School case study. The book was titled Understanding the Family Business: Exploring the differences between family and non-family businesses (second edition, Business Expert Press).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Joe Way, director of multimedia services for Information Technology Services, had a book, Producing Worship: A Theology of Church Technical Arts, published in December. Additionally, he was a guest on the AVNation podcast on Dec. 10 episode titled AVNation Special: Producing Worship with Joe Way. He was also a guest on the AV Life podcast on the Jan. 4 episode titled The AV Life Episode 117: A New Year – Perspective, Prediction and Intervention.

 

 

 

Dr. Joe Putulowski, assistant professor of business, Dr. Robert Crosby, associate professor of psychology, and Dr. Richard Ardito, assistant professor of accounting, all for Online and Professional Studies, presented a paper at the 2019 Clute International Academic Conference on Business in Maui, Hawaii, on Jan. 1-5. The presentation was titled Marketing an Accounting Firm Using the 4P’s of Marketing.

 

 

Dr. Shawn Wilhite, assistant professor of Christian studies, and Coleman Ford, adjunct professor of Christian studies, both for Online and Professional Studies, are the directors and research fellows for the Center for Ancient Christian Studies. They recently released Fides et Humilitas: The Journal for the Center for Ancient Christian Studies (Issue 5). They wrote the editorial, titled Female Voices in Early Christian Scholarship.

 

 

Dr. Anthony Donaldson, dean of the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering, and Dr. Darla Donaldson, associate professor of finance and social entrepreneurship, recently established The Willis Lyle Donaldson and William Ross Smith Endowed Engineering Scholarship to honor their parents, who were both engineers. This gift qualifies for 1:1 university matching funds as part of CBU’s Endowment Matching Program (https://ua.calbaptist.edu/endowment-matching-program). Alumni, businesses, friends of the Donaldsons and interested faculty and staff are encouraged to make a gift to this endowment through June 30. All gifts to this fund given on or before June 30 will be matched, 1:1, now that the threshold for matching funds has been met.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Carla Thornton, assistant professor of social work, was sworn in as a member of the Moreno Valley City Council on Dec 13. She was elected to the District 2 seat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marie King (’14), assistant director of communications for admissions, and Mitchell Spezzaferri (’14, ’16) were married Dec. 22, 2018, in Temecula.

 

 

 

 

 

Hector Jimenez (’09), assistant professor of music, and his wife, Jessica, welcomed a daughter on Sept. 4. Joelle Mirembe Jimenez joins twin sisters, Sarai and Eden, 3.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates