June 14, 2019

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU Speech-Language students provide assistance

Camiryn Hubert, a California Baptist University graduate student, asked her client if he wanted to add more purple to the picture. A few minutes later, she asked if he wanted to add more grass. The questions were aimed at encouraging her client to converse as he painted a picture of the hills covered in a super bloom of flowers.

The activity was part of an exercise for a Communication Recovery Group Camp hosted by the Clinical Education Center at CBU. The recovery group is tailored for individuals who have suffered either a stroke or a serious brain injury. Graduate students from the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology provide individual and group therapy during the camp.

Most of the clients suffer from aphasia—an acquired loss of language skills due to stroke or brain injury, said Dr. Candace Vickers, program director of communication disorders. The therapy they receive helps them learn how to communicate again, Vickers added.

“We understand that people in a wheelchair need to go up a ramp instead of jumping a curb. For people with aphasia, they need a similar ramp, a communication ramp,” Vickers said. “That ramp is provided when the student allows the patient a way to respond, whether it’s repeating a word or pointing to a word.”

The CBU camp is free, with six sessions held over four weeks.

“The clients benefit from conversation support techniques to help them engage in a small-group conversation with other people who have the same challenges. That in itself is powerful because you realize you’re not the only one and you’re not alone,” Vickers said.

Graduate students in speech-language pathology are required to earn 400 clinical hours. This camp also helps them in their training.

The students learn how to assess, prescribe and carry out therapy, Vickers said. They also learn how to connect with their patients.

“It’s really important that they learn about the person beyond their medical problem. That becomes [conversation] fodder for the group,” Vickers said.

Madison Dreyer, a graduate student who has worked with children before, said she is learning different approaches working with adults.

“With kids you’re teaching language, with adults you’re restoring language,” Dreyer said. “With the adult population, you get to have meaningful conversation with them. They totally know what’s going on. It’s nice to interact with them.”

Mayor and Riverside residents visit CBU flight school

Some 100 Riverside residents took the opportunity to visit the Department of Aviation Science at California Baptist University to learn about the recent onsite improvements.

Mayor Rusty Bailey’s Connect with the Mayor Walk program encourages residents to participate in a brief walk, organized by the mayor’s office, through various communities in Riverside. On June 8, the mayor led residents around the perimeter of the Riverside Municipal Airport. At the conclusion of the walk, individuals had the opportunity to tour the facilities within the Department of Aviation Science at CBU.

Bailey, a former helicopter pilot for the United States Army, took a spin in CBU’s latest flight simulator. The simulator had a program flight plan over the skies of Riverside.

Dr. John Marselus, chair of the aviation science program at CBU, said the simulator has a 6-foot high screen that allows the pilot to see 210 degrees. The switches are exactly like a plane, and the simulator matches the aerodynamic feel so as a student goes faster, the simulator changes its feel, he added.

“What you learn in the sim is the same as if you’re in the air. But it’s in a controlled environment,” Marselus said. “The simulator brings an incredible dimension that enhances your safety and reduces risk. It will bring the students through more effectively and efficiently. We can introduce everything that the students are going to do in the air on the ground first.”

Residents also had the opportunity to tour one of CBU’s hangars and several aircraft that were parked nearby. In December 2017, CBU purchased 12 new aircraft—eight Piper Archers, two Piper Arrows and two Piper Seminoles—to replace most of the older fleet.

Marselus told the crowd that CBU has the newest aircraft of any aviation science department in the country.

Gateway Seminary names distinguished alumni

Gateway Seminary has named Dr. Mark Wyatt of California Baptist University and Kelly King of Lifeway as 2019 Distinguished Alumni. The two were honored June 12 during the 2019 Alumni and Friends Luncheon at the Southern Baptist Convention in Birmingham, Alabama.

“We are proud of the outstanding accomplishment Mark and Kelly have shown throughout their careers as they exemplified a commitment to shaping leaders and expanding God’s kingdom around the world,” President Jeff Iorg said.

Wyatt has served as vice president for marketing and communication at California Baptist University since 2002. He leads a professional staff responsible for branding, advertising, public relations, media relations, publications and internet marketing activities. Wyatt also oversees the use of campus facilities by campus groups and external clients.

Prior to joining the CBU administration he served more than 18 years as chief communications officer for the California Southern Baptist Convention and editor of The California Southern Baptist newspaper. He is a former pastor with nearly 40 years of higher education administration, communications, journalism and media experience, including 14 years as a radio and television news reporter and anchor.

Wyatt holds a bachelor of fine arts degree in theatre arts from Valdosta State University in Georgia; a master of divinity degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.; and a doctor of ministry degree in executive leadership from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, now Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Wyatt and his wife, Jean, have been married 48 years and reside in Riverside. They have three adult children and nine grandchildren.

King serves as women’s ministry specialist for Lifeway Christian Resources, where she coordinates training and equipping events for women in leadership. She was previously the women’s missions and ministries specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, a post she held for more than 11 years. Prior to her denominational role, she was the women’s ministry director at her church, Council Road Baptist, located in the Oklahoma City metro. She currently leads the women’s ministry as a volunteer at Green Hill Church in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.

She holds a master of theology degree from Gateway Seminary. She and her husband, Vic, have been married 30 years and have served together in ministry teaching students and young adults. They have two adult children, Conner and Courtney, and a son-in-law, Gaige.

 

Shakespeare Festival brings Hamlet, friends to outdoor stage

The words of The Bard live on at the fourth annual Courtyard Shakespeare Festival that started on June 7. This year the outdoor repertory production features “Hamlet” along with “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.”

“Hamlet” follows the anguish of Prince Hamlet, who lives with his father’s murderer—his uncle Claudius—who has seized the throne and married Hamlet’s mother. Tom Stoppard’s tragicomedy “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” is focused around two minor characters from “Hamlet” who suddenly find themselves on the road to a castle, although they really are not sure why or where they came from.

Lee Lyons, professor of theatre, said when he first read “Hamlet” at age 19, the words went over his head. Shortly after, he saw a performance and the story came together. Now, years later, Lyons is directing the play for the first time.

“Even though the words may be unfamiliar, if the actor knows what they’re saying, the audience gets it—the beautiful poetry, Shakespeare’s description of the human experience,” Lyons said. “As I read ‘Hamlet’ and worked on it, it comes alive. It’s so moving, this man’s struggle to know what is the right thing to do.”

Meanwhile, “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern” is a spoof on “Hamlet,” said Frank Mihelich, associate professor of theatre and the play’s director. He said he hopes the audience will see both shows.

“They will get a more full experience. It’s essentially one big play that takes place over two nights,” Mihelich said. “If you come and see ‘Hamlet’ and the next night you see ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,’ it’s like watching the same play from the back side of it.”

The theatre department at CBU constructed the outdoor theater in Stamps Courtyard to stage the plays.

“There’s just something about Shakespeare, summer nights, stars and beautiful clouds, with actors speaking 400-year-old text that still talks about the human condition. We can still relate to it,” Lyons said.

Emily Feaster, a theatre senior, plays a lady in waiting in “Hamlet” and a traveling renaissance actor in “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.”

“I hope the audience walks away with a greater appreciation for Shakespeare,” Feaster said. “Shakespeare is timeless because it relates so profoundly to the lives of people in every era as he gets to the root of human nature and holds a mirror up to it.”

Caleb Leal, who graduated from CBU in May and plays Guildenstern in both plays, said he loves performing outside.

“It really adds a layer of immersion for not only the audience, but for us the actors as well,” Leal said. “It is also more of a challenge, fighting the ambient sounds of nature and the surrounding city, but the challenge is exciting.”

“Hamlet”
When: 8 p.m. June 13, 15, 19 and 21
“Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”
When: 8 p.m. June 14, 16, 20 and 22
Where: Smith Courtyard, California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA, 92504
Tickets: $12
Tickets or questions? Call the theatre box office at 951-343-4319 or email: mhyde@calbaptist.edu

 

 

Family Updates

Shawnn Koning, university registrar, was a presenter at the Jenzabar Annual Meeting on June 1, 2019. Her presentation was titled Streamlining NCAA Athlete Eligibility and Reporting Using CX and Congnos.

 

 

 

 

The College of Health Science, in partnership with university advancement, announced the creation of the first endowed scholarship for the college. The $25,000 endowment was created through the generosity of Butch and Debbie Fahnestock, Dr. David Pearson and his wife Suzanne in addition to several members of the College of Health Science Dean’s Executive Council.  The Fahnestock Family Scholarship will be awarded to students in the public health sciences department.

 

 

 

 

Andrew Cress, institutional effectiveness coordinator for academic affairs, presented at the 2019 Association for Institutional Research Forum in Denver on May 29. The title of his presentation was Getting a Seat at the Table: Simple Tips for Increased Access.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Joshua Knabb, associate professor of psychology, had an article published in the journal Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (May 2019). It was titled The Communion With God Scale.

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Zamora, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, and CBU students provided a medical outreach for a migrant population in Oasis, California, on May 11. They administered health screenings, patient education and other medical care.

 

 

 

Mitchell Spezzaferri, adjunct professor of psychology, presented a poster at the annual convention for the Association for Psychological Science in Washington, D.C., on May 25. It was titled Social-cognition in Individuals with Hemispherectomy.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jong-Wha Bai, professor of civil engineering and construction management, presented a paper at the 13th International Conference on Applications of Statistics and Probability in Civil Engineering in Seoul, South Korea on May 26-30. The title was Conditional Probability Approach of Assessing the Risk of High Ocean Waves. Co-authors included Dr. Yeesock Kim, associate professor of civil engineering and construction management, and Nathanial Small, a CBU undergraduate in civil engineering.

 

 

 

Stephen Morris, adjunct professor of education, gave the keynote speech at a Riverside Unified School District’s Digital Institute seminar on June 3. It was titled Don’t Let Fear Win.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robert Pate, associate professor of psychology, presented two trainings sessions to psychology interns at the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health on May 24 and 31. The trainings were titled Faith Integration in Psychotherapy and Emotion Focused Therapy for Couples.

 

 

 

Dr. Joe Way, director of multimedia services for information technology services, was a guest on an episode of the AV Jam UK Podcast. The episode was titled The Live One. He also co-taught a webinar for members of the Consortium of College and University Media Centers on June 6. It was titled Brainstorming in the Cloud: Sustainability of Installations and Hidden Costs of the Future.

 

 

 

Dr. Ogbochi McKinney, assistant professor of public health for Online and Professional Studies division, has been credentialed as a Master Certified Health Education Specialist by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing Inc. The certified specialist is the highest credential for a health education practitioner, who has met the required academic qualifications; passed the competency-based examination; and satisfies the continuing education requirement to maintain the national credential.

 

 

 

Dr. Ricardo Cordero-Soto, associate professor of mathematics, Dr. Linn Carothers, professor of mathematics, and Dr. Lisa Hernández, professor of mathematics, presented papers at the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences Biennial Conference in Marion, Indiana, on May 29- June 1. The title of their talks was: The Applicability of Mathematics and the Naturalist Die; Mom and The JABEZ Principle–Getting from Vulnerable to Resilient; and Mosaic Number of Torus Knots.

 

 

 

 

Rich Simpson, registrar for Online and Professional Studies, and his wife, Sarah (‘04), welcomed a son on May 14. Evan Reed Simpson weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 20¾ inches long. He joins siblings Noah, 11, and Emma, 9.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Gretchen Bartels, associate professor of English for the Online and Professional Studies division, and Kevin Ray were married in Poway, California, on June 1.

 

 

 

 

 

Kristin Holderman, director of campus activities, and her husband, Donnie, welcomed a son on May 22. Crosby John Ezekiel weighed 7 pounds, 12 inches and measured 20 inches in length. He joins brother, Finn, 2.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates