March 5, 2021

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU women’s basketball featured by Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated released an article featuring the California Baptist University women’s basketball team and its incredible 2020-21 season on March 3. The Lancers undefeated record (20-0) continues as the season draws near to an end.

The article looks at how the Lancers are not eligible to play in the 2021 NCAA tournament because of their ongoing transition to Division 1, but they can still join a distinctive club. With a 20-0 start to the season, the Lancers are one of only seven teams to start a season 20-0 or better since 2016.

CBU will close out the regular season with a trip to Seattle University to play the Redhawks on March 5-6.

 

 

CBU to celebrate 2021 homecoming with virtual celebration

California Baptist University will celebrate homecoming on March 5-6. Traditionally, homecoming is a time for the Lancer family to return to campus for fun and reconnection. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CBU will host a virtual celebration.

Alumni, students, parents and families are invited to participate in a weekend full of activities from the comfort of home.

“We are deeply saddened that we cannot welcome our alumni, parents and families back to campus to celebrate this year. However, we hope the Lancer family will make plans to celebrate with us through the virtual activities we have planned,” said Joshua Moss, senior director of alumni, parent and donor engagement. “While we believe this weekend will create opportunities for Lancers of all eras to connect, we look forward to next year when we can all be back together on campus.”

The planned virtual activities include the following:

On March 5, CBU Alumni & Parent Relations will share a video highlighting CBU through the decades. Other video slideshows will showcase the classes of 1971, 1996 and 2011 in honor of their 50-, 25- and 10-year reunions. These will be posted on the University Advancement YouTube channel.

The CBU men’s basketball team will take the court against Seattle University on March 5-6. Games start at 6 p.m. both days. The Lancer Nation is encouraged to livestream the game and cheer on the Lancers from home.

Lancers also can follow @alumnicbu on Instagram and Facebook and participate in fun activities on social media — including a pet rally and a photo collage challenge — with chances to win prizes all weekend.

An online store will have available for purchase Homecoming Spirit Packs with specialty Lancer merchandise.

Direct links to all homecoming 2021 content can be found at ua.calbaptist.edu/homecoming. Alumni and friends can email alumni@calbaptist.edu or call 951-343-4439 with any questions.

 

Lancers pull off perfect sweep at WAC Championships

California Baptist University cross country pulled off the perfect sweep at the Western Athletic Conference Championships on Feb. 27 in Seattle. The Lancers won both team and individual titles, a feat that had only been accomplished one other time, and produced a total of 14 all-conference finishers.

The women secured the three-peat, as they remain undefeated in their three years in the WAC with 26 points. Anna Mate led the way with a championship run in 20 minutes, 53.20 seconds in the 6,000-meter race.

CBU’s men won its first conference title in the WAC as a team and an individual, with 23 points as a group. Giedrius Valincius won the first men’s individual WAC title with a time of 24:28.40 on the 8K course.

Adam Tribble reaped Coach of the Year honors on both sides for the Lancers. Mate and Valincius were both named the WAC Athletes of the Year, while Greta Karinauskaite was crowned the Freshman of the Year after a third-place finish for the women.

Read the full story here.

 

CBU names new dean for Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business

Dr. Tim Gramling has been named dean of the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business at California Baptist University. He will start his new position on April 1.

Gramling brings extensive experience in business, higher education and ministry to his new post. Since 2018, he has served as Executive Director at UEI College in Gardena, overseeing career diploma programs and externship assignments for allied health students at medical offices and health systems in Los Angeles County.

Previously, Gramling served as president of Colorado campuses at Colorado Technical University; president of Brooks Institute in Ventura; senior director of finance for DeVry University in Miramar, Florida; and held management positions with American Express and Sprint in Florida.

Gramling also has served as associate minister or senior pastor at churches in several states since 2003. In July 2018, he began serving as pastor of Olivet Baptist Church in Ventura.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Gramling join the CBU team in the significant role as dean of the Jabs School of Business,” said Dr. Chuck Sands, CBU provost and vice president for academic affairs. “His leadership experience and his background as a Southern Baptist pastor are an excellent fit and we look forward to having him join us.”

Gramling earned a Doctor of Law and Policy degree from Northeastern University in Boston. He also holds a Master of Science in Computer Science from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Harvard University.

Gramling succeeds Dr. Andrea Scott, who became provost at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, in July 2020.

 

CBU nursing students help administer COVID-19 vaccines

Nursing students from California Baptist University are assisting at COVID-19 vaccination clinics, helping to administer the injections.

To date, 70 students have helped at Parkview Community Hospital, Riverside Medical Clinic, Corona Regional Medical Center and Redlands Community Hospital.

“The College of Nursing is resolved to be part of the solution,” said Dr. Karen Bradley, dean of the College of Nursing. “We’re reaching out to student nurses for volunteers, and faculty have been volunteering. We’re always engaged in the community but we definitely feel like now, we can help.”

In her previous clinicals, Nikizen Boco, a nursing junior, heard patients tell stories of losing a loved one to COVID-19. Additionally, she had potential exposure to the disease outside of school. Those reasons led her to want to give the vaccine.

“I feel anxious but prepared. I would rather be trained and experience the worst [now] in order to better know how to properly treat my patients in the future,” Boco said, referring to becoming a nurse.

Ashleigh Beaty, a nursing junior, helped give vaccines at Parkview Community Hospital in Riverside. She was a bit nervous about giving the shots, but this was mostly due to the possibility of being watched by, and even giving the vaccine to, seasoned healthcare professionals.

“I wanted to help with administering vaccines because it was an opportunity to practice and an opportunity to witness a small aspect of history being made in the medical field,” Beaty said.

Andrea Sleigh, a nursing senior, administered about 35 shots during her three-hour shift.

“I feel honored to be a part of the healthcare team, especially because of what is going on in the world right now,” Sleigh said. “It is a scary time to be a nurse, but nurses are very adaptive, and we are committed to helping others, so I am happy to be of help.”

Bradley, who has also assisted at the vaccination clinics, said she saw the joy and relief on the people’s faces as they received the vaccine.

“I think that’s a good learning opportunity for the students to witness that level of public health and health promotion,” Bradley said. “In the students, you see a spirit of encouragement and hope and being part of the solution. They want to do this.”

 

CBU architecture students win top spots in design awards

Two architecture students from California Baptist University placed in the top two spots in the Student Design Awards held by the Coalition for Adequate School Housing.

Andriani Sugianto received first place and a $2,500 scholarship. Mady Bellanca placed second and received a $1,500 scholarship.

The students developed their entries as the main project in Design Studio V (ARC 410), said Caleb Walder, associate professor of architecture. In the course, the students designed proposals for a hypothetical elementary school near Fairmount Park in Riverside. The designs included ideas about the future of elementary education and explored ways to reduce the negative environmental impacts of architecture. Throughout the course, the students presented their projects to local architects who specialize in K-12 school design, Walder said.

Sugianto’s school design featured enhanced learning environments and high standards of sustainability.

“I explored a variety of ideas deriving from my interpretation of the necessities of primary education,” said Sugianto, an architecture senior. “The design process was a challenging yet effective means to generate ideas for this project. It takes diligence, perseverance, iteration and a willingness to fail.”

Sugianto said she was grateful for receiving first place.

“The Lord has rewarded my dedication to this project and desire to glorify His name through it,” Sugianto said.

Bellanca, an architecture senior, said placing in the competition was a shock.

“Being able to come from a university that goes about design from a Christian perspective of design to showcase God’s work is a testament of how God is moving. I am honored to be a part of it,” Bellanca said.

Bellanca became interested in contemporary school design after being a Riverside middle school tutor and working in a portable classroom.

“That is when I started researching how to develop and design an efficient learning environment,” Bellanca said. “From the previous research that was done, I was able to start this project with a good idea of what an effective school should look and feel like. Many of my ideas came from my previous knowledge, but I also looked at what was and was not working in schools that are functioning now to learn from their successes and mistakes to further my design approach.”

This was the first time CBU students entered the competition, Walder said. The projects are judged by professional architects with experience in school design. As winners of the competition, the students and the CBU architecture program will be featured at the coalition’s annual conference this summer.

“Although the CBU architecture program is the most recently established program in Southern California, it was good to see the work of CBU students judged favorably against work from other programs,” Walder said. 

 

Alumnus receives cancer research fellowship

The journey for Gabriel Muhire Gihana (’13) took him from Rwanda to California Baptist University then Indiana University for further study. He is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Gihana recently received a postdoctoral fellowship from the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. The four-year award encourages young scientists to pursue careers in cancer research by providing each one $231,000 to work on innovative projects.

“This fellowship means that people believe in the significance of my research plan, which of course, strengthens my confidence,” Gihana said. “This fellowship is yet another blessing from God as He continues to lead my way. It is also a testimony to the great support that I have had throughout my academic training from Rwanda to CBU and Indiana University and now at UT Southwestern Medical Center.”

Throughout his research journey, Gihana has been fascinated by cells. In 2012, he did an internship at Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a researcher who studies cancer cell metabolism.

“Cancer is a devastating disease that affects many dimensions of human life, a disease that is also often difficult to treat. Cancer is fundamentally a cell disease,” Gihana said.

Cancer occurs when cells divide uncontrollably, Gihana said. It is known that some cancer cells can adopt a different morphology, but it is not known if and how this change in morphology affects cancer development, Gihana said. His research looks at how cellular morphology affects molecular signaling in cancer cells.

“We still have a long way to go to significantly decrease cancer-related deaths. The decrease will require bold and innovative research,” Gihana said. “In the future, I would love to expand my research program and engage in teaching so I can pass the torch on to younger people.”

Gihana came to CBU on a scholarship from a partnership between the government of Rwanda and CBU. He studied biochemistry and molecular biology. He had friends who helped him integrate culturally—they taught him how to drive and about American football.

“From them I learned much about the rich American culture. I was a growing young man when I came to CBU, and the interactions I had with friends from CBU have contributed to who I am today as a person,” Gihana said.

He also grew in his faith.

“At CBU, God’s mission and love take the center, and that is unique for a university,” Gihana said. “At CBU, I had a spiritually rich experience, which not only strengthened my faith but also helped me equilibrate my discipline as a student.”

Gihana said CBU professors inspired him to pursue his passion no matter how challenging.

“I had very caring professors who went above and beyond not only in teaching me but also in supporting me in and outside the classroom,” Gihana said. “I owe my CBU professors a great deal of who I am as a researcher today. They instilled in me critical thinking skills that are necessary for scientific inquiry.”

 

Family Updates

Dr. Mark Kling, associate professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, associate professor of public administration, both for Online and Professional Studies, had an article published in the PA Times (Feb. 17, 2021). The title was Police Response to Homelessness: A Partnership for Comprehensive Compassion.

 

 

 

Nursing students volunteered at a community Health Fair at Corona Regional Medical Center on Feb. 19. The students partnered with the center’s staff members to provide cardiovascular health screening and education. The students checked blood pressure, blood sugar and educated the community on hands-only CPR.

 

 

Dr. Mark Moland, adjunct professor of public administration for Online and Professional Studies, was recently honored as a co-recipient of the Center for Public Justice’s Hatfield Prize. Pairs of students and faculty conduct research on social policies that impact vulnerable children, families, and communities, and explore the impact of these policies in their local communities.

 

 

 

Matt Irving, adjunct professor of information technology, is CEO and co-founder of SystemGo IT. It was recently named Small Business of the Year from the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Amanie Abdelmessih, professor of mechanical engineering, served as a reviewer/evaluator for the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Fellowships. The fellowships are awarded to outstanding graduate students and undergraduate students from throughout the country.

 

 

 

 

Stefani Plummer, administrative assistant to the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, was awarded the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Region VI Award of Merit at the virtual NIRSA National Conference on Feb. 22. Additionally, she presented at the NIRSA Emerging Rec Sports Leader Conference (virtual) on Feb. 19. The title of her presentation was Reconstruction…a Timeline for Black Collegiate Recreation Professional’s History—March 2020-present.

 

 

Jason Cade, adjunct professor of accounting for Online and Professional Studies, passed the exam to become a Certified Sarbanes Oxley Expert (CSOE). The CSOE credential is an attestation to the knowledge of the Sarbanes Oxley Act controls and testing for publicly traded companies.

 

 

Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Dr. Jennifer Costello, assistant professor of social work, and Dr. Antonio Mejico Jr., assistant professor of social work, published a paper in the journal of Social Work & Christianity (Spring 2021). It was titled The Legacy Project: Students Serving Hispanic Older Adults.

 

 

 

Brenda Flores, associate director – business administration for Facilities and Planning Services, participated virtually in a Q&A panel at the annual Marsden Leadership Summit 2021 on Feb. 25. CBU was one of four Marsden customers selected in the nation to present, provide information and share experiences with regard to topics such as employee safety, customer service, leadership practices and building partnerships.

 

 

 

Dr. Ogbochi McKinney, associate professor of public health for Online and Professional Studies, was a panelist during a myCovidMD webinar on Feb. 14. The panel, Ask the Experts: Vaccination, focused on concerns of everyday people about the rapid rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines and steps involved in the development of the vaccines.

 

 

 

 

Laura Zyonse, adjunct professor of education for Online and Professional Studies, and her husband, Tim, welcomed a son on Feb. 3. Beckham Zyonse weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 19 inches.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates