January 22, 2020

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Dr. Ellis honored for 25 years of transformational leadership

More than 200 people attended an event celebrating the 25th anniversary of Dr. Ronald L. Ellis as president of California Baptist University on Jan. 16. Ellis officially marked his 25th year as CBU president on Nov. 1, 2019.

Since Ellis became president of then-California Baptist College, enrollment has grown from 808 to 11,045, an increase of 10,237 students. Under his leadership, CBC became California Baptist University in 1998 and now features 11 colleges and professional schools, offering more than 150 majors and minors with more than 30 master’s and five doctoral programs.

Lancer Athletics has grown from five teams competing in the NAIA to 18 teams competing in the NCAA Division I.

CBU’s main campus now comprises more than 160 acres and 30 buildings. The latest architectural additions to campus are the Athletics Performance Center, the East Parking Structure and the new main entrance to the campus from Adams Street.

Dr. Bob R. Agee, president emeritus at Oklahoma Baptist University, served as the keynote speaker for the event, which was held in the CBU Events Center.

Agee said that God raised up a special leader in Ellis for a fresh dream for higher education.

“CBU is committed to being academically strong, unapologetically Christian, and unashamedly Baptist with a global heartbeat that is impacting the world for Christ and His kingdom,” Agee said.

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey said CBU has transformed dramatically under Ellis’ leadership.

“Ron Ellis is the model of what stability and continuity and visionary leadership can do for an organization,” Bailey said. “He is locally minded but globally focused. I have observed Dr. Ellis in action. He is a leader of godly character with integrity, vision, courage and passion.”

Ellis, during brief remarks, credited God’s blessings for the success and growth at CBU. He reminded the audience that CBU is a “University Committed to the Great Commission.”

“No one person can do anything close to what’s been done here. You’ve got to have a team,” Ellis said. “Not only people who have the ability. But they have to have that passion that ‘I’m going to help the organization accomplish its mission. I’m going to live my purpose by helping the students and others in this organization live their purpose.’”

“There’s really no external limitations on what we [at CBU] can accomplish for the Lord,” Ellis said. “The only limitations that I think we have are our own internal things. I think the Lord will continue to bless this organization as we continue to walk on faith, getting out of that boat and walking on water. Thank you so much for making the last 25 years a ‘wow!’”

 

Alumni art exhibit displays fond memories of CBU

California Baptist University hosted an opening reception for an exhibition of fine art alumni on Jan. 16. The art exhibit “Where We Went from Here” features artwork from seven CBU fine art graduates at the Rose Garden Chapel Art Gallery.

Kristine Lippire, associate professor of visual art, said the exhibit showcases some of the best artwork produced by these alumni during their time at CBU and since they graduated.

“I have not gotten to see what these graduates have been doing in the art world. This exhibit allows them to be connected to the CBU family and feel supported so they can keep coming back to campus,” Lippire said. “I want current students to see former students making art and excel in the real world and to change the mindset of those who believe artists do not make money.”

The exhibition features 88 pieces including paintings, digital media, abstract pieces and illustrated children’s books. Alumni work featured at the exhibit is by Tawni Franzen, Mayuli Lemus, Jessica Robyn, Gloriana Sandoval, Lauren Sankey, Brooke Villegas and Hannah Yokoo.

Villegas (’17), who is now working as a freelance artist and art instructor in Riverside, said she was thrilled to participate in the exhibit.

“Through branching out, working with different art mediums and networking with artists, I was able to gain my own style through my years at CBU,” Villegas said.

Villegas said her favorite piece she created for the exhibit is titled “‘Witness,” an abstract watercolor painting.

“So many times, there is an opportunity to share my faith and this piece is a reminder to keep talking about faith with the use of art,” Villegas said.

The exhibit is open Monday – Friday from noon – 8 p.m. until Feb. 29.

 

CBU group participates in inspiring and educational trip to Israel

For Janelle Smith, a student at California Baptist University, going to Israel was on her a bucket list. She longed to see historical biblical sites that could help her grow in her understanding of the Bible and ultimately her faith. The sophomore, who is a double major in Christian studies and Christian behavioral science, was able to scratch this off her bucket list as she took a trip with a group from CBU over the Christmas break.

“One of my favorite things was visiting a Jewish home for Shabbat dinner. They were the kindest people and as a group, we discussed theology, politics and Jewish culture. It was so eye-opening,” Smith said.

Smith’s journey to Israel was coordinated by Passages, an organization aimed at providing Christian college students an opportunity to encounter the roots of Biblical faith and to see life in modern-day Israel. The CBU group, consisting of 20 students and three faculty members, visited Israel from Dec. 29–Jan. 8 to examine biblical sites and to become more aware of the geopolitical factors of the area.

“I will never read the Bible the same way again,” said Dr. Nicole MacDonald, professor of kinesiology. “We all have pictures in our minds about the events in the Bible, but now having seen the places and gaining perspective of the time period, reading about these places will take on new meaning.”

The team visited biblical sites such as Nazareth, Bethlehem and the Mount of Olives. They toured the Garden of Gethsemane and partook communion at the Garden Tomb. The group also visited Tel-Aviv, the Western Wall and Yad Vashem, a Holocaust museum. Additionally, they heard from an array of speakers, including Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders in addition to college-age Israelis, who were serving in the Israel Defense Forces.

Emily Key, a creative writing senior, said she was naive about the conflict in Israel prior to the trip.

“Through the speakers and the political sites we visited, I glimpsed the reality of the pain in the land of Israel,” Key said. “One thing that I will never forget was when one of our speakers was talking about the people on the other side of the conflict. He said, ‘Our hands feel the same.’ They are all people and they are each loved by God.”

 

CBU Online places high in U.S. News & World Report rankings

CBU Online, the Division of Online and Professional Studies at California Baptist University, placed high in multiple categories in the latest national rankings released by U.S. News & World Report (USN&WR).

CBU Online earned the No. 52 spot among online bachelor’s programs in the 2020 “Top Online Education Program”—the highest placement among California colleges ranked for best online bachelor’s programs.

CBU Online also ranked high in the USN&WR rankings for “Best Online Master’s in Education Program for Veterans” and “Best Online Bachelor’s Program for Veterans” as these programs earned a No. 23 and No. 34 ranking respectively.

Pamela Daly, vice president for Online and Professional Studies, said the rankings confirm CBU’s commitment to military populations seeking educational training.

“The rankings achieved in the veterans categories are a testament to CBU’s commitment to serving veterans and their families by providing accessible online programs and a supportive community dedicated to assisting students on their academic journey,” Daly said.

CBU Online faculty members also earned high marks in the USN&WR rankings.  The Division of Online and Professional Studies faculty members received a No. 1 ranking for faculty credentials and training for online bachelor’s programs in addition to its Master in Business program and the several degree options within graduate education degree offerings.

Dr. Dirk Davis, associate vice president for academics at CBU Online, said the rakings confirm CBU’s commitment to providing quality instruction.

“The latest rankings support our mission to honor the Great Commission, serve others and respond to the student advancing their education who requires flexible, accessible, quality, purpose and market driven programs,” Davis said.

CBU Online currently serves approximately 5,000 students online through 23 undergraduate majors and concentrations, 16 graduate majors and specializations, and two doctoral programs in business administration and public administration.

For more information on the USN&WR rankings, please visit https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/california-baptist-university-110361.

 

Reflect God in your life, Harvest pastor tells students

“Know that your purpose is to point everything in your life back to God,” Brad Ormonde Jr., told a chapel audience at California Baptist University on Jan. 14.

Ormonde is an associate pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside.

“God has created everything with a purpose,” Ormonde said “If you want to know your purpose for your life, start with God. You can’t find it on social media, you can’t find it in relationships, you can’t find it even within yourself. We won’t be distracted by comparison if we are captivated with purpose. What keeps us from understanding our purpose at times is being distracted by what everyone else is doing.”

God created people in His likeness so the world would be filled with the image of God, Ormonde said, referencing Genesis 1:27.

“If my purpose is to reflect God and to be an image, a reflection of God on this earth, how do I do that?”

Ormonde said. “To live in harmony with God we must align the ambitions of our lives with the things of God.”

Ormonde acknowledged that sometimes things in life do not go according to our plans.

“Sometimes our plans have to fail in order for God’s purposes to prevail,” Ormonde said. “Jesus is concerned with your purpose, because He wants to use that as a catalyst to let others know how good He is.”

 

Spring Welcome starts the new 2020 semester at CBU

California Baptist University welcomed students back for the first day of the spring 2020 semester on Jan. 13. The return followed a Spring Welcome event that introduced new freshmen and transfer students to CBU over the weekend.

Alani Cabral, a nursing junior who transferred to CBU, said the Spring Welcome provided valuable information, including learning her way around campus.

“I’m looking forward to getting more involved in the student culture and getting out of my comfort zone,” Cabral said.

New students moved into residential facilities Friday, Jan. 10. On Saturday, they attended sessions that covered CBU’s vision, academics and how to become involved on campus. The day ended with a social outing to a local bowling alley.

First-Year Experience groups – FYE – also began Jan. 11 to help acclimate students to campus life. These groups provide support for students as they begin their first semester at CBU.

“Spring Welcome is dedicated to serving our new students by providing them opportunities to connect to the CBU campus and community,” said Daniel Garcia, assistant director of New Student Programs. “The Community Life office plans purposeful events and sessions to introduce new students to staff, faculty and information that will encourage and support a successful higher education career here at CBU.”

Katherine Garcia, a nursing junior who transferred to CBU, said she chose CBU because of the location and its nursing program.

“I’m excited to work on a degree that I am passionate about and can’t wait to pursue,” Garcia said.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, professor of kinesiology, spoke at two panel discussions at the Athletic Business Convention’s National Redefined Faith and Fitness Conference in Orlando, Florida, Nov. 13. The sessions were titled Intergenerational and family fitness: Ideas to support and grow your market and Exceptional customer experience for clients and community.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Joshua Fuller, assistant professor of industrial-organizational psychology, and CBU student Kokoro Ito presented research at the Southern California Conferences for Undergraduate Research in San Marcos on Nov. 23. The title was Multicultural Transformational Leadership.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robert Crosby, associate professor of psychology for Online and Professional Studies, published a lab manual to help online and hybrid students learn statistics using statistical package for the social sciences. It is titled IBM SPSS Statistics Lab Manual for the Behavioral Sciences (Kendall Hunt, 2020).

 

 

 

Dr. Gretchen Bartels, associate professor of English for Online and Professional Studies, presented a paper at the Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association’s annual conference in San Diego on Nov. 15. It was titled Besides, I am particularly fond of muffins: Social (Dis)Connection and Tea Time in “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

 

 

 

 

Christy Mathews, director of admissions enrollment services for Online and Professional Studies, earned an Education Specialist degree in educational leadership with a concentration in higher education from Regent University in December.

 

 

 

 

Josh Daily, program coordinator for clubs and events in Community Life, presented at the annual Student Organization Summit at the University of California, Riverside on Dec. 5. His presentation was on CBU’s homegrown clubs portlet as an innovative and effective tool in the area of clubs and organizations.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, completed two national research projects for the Transportation Research Board Airport Cooperative Research Program. They were titled Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges and Current Landscape of Unmanned Aircraft Systems at Airports. He also presented a session, Drone (UAS) Technology for Industrial Applications in Africa, at the 1st Africa Renewable Energy and Smart Tech Conference held at CBU on Dec. 17-18.

 

 

 

Dr. Alex Chediak, professor of engineering and physics, published an article on Boundless, a Focus on the Family online ministry to young adults. It was titled The Friendship of Science and Faith.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Alexandra Shin, assistant professor of biology, co-authored two research articles. Interferon downstream signaling is activated early in pre-symptomatic Niemann-Pick disease type C was published in Neuroscience Letters (July 2019). Loss of amyloid precursor protein exacerbates early inflammation in Niemann-Pick disease type C was published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation (December 2019).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robert LaChausse, professor of public health sciences, was appointed in December by the Highland City Council to the Community Trails Commission for a three-year term. The commission reviews and provides recommendations to the city council on development projects adjacent to or encompassing planned trails and bikeways.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, professor of communication, gave a webinar for California public information officials to help launch their annual mentoring program on Dec. 9. The title was The Benefits of a Mentor for your Career in Communication.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Fred Pontius, professor of civil engineering and construction management, co-authored a paper in the journal Chemosphere (volume 240). It was titled Two new predictors combined with quantum chemical parameters for the selection of oxidants and degradation of organic contaminants: A QSAR modeling study.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Deron Walker, professor of English, presented a paper at the 6th annual Language and Language Teaching Conference in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 29. It was titled Empowering Care’s Effectiveness in College English Writing Classes.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Kendra Flores-Carter, assistant professor of social work, had a textbook published. It is titled Medical Social Work Practice: A Christian Approach (Kendall Hunt, 2020).

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Charles Sands, provost and vice president for academic affairs, made two presentations at the 18^th Annual International Conference on Education in Honolulu Jan. 4-8. The titles were Health Status of Taxi Drivers in Northeast China: A 10 Year Comparison and Relevant International Academic Experience for Undergraduate Health Science Students. Additionally, he served as chair for the Health Education session.

 

 

 

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences celebrated the launch of the Doctor of Social Work program on Jan. 15. The event was attended with alumni, community members, and CBU faculty and staff. Information about the new program was provided and recognition was given to community partners who possess a Doctor of Social Work degree. The DSW program is accepting applications for the fall 2020 start date.

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Chapel Services, 9 and 10:45 a.m.:
Jan 28: Dr. Paul Chitwood, president of the International Mission Board
Feb 4: Dr. Alex Himaya, senior pastor of Battle Creek Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

Carroll (C.J.) Wood, a CBU chemistry freshman and daughter of Brian Wood, adjunct professor of electrical and computer engineering, was selected as one of the 2019 Riverside County Office of Education Foundation Scholars. She received the STEM Scholar Program Scholarship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Daniel Blair, assistant professor of American Sign Language, performed a lead role in The Gift of the Magi at LifeHouse Theater in Redlands on Dec. 7-29. The play was written and directed by Sarah Pearce, director of simulation & standardized patient program.

 

 

 

 

Kaitlynn McLeod, event coordinator for university commencements, and her husband, Jake Gallaway, welcomed twins on Dec. 16. Kennedi James weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 19.5 inches. Her brother Jace Ryan weighed 6 pounds and measured 19.5 inches.

 

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth Brandt Flater, collection development librarian, and her husband, Drew, welcomed a son on Sept. 15. Elliot Steven Flater weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 20 inches. He joins sister Louise, 2.

 

 

 

 

 

Andrés Vera, assistant professor of Christian ministries, and his wife, Courtney, welcomed a daughter on Dec. 15. Liliana Joy Vera weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 19.5 inches. She joins sister Elyce, 2.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Patrick Schacht, associate professor of biochemistry, and his wife, Karen, welcomed a son on Dec. 26. Levi James Schacht weighed 8 pounds and measured 21 inches. He joins siblings Rebecca, 6, Mary, 4, and Peter, 2.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates