In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU honors 1,420 graduates during spring commencement

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of California Baptist University, congratulated 1,420 graduating students during afternoon and evening commencement ceremonies at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario. Afternoon exercises included 717 traditional undergraduate degree candidates, while the evening ceremony honored 703 students, including all master’s degree candidates, as well as undergraduates from Online and Professional Studies programs.

Ellis noted that the class was part of a record enrollment for the 2014-2015 academic year, with 7,957 enrolled at CBU.

“They have contributed to the continuing growth of CBU’s campus culture as ‘a University Committed to the Great Commission’ during an exciting time of continuing growth and improvement,” Ellis said. “Each of these graduating students has arrived at this point because of a shared commitment to the challenging yet rewarding endeavor of higher education.”

Dr. Jonathan K. Parker, CBU’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, told students that it is not enough for university educators to help them achieve a lucrative profession, a fulfilled life or intelligent participation in the political process.

“We are a university that is committed to Christ’s Great Commission,” he said. “When you look at Matthew 28: 19-20, the first thing Jesus tells the disciples is to go. Go where? Everywhere. What are they to do? Teach, baptize and disciple; in other words have a significant impact on people’s lives.”

Parker explained that if a CBU graduate becomes a nurse and always gives the correct medication dosage, never misses a vein on an IV and efficiently and effectively follows all the protocols of appropriate patient care, and that’s all, then their professors will have failed to live their purpose as educators at this institution.

“On the other hand, if you become the nurse who whispers a prayer over each and every one of your patients or spends an extra minute to reassure someone who is scared to death before going into surgery because you have been biblically rooted as a result of your time here at CBU, then we will have succeeded,” he said.

Parker, a native of San Francisco, earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and religious studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, a master of arts degree in psychology at San Francisco State University and a doctor of education degree in educational psychology from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif. He will conclude his service as provost and vice president of academic affairs at the end of June to return to the classroom and pursue his passion for teaching.

“I believe that all of you have been equipped to serve,” he said, “that all of you will live lives of purpose and that because of that we will have fulfilled our purpose as a university committed to the Great Commission.”

Awards for student achievement were presented at both ceremonies. Won Young Kim, a psychology major from Korea, received the Min Sung Kim International Student Award, and Joseph Gemignani, a math major from San Mateo, Calif., received CBU’s Outstanding Senior Award. Tiffany Angel Ruiz, who works for the County of Riverside and lives in Moreno Valley, Calif., was honored with the Outstanding Online and Professional Studies Student Award. Ruiz received a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Combined with students who graduated last December, the Class of 2015 totals 1,946 applications for graduation, the largest number for a single year in CBU history.

 

Area high schools compete in Spanish spelling bee

More than 100 high school students from 21 schools competed in a Spanish spelling bee at California Baptist University on April 25.

CBU’s College of Arts and Sciences and Omega Phi, the CBU chapter of the National Spanish Honor Society Sigma Delta Pi, organized the event for schools in the Inland Empire area. The Roger Antón chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese also helped organize the event, along with providing a judge and a reader who pronounced the words.

There were several purposes for holding the event, said Dr. Noé Ruvalcaba, assistant professor of Spanish, including to give back to the community and to showcase the university and what it has to offer students. Omega Phi gave $1,200 to the students for the purchase of school supplies. Francisco Varela, managing director for Comcast and a judge for the spelling bee, also gave $1,200 for the same purpose. Tammy Garcia-Chiang, community affairs coordinator for the consulate of Mexico in San Bernardino, also attended the event.

“There are many challenges and unique elements in holding a Spanish spelling bee. Our biggest challenge was to eliminate most students in less than three hours,” Ruvalcaba said. ”We will work on these small details for next year in hopes of providing a smoother and a more exciting experience for all.”

The top three winners received cash prizes to be used for educational expenses, including computers, software and school supplies:

First Place: Marisol Macías Ponce, Bloomington High School

Second Place: Nivedita Kanrar, Riverside STEM Academy

Third Place: Alondra Fabian Pérez, Corona High School

 

School of Business receives accreditation for 10 more years

The Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business at California Baptist University received notification this week that it has been accredited for another 10 years.

The school has spent the past two years working on a self-study, documenting its adherence to six quality standards, said Dr. Steve Strombeck, interim dean and professor of marketing. The standards are set by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) for its member universities to maintain. The standards are Leadership, Strategic Planning, Student and Stakeholder Focus, Measurement and Analysis of Student Learning and Performance, Faculty and Staff Focus, Educational and Business Process Management.

“It means that we are professionally accredited by one of the top business school accrediting bodies in the world,” Strombeck said.

ACBSP first accredited the school in 1995.

“We have maintained our national accreditation with ACBSP for the last 20 years” Strombeck said. “This is a significant thing.”

The School of Business offers a master of business administration degree, three bachelor degrees, three minors and has more than 560 students.

 

Composers discuss their craft with CBU students

“Everything you do, it needs to be the best you have because you never know where it’s going to end up,” said Russell Mauldin.

Mauldin was one of three featured speakers at Meet the Arrangers, an event hosted by the Collinsworth School of Music at California Baptist University on April 14. Students also heard from Cliff Duren and Phillip Keveren, who spoke to music students about the music business, the creative process, the challenges and being in the church. Mauldin, Duren and Keveren are recording artists, published songwriters and church worship pastors.

John Bolin, a CBU graduate who also is a composer and minister of worship and arts at a Texas church, moderated the event.

No job is too small and even on the small jobs, writers need to do their best work, Mauldin said. Previous jobs included writing singing telegrams and being a choir director for a small church.

When criticism comes, don’t take it personally and have perseverance, they said.

“If you write, write every day,” Mauldin said. “The difference in a hobby and a craft is doing it when you don’t feel like doing it that day. Do it anyway and that builds up those muscles of your craft.”

Even after all his years in the business, Keveren stills gets nervous when he starts a new piece.

“I have a little bit of fear every time I open up a new chart … what if I don’t figure this one out?” he said. “I have that moment, and I’m kind of convinced that when you don’t have that, it’s time to retire because then you’re on autopilot.”

The arrangers also talked about how today’s technology has changed the music world.

“I think if I was your age, I would look at it as a great opportunity. You can have a website and put your PDFs up there and the world can see your music, and that’s exciting,” Keveren told the students. “I would just warn you of this one thing: be careful what you put up there, because everybody gets to see it. Be certain that what you put up there is the best work you can do.”

If musicians are Christians, they are also called to use their gifts in the church they’re attending, Duren said.

“You’re in a church and you’re giving the Lord back what he has given you. Not with the motive of it turning into something else but just because he’s worthy of it,” he said. “It’s extremely important to utilize your gifts. It’s only going to make you better.”

 

Global Missions Health Conference held at CBU

About 100 students seeking to explore a life in medical missions attended the Global Missions Health Conference (GMHC) at California Baptist University recently.

The conference, operated by Medical Missions.com, is held in Kentucky every year with more than 3,000 attendees. A West Coast conference was added this year, which attracted students from CBU, Azusa, Biola, Pepperdine, Vangaurd, LaSierra, Loma Linda, University of California, Riverside, and Western. The event was hosted by CBU’s College of Allied Health and School of Nursing.

“The reasons to host only a student event is to have clarity and focus of message and to invest in those who are about to step into their professional fields,” Will Rogers, executive director of Medical Missions.com and GMHC, said prior to the conference.  “The medical field requires a significant amount of time in preparation and investment for education. These two factors can create significant distance and barriers to long term goals for missions. We believe that if we can have the healthy discussions early and connect people to the right resources there’s a significantly higher chance of full-time service workers.”

Kendall McFarland, a CBU nursing junior, attended the event, which was held April 10-11, to learn about opportunities and to hear what it is like on the mission field.

“I came to meet missionaries, to hear what it’s like on the mission field, to really gain more perspective on what’s happening globally and where I might fit into that,” she said. “What is it really like and what opportunities are out there for me as a student? I want more of a realistic perspective and to hear what medical opportunities there are.”

Speakers included Dr. Gil Odendaal, senior vice president of Integral Mission at World Relief; Claude Hickman, executive director of The Traveling Team; Charles Fielding, doctor and church planter; Erik Salley, CBU assistant professor of exercise science; and Kristen White, director of Global Mobilization at CBU.

Being a doctor allowed Fielding to go into many countries, he told students.

“Health care gets you into closed countries; it gets you into restricted parts of closed countries,” he said. “It gets you into homes; it opens up people’s hearts to the gospel.”

To be God’s disciples, students need to let go of their ambitions and let God use them, even if they don’t know how things will work, Fielding said.

“Obey. You understand God through obedience,” he said. “That’s how you grow in spiritual maturity. You show up in faith and say, ‘I don’t know nothing. Tell me what to do.’ And then he moves you further along.”

 

CBU women’s golf wins first PacWest championship

A year after falling just short of a PacWest title, California Baptist University wanted to leave nothing to chance at the 2015 PacWest Championships. It led to the Lancers winning the conference crown by 34 strokes Wednesday at the Sunbrook Golf Club with a 900.

To read the complete story, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

CBU students honor top faculty, staff of the year

Students at California Baptist University recently honored Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biology, as the 2014-2015 Faculty of the Year and Kelli Welzel, director of new student programs, as Staff of the Year.

Bideshi has taught various classes at CBU for 14 years, including Anatomy and Physiology II, Human Microbiology and Cell and Molecular Biology.

“I am truly humbled by being selected as Faculty Member of the Year by students,” he said. “It is among the most significant awards I have received as a professor, solely because it was conferred by students.”

Along with teaching course content, Bideshi challenges students to seriously consider their chosen paths on a more philosophical level, especially during their first year in college.

“I still think the cliché of defining and following one’s passion in life applies, but once these are determined, a greater purpose in life is to use one’s acquired knowledge and skills to ‘give back’ in the form of community service and missions,” he said.

Welzel has work at CBU almost five years and has been the director of new student programs since August 2012.

“It means so much to me and is truly an incredible encouragement,” she said of the honor. “Pouring into and serving students is why I work here and it means so much that they hopefully feel cared for.”

Welzel’s job is to welcome new students, connect them to campus and train current students to lead. It includes overseeing orientation and the FOCUS program, which trains student leaders to work with and connect with new students.

“In my interactions, I pray that students see a genuine care for them and a sincere love for Christ,” she said. “I would hope that every student feels known by someone on campus and I will do everything I can to be a part of making that happen.”

The voting process, conducted by the Associated Students of California Baptist University (ASCBU) organization, was a two-tiered process. First, students nominated their choices for both recognitions. The top 10 names in both categories were placed on the ballot with student Senate candidates.

 

CBU publications honored in national competition

California Baptist University’s university publications won several top awards April 17 during the Baptist Communicators Association (BCA) awards ceremony.

Pursuit Magazine won first place in the total package division (which included design and content), second place for its design and second place for a magazine cover. The Banner newspaper won first place for a single photograph, CBU Remembers 9/11; second place for front page design; and third place for the newspaper’s overall design. Both publications, which are produced by CBU students, competed against professional publications by national Baptist entities.

CBU also won a first place award for Marketing & Communication’s overall public relations campaign under $25,000 for Dr. Ronald L. Ellis’ 20^th Anniversary Celebration; a second place award for the Ellis Tribute video; and second place for University Advancement’s Christmas Card.

BCA’s annual Wilmer C. Fields Awards Competition is designed to encourage professional excellence among association members and to honor members who have done exemplary work. The competition is named in honor of Wilmer C. Fields, retired vice president of public relations for the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.

 

Family Updates

Kristina Gibeault, Deanna Meyer and Samantha Naple, academic advisors, recently presented research at the National Association of Academic Advisors Region 9 Conference, hosted by the University of Hawaii, Manoa, in Honolulu. Their presentation included CBU’s efforts to advise students on course scheduling each semester, academic advising resources and a “teaching” initiative designed to encourage students to engage in overall academic planning.

 

 

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, conducted a two-day advanced airport safety and operations specialist course April 18-19 during the International Aviation Snow Symposium held in Buffalo, N.Y.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Seung-Jae Kim, associate professor of bioengineering, co-authored a paper with CBU students titled Effects of Visual Feedback Distortion on Gait Adaptation: Comparison of Implicit Visual Distortion vs. Conscious Modulation on Retention of Motor Learning, which was published in the April issue of the journal IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

 

 

 

Mischa Routon, assistant professor of psychology, represented CBU April 9 at the 26^th annual Dr. Richard N. Boylan Memorial Lecture, hosted by the Riverside Medical Center Charitable Foundation. CBU was a sponsor of the event, which focused on depression.

 

 

 

Stefani Plummer, director of the Recreation Center, made several presentations at the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) National Conference, which met March 30-April 2 in Grapevine, Texas. Plummer led a session titled Starting from Scratch: Employee Wellness Program and was involved in a panel discussion titled A Conversation with Successful Women in NIRSA. She also co-emceed the Lee Wasson People of Color social held during the conference.

 

 

 

 

 

Kristen White, director of mobilization, and Jared Dobbins, assistant director of mobilization, presented on the topic Mentoring Team Leaders at the University Educators for Global Engagement (UEGE) 8^th annual conference, held April 16-19 in Richmond, Va. This year’s theme was Cultivate: Training Co-Educators for a Globally Engaged Campus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kenneth Minesinger, associate professor of law for Online and Professional Studies, served as issue editor for the State Bar of California’s Business Law Journal , issue 2015 number 2, which focused on health care and health care law.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Michael Chute, professor of journalism, presented a workshop session titled Bringing Your Publication Into the Digital Age, and Dr. Kathie Chute, director of communications, led a session titled Communicating to Multi-Generational Audiences at the Baptist Communicators Association annual workshop, which was held in San Francisco April 15-18.

 

 

 

Doctoral planning team members gathered in early April to celebrate the approval of CBU’s first doctoral program, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The planning team worked for several years to craft a doctoral culture of scholarship and research at CBU that would support doctoral programs. With the approval of this first program, the planning team moves into a support role and will work to plan programming to foster research opportunities for faculty and graduate students, to offer training opportunities to equip faculty for supervision of doctoral research projects, and to gather and share best practices in doctoral education.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, associate professor of communication arts for Online and Professional Studies, spoke to 70 communication and public relations students at California State University, Fullerton’s COMM Week. Her session was titled Effective Personal Branding and Networking Tips to Help You Land the Job.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Hannah Hu, assistant professor of chemistry, accompanied four biochemistry and molecular biology majors to the 2015 American Chemistry Society Southern California Undergraduate Research Conference at the University of California, San Diego on April 11. The students presented the following at the conference:

• Conscience Princesse Bwiza, oral presentation, Using Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS) to synthesize molecules analogs of a natural compound that proved to have anti-tuberculosis potency
• Hosiana Abewe, poster presentation, Impact of ALT SIO and BBFL 7 Marine Bacteria on the Chemical and Biological Composition of Sea Spray Aerosols
• Cecily Dussell, poster presentation, Phytochemical and Compositional Analysis: Fresh and Cooked Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia englemanniis), a Native American Edible Plant from Southern California
• Grace de Dieu Irumva, poster presentation, Exploring Chemical complexity of SSA as undergraduate researchers during the IMPACT

 

Students from Dr. Keanon Alderson’s Introduction to Business course donated nearly $2,000 during the spring semester to Path of Life Ministries and Angel Wings Bakery. The funds were proceeds from micro-businesses begun as part of the course requirements. Alderson is an associate professor of business.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Glenn A. Pickett, associate professor of music, has been commissioned to write a major symphonic work by the Corona, Calif., symphony. In addition, his composition Give Me Grace to Follow Jesus, was recently chosen as a JW Pepper “Editor’s Choice.” JW Pepper is the world’s largest retailer of sheet music.

 

 

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, associate professor of kinesiology for Online and Professional Studies, presented Measurement and Statistics in Kinesiology for advanced placement high school seniors at Norte Vista High School in Riverside on April 22.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Deborah Carter, assistant professor of nursing, successfully defended her dissertation recently for the doctor of education degree at Regent University.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Charles Sands, dean of the College of Allied Health, presented research titled Obesity, Nutrition and Exercise: Why Should Middle School Students Care? at the Riverside STEM Academy Symposium on April 22.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Candace Vickers, associate professor of communication disorders, and Dr. Margaret Barth, professor of nutrition and food sciences, served on a health careers panel about their respective fields at the University of California, Riverside April 21. In addition, they spoke to a large group of biochemistry students considering healthcare careers, as well as a podiatrist, chiropractor and audiologist from Riverside Medical Clinic.

 

 

 

Micah Robinson, son of Merritt Robinson, enrollment team manager for Online and Professional Studies, is a member of the Division 3 high school state championship basketball team from Damien High in La Verne, Calif. Robinson scored 17 points, including five three-pointers, to help Damien pull out a 70-57 victory on March 27. A senior at Damien High, Robinson is still considering his college options.  To read the full story, click here.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Mentalist Drew Worsham tells students to use gifts for God

California Baptist University students were captivated April 10 by chapel speaker Drew Worsham, a mentalist and illusionist who entertained students with mental games before sharing his testimony.

Worsham, who is also a pastor at a church in Washington, brought the audience to applause when he appeared to successfully read his participants minds’ by guessing their names or words they were thinking without being told. At one point, he asked a participant to open a book and pick a word. Worsham then wrote the word down before his participant said it. The audience erupted when the participant uttered the word written on the paper by Worsham.

Audience members were quick to voice their fascination and skepticism.

“I have no idea how he was able to do it, but it was fun to watch,” said Brittany Leary, a freshman English major.”I wish I could figure out how he did it

Worsham said he uses illusionism as a platform to share the gospel. He spoke mainly on the point of using skills to glorify Christ.

“If I can take this random gift and use it to get your attention for just a moment, then I want to share with you the one thing that has changed my life,” Worsham said. “Whatever it is you do, do it all to point to and champion Jesus. Every one of you has been blessed with gifts and abilities. I believe that God has called you to use this to point to Jesus.”

 

Divinity school dean speaks about Martin Luther at CBU

The founding dean of Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Ala., talked about the life and impact of theologian Martin Luther during a visit to California Baptist University on April 9.

Dr. Timothy George, who is also a professor of divinity history and doctrine, spoke to faculty and students from the CBU School of Christian Ministries and area pastors.

In two years, it will be the 500^th anniversary of when Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of a church on Oct. 31, 1517, marking the Protestant Reformation. George talked about the events in Luther’s life that led up to that action and what happened afterward.

Luther became a monk and then a professor of theology. He fasted and lashed himself, trying to make himself acceptable to God. He was always asking if he was good enough, George said. When he became a professor, he intensely studied the Bible to understand it and teach it. As a result, he became a great reformer, George said.

“He didn’t start out that way, to sort of shake the foundations of the church,” George said. “He started out by studying the word of God and pouring his life into becoming a teacher of theology.”

Luther wrote the 95 theses in response to the indulgences that people could buy from the Catholic Church to get forgiveness from sins. He did not intend the theses to be an earth-shaking event; they were for discussion, George said.

Thesis No. 1 said: “When our Lord and master Jesus Christ said repent, he meant for the whole life to be one of repentance.”

Luther realized that repentance “is not a commodity, it’s a change of heart,” George said. “It means to be transformed, to turn around. Luther is getting beyond the externalities of the religion to the thing that really counts — the heart and one’s standing before God.”

Luther came to believe that one is made right with God by faith, George said. One of the principles of the Reformation is “justification by faith alone.” Luther faced excommunicated and possible death unless he recanted. He did not and was excommunicated from the church.

“Do you believe in anything deep enough, strong enough, hard enough, long enough that if necessary you would be willing to give your life for it?” George asked. “Luther said there are some things more important than holding on to your mortal life. Before he died, he wrote six words on a piece of paper. ‘We are beggars. This is true.’

“We’re beggars because when we stand before God, we bring nothing to offer to him that can redeem ourselves,” George said, explaining what Luther wrote. “We know this is true because of who God is and what he has said and done in the person of his son, Jesus Christ.”

George also spoke at the Evangelical Theological Society, Far West Region Meeting being held at CBU April 10.

 

CBU cheer wins third straight national title

Heading into finals Friday evening, California Baptist University knew it needed to focus if it was going to take home its third championship trophy. As soon as the Lancers took the stage, one thing clear: they were there to compete.

CBU was the last All-Girl Division II squad to compete after scoring the highest Thursday, saving the best for last. The Lancers wanted to clean up their timing and execution from the preliminary round and did just that. CBU finished with a 94.58, more than two points ahead of runner-up University of Central Oklahoma.

Despite some nerves leading up to performance time, the Lancers shook them off and focused on themselves and executed their jumps, baskets and pyramid with precision.

Head coach Tami Fleming had warned the girls before the performance that if they hit their pyramid, the routine wasn’t over since there was still a dance section that needed to be done. The Lancers finished their routine with high energy, leaving everything they had on the floor.

The third-straight National Cheerleaders Associaiton title puts CBU down as the first All-Girl Division II team to accomplish the feat and keeps the Lancers undefeated since 2012.

 

CBU Army ROTC Color Guard claims drill competition trophy

California Baptist University Army ROTC presented a trophy from the John J. Pershing Memorial Drill Competition to Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, on April 8.

Two teams from CBU’s Army ROTC competed in the event last month in Richmond, Va. The CBU Army ROTC won The National Society of Pershing Rifles Best Company Award, while the male team placed third in the color guard competition. Cadet Kendall Morris also placed third in the Drill & Ceremony Knockout competition.

“It shows the discipline, and it shows the dedication that the cadets have to the program,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jason Winkle, military science instructor.

The male team consisted of cadets Caleb Fink, Joshua Fink, Kendall Morris and Joel Powell. It was Powell’s second year on the team. Last year’s first place team recognized its strengths and weaknesses and this year’s team learned from that.

“What we did this year was really focus on picking out those weaknesses and learning from, say, our mistakes and learning from our strengths,” Powell said. “We had a little bit more time this year to really focus on the little details.”

Cadet Nathan Shimabukuro had previously competed and this year coached the teams.

“It was good to be able to mentor and then teach everything that I learned,” he said. “I tried my best to instill in the younger cadets to always desire improvement. Practice was never a waste of time and I found that, at every practice, there was always something that could be changed for the better.”

Shimabukuro also worked on building cohesion within the teams.

“No matter how knowledgeable or experienced any one person is, we all are still able to learn from one another,” he said. “The most important mindset to have is one that puts others before one’s self. Without the proper cohesion and dynamic, the team is unable to function and improve.”

More than 400 college ROTC and high school JROTC cadets from across the nation attended the competition. Pershing Rifles drill teams compete in several categories, including squad regulation drill, platoon exhibition drill, individual drill and color guard.

Pershing Rifles is an ROTC related organization that was started by Lt. John J. Pershing in 1894 when he was the professor of military science at the University of Nebraska.

 

CBU Theatre presents “Phantom” as spring season finale

California Baptist University’s season-ending production of “Phantom” began a two-week, seven-performance run April 10.

Written by by Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston, the play is based on the 1910 novel “The Phantom of the Opera” by Gaston Leroux.  However, CBU’s production is different from Frank Lloyd Webber’s musical adaptation of the book. While the overall story is still about a phantom who lives under the Paris Opera House, there are differences, said director Debbie Prutsman.

“There are many small, fine details that are different and that add so much to the story line,” she said. “I think the Yeston/Kopit version brings much more humanity to the character of the Phantom.”

Prutsman is married to Dan Robinson, CBU’s theatre technical director. She has worked professionally in musical theater for more than 30 years as an actor and director, and once the CBU theatre program booked the show, Prutsman was asked to direct.

There are challenges to telling this story, from space to the music to the number of performers, Prutsman said, but each challenge was overcome.

Lee Lyons, professor of theatre, created a second level on stage, to provide actors multiple levels in the story-telling. He also incorporated the use of video projections, Prutsman said.

The production’s music features a distinct, classical sound while incorporating the story-telling. Dr. Angela Brand, associate professor of music, effectively blended the two styles, Prutsman said.

The cast consists of 24 CBU students, one music faculty member and six dancers from The Redlands Festival Ballet Company.

“It is nothing short of miraculous to find college students who have the theatrical prowess and technical know-how to pull off these characters,” Prutsman said. “Those who see the show will be amazed by the skill and heart of the performers.”

Ethan Park, a theatre senior, plays the title role of The Phantom.

“I am so excited for audiences to see this show. It will be grandiose, quite a spectacle to see and hear, but I hope they can take away something much deeper,” he said. “This show is about love, about sacrifice, about appearances and judgment, and I hope they see the beauty in all the nuances.”

Gabrielle Green, a theatre junior, plays the female lead, Christine. Green said her greatest challenge in preparing for the production was understanding the character who is soft spoken and naïve. Her biggest reward, Green said, is being able to sing the beautiful songs.

“I hope audiences love watching it as much as we love performing it,” she said. “I hope that the audience really grasps the story for what it really is — a tale about forgiveness and acceptance.”

Performances will resume Thursday, April 16 through Saturday, April 18, with performances each evening at 7:30 p.m. and a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, April 19. General admission tickets are $15, with discounts offered for matinees, senior citizens and CBU students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Click here to purchase tickets online. For more information or to purchase tickets by telephone, call the Wallace Theatre box office at 951-343-4319.

 

‘Bow Tie Tuesday’ a result of challenge by ASCBU president

Trent Ward, executive president of the Associated Students of California Baptist University, struck a deal with Dr. Ronald L. Ellis during the student reception last November that marked his 20 years as president at CBU.

Ward said he would wear a bow tie every Tuesday until April, if Ellis would wear one on the first Tuesday of April.

“I thought it would be a fun challenge,” Ward said. “I thought it might be a fun way to let students see just how relatable he is. After all, part of my goal as student body president, is to be a bridge from administration to the student body.”

So every Tuesday, Ward donned a bow tie. He said he received comments throughout the day and noted that some of his fellow students also started wearing bow ties on Tuesday.

“Not many students take the extra step to really clean up and dress nicely for the day, and the bow tie is a great symbol of professionalism and class,” Ward said.

When the appointed day arrived, Ward and Ellis posed together for a photograph to mark the occasion, with both wearing bow ties.

“Eventually, it would be great to associate a cause with wearing a bow tie on Tuesday,” Ward said. “But for now it might be something as simple as a call for action to guys to be a gentleman.”

 

CBU wins gold in Higher Education Advertising Awards

California Baptist University’s Marketing and Communication has won a gold award in the 30^th annual Higher Education Advertising Awards.

The division won in the category of Total Advertising Campaign for the fall 2014 campaign that featured alumni who are living their purpose in a variety of professions, including two entrepreneurs, a professional athlete, a broadcast news anchor and an environmental science researcher. The division and agency partner RHB also won a silver award in the New Media category for RHB’s video series for the Collinsworth School of Music.

“The marketing and communication team that shares credit for this campaign wasn’t working to win a prize,” said Dr. Mark A. Wyatt, vice president for marketing and communication. “We just wanted to tell compelling stories about successful California Baptist University alumni who personify the tagline, ‘Live Your Purpose.’ That we also achieved positive recognition for CBU by receiving this gold award is both affirming and gratifying.”

In addition to this year’s awards, the division has won two golds and four silvers in the Higher Education Advertising Awards over the past six years, including a gold for one of CBU’s first Live Your Purpose print ads.

The awards, sponsored by the High Education Marketing Report, are the largest educational advertising awards competition in the country. This year, more than 2,000 entries were submitted in 27 categories from more than 1,000 colleges, universities and secondary schools from all 50 states and several foreign countries.

A national panel of higher education marketers, advertising creative directors, marketing and advertising professionals and the editorial board of Higher Education Marketing Report reviews each piece, judging creativity, marketing execution and message impact. Award certificates are given to those entrants whose programs and materials display exceptional quality, creativity and message effectiveness.

CBU’s winning campaign include these videos: https://vimeo.com/112958798; https://vimeo.com/108804771; https://vimeo.com/108294900

 

Family Updates

Dr. Andrew Herrity, professor of business and entrepreneurship, published a paper titled A Theory for Preparing Students to Maintain Integration of Christian Faith and Business While Starting Careers in the spring 2015 issue of Christian Business Academy Review.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jong-Wha Bai, associate professor of civil engineering, made a poster presentation titled Probabilistic Loss Estimation for Concrete Buildings Subject to Seismic Events in the Central U.S. at the 2015 Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s annual meeting, which met in Boston March 31-April 3. In addition, he conducted a seminar on seismic vulnerability and loss estimation of concrete structures for civil engineering students at Worcester (Mass.) Polytechnic Institute on April 3.

 

 

Dr. Anthony Chute, professor of church history, serves as vice-president of the Far West Region of the Evangelical Theological Society, which met on CBU’s campus April 10. The conference theme was Reformation in the Wings since 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of Luther’s 95 theses sparking the Protestant Reformation. CBU faculty who presented papers included:

• Matthew Barrett, assistant professor of Christian studies for Online and Professional Studies, The Holy Spirit is No Skeptic: Retrieving the Clarity of Scripture from a Forgotten Reformation Debate

• Jeff Cate, professor of Christian studies, Martin Luther and Sola Scriptura: Canon, Manuscripts and Translation

• Amanda Jenkins, adjunct instructor of Christian studies, Beauty in the Thought of Jonathan Edwards

• Jeff Mooney, associate professor of Christian studies, The Reformed in Need of Reformation: Reading the Plain Sense of Old Testament Justice Passages for a Thorough Ecclesiology

• Joe Slunaker, adjunct instructor of Christian studies, Evangelical Hermeneutics and the Old Testament: Authority, Altruism, Anathema

 

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, associate professor of public relations for Online and Professional Studies, spoke on the topic Research Planning Implementation and Evaluation for Success in PR April 1 at the University of La Verne’s Leo PR Club.

 

 

 

 

Shawn Wilhite, adjunct professor of Christian studies, presented research titled Atonement in the Heavenly Holy of Holies: Early Reception of Hebrews and Atonement in Origen of Alexandria at the Evangelical Theological Society Midwest Regional Meeting, which was hosted by the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Ill. April 10-11.

 

Dr. Douglas Barnett, adjunct professor of business for Online and Professional Studies, presented a session titled An Overview of Africa and its Information Economy at the Africa and the Information Society symposium on April 7, which was sponsored by the African studies department and the Walker Institute of the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

 

Brooke Gorman, financial aid technician, and husband Chris Gorman (’10) welcomed their first child, Colin Maverick Gorman, on March 30 at 10:42 p.m. at Kaiser Permanente in Riverside. The baby weighed 6 lbs. 2 ozs. and measured 19 inches long.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU names provost and vice president for academic affairs

Dr. Charles D. “Chuck” Sands, founding dean of the College of Allied Health and professor of public health at California Baptist University, has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs, effective July 1, 2015.

Sands was selected from scores of applicants following a months-long nationwide search. He succeeds Dr. Jonathan K. Parker, who announced last December that he will return to full-time classroom teaching after serving 15 years as vice president for academic affairs.

“We are very pleased that Dr. Sands is joining the executive leadership team at California Baptist University,” said Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president. Ellis noted that Sands brings a proven track record of academic leadership in faith-based higher education to his new position as well as demonstrated entrepreneurial ability and a keen global awareness.

Sands was raised in South Korea where his parents served as missionaries. That experience has influenced him throughout his career. Since 1992 he has traveled more than two dozen times to South Korea, North Korea and China on a variety of educational and service-related projects.

“I believe that Chuck’s background, experience and skills will make a significant contribution as we continue to build CBU’s strong academic programs and global impact,” Ellis said.

Sands received his bachelor of science in education degree from Samford. He received master of arts in education and doctor of philosophy in public health degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

Before beginning his duties as dean of the College of Allied Health at CBU in July 2010, Sands held a succession of teaching and administrative positions at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. Hired as an instructor in Samford’s Department of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine in 1999, he eventually achieved the rank of associate professor. He also served as a fellow in the department of pediatrics in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine and has held adjunct academic appointments in the McWhorter School of Pharmacy at Samford and the department of health education at UAB.

In 2007, Sands attended the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University, earning a certificate in the management development program. From 2007 to 2010, Sands was associate dean of Samford’s Orlean Bullard Beeson School of Education and Professional Studies.

Sands’ previous experience in health care includes working four years at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., where he rose to the position of manager of outpatient rehabilitation.

He recently completed a two-year appointment to the governing council of the American Public Health Association and is active in numerous professional and community organizations. He currently serves as a board member for Riverside Community Hospital; the American Heart Association, Inland Southern California Division; Partners in Medicine; the Inland Empire Coalition for Health; and Sandals Church.

Sands said he is “very, very excited” about taking on the role of provost and vice president for academic affairs at CBU.

“I am pleased to have this opportunity and I look forward to the continuing growth of the university and development of new programs that will further enhance the quality and reputation of CBU,” Sands said.

 

CBU students care for the campus, community by planting trees

About 60 California Baptist University students celebrated Arbor Day by doing their part to better the environment and their community March 28.

Organized by Faculties and Planning Services and the Environmental Science Club, the volunteers planted 10 Chinese Pistache, two Jacaranda and two Chinese Flame trees on the campus along the Magnolia entrance.

“This is God’s creation and it’s important we use it wisely and take care of it and tend to it,” said junior Eric Lewis, an environmental science major and vice president of the Environmental Science Club.

The Arbor Day Foundation recently recognized CBU as a 2014 Tree Campus USA. The Arbor Day tree planting meets some of the requirements for CBU to apply to be named a Tree Campus USA for 2015.

“Planting trees is very important for our environment,” said Dr. Bonjun Koo, professor of environmental science and adviser to the science club. “If we lose our trees, we lose oxygen production, and it can contribute to global climate change.”

“We are committed to planting trees,” said Ed Schmachtenberger, grounds and landscaping manager. “We are trying to help the environment and encourage students and future generations to volunteer.”

The volunteers worked tirelessly in the hot sun digging holes to plant the trees, but the students did not seem to mind.

“Protecting the environment is very important to me. It is where I live and thrive,” said Ashley Vidaurri, a freshman psychology major. “I didn’t know planting trees with my friends could be so much fun.”

 

CBU Gallery hosts annual Honors Exhibit

Scores of art lovers filled the CBU Gallery in downtown Riverside during the opening reception March 26 for the third annual Honors Exhibit.

California Baptist University students, faculty, family and friends came to see the artwork students had created. Visual Art faculty chose the pieces from the work their students completed for various classes. The exhibit featured about 200 pieces, including ceramics, drawings, paintings and sculptures.

Any student in an art class may have work chosen, said Kristi Lippire, assistant professor of visual art, whose classes include sculpture and 2D design.

“You don’t have to be an art major to be in this show or to have a piece in the gallery here through CBU. You just have to make really excellent work,” she said. “We’re such a small department on campus, it’s just a way to highlight what amazing talent we do have here.”

When selecting pieces for the exhibit, Lippire looked for “work that goes above and beyond whatever I asked for just in time and energy, but also in concept and idea.”

“I always tell them the weirder the better. We usually try to push what is your normal instinct to represent something,” she said.

Jenna Mohn, a sophomore graphic design and photography double major, filled the requirement for weird. For her mixed media project, she made a color wheel using teeth. Real teeth. Her dad is a dentist and supplied her with what she needed.

“I wanted to use something that nobody else would use, and I knew no one else would have access to teeth,” Mohn said. Her piece won the Mixed Media award.

Nancy Ward, a visual art lecturer, considered the idea, skill and craftsmanship when choosing work for the exhibit.

“Some of my students have never taken a drawing class before,” Ward said. “It’s exciting to see that talent come out.”

Julianna Anderson, a visual art senior, had several pieces in the exhibit including a large wood sculpture. Ideas and opinions from her classmates and professors help guide her in her creativity. Being in the Honors Exhibit gave her acknowledgement that she can do this, she said.

“It means a lot when you think you did a good job, but then someone else also gives you that approval,” Anderson said. “It kind of gives you that push into everything else that you do.”

The exhibit will be at the CBU Gallery, 3737 Main Street, Suite 101, Riverside until April 2, then it will travel to CBU’s Community Life Lounge for the CREATE(D) event on April 9.

Awards were given for the best of each media and, for the first time, an Audience Choice Award was chosen by the guests attending the reception.

Painting: Nicole Statham, senior

Drawing: Jessica Schoellerman, junior

Sculpture: Julianna Anderson, senior

Ceramics: Tawni Franzen, junior

Watercolor: Lynnae Maki, senior

Mixed Media: Jenna Mohn, sophomore

Audience Choice Award: Samantha Morales, sophomore

 

CBU earns Tree Campus USA recognition

California Baptist University has earned a 2015 Tree Campus USA recognition.

Tree Campus USA, a national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota, honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation. CBU received notification last week that it received the honor.

To earn the distinction, CBU had to meet the five standards required by Tree Campus USA: establishment of a tree advisory committee, evidence of a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and the sponsorship of student service-learning projects.

Dr. Bonjun Koo, professor of environmental science, is on the CBU Tree Campus USA committee.

“California Baptist University is very proud to receive the 2015 Tree Campus USA recognition,” Koo said. “Our effort of conservation, sustainability and environmental stewardship is part of CBU’S core value. The passion of our students, faculty and staff is the reason for this achievement.”

 

 

Family Updates

Scott Dunbar, assistant professor of human resource management for Online and Professional Studies, and Kenneth George, assistant professor of business administration for Online and Professional Studies, participated in the Christian Business Faculty Association Western Dialogical Conference 2015, which met in San Diego March 27.

 

 

 

 

Faculty and students in the athletic training program participated in several events in March for National Athletic Training Month.

• Dr. Lindsay Warren, assistant professor of athletic training, visited CrossFit Proper in Corona with graduate students.
• Dr. Jolene Baker, associate professor of kinesiology, and Dr. Nicole MacDonald, professor of kinesiology, and members of the Athletic Training Student Organization provided medical care for the Sandals Church Fit 5K event on March 7.
• The M.S. in athletic training program (MSAT) hosted a manual therapy course March 14, which included participation by Warren, MacDonald, MSAT students and alumni.
• MacDonald and graduate students participated March 17 in the Mountain View Elementary STEM Career Day for K-6^th grade students.
• Zachary Norton-Martinez, a first year graduate student, presented information March 17 to the Riverside City Council in honor of National Athletic Training Month.

 

A CBU research grant titled Parallel Optimization of Bootstrapping in R was awarded 50,000 hours of National Science Foundation national supercomputing resources from the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE).  As XSEDE designated coordinator, Dr. Linn Carothers, professor of mathematics, is able to assist faculty members with a supercomputer-related project or idea. This is a time-sensitive allocation for 60 days.

 

 

 

Dr. Jeff Barnes, dean of academic services, and Steve Neilsen, director of student retention, presented research Feb. 3 titled Developing and Implementing a Comprehensive Retention Plan at the Jenzabar Student Success Forum in Claremont, Calif.

 

 

 

 

Elisabeth Murillo, assistant professor of aviation science, and eight aviation science students participated in the full-scale emergency exercise March 24 at Burbank Bob Hope Airport. Each participant received a practice scenario, along with an assigned injury, to effectively serve as victims of the simulated aircraft crash. Also, Murillo and Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, participated in a STEM Career Day at Mountain View Elementary School on March 17. Prather’s Airport Management II class enjoyed a tour of LAX on March 21, including the Flight Path Museum, Aircraft Rescue Fire Station, Tom Bradley International Terminal, A380 operations, airfield and Airport Response Coordination Center.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Shasha Zheng, assistant professor of nutrition and food sciences, became an American citizen during ceremonies at the Los Angeles Convention Center March 18.  Zheng is originally from China.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. William Flores, associate professor of Spanish, made a presentation titled Rómulo Gallegos’ Doña Bárbara and José Vasconcelos’ The Cosmic Race: Identifying Latin American Perspectives on the Environment at the XV Congreso Internacional de Literatura Hispánica, held in Antigua, Republic of Guatemala March 4-6.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Allan M. Bedashi, professor of allied health, spoke on the topic Physician Assistant: An Exciting Profession at the 2015 Inland Coalition Health Professions Conference at California State University-San Bernardino on Feb. 25.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, assistant professor of psychology, presented research at a poster session during the Society for Research in Child Development Conference and the Spiritual and Religious Development Preconference, which met in Philadelphia, Pa. March 18-21. The research, Church Support as a Predictor of Children’s Spirituality and Prosocial Behavior, was co-authored by Dr. Robert G. Crosby, assistant professor of psychology for Online and Professional Studies.

 

 

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, associate professor of kinesiology in Online and Professional Studies, Dr. David Pearson, professor of kinesiology, and Samuel Baird, a kinesiology student in Online and Professional Studies, presented research titled Cardiorespiratory Activities with a Purpose: Increasing Motivation & Learning at the Society of Health and Physical Education national conference, which met in Seattle, Wash. March 17-21.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Candace Vickers, associate professor of health sciences, presented a mini-seminar March 7 titled Speaking Loud and Clear: A Communication Recovery Group therapy for persons with dysarthria at the California Speech Language Hearing Association Annual Convention in Long Beach.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jacob Lanphere, assistant professor of environmental science, co-authored an article titled Stability and Transport of Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles in Groundwater and Surface Water, which was featured in the Environmental Engineering Science journal. He also co-wrote an article titled Effect of hydration repulsion on nanoparticle agglomeration evaluated via a constant number Monte–Carlo simulation, which was published Jan. 8 in Nanotechnology.

 

 

Dr. Joseph Pelletier, assistant professor of behavioral sciences, co-authored an article titled Children’s prosocial behavioural intentions towards outgroup members, which was published March 16 in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Lancer women win NCAA Division II West Region championship

With the NCAA Division II West Region championship on the line, both California Baptist University and Cal Poly Pomona wanted to come out and impose their style and will on the other.

In a battle of strength vs. strength, CBU was clearly too strong for Cal Poly Pomona in an 81-58 victory Monday night at the Alaska Airlines Center. The Lancers were most impressive on the defensive end, holding a Broncos team that came into the playoffs averaging 46 percent from the field, which ranks eighth in Division II, to a miniscule 30.9 percent (21-for-68). It led to CBU winning a West Region title and improving to 27-6. Cal Poly Pomona – a region champion and a Final Four qualifier in 2014 – ends the year with a 21-9 record.
To read the complete story, click here.

 

Banner newspaper, Pursuit magazine win top national awards

 Two of California Baptist University’s campus publications, The Banner newspaper and Pursuit magazine, took home top national awards at recent journalism conferences in Los Angeles and New York City.

The Associated College Press awarded 1^st place “Best of Show” awards to both The Banner newspaper and Pursuit magazine, in those respective categories, and The Banner Online earned the 5^th place award in the Best Website category. The 31^st Annual ACP National College Journalism Convention was held in Los Angeles Feb. 26 to March 1. A complete list of winners is available by clicking here.

“This is really unprecedented in my experience that one program would be awarded 1^st place Best of Show in both the newspaper and magazine categories,” said Dr. Michael Chute, director of the journalism & new media and public relations program. “It is the third year in a row that The Banner has been named the top ‘Best of Show’ newspaper at the ACP convention. This really speaks to the quality work our students do on the campus publications and the top honor three years in a row shows how consistent our students have been in producing quality publications.”

In the California College Media Association convention Feb. 28, CCMA awarded seven CBU students for outstanding achievement in writing, photography and design. The Pursuit staff also earned an honorable mention in the Best Magazine category.

At its Spring National College Media Convention in New York City March 11-14, the College Media Association awarded Pursuit magazine 2^nd place in Best Magazine Spread, as well as 3^rd place in Best Overall Design for another magazine spread, which competed against design entries from newspapers, magazines, yearbooks and advertising.

Colleges and universities from across the U.S. enter publications in the ACP and College Media Association competitions each year.

 

Comedian Joe Nipote shares experiences with CBU students

Comedian and actor Joe Nipote spoke to theatre students at California Baptist University March 10 about his work as an actor, stand-up comedian and voice-over actor.

John Pate, chair of the department of communication arts, described Nipote as an actor, writer and “all-around entertainment guy” who would discuss the ins and outs of the entertainment industry.

Nipote’s most recognizable work includes the Steven Spielberg-directed film “Casper,” the hit television show “Viper” and his work on “Zack & Cody: Suite Life on Deck.” He also has ventured from film by writing two children’s books and appearing as a boxing ring announcer on HBO and Showtime.

“The important thing is to work as much as you can, wherever you can,” he said.

Nipote recalled the importance of being recognized early in his career.

“The only reason I started doing stand-up was to be seen,” he said. “I knew every casting member was there in that comedy store, and I had to go up there to be seen.”

Nipote stressed the importance of making an impression saying, “One time I jumped up on top of a desk and went crazy and I got the part.”

He also spoke on the competitive nature of show business.

“There are no failures. The audition is the job,” Nipote said. “They might like somebody else, but it doesn’t mean you failed. If you get a call back, that’s just a perk. The best way to do this is to work wherever you can. If you can get on stage it will make you more creative and it will pay off down the road, and that is all I ever tried to do.”

 

Bible professor offers insight to false biblical teachings

The author of a new Bible commentary offered insights on responding to false biblical teachings during a visit to California Baptist University on March 10.

Dr. George Guthrie, the Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Bible, Theology and Missions at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., is a New Testament scholar and author of a commentary on II Corinthians being published soon. He spoke to faculty and students from the CBU School of Christian Ministries and area pastors.

Guthrie looked at Paul’s response to false teachers in II Corinthians 2:14-16 to determine how today’s believer should respond.

Paul was confronted with a situation where false teachers had come to Corinth and infiltrated the church with a different gospel. Paul wrote II Corinthians as a guide that can be followed for authentic ministry, Guthrie said. First, believers need to be thankful and confident in God.

“We need to have large understanding of what it means to be in Christ,” he said. “When we’re dealing with false teachers, we start with a posture of being confident and thankful in our relationship with God.”

Believers need to keep proclaiming the gospel, even when they run into conflict or difficult situations, Guthrie said. Why can Paul be confident and thankful in the midst of a difficult ministry moment?

“Because he is confident that he is called by God,” he said. “He’s called by God to a very significant task in the world, and that is to make the knowledge of God known everywhere he goes.”

Believers also need to understand that the gospel and ministry will divide people, between those who are being saved and those who are not, Guthrie said.

“Stay united with God, walk with God, let him give you perspective. We need to keep proclaiming and incarnating the good gospel even when things get dicey,” he said. “We need to understand that authentic ministry at times functions as a divide line. Everybody isn’t going to like what we’re doing. Get used to it.”

 

CBU celebrates opening of Rancho Cucamonga center

California Baptist University dedicated its new Rancho Cucamonga Educational Service Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 26. More than 100 faculty, staff and members of the community attended the grand opening held at Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

“California Baptist University Online & Professional Studies is now poised to better serve the adult education learner in Rancho Cucamonga and surrounding areas,” said Dr. David Poole, CBU vice president for Online and Professional Studies, at the grand opening. “By opening a state-of-the-art, full service-learning center right in the center of the community, we can offer bachelor and master degree programs in an online or hybrid format. Given the convenience of our new location, our administration, faculty and staff at CBU also become an integral part of this growing community. The goal: helping to ensure an educated and prepared workforce for the local area.”

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, said the growth is part of the university’s response to changes in the local, regional and global job market. He noted that CBU has grown enrollment from 808 in the fall of 1994 to 7,957 in the fall of 2014, more than a 900 percent increase.

“All indicators point toward continued growth in enrollment in the coming years, in particular the adult student market,” Ellis said.

The new education center in Rancho Cucamonga is part of more than $300 million CBU has invested since 2001 to improve its main campus facilities and extend learning off campus in the online and hybrid environment.

The new location features state-of-the-art classrooms, staff and faculty offices, wireless internet for students in the lounge area and in the staff and student break room.

On behalf of the city of Rancho Cucamonga, mayor pro tem Sam Spagnolo offered warm words of welcome. Council member Lynne Kennedy joined Spagnolo in presenting Ellis and CBU an official certificate of welcome. Mark Rush, executive pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church, offered the prayer of dedication.

Ellis and Poole thanked those who have supported the university’s expansion into the growing community.

For more information contact CBU Online & Professional Studies – Rancho Cucamonga Educational Service Center at 951.343.3900 or cbuonline@calbaptist.edu.  The center is located at 7876 Kew Ave, Suite 1650, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 in Victoria Gardens.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Barry Parker, references and serials librarian, became an American citizen during ceremonies at the Los Angeles Convention Center March 18. Parker is originally from Canada.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Veola Vazquez, associate professor of psychology, is author of a novel for middle-grade children ages 8-12, The Nickel Nuisance, which was published March 12 by Double Letter Press. The book is the first of three in a planned series called The Coin Chronicles.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Douglas Barnett, adjunct professor of business for Online and Professional Studies, met the Archbishop of Canterbury during a recent trip to London. Archbishop Justin Welby was a guest on a talk show which is directed by a friend of Barnett’s.

 

 

 

 

 

CBU faculty and students won several awards in the 2015 American Advertising Awards-Inland Empire ceremony held March 13 at the Mission Inn in Riverside. Gold award-winners, whose entries automatically advance to district competition, include:

• 

  House Catalog by Emily Poulin

  Emily Poulin for House Catalog in the brochures/annual report category;

 

 

 

 

• 

  Science Fiction by Jessica Schoellerman

  Jessica Schollerman, Science Fiction, illustration, single;

 

 

 

 

• 

  Class Demo by Matthew C. Cook

  Matthew C. Cook, Class Demo, animation or special effects;

 

 

 

 

 

• 

  French Paper by Michael Berger

  

  Fred Jordan Mission Brochure by Michael Berger

  Michael Berger, assistant professor of graphic design, for two entries: French Paper in the poster category and Fred Jordan Mission brochure in the brochure category. Berger also won a silver award for Maiden Massacre in the poster, single category.

 

 

 

Other silver award winners are:

• Michael A. Barraza, Abuse, poster, single;
• Emily Galina, Anthony Perez, Delaia Federico and Jazeena Pineda, Summit Tea Co., packaging;
• Salvador H. Castrejon, Travel Dreams, consumer or trade publication;
• Timothy J. Kothlow, Waiting for the Wave, photography;
• Anthony Perez, Summit Tea Co., logo;
• Colton James Von Pertz, Jeep Instagram Campaign, photography, campaign;
• Alexa Brianna Aguilara, Dunkin Donuts, animation or special effects;

Bronze award winners include:

• Caleb D. Bol, Michael Bierut, poster, single;
• Jordan Singer, The Prestige, poster, single;
• Colton James von Pertz, Southwest Airlines, consumer or trade publication;
• Jacob Gonzalez, Midnight Dunk, photography, color;
• Evoke Magazine, a CBU/Online student publication, consumer magazine category

 

Courtney Lloyd, adjunct professor of sign language for Online and Professional Studies, led a session at the Southern California American Sign Language Educators Conference March 7 in Yucaipa, Calif. Lloyd’s presentation was titled The Tech-Savvy Teacher: Using Technology in Teaching ASL.” The entire conference was conducted in American Sign Language.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Namhee Kim, assistant professor of communication disorders, presented research March 6 titled The role of type and token frequency of consonant assimilation in child speech at the poster session at the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention held in Long Beach, Calif.

 

 

 

 

CBU’s healthcare administration program has been granted membership in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Higher Education Network. The program will be included in the ACHE directory of colleges and universities, and CBU healthcare administration students will be eligible to participate in ACHE sponsored events, including national meetings and statewide competitions.

 

Janae Billingsley-Greer and Audree Hernandez of Ramona High school won second place in the senior division group-website while competing in the Riverside County National History Day. They will advance to the National History Day-California State competition in Rocklin on May 8-9. The competition featured 178 entries from 318 students in categories that included 2-D display, documentary, performance, exhibit, paper and website. Billingsley-Greer is the daughter of Samantha Greer, department secretary in facilities and planning services.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Students elect new executive council for ASCBU

Students have elected a new executive council for the Associated Students of California Baptist University.

The new officers for the 2015-16 school year are Executive President Makenna Lammons, Executive Vice President Jordan Lanksbury, Vice President for Finance Katie Juarez and Vice President for Communication Ashlee Smith.

Her term as president will be the third office Lammons has held in the ASCBU. A sophomore psychology and criminal justice double major, she began as a freshman representative on the ASCBU Senate and continued this year as director of office affairs on the council.

Lammons talked about how the current president, Trent Ward, brought remembrance events for 9/11 and Veterans Day to campus.

“I want to continue that because I’ve seen that it’s had a positive impact on students,” she said.  “In the past, we’re known for our Christmas party in the winter and recess in the spring. Those are great traditions, but I want to continue what Trent has done, because it’s also serving the student body.”

Another goal Lammons has is to partner with the university and install automatic doors at the Alumni Dining Commons between the dining room and the patio area. Students struggle opening the doors holding trays.

“When I look at students, I try to find little ways to serve them,” she said.

Lanksbury, a business administration sophomore, wants to provide opportunities for students to join outreach programs and fun events on campus.

“I plan on making an impact on student’s lives here at CBU and making it evident that ASCBU wants to do the same,” he said.

This year, Juarez, a junior accounting major, is a residential representative. While being the vice president for finance goes with her major, there was another reason she wanted to be on the council.

“I just love what ASCBU is about,” she said. “I love being able to serve the students in whatever way I can, especially in an area that I think that I do well.

Juarez’s goals are to ensure the budget is being used efficiently and also to get students involved on campus.

“You make more friends that way, you make more relationships, you can build relationships with professors,” she said. “You can learn more and work on being a better person more than just working on your major.”

Smith, a freshman communication disorders major, is a commuter representative this year. She wants to better communicate events to students, get them information early enough so they have time to plan and inform them of the services ASCBU provides.

“I thought it was an area that I could effectively serve the student body and make it an area of improvement in ASCBU and be able to help it grow,” she said.

 

Chili cook-off reveals best recipes, campus favorite

California Baptist University diners at the Alumni Dining Commons enjoyed some award-winning chili at lunch March 4. Or at least chili that was voted favorite at the recent chili cook-off.

Fifteen students, faculty and staff submitted recipes for the contest. Executive Chef Giuseppe Pitruzello narrowed down the recipes, then he, his sous chef and pastry chef picked the top three, all from students. Diners sampled the three recipes and then voted for their favorite at the ADC Feb. 26.

“Chili to me is a robust, one-dish wonder that I could dip some cornbread in, or a piece of bread and wipe around the plate, and feel like I had something inexpensive but yet delicious and filling at the same time,” Pitruzello said.

The finalists were Jennifer Ahlberg, a freshman communications disorders major; Emily Done, a sophomore communication disorders major; and Jennet MacDonald, a sophomore nutrition and food sciences major.

Ahlberg said she and her best friend make the recipe every year on Halloween.

“The recipe is so different because it has so much flavor with a just a little spice to it, which is perfect for me,” she said. “I don’t like spicy food.”

Done’s recipe came from her mother, she said.

“A distinctive quality is that we don’t add beans, which makes it ‘real’ chili,” Done said.

MacDonald’s recipe came from her grandfather who was a firefighter and cooked for his firehouse. Chorizo and cumin make it unique.

“It’s good because you can make it your own,” she said. “You can make it spicy, make it hot.”

Students had their favorites, whether it was the meatiness, the spiciness or the sweetness that grabbed their palates. The cook-off even got Dionasys Kalentermidis, a criminal justice major, to try chili for the first time.

“I thought it would be too spicy. It’s nice to know it’s not,” he said.

The winning recipe was from Ahlberg. She received a Provider gift card, a box of Hot Tamales and her chili was served at lunch March 4.

“The whole plan is to get the students involved and to have them come in and try something and have them select something and kind of a jury of their peers. It’s a monotony breaker just to say that we’re having fun,” Pitruzello said. “We’re just trying to keep engaged and keep things fresh and new, just so they don’t feel like they’re just coming to the cafeteria.”

 

Moody Bible professor tells students about God’s grace

Dr. Christopher Yuan shared his story of God’s love and grace in his life during chapel services March 2 and 4 at California Baptist University.

Yuan is a professor at Moody Bible Institute and last year earned a doctorate from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. But before that happened, he was on a very different path, he told chapel audiences.

While attending dental school, he began living promiscuously as a gay man and experimenting with drugs. He was expelled from dental school and later was imprisoned for drug dealing and discovered that he was HIV positive.

“According to the world, I had it all. Money, fame, drugs and sex,” Yuan said. “I had exchanged the truth of God for a lie and I began worshipping and serving the creature, rather than the creator.”

While he was still at dental school, his parents became Christians. His mother prayed for him and continued to reach out to him.

“My mother began to pray a very bold prayer — ‘God, do whatever it takes, whatever it takes to bring this prodigal son to you,’” Yuan said.

It was while he was in prison that he became a Christian. He felt called to full-time ministry in prison and when he was released, he began attending Moody Bible Institute, where he is now a professor.

“From prisoner to professor, how about that for a resume?” Yuan said. “But God has done far more abundantly beyond all that we have asked or thought.”

Yuan’s desire is to minister to those working through issues of sexuality and to those living with HIV/AIDS. He speaks locally and internationally, on college campuses and in churches. His parents often speak with him, and he and his mother co-authored a book, “Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son’s Journey to God, A Broken Mother’s Search for Hope.”

He acknowledges in his younger years he had no interest in God, made bad decisions, which resulted in bad consequences. But the reality is everyone is sinful, he said, and everyone’s days is numbered.

“Not one person in this room – student, faculty, staff, administration – has ever been promised tomorrow here on earth. But don’t we take tomorrow for granted?” he said. “As a child of God, I must live with a sense of urgency.”

 

Rapper Trip Lee visits CBU campus, talks about music

Trip Lee, rapper, pastor and author, spoke to students at California Baptist University this week about music and worship. He also performed a concert on campus Feb. 24.

“God created music, and he gave it to us for our enjoyment and for his worship,” Lee said. He released his fifth album last fall and his second book in January. “Music captured how I felt about things and inspired me. I was really in love with music and that eventually led me to write my own.”

Music is used in worship for many reasons, he told the students. The main one is to praise God and celebrate his work. Lee talked about how the Israelites broke into song after crossing the Red Sea. He questioned why Christians are often uninterested in praising God in chapel or in church.

“If you’re a Christian today, you always have reason to burst out in joyful songs of praise, because you have been delivered from great doom,” he said. “We’re always standing on the other side of the Red Sea looking at the miraculous way that God has delivered us.”

Music can also be used to express pain and frustration. Lee talked about a health issue he has struggled with that resulted in the song, “Sweet Victory.” The song has connected with people, because everyone can relate to pain and frustration in their lives, he said. Scripture is real about pain and suffering, with both Job and David writing songs about it in the Bible.

“It might be kind of depressing that we find songs like this in scripture, but instead it should be a comfort to us,” Lee said. He reminded students that the Bible inspires us in all life’s circumstances.

Music also encourages others, and it is a gift God has given us to enjoy, Lee said. While it’s a big part of everyone’s life, we should be careful how we use it.

“Let’s not just mindlessly enjoy our music; let’s not mindlessly ignore opportunities to praise God,” he said. “It’s been given to us to enjoy but also (to use) to worship God.”

 

Family Updates

The Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering and the CBU’s student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) hosted Mark Woodson, president-elect of the ASCE on March 6. Woodson spoke to students on the topic Engineering the Future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Anthony Chute, professor of church history, and Dr. Matthew Y. Emerson, assistant professor of Christian ministries for Online and Professional Studies, have published their latest issue of the Journal of Baptist Studies. The theme of this issue is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church: Baptist Reflections on the Church in the Nicene Creed. Articles by Emerson, Dr. Chris Morgan, dean of the School of Christian Ministries, and Dr. Luke Stamps, assistant professor of Christian studies, are included. The link for the journal can be found here: http://baptiststudiesonline.com/the-journal-of-baptist-studies-7-2015/

 

 

About 35 CBU athletic training students, alumni and faculty joined more than 170 California Athletic Trainers Association members at the State Capitol to promote a new bill, AB 161, which would make it unlawful for any person to call himself/herself an athletic trainer or a certified athletic trainer who has not been certified or completed eligibility requirements to be certified by the Board of Certification Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amy Gwilt, financial coordinator, attended the annual Cal Grant Day in the Capital Feb. 24 with two CBU students. Annabel Zandi and Rustan Welch met with senators and assembly members to share how the Cal Grant allows them to finance their educational goals. The event is sponsored by the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, taught a one-day course Feb. 24 titled Staffing Needs and Job Related Training for Aviation Departments at the National Business Aviation Association Leadership Conference held in Tucson, Ariz.; a one-day course March 1 titled Effective Leadership in Business Aviation at the Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo held in Orlando, Fla.; and a workshop March 6 titled Becoming an Effective Leader at the Women in Aviation International Conference in Dallas, Texas.

 

 

 

Dr. Bruce Stokes, professor of anthropology and behavioral science, participated in the Fourth Borough Park Symposium in New York City Feb. 16-18. The symposium featured scholars who were invited to discuss the Messianic Jewish Movement. The meeting brought together Israeli Messianic Jews and Palestinian Arab Christians from Bethlehem to discuss their marginality from their own people groups because of the common faith in Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah and the difficulties of the Jewish-Palestinian conflict in Israel and Jerusalem. Stokes is currently updating his doctoral dissertation research on the Messianic Movement in America and Israel.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dave Pearson, professor of kinesiology and faculty athletics representative, recently served as the NCAA site representative at the Division II western region wrestling championships in Pueblo, Colo.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Gayne Anacker, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, presented Coming Home: The Spiritual Journey of C.S. Lewis Feb. 11 at First Congregational Church in Redlands for the church’s 2015 Kirk Series.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, associate professor of public relations for Online and Professional Studies, spoke to a group of communication and public relations majors at California State University San Bernardino Feb. 24 on Seven Tips for Success after Commencement.
 

 

 

 

Dr. Namhee Kim, assistant professor of communication disorders, and two CBU student representatives from the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association volunteered Feb. 20 for the SOS program at Grove Community Church. The SOS program is a monthly evening program for special needs children and their siblings while their parents got out. The students were exposed to various disorders and age groups. The group plans to continue participation in March and April.

 

 

 

Dr. Angela Deulen, assistant professor of psychology, successfully defended her dissertation for the doctor of education degree in organizational leadership at Pepperdine University.

 

 

 

 

Lisa Logan, student accounts counselor, is CBU’s Employee of the Month for March. The Employee of the Month Nomination Form included the following statements: “Lisa has a great work ethic. She consistently gives her all to serving her students and her team to the best of her ability. Lisa’s excitement about serving our students is infectious.  She is always ready to help students with a smile and a caring attitude. She’s a focused individual who values the Lord, her family, and her students. These values are seen through her dedication to and involvement at church, in the community, and at CBU.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

The Hiding Place production resumes this weekend

California Baptist University’s production of The Hiding Place will continue this Thursday, Feb. 26, and end on Saturday, Feb. 28.

The play tells the story of Corrie ten Boom and her family, who lived under the shadow of World War II Nazism. The ten Boom family lead lives of service, providing a hiding place for people fleeing the Nazis. The story takes the audience from a cozy clock shop in Haarlem, Holland, to the nightmare of the Ravensbruck concentration camp and back to hope again.

Frank Mihelich, director of the production and assistant professor of theatre, remembers reading the book in high school and staying up all night to read it.

“It’s just a compelling story,” he said. “We want to start inclusive conversations about faith, so we want to tell stories that are either dead-on about the gospel or just about humanity.”

Kiana Miskel, a junior theatre major, plays Corrie ten Boom.

“I think the biggest challenge that I have faced with playing this role is the fear of failing to give justice to such an incredible human being and tell her story the way that it needs to be told,” she said. “Being able to hear what these people went through at one of the darkest times in our history and were still able to put their faith and trust in Christ through it all has been so inspiring.”

She said the issues the play presents aren’t difficult to handle, but they are emotionally draining.

“I think it is worth it to really tap into what these people went through at that time,” she said. “It is an important story to be told, and I am proud to be a part of this beautiful production.

Corrie’s faith also touched Mihelich.

“The thing that struck me the most, even when I read the book when I was a kid, was that she had that slogan, and it appears in the play – ‘there is no pit so deep that Jesus is not deeper yet,’” he said. “Light shines the brightest in darkness.”

“I think often about my first-world problems – my latte isn’t hot,” he added.

Performances began Feb. 20 and will resume Thursday, Feb. 26, through Saturday, Feb. 28, with performances each evening at 7:30 p.m. and a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. General admission tickets are $15, with discounts offered for matinees, senior citizens and CBU students, faculty, staff and alumni.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Wallace Theatre box office at 951-343-4319.

 

Sitcom actor Jim O’Heir comes to CBU campus

California Baptist University students took a break from homework Feb. 17 to watch the next-to-last episodes of the NBC comedy “Parks and Recreations” live with cast member Jim O’Heir, who plays the character of Jerry Gergich.

O’Heir was invited by longtime friend Dr. Jim Buchholz, professor of mathematics and physics, who planned the event for the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design.

The event consisted of an hour-long interview performed by Buchholz in front of a packed auditorium followed by a question and answer period. O’Heir then watched two new episodes with the students while meeting and greeting fans in the process.

During the interview, O’Heir began by discussing his decision in taking on the role of Jerry. His agents opposed his joining the cast for fear that he may not get many lines and become an extra on the set.

“To me it was such a no brainer. These were the people who created Phyllis from ‘The Office’ and Stanley,” he said. “I thought, if only that could happen to me … and it did.”

O’Heir talked about the day-to-day life on the set.

“I have been on many shows over the years, and some sets are tough to be on,” he said. “People don’t talk, people don’t get along. There was never an argument on the set of ‘Parks and Recreations’ in 125 episodes. They are just all great people and we all meshed.”

O’Heir discussed the show coming to an end. He and the rest of the cast will appear on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” after the series finale Feb. 24.

“It was tough. We still text every day. It’s like we can’t break away yet,” he said. “I have the feeling when we do Seth Meyers next week it will be an even tougher goodbye, because that will be the last grouping of us.”

“The meet and greet was great,” said Austin Robinson, a business administration junior. “He was engaging the audience with jokes.”

Although “Parks and Recreations” is coming to an end, O’Heir has big plans for his future. Currently, he is raising funds for a new project titled “Middleman,” a dark comedy in which he plays the lead role.

 

Runners hit their stride in 5th annual Lancer 5000

More than 300 runners and walkers participated in the 5^th annual Lancer 5000 on the campus of California Baptist University Feb. 14.

Organized by CBU’s track and cross country program and sponsored by Lexus of Riverside, the event featured a 1K Kiddie Run at 7:30 a.m., followed by the 5K at 8 a.m. Awards were presented to the top participants in each age group, and the top three overall male and female runners were honored. Proceeds went to the CBU cross country and track program.

The top three male runners were Tyler Janes, who ran a time of 15:17.110, followed by Gabe Hernandez with 15:22.594 and Matthew Klein with 15:37.924. The top three female runners were Jennifer Sandoval, who ran a time of 18:18.297, followed by Emily Sanchez with 19:15.444 and Cassandra Boyd with 19:23.147.

“I saw all the older guys, and I wasn’t sure (about my chances),” said Janes, a junior at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside. “But when I got out on the track I felt good, and I decided to go for it towards the end.”

“It was a very challenging and fun course,” Klein said. “It was a beautiful day to run, and I’m very happy that we had some of the fastest high school runners (participating).”

A raffle awarded prizes ranging from gift cards to theme park passes. The event also featured a free breakfast sponsored by Chick-fil-A and free massages provided by Corona Physical Medicine.

“We were excited with the turnout,” said Sean Henning, assistant cross country and track coach and race director. “Having this many people come out and support is great. We hope to grow the event and make it bigger each year.”

Results by age division included:

0-10 Division: Jennifer Lopez: 20:26.764; Markow Allura: 21:19.664; Sanchez Dhannasshy: 25:44.334; Blake Moore: 47:56.580

11-14 Division: Caitlin Miller: 20:54.177; Lanie Schemenauer: 21:11.674; Joelle Ramos: 21:16.014; Jordi Peiro: 17:40.304; Edgar Gonzalez: 17:41.600; Jacob Moran: 18:08.707

15-19 Division: Valeria Ramirez: 19:28.477; Julie Diaz: 19:51.837; Kathryn Hammar: 20:05.074; Rolando Phalen: 15:46.197; Daniel Gonzalez: 16:00.444; Erik Gonzalez: 16:02.994

20-29 Division: Jacqueline Lutz: 20:37.450; Stephanie Curnow: 23:06.394; Melissa Booth: 23:23.180;Justin Wireman: 16:01.737; Antonio Sanchez: 16:31.037; Zachary Oliver: 16:44.034

30-39 Division: Erin Pope: 24:37.970; Andrea Morey: 26:52.667; Jacqui Contreras: 26:54.074; Isaac Gallardo: 19:24.790; Moses Vasquez: 20:13.014: Josh Morey: 21:02.547

40-49 Division: Beatrice Avila: 24:09.254; May Dai: 25:20.177; Georgette Chavez 25:30.994; Victor Garcia: 18:41.790; Brad Peters: 20:08.530; Paul Avila: 21:54.077

50-59 Division: Lisa Sherman: 23:31.214; Sandy Whitt: 26:21.517; Beth Thomas: 27:13.910; Neil Smart: 18:28.614; Andrew Benavidez: 20:16.424; Fredrick Martinez: 22:38.154

60-69 Division: Carolyn Greywood: 26:46.087; Vicki Snyder: 30:02.854; Tanya Mauldin: 39:06.907; Jeffrey Kinzel: 21:18.350; Stephen Posegate: 24:49.454; Isamu Long: 28:56:580

70 – 95 Division: Linda Lang: 46:04.807; Madeline Stilwell: 46:35.354; Bill Kennedy: 32:00.410; Robert Stilwell: 55:42.620

 

Family Updates

Dr. Charles Sands, dean of the College of Allied Health, presented Introduction to the College of Allied Health to the Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club on Feb. 13.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Candace Vickers, associate professor of communication disorders, chaired the Ad Hoc Committee on the International Classification of Functioning, Health and Disability (ICF) at the American Speech Language Hearing Association executive offices in Rockville, Md. in early February. ICF is a classification framework from the World Health Organization. The purpose of the committee is to find ways to help the national membership use the framework during assessment and treatment of clients. Members of the committee were scholars from the U.S., Australia and Canada, representing the fields of audiology and speech language pathology.

 

 

 

Dr. Beverly Howard, professor of music, has had two recent publications. Streams of Song: Developing a New Hymnal for the Presbyterian Church (USA) is a chapter in the new text The Changing World Religion Map: Sacred Places, Identities, Practices, and Politics, published by Springer Press. She also co-authored a six-week Adult Lenten study, Will You Come and Follow Me, published by The Thoughtful Christian, an online ecumenical resource center sponsored by Westminister John Knox Press.

 

 

 

Dr. William Flores, associate professor of Spanish, made a presentation titled Strategies for the Teaching of Literature at the Undergraduate Level: A Didactic Proposal at the Annual Conference of the Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) held at CBU on Feb. 7. Flores also was recognized for his service as president of the AATSP-Roger Anton Chapter. In addition, Ruth Flores, lecturer of English for Online & Professional Studies, made a presentation titled Three Ways to Engage and Inspire Your Students in the Fully Online Elementary Spanish Classroom at the conference.

 

 

 

 

 

Kenneth George, assistant professor of finance for Online and Professional Studies, served as a judge for the Christian Speech and Debate Tournament Feb. 21 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland. The tournament was sponsored by Stoa, a national high school and junior high speech and debate organization serving the needs of Christian homeschooling families.

 

 

 

 

Gavin Andrew, graduate admissions counselor, and his wife Jennifer welcomed their second son on Feb. 8. Everett Joseph Andrew weighed 8 lbs. 10 ozs. and measured 21 inches. His brother, Calvin Jay Andrew, is 2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Courtney Janae Billingsley and her partner won first place at the Riverside Unified School District Science and Engineering Fair, with her project Proving Faraday’s Law. She will compete in the RIMS Inland Science and Engineering Fair April 6-7 at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino. Billingsley is the daughter of Samantha Greer, department secretary in facilities and planning services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU professor selected for Oxford project

Dr. Erin Smith, assistant professor of psychology, has been selected as one of 25 participants for the Bridging the Two Cultures of Science and the Humanities project during the next two summers in Oxford, England.

The announcement came from Scholarship & Christianity in Oxford (SCIO), the United Kingdom Centre of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. The organization is a research and educational institute in Oxford, producing and supporting scholarship in a recognized center of international educational and scholarly excellence.

Funded by the Templeton Religion Trust, the program fosters in participants the interdisciplinary skills and understanding central to the study of religion.

In addition to attending the summer seminars with lectures from eminent scholars in the field, Smith will work on her own original research project, Promoting and Preventing the Dialogue: Psychological Influences on Discussion in Science and Religion. She will also establish a science and religion student club at CBU. Grant funds are provided to assist with the research and the student organization.

A final conference with presidents from participating institutions will be held in the summer of 2016.

According to the SCIO, the selection committee looked for early-to-mid-career faculty with proven interdisciplinary, leadership and communication skills and a strong research record who were fully supported by their sending institutions.

The project is “a timely and important initiative that will greatly strengthen teaching and research in science and religion, and enhance the intellectual experience of the faculty and their students,” said Allister McGrath, academic director of Bridging the Two Cultures, Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion and director of the Ian Ramsey Centre at the University of Oxford.

More information is available on SCIO’s website: http://www.scio-uk.org/bridging-two-cultures/.

 

“The Hiding Place” run begins Feb. 20

California Baptist University will present “The Hiding Place” Friday, Feb. 20, through Saturday, Feb. 28.

The play tells the story of Corrie ten Boom and her family, who lived under the shadow of World War II Nazism. The ten Boom family lead lives of service, providing a hiding place for people fleeing the Nazis. The story takes the audience from a cozy clock shop in Haarlem, Holland, to the nightmare of the Ravensbruck concentration camp and back to hope again.

Frank Mihelich, director of the production and assistant professor of theatre, remembers reading the book in high school and staying up all night to read it.

“It’s just a compelling story,” he said. “We want to start inclusive conversations about faith, so we want to tell stories that are either dead-on about the gospel or just about humanity.”

Kiana Miskel, a junior theatre major, plays Corrie ten Boom.

“I think the biggest challenge that I have faced with playing this role is the fear of failing to give justice to such an incredible human being and tell her story the way that it needs to be told,” she said. “Being able to hear what these people went through at one of the darkest times in our history and were still able to put their faith and trust in Christ through it all has been so inspiring.”

She said the issues the play presents aren’t difficult to handle, but they are emotionally draining.

“I think it is worth it to really tap into what these people went through at that time,” she said. “It is an important story to be told, and I am proud to be a part of this beautiful production.

Corrie’s faith also touched Mihelich.

“The thing that struck me the most, even when I read the book when I was a kid, was that she had that slogan, and it appears in the play – ‘there is no pit so deep that Jesus is not deeper yet,’” he said. “Light shines the brightest in darkness.”

“I think often about my first-world problems – my latte isn’t hot,” he added.

Performances begin Friday, Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m. and continue Saturday, Feb. 21, with a 2 p.m. matinee and a 7:30 p.m. show. The play will resume Thursday, Feb. 26, through Saturday, Feb. 28, with performances each evening at 7:30 p.m. and a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. General admission tickets are $15, with discounts offered for matinees, senior citizens and CBU students, faculty, staff and alumni.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Wallace Theatre box office at 951-343-4319.

 

Student athlete wins national writing contest

A California Baptist University senior recently won the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Writing Contest in the college student division.

Jake Zalesky, a public relations major and sports information intern, won with a soccer article he wrote for cbulancers.com. Sammi Sheppard, director of sports information, entered him in the contest without his knowledge, so he was even more surprised he won.

“I was shocked. I never thought that something I’d write would win anything, let alone something that’s soccer-related,” he said. Zalesky also is a member of the soccer team.

“That was really exciting, the fact that I wrote an article for my team, and it won an award,” he said. “That was great. That was a huge blessing.”

It also made it a challenge writing the stories.

“As a writer, you have to get rid of all biases,” he said. “You have to stand neutral with things that you’re writing about. It was tough at first, but now it’s a lot easier for me.”

For Zalesky, the biggest reward is seeing his articles online or in print and having the opportunity to write.

“Just seeing it actually there with my name on it is really rewarding,” he said. “It’s giving me a lot of experience. Just being able to write for the school is a huge reward for me.”

Sheppard wanted to give him practical experience after he expressed an interest in sports information.

“I’m very happy for Jake,” Sheppard said. “It’s always encouraging to get some positive feedback, especially when you’re still learning. He’s been a great help this year and has the makings of a great sports information director if he wants to be.”

To read Zalesky’s winning story, click here.

 

Dean of medical school speaks on health and diseases

California Baptist University’s College of Allied Health hosted speaker Dr. G. Richard Olds on Feb. 10 for its Distinguished Lecture Series. Olds, the founding dean of University of California, Riverside’s School of Medicine, spoke to an audience of CBU students on the topic “Revenge of the Rainforest.”

Olds is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He has worked as the head of Brown University’s International Health Institute and is an expert in tropical rainforest diseases.

The lecture covered infectious diseases hidden within rainforests and the role that health professionals play in combating them.

“I think health professionals need more background in public health,” Olds said. “All health professionals need a better understanding of what is a cost-effective way to care for patients.”

Olds referred to recent outbreaks of Ebola.

“No one appreciated the potential health risk until it got into a densely populated environment where the transition from person to person could proceed faster than the virus could kill off infectious hosts,” he said.

Olds believes the current Ebola epidemic could not be stopped even if there was a cure tomorrow.

“We have to identify the cases, quarantine them and treat them without letting our own health care professionals get sick themselves,” he said. “That is exactly how the Ebola epidemic will be controlled.”

He concluded his talk by saying the priorities for health spending needed to change.

“We put too much money in this country into curing people after they get sick,” Olds said. “We should put far more resources into public health. The patient would actually prefer not to get sick in the first place. I would prefer to stay healthy.”

 

College of Engineering hosts MATHCOUNTS for area schools

MATHCOUNTS, a competitive mathematics program, attracted more than 150 middle school students to the California Baptist University campus Feb. 7.

MATHCOUNTS is an organization dedicated to promoting engineering and mathematics at the middle school level. The students came from 26 middle schools in the Riverside/San Bernardino region.

The Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering has hosted the competition since 2009. About 25 engineering students served as judges during this year’s event.

The top ranked individuals were Alair Zhao of Oxford Preparatory Academy in Chino, Richard Hu of Beattie Middle School in Highland and Samuel Xu of Frank Augustus Miller Middle School in Riverside.

In the team competition, the top four teams advanced to the state competition: Riverside’s Amelia Earhart Middle School, Beattie Middle School, Frank Augustus Miller Middle School, and the No. 1 team, Riverside STEM Academy.

“We appreciate CBU allowing us to be here. It is very generous of them to provide this,” said Rosalee Hrubic, coach of the Riverside STEM Academy team.

CBU’s College of Engineering awards $10,000 scholarships ($2,500 per year) to the top performers if they enroll in the CBU engineering program as a full-time student in the future.

The competition consisted of four rounds: the sprint round has 30 problems that students have 40 minutes to complete; the target round featured eight questions, distributed a pair at a time and students have six minutes to compete each pair; the team round included 10 problems that team members worked together to solve; and the countdown round was a fast-paced, oral competition for individuals with the highest scores from the sprint and target rounds.

“I feel so proud. This is my first year in MATHCOUNTS, and I am going to state. I hope that I can get to nationals,” said Major Yang of Riverside STEM Academy, a top 16 finalist.

In addition to judging, the CBU volunteers also performed a robotics showcase in which participants were able to interact with a human-like robot and a 3-D printer display.

The state competition will be held at the University of California, Irvine on March 14.

 

Lancer 5000 run will benefit CBU cross country/track

California Baptist University will host the 5^th annual Lancer 5000 sponsored by Lexus of Riverside on Feb. 14.

The 5K run/walk will start on Palm Drive, the original entrance of California Baptist University and, after two loops through the campus, finish down Palm Drive. Participants will finish the last quarter mile running along the front lawn and Fortuna Fountain with cheering spectators and music as they cross the finish line. The event helps raise funds for the CBU cross country and track program. The event will also include great food, vendors, such as Lexus of Riverside, Chick-fil-A Hidden Valley, United States Karate Organization and UFC Gym Corona, and a post-race raffle for all of the race participants.

Children may also join the fun in the 1K Kiddie Run. All those in the Kiddie Run will receive a medal. The top three men and women in each age group also will receive a medal, and the top three men and women overall will receive additional prizes. Past runs have attracted 200 to 300 participants.

To register, go to www.active.com/riverside-ca/running/races/lancer-5000-sponsored-by-lexus-of-riverside-2015

 

CBU Career Center prepares students for the job interview

The California Baptist University Career Center offers students the opportunity to prepare for the job search by offering mock interviews conducted by experienced professionals.

“It is important. You come to school for four years, and an interview is usually 45 minutes to an hour,” said Mike Bishop, senior director at the Career Center. He said the goal of the Career Center is to focus on making those 45 to 60 minutes really count.

“You’re never going to stop interviewing, so the fact that we have the resource to have as many as we want is totally invaluable,” said Taylor Engbrecht, a senior marketing student.

As senior marketing student Trent Ward put it, “The most beneficial part of the process was being able to experience the real-life nerves and pressures of a live interview.”

Participants are expected to dress professionally and bring a copy of their resume to the interview. The participant informs the interviewer of the type of job they are preparing for, then the interviewer acts as if he or she is interviewing the participant for that job.

“I heard it was intense, so I prepared,” Engbrecht said.

The interview lasts about 25 minutes followed by another 25 minutes of critique. The interviewer gives tips on how to improve the participant’s performance. Assistance in building a resume is also available.

“Overall the feedback was an incredible tool, and it was a great eye-opener for what interviewing will be like in the professional world,” Engbrecht said.

“It is definitely an invaluable experience for anyone bold enough to take on the challenge,” Ward said.

“This is an opportunity to come talk to those with life experience and who want to help students with practical experience,” Bishop said.

The Career Center conducted about 160 mock interviews, mostly with seniors, during the fall semester. Bishop estimated that the Career Center will complete about 315 interviews over the course of the academic year. An interview can be scheduled by contacting the Career Center.

“After every interview our students assess the process, and we have not heard any negative feedback yet,” Bishop said. “The students are voicing that this is helpful, and we will continue to get their feedback so that we can continue to raise the bar.”

 

CBU students fly aircraft from Texas to California

Two California Baptist University students gained a real-life experience last month by piloting two recently purchased aircraft from east Texas to California.

The students, accompanied by two flight instructors from the department of aviation science, flew the twin-engine 1979 Beechcraft Duchesses from Gilmer, Texas, to the Riverside Municipal Airport. The trip took more than 11 hours over a period of two days.

The students, junior Jennifer Endeman and sophomore Howard Dang, both aviation flight majors, did the preflight check, the flight plan and the flying. The instructors, Shannon Cardin and Jared Tapsfield, ensured the students did those things correctly. Cardin said he rarely touched the controls unless his student needed to get water.

The group stopped at several airports along the way, including an overnight stop in El Paso, Texas.

“This trip not only gave me an opportunity to build more flight hours but also helped me gain more confidence as a private pilot,” Dang said. “I got to land and takeoff at many different types of airports, both towered and non-towered airports. This also gave me a chance to see how each airport operates different than the others.”

Both the flight instructors said it was great experience for the students

“I think the most that both of the students gained was to be ready for anything,” Tapsfield said. “If something were to go wrong, even though nothing did, they needed to know where the closest airport was and how to get there as quickly as possible. It’s something students don’t always think about when flying around Southern California, because there are airports everywhere. In the middle of Texas and New Mexico, things are very different. Planning is key and a backup plan is always needed as well.”

Dang also said the trip gave him a good look at the industry.

“This long trip gave me a better exposure to see what today’s aviation industry is really like,” he said. “The majority of airline flights today would take long hours to get from one destination to the next, thus this trip gave me a feel for what it is like to be in the airline industry.”

The department of aviation science now has 10 aircraft: five Cessna 172s, two Cessna 150s and three Beechcraft Duchesses.

“The twin-engine aircraft always bring a new element into a program. They’re larger aircraft, they’re more complex aircraft, said Dr. Daniel Prather, chair of the department of aviation science. “It always takes a program up to a next level, away from just Cessnas and single-engine Cessnas. But not only that, it allows us to handle a significant number of students working on their multi-engine rating.”

 

Family Updates

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, was keynote speaker Feb. 12 at the monthly Good Morning Riverside program sponsored by the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. More than 200 representatives from area businesses heard Ellis present an update on CBU’s programs and economic impact on the Greater Riverside region.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final home game for CBU men’s basketball will be televised on Feb. 28 by Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket. The Lancers will play Notre Dame de Namur at 7 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Andrew Herrity, professor of entrepreneurship and business, made a presentation titled Marketing the Forum to the Riverside Technology CEOs Forum on Feb. 3.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robert F. Kirk, adjunct professor of aviation science, is author of the book Choices: Responsible Decisions for a Godly Life, which was recently published by Author House. The book is Kirk’s third.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, taught a one-day course titled Developing Strategic Mission, Vision, and Goals in Business Aviation at the National Business Aviation Association Scheduler’s and Dispatcher’s Conference, which met at the San Jose Convention Center Feb. 2-6.

 

 

 

 

Kelli Welzel, director of new student programs, reports that one of CBU’s new students chose to begin a relationship with Christ last week. The student began asking questions during New Student Orientation and made the decision to follow Christ during a one-on-one with her FOCUS leader after class. “We are encouraged to know there are many similar stories happening all around campus,” she said. “This is just a reminder of why we are so blessed to work here, and the impact each staff member, faculty member and student has for Christ!”

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, associate professor of kinesiology for Online and Professional Studies, partnered with Team Faith Racing Ministry and Fellowship of Christian Athletes Motocross Division at the National Arenacross Racing Series in Nashville, Tenn. on Jan. 31. The ministry team provided racing chaplaincy services to professional motocross athletes, including rider devotionals and prayer.

 

 

 

 

Waylon Baumgardner, CBU website manager, has completed requirements for the master of science in information technology degree from Southern New Hampshire University.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Bonjun Koo, professor of environmental science, has been named editor and a member of the editorial board for the journal International Chemistry Review, effective December 2014. His responsibilities will include selecting reviewers, reviewing manuscripts and occasionally giving advice on manuscripts in his field.

 

 

 

Denise Payne, senior credential analyst, attended a two-day training session Feb. 5 and 6 to become a member of the Board of Institutional Review (BIR). Hosted by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the training provides a comprehensive overview of California’s accreditation system and prepares individuals to assist in all system components. BIR members are involved in initial institutional approval, initial program approval, program assessment and accreditation site visits. Service in the BIR includes document reading and serving on accreditation site visit teams. Payne received a certificate for providing dedicated service toward high quality education for California students.

 

 

Dr. Wayne Fletcher, assistant professor of health science; Dr. Nathanael Heyman, assistant professor of biology; and Dr. Hyun-Woo Park, professor of biology, attended the annual Loma Linda University Pre-Professional Advisors Workshop on Jan. 13. They had lunch with three CBU alumni at Loma Linda:  Chris LaPoint (’12), a third year student in the doctorate of pharmacy program; Alexandra Taylor (’13), a second year student in the doctorate of pharmacy; and Rebecca Marsile (’08, not pictured), a second year student in the master of public health program.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Charles Sands, dean of the College of Allied Health, presented Living SMART: Five Essential Skills To Change Your Health Habits Forever as part of the employee wellness program of the San Bernardino County Heart Health Initiative. The presentation was in Victorville, Calif.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

 

Family Updates

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president, served on a panel titled The Upside of Intercollegiate Athletics for Private Colleges and Universities at the Presidents Institute of the Council of Independent Colleges held in San Diego Jan. 4-7, 2015. The panel discussed how thoughtfully managed intercollegiate athletic programs can enhance enrollment, strengthen institutional image and support other educational purposes. Panelists compared NCAA Division II and Division III with NAIA rules and regulations pertaining to scholarships and discussed how to maximize recruiting efforts in each division. They emphasized the importance of building successful athletic programs and establishing measurable goals and outcomes as well as the importance of providing the institutional support necessary to build and sustain an athletic program that enhances the academic experience.

 

Dr. Elizabeth Morris, associate professor of education for Online and Professional Studies, and Dr. Riste Simnjanovski, assistant dean for Online and Professional Studies, presented A Pilot Study: The Relationship Between Non-Cognitive Factors and Student Retention for Distance Education at The Clute Institute’s International Education Conference in Maui, Hawaii on Jan. 6, 2015. The paper earned Clute’s “Best Paper Award” for the session, the third such award for Simnjanovski and Morris at The Clute Institute’s International Education Conference.

 

 

Dr. Steve Strombeck, interim dean of the School of Business, is co-author of an article titled Pricing management between partnering rivals: a coopetitive diffusion analysis, which was published in the December 2014 issue of the International Journal of Systems Science: Operations & Logistics.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Matthew Y. Emerson, assistant professor of Christian studies, presented a paper titled He Descended to the Dead: The Burial of Christ and the Eschatological Character of the Atonement at the Los Angeles Theology Conference at Biola University Jan. 15-16. Emerson was one of nine breakout speakers.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jong-Wha Bai, associate professor of civil engineering, co-authored an article titled Case Study: Scenario-Based Seismic Loss Estimation for Concrete Structures in Mid-America, which was published in the November issue of the journal, Earthquake Spectra.

 

 

 

Dr. Laura J. Veltman, associate professor of English, was invited to write a book review on Dawn Coleman’s Preaching and the Rise of the American Novel, which was published in the September issue of Nineteenth-Century Literature.

 

 

 

 

Shawn Wilhite, adjunct professor of Christian studies for Online and Professional Studies, welcomed a son, Caden Price Joseph Wilhite, on Dec. 31. In addition, Wilhite was author of Editorial: The Center for Ancient Christian Studies and Ancient Christian Studies and a review article of Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection in the Epistle to the Hebrews, both published in the winter 2014 edition of Fides et Humiliates: The Journal of the Center for Ancient Christian Studies; a review of Union with Christ in the New Testament, published in the December 2014 issue of the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society and an article titled Papias, published in Lexham Bible Dictionary.

 

 

Dr. Jan Kodat, professor of kinesiology, married Jaydee Edmisten on Oct. 12, 2014 in a small ceremony officiated by Dr. David Pearson, professor of kinesiology. In addition, she served as the team leader of an external review team who reviewed Loma Linda University’s post-professional physical therapy programs in December, 2014.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jeffrey Barnes, dean of academic services, conducted a workshop Jan. 21 at the Strategic Management Conference for the Corona Police Department.  The workshop was titled The Wisdom of Walt:  Leadership Lessons from the Happiest Place on Earth.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Bruce Stokes, professor of anthropology and behavioral sciences, wrote an article titled Biblical Life Cycle, which was published in the newly released Messianic Jewish Family Bible, a family edition of the Tree of Life Version of the Bible. Stokes is a corporate advisor to the Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biology and clinical microbiologist, coauthored a paper titled Evolutionary relationships of iridoviruses and divergence of ascoviruses from invertebrate iridoviruses in the superfamily Megavirales, which was published in the January 2015  issue of the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. He also was  an academic editor of a collection of work titled Antimicrobial Peptides: Current and Potential Applications in Biomedical Therapies that was published in the journal BioMed Research International in the January 2015 edition.

 

 

 

More than 60 students and public relations professionals gathered in the Staples Room of the W.E. James building on Jan. 24 for the second annual YoPro Conference. The event was co-sponsored by CBU’s Public Relations Student Society of America  chapter and Public Relations Society of America-Inland Empire. Students from CBU and California State University (San Bernardino and Fullerton campuses) gathered to hear professional PR practitioners speak on generational communication, networking, interview skills and establishing a career in lifestyle public relations. Speakers included Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, associate professor of communication arts for Online and Professional Studies, and Robbie Silver of the Riverside Downtown Partnership, who is a CBU alumnus.

 

 

Dr. Wayne Fletcher, assistant professor of health science, and his wife welcomed their first grandchild, Brooke Marci Fletcher, who was born in Castle Rock, Colo. on Jan. 12. She weighed 6 lbs. 10 ozs. and measured 20 inches long.

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Marshall won the first place individual trophy at the Grizzly Open Bible Quiz Tournament in Fresno on Jan. 10. Marshall, the daughter of Suzanne Marshall, adjunct professor of nursing, and Dr. Thomas Marshall, professor of civil engineering, is a member of the CBU Youth Bible Quiz team, which earned third place overall in the expert division at the tournament. Members of the team include Hannah and Leah Marshall, Mary’s sisters.Youth Bible Quiz is a program for youth from ages 12-18 that focuses on Bible memorization.

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

First doctoral program at CBU scheduled for fall 2015 launch

California Baptist University will have its first doctoral degree beginning in the fall of 2015. The School of Nursing will offer the doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) after it was approved by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

“It is very exciting to be launching CBU’s first doctoral program later this year,” said Dr. Jonathan Parker, CBU provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We have been working very diligently to develop a high quality DNP degree program and I’m especially pleased that our accrediting agency has recognized that effort and commented very favorably on the result.”

The school expects 20 students in its first class, said Dr. Lisa Bursch, acting director of the DNP program. Bursch said there is a national movement to have more nurses educated at a doctoral level because of the complexity of health care. For that reason, the school is looking to train nurse leaders to have an impact on health outcomes.

“For as much money as (the nation) spends on health care, our national outcomes are not that great,” Bursch said. “Something’s not translating between what we know to do and what’s being done.”

The nursing doctoral program will be the only one in Riverside County, Bursch said. Students in the clinical doctorate will take original research and put it into practice. Classes will include organization and systems leadership class, nursing theory and translational research, policy and finance. All students will do a project, which involves looking at health outcomes and how to improve them.

Parker said it is fitting that CBU’s first doctoral program is in nursing. “Programs such as the DNP not only help to meet an important need in society by producing highly-trained healthcare professionals,” he explained, “but they also represent the service-related values that California Baptist University seeks to instill in its graduates.”

 

CBUOnline makes gains in U.S.News & World Report ranking 

California Baptist University (CBU) earned the No. 23 spot among online bachelor’s programs in the 2015 Top Online Education Program rankings released Jan. 7 by U.S.News & World Report. This is a jump up from No. 37 in 2014 and puts CBU second among California colleges ranked in the best online bachelor’s programs list.

CBU entered the online education market in the spring of 2010 with programs offered by the university’s Division of Online and Professional Studies. Since 2013, the first year online programs were ranked by U.S.News & World Report, CBU has placed in the top 40 for three consecutive years. CBU now serves more than 3,400 students online throughout the United States, offering 30 online undergraduate majors and concentrations and 16 graduate majors and specializations.

“We are happy to be consistently top ranked since inception, especially considering CBU’s four short years offering online programs,” said Dr. David Poole, vice president for Online and Professional Studies at CBU.  “We are even more delighted given the significant jump in our ranking to be recognized by U.S.News & World Report in 2015.” In addition to the No. 23 spot for best online bachelor’s programs, CBU also was ranked among the best online graduate MBA and best online graduate education programs as evaluated nationwide for factors including faculty credentials and training.

CBU ranked no. 7 for faculty credentials and training in the online bachelor’s degree category, No. 3 for online MBA faculty and No. 1 for online Graduate Education faculty credentials and training.

“The ranking methodology reviews student engagement best practices, graduation and retention rates, student indebtedness, faculty credentials and training, as well as technological infrastructure. These are all key elements, central to our focus as we build and deliver programs that serve the adult student who seeks a quality, reputable degree in an online format, at a reasonable cost. This acknowledgement and ranking continues to support our mission and drive that quality and experience of faculty, innovative, cutting edge technology, and student support and service are at the heart of what we do at CBU,” said Poole.

For more information about the rankings methodology, and full listings, please go to http://www.usnews.com/onlinemeth.

Founded in 1950, CBU is a private comprehensive institution located in Riverside, Calif. and affiliated with the California Southern Baptist Convention. Fall 2014 enrollment at CBU totaled 7,957 students enrolled in 72 bachelor degree programs with 150 major concentrations, and 25 master degree programs with 45 concentrations. CBU is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities, and the Consortium for Global Education.

For more information on the U.S. News Top Online Education Program rankings, please visit http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education.

 

Spring 2015 semester opens with orientation activities

California Baptist University kicked off the spring 2015 semester, beginning with new students arriving for orientation.

Freshman and transfer students moved into residential facilities Sunday, Jan. 4. The following day they attended a welcome session and a welcome luncheon. Afternoon activities included academic panel and academic sessions. Later, students participated in the traditional Kugel Walk. CBU tradition calls for newly enrolled students to touch the Kugel, a floating granite globe structure that symbolizes the Great Commission, as they begin their educational experience at CBU and again on commencement day.

FOCUS groups – short for “First-Year Orientation & Christian University Success” – also began Jan. 5 to help acclimate students to campus life. Those groups will provide support for students as they begin their first semester at CBU.

On Jan. 6, student activities included a Purpose Session, Resource Fair, bowling and dinner at the Tamale Factory in downtown Riverside.

Spring 2015 classes began Jan. 7.

 

CBU food ranked No. 3 among California universities

Niche.com has ranked California Baptist University No. 3 among California universities for best campus food and No. 13 in the nationwide listing.

Dining services for CBU is managed by Provider Food Services, which offers a variety of choices through the Alumni Dining Commons, Brisco’s. Chick-fil-A, El Monte Grille and Wanda’s.

Best Campus Food ranks 1,175 colleges across the United States based on meal plan cost and more than 470,000 opinions from 64,000 students. A high ranking indicates the college offers a variety of healthy, quality food options that accommodate various dietary preferences and that the students are happy with the quality of campus food.

 

Canine ready to serve with CBU professor

Rugar is the top dog on campus. Never mind that he is the only dog allowed on campus at California Baptist University.

His owner is Dr. Juliann Perdue, professor of nursing, who got him about a year ago when he was 8 weeks old. Perdue loves animals, but she does not bring Rugar to work just for the company. When she acquired him, her intent, with prior approval from the dean of the School of Nursing, was to train him to be a Certified Therapy Dog.

Perdue heard about therapy dogs a couple of years ago when she attended a nursing conference on holistic nursing. The benefits of therapy dogs include helping mental health patients relax, providing a calm atmosphere for the elderly so they will eat better and motivating patients in physical therapy, she said.

“I love animals and I really believe in animal-assisted therapy,” Perdue said. “There’s a lot of evidence-based research out there that shows it helps patients’ outcomes.”

Both of them went through training. Perdue took an online course and is certified in animal-assisted therapy. Rugar went through puppy training and earned his Canine Good Citizenship. Last month he trained and was tested to become a therapy dog. Therapy dogs are certified by Therapy Dogs International (TDI). Tests include not being scared by loud noises, not going after food when it’s on the floor, and sitting and staying while the owner walks away.

Rugar passed. When he is on duty, he wears a vest made by the company that makes the school’s nursing uniforms, although he will also be getting a bandana from TDI.

Now that Rugar is certified, Perdue plans to ask School of Nursing’s hospital affiliates if she can take him into the facilities so nursing students can see how a dog can help patients. Later, she wants to do animal-assisted therapy, which includes a therapeutic plan with objectives to meet.

Rugar comes with Perdue to work several days a week, and he has already provided therapy on campus.

“I’ve also had faculty request him before tests. They’ll say, the class is having a test, will you bring Rugar in? So I’ll go 15 minutes before the test is to start, and we’ll circulate the room and let them all pet him,” she said. “Right now we just are doing it for our nursing students, but we’re willing to go help anybody. When we walk across campus, students are always stopping to say ‘can I pet him?’ ”

 

Family Updates

The School of Education hosted a lunch to honor its namesake, Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf, during Homecoming and Family activities. Her son and daughter-in-law were in attendance. Metcalf also was highlighted at an open house reception and reunited with alumni, colleagues and friends.

 

 

 

 

 

The sociology program inducted their first nine members Nov. 14 into the newly formed Alpha Phi of California chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, the international sociology honor society. Dr. Carol Minton, professor of sociology, serves as chapter representative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kenneth Minesinger, associate professor of law for Online and Professional Studies, wrote an article titled 2014 Conference of California Bar Associations, which was published in the December 2014 issue of the Riverside County Lawyer Magazine.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Cammy Purper, assistant professor of early childhood studies for Online and Professional Studies, successfully defended her dissertation for a Ph.D. in education from Claremont Graduate University.

 

 

 

 

 

Gary Steward, adjunct professor of history in Online and Professional Studies, has written a book titled Princeton Seminary (1812-1929): Its Leaders’ Lives and Works, published by P & R Publishing. A promo video is available by clicking here.

 

Dr. Charles Sands, dean of the College of Allied Health, made a presentation titled Global Health Engagement at the 13th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Education, which met in Waikiki Jan. 5-8.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Tim Luther, professor of political science, is author of the books Jurgen Habermas’s Reconstruction of Modernity: Reconciling Individual Autonomy and Community Solidarity, published by Linus Books (2015), and Theories of Truth: An Introduction, published by Bloomsbury Press (2014).

 

 

 

 

Patricia Palacios, adjunct professor of nursing, was promoted to Clinical Nurse D at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

 

 

 

Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biology and clinical microbiologist, coauthored a paper titled, Heterologous expression, purification and biochemical characterization of endochitinase ChiA47 from Bacillus thuringiensis, which was published in the journal Protein Expression and Purification in December 2014.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Joshua Knabb, assistant professor of psychology for Online and Professional Studies, received notification in December that he is board certified in clinical psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dawn Gilmore, assistant professor of music, hosted five international students in her home on Christmas Eve for a chili supper and stocking stuffers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jeff McNair, professor of education, appeared on a Joni and Friends television episode about friendships with persons with disabilities. The show is available for online viewing by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Keanon Alderson, associate professor of business, taught a new class last semester called Business 101, in which students create microbusinesses. The course teaches students how to recognize an idea, develop an opportunity, take a risk and either buy products to resell or start a service. As a result of the microbusinesses, the class donated more than $2,800 to charity.

 

 

 

Dr. Margaret Barth, professor of nutrition and food sciences, and students from the program worked with Fred Jordan Missions during the holidays to provide cookies to children in Los Angeles’ Skid Row.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jared Dobbins, assistant director of global mobilization, and Julie Dobbins, assistant director of chapel and Compassion Ministries, welcomed a baby boy three weeks early on Dec. 20th. Parker Andrew Dobbins was born at 3:42 a.m. weighing 7 lbs. 6 ozs. and measuring 19 inches long.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. William Flores, associate professor of Spanish, and his wife Ruth Flores, lecturer of English for Online and Professional Studies, welcomed a daughter on Nov. 4. Isabella Grace was born at 1:45 p.m., weighing 7 pounds 4 ounces and measuring 19 inches long.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU listed on President’s Higher Education Honor Roll

California Baptist University has been listed on the 2014 President’s Higher Education Community Honor Roll for exemplary community service. Approximately 700 institutions qualified for the list nationwide.

“The President’s Honor Roll recognizes higher education institutions whose community service efforts achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities,” said Ted Miller, chief of external affairs for the Corporation for National and Community Service. “This distinction is the highest federal recognition colleges and universities can receive for community service, service-learning and civic engagement. This recognition is part of our strategic commitment to engage millions of college students in service and celebrate the critical role of higher education in strengthening communities.”

To qualify, CBU submitted a lengthy application outlining the university’s community service and service learning participation. Students, faculty and staff contributed more than 600,000 service hours in 2013, with a value of more than $16 million to the community.

Community service and service learning impact two of CBU’s Core 4 student outcomes: globally minded and equipped to serve.

The Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education hosted a luncheon and an open house reception honoring Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf during homecoming week. Her son and daughter-in-law were also in attendance.

 

ASCBU Christmas Party attracts more than 2,000 people

Students, faculty and staff took a break from end-of-the-semester projects Dec. 4 to celebrate California Baptist University’s annual Christmas Party on the Front Lawn.

The event, organized by Associated Students of California Baptist University (ASCBU), kicked off with a speech by CBU President Ronald L. Ellis who read from Luke 2, which tells about the birth of Jesus. Ellis concluded his speech saying, “This is a special time to remember the birth of Christ.” He then led a countdown that ended with the lighting of the Christmas tree on the front lawn.

The event, attended by more than 2,000 people, featured food stands, arcade games, jumpers, carolers and areas with snow for sledding. Attendees roamed from activity to activity sipping on eggnog and hot chocolate, served at the party.

“The party is great. There are a lot of people here and it looks like everybody is having fun,” said Austin Ng, a sophomore civil engineering major. “I love that our school takes the effort to put on these events. ASCBU always does a great job.”

“ASCBU has been planning this event since mid-August. It is one of our biggest events, and it is great when it all comes together,” said Trent Ward, ASCBU president. “It grows every year.”

High school students who were on campus for the 24 at CBU program to learn about the university also attended the party. Raymond Velasquez, a senior at La Sierra High School in Riverside, was one of them.

“The party is great. I didn’t expect it to be so amazing. It’s like Disneyland out here, I love it,” Velasquez said. “CBU seems like more than just a school, it’s a community. This party made me love the school even more, and I am very much looking forward to coming here next year.”

 

CBU musicians present Christmas concert during chapel services

Musicians from the Collinsworth School of Music kicked off the Christmas season at California Baptist University by performing a variety of selections during chapel services Dec. 3.

The Jazz Band, conducted by Dr. Guy Holliday, began the festivities by performing a mix of seasonal songs as students walked into chapel.

“Christmas is a time of great traditions,” Holliday said, as he talked about putting up lights and how excited children become. He then conducted the Concert Band, while Brett Vowell, director of chapel and compassion ministries, read “The Night Before Christmas.”

Afterward, the University Choir lined the court of Van Dyne Gymnasium as they sang “Tiny Little Town of Bethlehem” a cappella before taking their places on risers.

Dr. Judd Bonner, dean of the School of Music, conducted the University Choir and Orchestra in songs such as “The First Noel” and “Joy to the World.”

The choir and orchestra also performed “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” which is their most requested song, Bonner said. It is based on a poem by poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Longfellow had suffered personal tragedy during the Civil War and after spending years wishing for peace, he wrote the poem “Christmas Bells,” proclaiming “God is not dead, nor does he sleep.”

The University Choir and Orchestra has several upcoming performances, including one at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 at Life Church in Riverside and 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at Magnolia Church in Riverside. Tickets for the Dec. 10 performance can be reserved by calling 951.343.4251.

 

CBU volunteers will serve in 18 countries on 42 teams in 2015

Excitement was in the air Wednesday night, Dec. 3, as several hundred California Baptist University students filed into the auditorium at Sherman Indian High School in Riverside. The occasion? It was Team Reveal, the time when the Office of Mobilization reveals which volunteer teams the students will serve on.

Next year, approximately 400 students, faculty and staff will make up 42 teams for International Service Projects, United States Projects and Summer of Service. The teams will serve in 18 countries.

The theme for 2015 is Resolved, with the theme verse I Peter 4:1-1: Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, equip yourselves also with the same resolve — because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin — in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.

The Scripture calls for Christians to be resolved to do whatever it takes to live their lives in the will of God, Jared Dobbins, assistant director of global mobilization, told the students.

“Start to ask yourself, what does it mean to be resolved to live in light of the gospel for the sake of the unreached,” he said.

Each participant had received a different colored envelope at the beginning of the evening and were dismissed by color groups later. When they reached their designated spot, they opened the envelopes. Inside was a colored carabiner. Then a leader announced where each color was going. For example, those with a red carabiner were going to South Asia. The leaders and students began getting to know each other and preparing for the training which will run through the spring semester.

Earlier, Kristen White, director of global mobilization, told students to do their best whatever team they are on, whether it’s sports or nursing.

“It’s really not about where you go, it’s about who you serve,” she said. “Over the next six months, you’re going to learn more about yourself, more about the world and more about God.”

 

CBU program helps international students feel connected

Going to college is a big adjustment for anyone. Going to college in a foreign country makes the adjustment even bigger. California Baptist University has a program in place to help international students feel at home and connected.

The American Family Program, operated by the International Center, gives international students a family here in Riverside to serve as a support system far from home, said Marie King, a graduate assistant at the International Center. Students from Rwanda and students enrolled in the Intensive English Program are required to be in the family program, but all international students are welcome to be part of it, King said.

“It can be a hard transition being that far away, especially this time of year, too, when everyone else has plans and you’re not going home till the summer,” King said. “We just kind of seek to make that connection and help them get a lasting connection to people in Riverside.”

She finds families from the staff at CBU and local churches. Each student and family fills out a profile and then are matched. The commitment for families and students is for at least the academic year, with the potential of being longer, King said. Families have the students over for the holidays and often get together throughout the school year for other activities. Both sides are expected to communicate weekly.

Ken Sanford, student teacher supervisor, and his wife, Denise, started as a host family last year for two Chinese students and are continuing this year with those students. Sanford has been to China through participation in International Service Projects for five years in a row, and he has gotten to know international students at CBU. Sanford and his wife have had the students over for meals, gone out for dinner and visited an amusement park. They touch base with each other almost every day.

“Here you are across the seas, thousands of miles away from home,” he said. “It gives them that other person that can feel like family to them, that they can turn to. This is the more personable, family touch.”

Kristina Tchernyshev is a sophomore from Israel majoring in international studies. She came to CBU because of its swim program. Tchernyshev was matched with a family last year and has spent time with them, including dinners at their home.

“They were really supporting. They welcomed me to their house, to their family. Last year was my first Christmas with them and it was so fun,” she said.  “I got a chance to be part of the family, because my family’s not here.”

It’s essential for international students to feel supported while far away from home, King said. The International Center also offers the Intensive English Program, helps run International Chapel and holds events for international students, such as a Disneyland trip and International Celebration Week, in hopes that they will connect with other students.

“I think it just helps form deeper connections and enhances their education experience,” she said of the family program. “I think it’s a really cool way to impact the nations here at home. You don’t have to get on a plane to make a difference. That’s one thing I really love about this program.”

 

 

Family Updates

Dr. Shasha Zheng, assistant professor of nutrition, is author of an article titled TAM receptor-dependent regulation of SOCS3 and MAPKs contributes to pro-inflammatory cytokine down regulation following chronic NOD2 stimulation of human macrophages, which was recently published in the Journal of Immunology.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Melissa Antonio, assistant professor of biology, gave a presentation titled Pedagogical Techniques to Improve Undergraduate STEM Teaching and Student Learning at the monthly Natural and Mathematical Sciences Department Colloquium on Nov. 19. Her report was based on information she learned last June at the West Coast Scientific Teaching Summer Institute in Riverside on how to “flip the classroom” and incorporate active learning tools into otherwise didactic lectures.

 

 

 

Dr. William Flores, associate professor of Spanish, presented a paper titled Ecocritical Approaches to the Teaching of Nobel Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa Oct. 11 at the 2014 Regional American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Conference on Hispanic Literature in Moreno Valley. Flores also presented information about the CBU bachelor of arts in Spanish to a large number of students and diverse local student organizations.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jong-Wha Bai, department chair of civil engineering; Dr. Julian Mills-Beale, assistant professor of civil engineering; and 16 civil engineering students visited the construction site of the Wilshire Grand in downtown Los Angeles, which will become the tallest high-rise building west of the Mississippi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, assistant professor of psychology, presented a paper titled Creation Beliefs: The Default of the Mind or the Product of Culture? as part of a symposium on Children’s Concepts of Gods: Investigating Cognitive and Cultural Variables at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion on Nov. 23 in San Diego.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jeff Cate, professor of Christian studies, has been selected to serve a three-year term on the International Greek New Testament Project (www.igntp.org). The IGNTP is comprised of 25 North American and European scholars in textual criticism who oversee work towards comprehensive editions of the manuscript evidence for the books of the Greek New Testament.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jeff Barnes, dean of academic services, is author of a book titled A Student’s Guide to Understanding Jesus and the Gospels:  Navigating Your Journey Through Critical Scholarship, published by Aviva Publishing.

 

 

 

Marilyn D. Moore, associate professor of sociology, was honored at a non-profit event in Fontana Nov. 22 called Women Who Hide, an organization designed to highlight issues related to women’s mental health. Moore was given the Courage Award for her contributions to the community to promote the needs of women in the Inland Empire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Torria Bond, instructional designer for Online and Professional Studies, published a guest blog titled Fostering Real Conversations in the Online Classroom for Blackboard in December.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Ricardo J. Cordero-Soto, assistant professor of mathematics, was a guest panelist for a session called Field of Success: How to succeed in a math science doctoral program. Alliance PhD graduates tell their stories at the Field of Dreams Conference Nov. 7-9 in Mesa, Ariz. The conference is presented annually by the National Alliance for Doctoral Studies in the Mathematical Sciences, an organization committed to ensuring an equal opportunity for all who wish to pursue a doctoral degree in mathematical sciences.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Margaret Barth, professor of nutrition and food sciences, is co-author of an article titled Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging on the Quality of Sea Buckthorn Berry Fruits during Postharvest Storage, which was published in the Journal of Food Quality. Barth collaborated with colleagues from the Harbin (China) Institute of Technology. She also served as moderator for a session on local food systems, food insecurity and public health at the American Public Health Association Conference in New Orleans Nov. 17th. Barth presented research on native American edible plants, antioxidant activity and opportunities for development of functional foods at the Southern California Institute of Food Technologists Section Nov. 19 at the Rio Hondo Event Center in Downey.

 

Kay Fangerow, adjunct professor in the School of Nursing, was a presenter Nov. 7 at the 2014 Southern California Public Health Association Annual Conference held at The California Endowment in Los Angeles. Her topic was Using Healthography to Define a Healthy Montclair.

 

 

 

Dr. David Poole, vice president for Online and Professional Studies, was a featured speaker at the 2014 County of Riverside Human Resources Conference in September.  His workshop/presentation centered on the topic of leadership types including transformational, transactional and laissez-faire leaders. In addition, Poole recently served on a panel with other senior educational leaders on the impact of online education for Leadership Riverside Class of 2014.

 

 

 

 

CBU’s Division of Online and Professional Studies dedicated its new Brea Educational Service Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 13. More than 100 faculty, staff and members of the community attended the grand opening held in Downtown Brea.

 

 

 

 

 

Kenneth George, assistant professor of business administration for Online and Professional Studies, spoke at the Certified Fraud Examiner Conference in Orange County, Calif. on November 13th. His topic was Ethical Financial Management.

 

 

 

 

 

Kenneth Minesinger, associate professor of law for Online and Professional Studies, recently edited an article for the State Bar of California’s Business Law News titled Using LLCs in Fiscal Sponsorship: An Update on “Model L.”

 

 

 

 

 

Code42, a data security firm in Minneapolis, Minn., is currently featuring California Baptist University in a case study on their website. The case study outlines the plan CBU used for to protect online data.

 

CBU academic secretaries purchased a water buffalo, a sheep, a hive of bees and a flock of chicks through Heifer International as part of their Christmas luncheon. In the past the group exchanged Christmas ornaments but decided three years ago to spend their money to help families in need all over the world. Each family who receives an animal through Heifer International agrees to give the animal’s first female offspring to another family in need.

 

Shawn Wilhite, adjunct professor in Christian studies for Online and Professional Studies, presented a paper titled Revisiting the Historical Present: John 13 and the Prominence of Discourse Features at the Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society in San Diego Nov. 19-21. In addition, Dr. Matthew Emerson, assistant professor of Christian studies for Online and Professional Studies, and Dr. Lucas Stamps, assistant professor of Christian studies for Online and Professional Studies, presented a paper titled Baptists and the Catholicity of the Church: Toward an Evangelical Baptist Catholicity at the meeting. Also, Emerson moderated the Scripture and Hermeneutics Seminar at the annual meeting of the Institute of Biblical Research Nov. 21 and wrote two articles: Human Flourishing Through Imagining Communion in Revelation 19: Confronting Evil by Incorporating Christ’s Victory, which was published in Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology, and Facing Our Giants? Getting the Moral Sense Right in 1 Samuel 17, which was published in Fides et Humilitas.

 

The School of Nursing Association participated in the annual Festival of Trees Nov. 24-30, which is sponsored by the Riverside County Regional Medical Center Foundation. The festival features more than 50 elaborately decorated trees, each with its own unique theme, and is the only major fundraiser benefiting the pediatric units at the hospital. Through the support of the residents of Riverside County, the Foundation has raised more $8.5 million to better serve the children of Riverside County. CBU’s School of Nursing has participated in the festival since 2006.

 

Dr. Namhee Kim, assistant professor of communication disorders, presented a poster Nov. 21 titled Group Patterns and Individual Variations in Consonant Assimilation and Vowel Effects at the American Speech Language Hearing Association Annual Convention held in Orlando, Fla.

 

 

 

 

Sandra Romo, assistant professor of journalism, presented a paper titled Major Minor Faith: An exploration of social and relational factors that influence conversion among traditional college students at the National Communication Association meeting in Chicago on Nov. 19-21.

 

 

 

Shawnn Koning, university registrar, was honored as the 2014 Best Task Force Member by CBU’s institutional data task force at their Dec. 3 meeting. Koning was recognized for her continuing dedication and leadership in improving data-related processes. The mission of the task force is to manage information functions to ensure that CBU data are accurate, timely, sufficient and protected.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates