In this issue…
Current News
CBU enrollment holds stable for Fall 2022
Enrollment at California Baptist University remains steady this year, Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, announced on Sept. 30.
At the regular fall meeting of the CBU Board of Trustees, Ellis announced that Fall 2022 enrollment totaled 11,496 students. That is five more than the fall 2021 enrollment, an increase of .04 percent from 2021.
“Fall 2022 enrollment is stable. To see this, even as we continue to navigate the aftereffects of a global pandemic, is encouraging,” Ellis said. “CBU is still zeroing in on the goal of 12,000 by 2025. We are thankful for the students who have chosen CBU to pursue their academic goals.”
CBU’s enrollment has grown even as college enrollment declined nationwide through the pandemic. Total enrollment—undergraduate and graduate students—dropped by 2.7 percent in fall 2021 compared with fall 2020, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Private nonprofit four-year undergraduate enrollment decreased by 1.6 percent or 63,200 students during that time. Meanwhile, enrollment at CBU increased by 1.5 percent or 174 students.
This year’s enrollment follows three years of 600-plus enrollment increases (610, 698, 618), one four-digit increase (1,113), seven three-digit increases (813, 584, 616, 784, 545, 559, 272), and the Fall 2021 increase of 174.
Since Ellis arrived as president in November 1994, CBU enrollment has grown from 808 students to 11,496, more than 14 times larger in 28 years.
CBU to open theatre season with ‘Lightning Thief’
Opening night is only days away for the California Baptist University theatre program’s first production of the semester, “The Lightning Thief.”
“The Lightning Thief” follows the story of beloved fantasy book character Percy Jackson, a kid who discovers he is half-god, half-mortal and must navigate this newfound fantasy world, making friends and enemies along the way. The musical—a mix of contemporary musical theatre and rock—opens on Oct. 14.
Ethan Park, adjunct professor of theatre, is the director for this production. He works with a production team to plot how scenes will unfold on stage, planning details such as lighting, sound, costumes and design. He also blocks the show, telling actors where they should go during scenes in order to help them perform their roles.
“It starts with, ‘Where do I stand and how do we move?’” Park said. “After we have all that set, it goes into the nitty-gritty of ‘What are my intentions with this line? What is my character going through and thinking about? And how am I affecting the other characters in the scene?’ We really get down to the emotions of it all.”
Park said the most challenging aspect of the preparation process was the fast turnaround time. Auditions began the first week of school and rehearsals began the second week.
Park has directed two CBU theatre productions in the past, including “Fools” by Neil Simon last semester. He said “The Lightning Thief” is unique compared to other shows because many members of the cast are playing multiple characters. The cast only consists of seven actors, but they are playing a total of 40 roles.
“There really are no small roles,” Park said. “Everyone is so busy the whole time, and I’ve just been really proud of how all of the actors have stepped up and dealt with all the craziness and the costume changes and everything. It’s been a lot of hard work but also a lot of fun so far.”
Nathan Sporcich, a marketing senior, is playing the lead role of Percy. He will be on the stage the entire show, which requires him to be intentional about remaining engaged throughout the show. To get into character, he works with Park during rehearsals to explore what Percy might be feeling in any given moment.
“We talk with our director, and we go over scenes multiple times to develop our character,” Sporcich said. “It is usually happening in the moment. We will be delivering some lines, and then he’ll stop us, and we’ll talk. … It is usually dissecting things as you go.”
Although having a small cast can present challenges, Sporcich said his favorite part of the show has been the tight community that has come with it.
“That smaller cast has helped to build some good relationships with everybody,” Sporcich said. “These are people I’ve done shows with before in the past, but having a smaller group allows us to get to know each other on a deeper level.”
Madilyn Fleming, a theatre sophomore, will be playing Clarisse, along with additional characters. She is looking forward to seeing audiences relate to the characters.
“Everyone in the audience can take different things from a performance, and it can be different every single time,” Fleming said. “I love that about theatre, and I love that about this show. It’s funny because they are half-bloods—half-gods, half-people—but they’re so human. I feel like there are a lot of traits in those characters people in the audience will be able to resonate with.”
Park said he hopes that the production will help audience members step away from any stressors in their lives for a period of time.
“That’s one of the things I love about this show — we have crazy fight scenes, and we have hilarious comedic bits that I’m excited to share with the audience,” Park said. “But also, this show has a lot of heart. This kid goes through this journey where his life gets upended, and he’s kind of discovering himself as he goes along, and so I think the audience will leave with a smile.”
When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14-15, Oct. 20-22; 2 p.m. Oct. 15, 22
Where: Wallace Theatre, California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA, 92504
For more information, please visit https://calbaptist.edu/theater/current-production
Cultural event gives CBU students a taste of different nations
The International Center kicked off its mobilization season with Taste the Nations on Oct. 6.
The event is an introduction to all things global happening at CBU and introduces ways for students to see how they can be involved globally and culturally, said Courtney Watson, director of International Student Services.
Cuisine from every continent excluding Antarctica was represented at the event. Each station provided guests with an inside look into how the food is important in each culture and where in the world they can find it.
The main food was catered by Provider, and a local store provided boba to give students a taste of the popular Taiwanese drink. Additionally, stations had authentic candy and snacks from various nations.
When planning the menu for the event, International Student Services looked to regions where students call home, Watson said. CBU has 370 international students from more than 60 countries.
“We want to use Taste the Nations to elevate some of our smaller populations,” Watson said. “We hope they feel celebrated and a sense of excitement when they see a little taste of home at CBU.”
Camille Bailey, a communication sciences and disorders senior, works as an event intern at the International Center. She hoped that the international students feel a sense of pride when they see their home represented at the event.
“I hope that through this event, our student population will get a tangible glimpse of the cultural diversity present at CBU,” Bailey said. “My hope is that we would begin to take advantage of the close proximity we have to international students on campus, and we would learn from these students.”
Noelle Avera, an exercise science sophomore, is an event intern as well.
“I wanted to become involved with this event because it gives me the chance to embrace the cultures of international students on campus and make them feel appreciated as people try their food,” Avera said.
One of CBU’s core values is to be globally minded. That can mean taking off the American lens and seeing through somebody else’s lens, Watson said.
“It’s being able to take yourself out of your culture just for a second and put yourself in the shoes of someone else to see what it’s like,” Watson said. “It’s also being aware of what’s going on around you and being sensitive to things that are happening around the world.”
Watson said it is difficult to share the gospel and relate to other cultures if people have no understanding of the culture.
“Being able to take the posture of a learner and saying, ‘I don’t really know a ton about this culture so I’m here to learn and experience new things’ is the first step in bridging the cultural gap and trying to understand different people and backgrounds,” Watson said.
Scottish theologian speaks at Christian Ministries lecture
Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson, a Scottish theologian, shared with the audience what it means to know Christ while speaking for the School of Christian Ministries Lecture Series at California Baptist University on Oct. 4.
He is a chancellor’s professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. Ferguson has served as a minister of two churches in Scotland and at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina. He has authored about 50 books and has contributed to many more.
Ferguson talked about the life of Saul of Tarsus and his conversion into Paul the Apostle.
“In Philippians 3, it may be the supreme place where Paul takes you inside the transition he experienced,” Ferguson said. “It’s not stated how he viewed himself before he became a Christian, but [he states] what it meant for him to experience this surprising conversion of his own life.”
Paul said that righteousness from God depends on faith so that believers may know Him and be found in Him, Ferguson said, quoting Philippians 3:8-9 (ESV): “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith …”
With his conversion, Paul became a man in Christ, Ferguson said.
“No wonder the Apostle Paul spoke about the surpassing greatness of Christ,” Ferguson said. “That’s the narrative of a surprising conversion.”
Paul writes to know Christ also means to know the Trinity, Ferguson said.
“You begin to notice how [Paul] weaves together Father, Son and Holy Spirit in all kinds of marveleous ways,” Ferguson said. “What is clearly central in Paul’s ministry is his devotion to Jesus Christ and the riches of God’s grace that he had discovered in Jesus.”
About 200 people attended the event. The lecture series provides an opportunity for students, alumni, faculty members, pastors and guests to learn from leading evangelical scholars who use their academic expertise to serve the church.
Partnership brings Master of Social Work program to the desert
California Baptist University is partnering with Olive Crest to offer the Master of Social Work program in Coachella Valley.
Students can take classes at the Palm Desert office of Olive Crest, a nonprofit organization aimed at preventing child abuse. The program, which started this month, is open to anyone, not only Olive Crest employees.
Dr. Antonio Mejico Jr., associate dean for academic services for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, said the program was developed because of the need for practitioners who have their master’s degree and serve in that area.
“The inspiration for the program is to deliver classes to desert residents, in the desert, in order to expand the pool of existing practitioners in the Coachella Valley and the larger desert region of Riverside County,” Mejico said.
The two entities have had an ongoing partnership that has included Olive Crest providing practicum placements for CBU students and faculty and students assisting with the nonprofit’s events.
“This new aspect of our partnership arose from a mutual interest in bringing additional higher education opportunities to the Coachella Valley—an area that is desperately in need of MSW graduates to support mental health programs in this local area,” said Walter Mueller, director of development at Olive Crest.
The hybrid program features faculty from the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences teaching in-person classes twice a week and a distance learning class every other week. The program is the same for the Palm Desert students as if they came to the Riverside campus. It simply eliminates the drive.
“The area is a significantly underserved region from a social services perspective, and the need is extremely high for those with advanced degrees,” said Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. “That need creates a barrier with the employment pipeline, so the agencies are limited in providing services.”
Short term, the Coachella Valley will benefit from student field placements within desert organizations, which historically serve marginalized clients, Mejico said.
“Long term, the Coachella Valley will experience a growth in its social work practitioner pool, which will work to increase the physical and mental health and wellbeing of desert communities by training competent social workers and clinical professionals,” he said.
Family Updates
Dr. Esther Lee
Dr. Sangmin Kim
Dr. Sangmin Kim, professor of public health sciences, Dr. Shasha Zheng, associate professor of nutrition, Dr. Esther Lee, associate professor of statistics, and Juleene Moritz, Rae Min, and Zachary Vrobel, nutrition and food science students, published an article in Nutrition Research and Food Science Journal (Sept. 15). It was titled BMI and Physical Activity in College Students Assessed Using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).
Brianna Zepeda, assistant director – housing maintenance and operations in Facilities and Planning Services, was named employee of the month for October. Her nomination included the following statements: “Customer service is a priority for Brianna She does what it takes to resolve any issues that come up, Brianna is not one to say ‘no.’ When help is needed, she prioritizes the need and works to get the task completed on time and to the satisfaction of her customers.”
Dr. Jong-Kyung Kim
Dr. Jong-Kyung Kim, professor of exercise science, co-authored a paper published in the Frontier in Physiology Journal (March 2022). It was titled Arterial Baroreflex Inhibits Muscle Metaboreflex Induced Increases in Effective Arterial Elastance: Implications for Ventricular-Vascular Coupling. He also co-presented at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology conference in Philadelphia on April 2-5. It was titled Arterial Baroreceptor Denervation Enhances Muscle Metaboreflex Induced Increases in Effective Arterial Elastance Without Worsening Stoke Work During Dynamic Exercise in Heart Failure.
Ruth Noemy Wheeler
Ruth Noemy Wheeler, instructor of music, has been appointed as the associate conductor of the Freedom Philharmonic for the 2022-23 season. It is based in Pasadena.
Dr. Robert LaChausse
Dr. Robert LaChausse, professor of public health, has been awarded the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act grant by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for $49,920. This program aims to prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth and young adults ages 12-20.
Dr. Kristin Mauldin
Dr. Kristin Mauldin, assistant professor of sport and performance psychology, has been awarded a grant from Riverside Medical Clinic for $4,400. Through an ongoing partnership, CBU and RMC developed a program—reIMAGINE—for reducing bullying incidents in schools. reIMAGINE combines a Riverside Medical Clinic program and new curriculum based on the practices taught in CBU’s Sports and Performance Psychology program.
Dr. Teresa Hamilton
Dr. Teresa Hamilton, professor of nursing, had two manuscripts published in Nursing Science Quarterly (Vol. 35, Issue 4). The first is a book review on Dossey & Keegan’s Holistic Nursing: A Handbook for Practice (8th ed.). The second is the editorial contribution to the Teaching-Learning column, Sacred Cows in Nurse Education: Are Faculty Scared to Dream.
Dr. A. Greg Bowden
Dr. Elaine Ahumada
Dr. A. Greg Bowden, professor of organizational leadership, and Dr. Elaine Ahumada, professor of public administration, presented at the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities Council at the Collaboration in Doctoral Education Forum held Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Judson University in Elgin, Illinois. Their presentation was titled Interdisciplinarity in Doctoral Programs.
The Counseling Center hosted a Suicide Awareness Tabling Event on Sept. 16. The event aimed to raise awareness and the prevention of suicide. Students were encouraged to write words of hope and encouragement on a two-sided whiteboard.
Personnel Updates
