In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU honors graduates at fall 2022 commencement ceremonies

Cheers and excitement filled the Events Center during the two fall commencement ceremonies on Dec. 14. Family and friends celebrated as each name was called and the graduates walked across the stage. A total of 919 students were eligible to participate. Combined applications for graduation included 24 candidates for doctoral degrees, 285 for master’s degrees and 610 candidates for undergraduate degrees.

CBU administration offered congratulations to the graduates, for persevering and overcoming obstacles to achieve their goal of earning their degree. After many late nights completing homework and projects, practicing presentations and studying for tests, the students reached their target.

“Commencement is the occasion when we celebrate academic achievements,” said Dr. John Montgomery, associate vice president of student services, during the commencement address.

“Today, all the demanding work and sacrifice poured into your college years finally pays off. The goal you have been pursuing at last is at hand. You have successfully navigated the various requirements, deadlines and assessments necessary to receive your diploma.”

During their time at CBU, students are encouraged to find their purpose, Montgomery said.

“Graduates of this institution are challenged to become individuals whose skills, principles and sense of purpose glorify God and distinguish them in the workplace and in the world,” Montgomery said. “You have met that challenge by continuing to develop your knowledge and skills with integrity. Because of that, you are truly distinguished and prepared to make the most of your CBU experience.”

During the ceremony, Dr. Walter Price, chair of the California Baptist University Board of Trustees, prayed for the graduates.

“We pray that they will take with them what they learned at this Great Commission university, and that they will go out into the world wherever You may lead them and make disciples of all nations,” Price said.

Montgomery offered encouragement to the graduates as they move into the next chapter of their lives.

“May you also take with you a continuing passion for learning, the friendships made and the life lessons gained during your college years. My earnest hope and prayer is that each of you will embrace this new beginning with Lancer enthusiasm,” he said. “You are ready to move on to what lies ahead in life, no doubt better prepared than you might imagine for whatever that may be.”

 

Graduating students reflect on time at CBU

Excitement was in the air at California Baptist University as more than 900 students prepared to become part of the Class of 2022 during the fall commencement.

CBU held two ceremonies for graduates to celebrate with family and friends on Dec. 14. A total of 919 students were eligible to participate.

Combined applications for graduation consist of 24 candidates for doctoral degrees, 285 for master’s degrees and 610 candidates for undergraduate degrees. We interviewed a few graduates to find out about their time at CBU.

Jason Baron
Jason Baron will earn his Bachelor of Science in Nursing. He wants to pursue work in pediatrics.

Baron was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 15 and again in his later teenage years. Then the cancer went into remission. In 2019, after almost 12 years, his cancer returned. He had surgery and stayed in school. But when cancer was discovered again in the fall of 2020, he took time off from school for chemotherapy.

The CBU professors have been supportive and understanding, Baron said.

“Even right now they’re supporting me, making sure when I graduate, I’m going to have all the work that I need to have in,” Baron said. “Even other professors [outside of nursing] were very supportive and understanding and were very on my side, wanting to see me succeed.”

He pursued a college degree elsewhere before transferring to CBU.

“I liked the message — live your purpose,” Baron said. “I like how they incorporate the Christian values and the Christian application. I found that great to have in an education.”

Throughout the nursing program, Baron said he appreciated the skills taught and the experience provided along with the book information.

“They prepared us by not only the knowledge that they gave us in the program but also the clinical and skill knowledge,” Baron said. “They explained to us how important clinicals were and how they were a microcosm of what you’ll be doing as a nurse. …  They had us doing various things in clinicals and ensuring that we were confident in terms of our skills and knowledge.”

Baron would tell incoming students that CBU professors will help them along the way.

“I would tell a new student that CBU professors are on your side and they’ll work with you. Focus on the major that you want and CBU will support you on your journey, but it’s important to focus,” Baron said. “Once you follow that path, you’ll see that it’s so worth it, and there’ll be so many wonderful rewards when you finish.”

Candice Cromwell
Candice Cromwell, who will receive a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, wants to work with children who have speech and language impairments. She also plans to attend graduate school.

Cromwell is grateful for the professors who made themselves available to the students.

“The professors in the CDS [communication sciences and disorders] department are as passionate and invested in our education and futures as much as we are,” Cromwell said.

She said that many professors helped her, but she is especially appreciative of Dr. Namhee Kim, professor of communication sciences and disorders.

“Dr. Kim introduced me to many areas of the field of speech and language, which made me realize becoming a speech-language pathologist is my purpose,” Cromwell said.

Cromwell enjoyed being a member of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association CBU Chapter, building friendships with CDS students and networking with individuals in the field. She also appreciated the services at the Career Center, including mock interviews, resume reviews and career fairs.

Time management was crucial for Cromwell: She had to juggle being a single mom of four, being a full-time student, going to practicum sites for 18-plus hours a week, and volunteering at a speech and language therapy center every week.

“Finding the balance between school, family and volunteering was definitely a challenge and wouldn’t be possible without the support of all my family,” Cromwell said. “Being so involved in the field of speech and language has assured me that I am headed in the right direction and am living my purpose in life!”

She would encourage new students to use all the resources CBU offers, ranging from the Career Center and Disability Services to the Counseling Center and Campus Recreation.

“Also, never be afraid to ask questions. At CBU, the staff and professors are accommodating, and if they can’t help you, they will guide you in the right direction to get the needed help,” Cromwell said.

Lillian McConnell
Lillian McConnell earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in American Sign Language. She is in the middle of applying to law school.

“I chose to attend CBU because I genuinely felt as though I was the one being chosen. This university prioritizes their students above all else and I could feel that commitment to the student body when I was applying during my senior year of high school,” McConnell said. “Their support of me, even at the very beginning of my college journey, instilled a confidence within me about the quality of education and care I would receive at this university.”

McConnell is grateful for her professors, saying they have been friends and allies during her time at CBU. She said she is particularly thankful for the support of Dr. Chase Porter, assistant professor of political science.

“His personable style and wit in class made him immediately approachable. He also prioritizes the voices of the students and makes class a collaborative experience in which all the students have the freedom to voice their opinions freely and learn from one another,” McConnell said. “He has become a trusted friend and mentor.”

Another professor, Jim Bishop, associate professor of criminal justice and business law, took time to help her plan her educational journey with law school in mind, she said.

“He helped me to conceptualize the demands of law school. This meeting right at the beginning of my sophomore year, was vital in preparing me for the application process. I am grateful to [Professor] Bishop for his care and support,” McConnell said.

She encourages new students to be themselves.

“Do not change into a person you think people will like; do not hide away your true self out of fear. Promise yourself that you will be authentic no matter who you are with,” McConnell said. “If people cannot respect and appreciate you for who you are, do not give yourself to them. Set boundaries for yourself and prioritize people who are genuine and see you for who you truly are.”

Amber Stout
Amber Stout (‘20) will earn a Master of Science in Information Technology Management. She works in information technology for a government agency and hopes her new degree will help her advance in the workplace.

“CBU prepared me for my career as it is fast paced just like the IT environment,” Stout said. “With these new skills that I have learned, I cannot wait to use them at my workplace or in life.”

She earned her degree taking online classes.

“With my current schedule, [online classes] make it easy to work a full-time job and earn degrees at the same time,” Stout said.

Stout’s educational journey was a roller coaster, she said. In high school, she did not see herself going to college.

“I remember, high school me never wanted to go to college as I did not see myself being able to get a degree. When plans changed and I started my educational journey, I had a lot of up-and-down moments,” Stout said. “Once I got my bachelor’s degree, my family and boyfriend challenged me to get my master’s degree. I accepted the challenge and faced the same hardships. In the end, I went from never wanting to go to college to now finishing college with a master’s degree.”

Her advice to new students? Do not give up.

“No matter how hard it becomes, no matter how many times you must retake a class or must take a break, keep going. In the end it will be worth every hardship you face,” Stout said.

 

Lego tournament mixes fun and learning

Bustling crowds of parents and students ages 6-14 brought the halls of the Dennis and Carol Troesh Engineering Building to life on Dec. 2 for the First Lego League Regional Tournament held at California Baptist University.

Thirty-nine Challenge teams (ages 9-14) and two Explore teams (ages 6-10) competed in the regionals, which included teams from San Luis Obispo to San Diego and Arizona. Each team had designed a Lego robot, coded to complete rounds of challenges throughout the day.

The robotics tournament felt similar to a sporting event — students arrived clad in team shirts showcasing their names and sponsors, families gathered around to watch, the kids cheered for fellow team members and there were even teams celebrating with colorful pom-poms in hand.

Before the first round, students made last-minute preparations for their robots. Powered by the Son, a team sponsored by CBU, performed practice runs, rewrote a piece of code and headed into the competition area with a giant “Lance Up” foam hand.

Then, it was time to compete. Each round consisted of matches that lasted 2.5 minutes. During that time, each robot, controlled by a drive team of four students, attempted to complete as many of the 15 challenges as possible on the Lego League mat. This year’s theme was Superpowered, so challenges revolved around energy. The teams had to harvest energy units from solar farms, wind turbines and hydroelectric dams; recharge a hybrid Lego car; and energize a dinosaur toy. Each completed challenge added points to the team’s score.

“It’s kind of nerve-wracking but it’s kind of exciting also,” said Rebekah Daggett, age 12, a member of Powered by the Son. “It’s fun to hang out here at our home college and it’s cool to be here and watch your robot.”

Not just playing with Legos

This is the first time the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering hosted teams and a tournament for First Lego League.

“Hosting this event was a tremendous opportunity for CBU to showcase our university to young aspiring students of STEM as well as to teachers and parents,” said Rhonda Clement, director of strategic initiatives for CBU’s College of Engineering.

Mitch Boretz, head referee for the Southern California region and event volunteer for the regional tournament, said CBU was a wonderful partner.

“I’ve been working at these events for about 15 years. This is the largest one I’ve ever been involved with, and I think it was the smoothest, too. That is thanks in large part to CBU’s careful and thorough planning and the great support we got from your students,” Boretz said.

CBU sponsored six teams, which started meeting in September. Each team built and programmed their own robot for the competition. They also pursued a research project in the power field.

Students learned skills such as coding, building and teamwork. This meant a lot of trial and error – writing code; running it and then adjusting it to make the robot move, turn and perform tasks correctly.  They also had to research energy sources and had to choose a renewable energy source that would power their robot in the real world.

“I just like going on computers and making it do stuff,” said Zayden Roberts, age 12, a member of Powered by the Son. “It’s fun making an actual physical robot complete Lego tasks.”

Jake Speyer, a software engineering senior at CBU, was the mentor for Powered by the Son. He brought experience, having competed in the tournament twice when he was a youth.

“That’s what got me into STEM as a kid,” Speyer said. “I was super down to come back and help and be like that coach that I had when I was a kid that got me all excited about it.”

Speyer has given the kids tips along the way, but they have coded and built the robot themselves.

“I don’t think a lot of people realize how complex it is. An outsider may think, oh, they’re just playing with Legos, but they’re actually coding or building a robot,” Speyer said.

At a qualifying tournament in November at the University of California, Riverside, CBU teams won several awards. The coach for Electric Dragons received a coach/mentor award. A participant on the Llama Jamas team received the rising star award. Powered by the Son team received first place for robot design. Powered earned enough points to get to the regional competition.

The team faced a crisis when the night before the competition, the codes were deleted. An app update caused the loss. The team worked with tech support to downgrade the system and then members Elijah and Jeremiah Abdelmalik and Traivon Williams II worked until 9:30 p.m. rebuilding the codes.

Coming together as a team

Zayden said he enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of the Lego competition.

“It’s just fun to build [with] Legos and then make the Lego thing you created do something,” Zayden said.

He also emphasized that being on the team has allowed him to grow as a collaborator, and his ability to work with others has greatly improved.

“I think the best part about being on a team is being able to just work together, putting suggestions out there, and just being able to collaborate because if you were working solo, you would have to do everything yourself,” Zayden said. “Having a team gives you all the different mindsets and helps you out a lot.”

Rebekah said she enjoyed seeing their work in action.

“My favorite part is seeing the robot do all the missions and how it can do all these tasks that are really cool,” Rebekah said.

But, of course, the kids are also in it to win it. After receiving the award at the qualifying tournament, Eloise Reynolds, 10 and a member of Powered, said she was excited to try to earn more.

“It was so exciting” to get a trophy, Eloise said.

While the CBU team will not advance to the championships at University of California, Riverside, later this month, the students enjoyed competing together as a team.

“It feels so amazing to come here and do this,” Eloise said.

The youths will get another opportunity to learn and play. CBU is planning a First Lego League bootcamp next summer.

 

Speech-language pathology students connect with clients

In pursuing a master’s in speech-language pathology, Annalyese Fausel, a student at California Baptist University, learned how to assess clients, develop a treatment plan and counsel families.

She also learned a lot about the Beatles this fall. One of her clients, Mike Morales, is a fan of the band, so she fills their sessions with Beatles trivia to engage him. She finds photos of the band and asks him questions. They listen to music videos and he sings along.

“It was really cool because I tapped into an area he really enjoys. It’s an easy motivator for him because it’s like he’s teaching me,” Fausel said.

Morales has aphasia, a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate, after having a stroke in 2014.

“I’ve learned how to have patience. He has so much to say; he has had such a wonderful life,” Fausel said. “When you work with people who have aphasia, there are a lot of awkward silences because they’re thinking things over. They’re trying to come up with their sentence.”

Along with talking about the Beatles, Fausel helps Morales work on spontaneous speech. Morales, who started painting and drawing after his stroke, often goes to art expos, but he is nervous about talking with new people.

“If they don’t know what aphasia is, they don’t really give him the time to come up with the answer and sometimes they don’t understand what he says,” Fausel said. “I came up with a script for him. The biggest questions that he was asked, he has an answer to and we practice those.”

They practiced the script for a month. Early in November at an art show, he made an effort to talk to all the people who came up to him, Fausel said.

“I am just so proud that Mike gained the confidence to start speaking to people and saw that his own words matter,” Fausel said.

Making a connection

Fausel said she tries to find ways to connect with each of her clients and uses their interests in therapy.

“I think it’s helpful because they then start to trust you more and they are enjoying themselves and they want to come to session versus it just being this drill of me trying to get something out of them and it doesn’t roll over into everyday society,” Fausel said.

Making a connection is important, said Dr. Danette Bonillo, director of clinical education. With each new client, the student clinician finds out what they are interested in and their background. That helps in creating conversation and knowing questions to ask to prompt dialogue, she said.

Bonillo also matches clinicians and clients. For instance, Fausel understands sarcasm and Morales has a sense of humor.

“Annalyese’s passion to provide services is strong and sometimes it’s hard to rotate to another practicum site,” Bonillo said. “And that’s what we want student clinicians to feel. That passion that leads to a sense of sadness when you’re done at your practicum site because you want to spend more time with your clients.”

The student clinicians have clients for one semester. At the end, they write up a progress report to pass on and will collaborate with the next student clinician.

“It’s a nice smooth transition,” Bonillo said. “People have said how much they enjoy being able to go from different clinicians every semester because it’s important to be able to adjust to new people.”

Telepractice continues

Morales and his wife, Royce, connected with Dr. Candace Vickers, founding director of CBU’s graduate program, about seven years ago and Morales has received speech therapy from CBU since.

The students and supervisors “exude true caring. They’re all just incredible,” Royce said.

The couple live in Rimforest, California. His twice weekly sessions with Fausel are online. The clinician and client finally met in person in October. Morales received an award from Able Arts Work, an organization in Long Beach, California, for his art. Fausel and a fellow student went to the awards event to meet Morales and celebrate his achievement.

“It was heartwarming,” Fausel said. “I felt like, in a lot of ways, it solidifies to our patients that they’re not just a person on our checklist, but they’re a human being we want to help cultivate a relationship with. We want the best for them. We want to see them succeed, whether it’s with speech but also with other things that they really like to do.”

Before COVID, students had never done telepractice. When everything shut down, the graduate program taught students how to use technology to conduct virtual speech therapy sessions in telepractice, Bonillo said. Those skills are still being taught.

While sessions are back in person, some clients are choosing the telepractice option. For adults who have limited mobility, telepractice eliminates an exhausting drive, Bonillo said. Also, therapists have more opportunity to talk with family members about strategies.

Telepractice works better for Morales, his wife said.

“It’s so much easier. He was always so exhausted after driving four hours a day,” Royce said. “He’s so much happier doing it this way.”

 

CBU reorganizing academic departments

California Baptist University is reorganizing two academic departments, effective Jan. 1.

The Department of Aviation Science will move from the College of Arts and Sciences into the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering. The Dr. Paul and Annie Kienel Leadership Institute, a standalone entity, will move into the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business.

“These structural changes will enhance the opportunity to provide quality education to our students,” said Dr. Charles Sands, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “It will also make us more effective and efficient as we combine resources and streamline some of the administrative and operational processes.”

With aviation science part of the College of Engineering, students and faculty will have daily interactions and collaborations said Dr. Phil van Haaster, dean of the College of Engineering. There are more than 175 students in the aviation science program.

“Aviation science is a field in the aerospace industry that regularly collaborates with developmental engineers. Combining the student cohorts within the same overarching college nurtures this natural partnership, enhancing the ability of both cohorts to innovate after their academic career,” van Haaster said.

Engineers pursuing an aerospace minor may take additional courses from the Department of Aviation Science, combining aspiring engineers and aviators in the classroom. Additionally, Aviation’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) club works with the College of Engineering on outreach programs and community activities to develop an interest in STEM and aviation.

“It is very common for aviators to be engineers and engineers to be aviators,” van Haaster said. “The combination of the disciplines is a natural progression that exemplifies the maturity of these two programs at CBU.”

The Leadership Institute, which has 75 students, offers the Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Studies. This program will join a new division in the School of Business that includes the Doctor of Business Administration and Doctor of Organizational Change and Administration, along with the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership.

The move will combine resources, with several Leadership Institute fellows among the School of Business faculty, said Dr. Tim Gramling, dean of the School of Business. It also will bring all the leadership students together.

In 2021, the School of Business launched the Center for Business Excellence to provide seminars and certifications for the local community.

“The mission of the center aligns closely with the Dr. Paul and Annie Kienel Leadership Institute and its emphasis on seminars, mentoring networks and forums,” Gramling said.

CBU has made other organizational changes in the past year. All academics were brought under one umbrella by consolidating Online and Professional Studies with the university’s other academic programs in the Division of Academic Affairs, effective Jan. 1, 2022. The restructuring helped standardize programs and allowed greater flexibility in delivery mode.

Additionally, the music and theatre programs at CBU joined together to create the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Performing Arts, effective July 1, 2022.

 

New Student Senate aims to amplify CBU student voices

This fall, California Baptist University announced a new student governmental body. Formerly the Associated Students of CBU, the CBU Student Senate was created to focus on the voices of students and the direct relationship between the student body and university officials.

Throughout the 2021-22 academic year, ASCBU and university officials met to address the issues related to lack of student engagement, including low voter turnout and overall effectiveness. Both groups researched structures at various colleges and universities across the country, which led to the student senate model at CBU.

During the spring of 2022, ASCBU’s executive council unanimously voted to disband the modality and recommended creating a student senate focused format. The recommendation was accepted by both university administration and the Board of Trustees.

In ASCBU, students elected two student representatives from the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior class. Now, each school and college and student-serving department, such as Athletics and Spiritual Life, submits three to five nominations for a student senator. In order to be nominated, students must complete one semester as a full-time traditional undergraduate student, have a 2.5 GPA or higher and be in good standing with the university. Nominees then are invited to apply for the position; 60 applications were received during the fall semester.

There are 17 representatives in total. Each senator represents various groups, such as commuters, men, women and students within academic programs.

Joe Adcock, associate dean of students for administrative support, will serve as the Student Senate advisor. He has spent over half of his life working for the university and has seen many positive and impactful changes.

“Growth brings change, and I’ve seen a lot of it,” Adcock said. “Change is good, and I am very excited about being a part of this new chapter in student representation at CBU. I want nothing more than to make CBU a place that students will cherish in their heart for the rest of their lives.”

This change will benefit the student population by allowing their voices to be heard, said Chris Hofschroer, dean of students.

“We want to get this right,” Hofschroer said. “In addition to providing a balanced representation of our student body, the Student Senate is designed to operate with a focus on serving as a formal conduit through which student-related concerns, views and interests are communicated to university officials.”

Dylan Parry, a political science sophomore, was nominated by Student Services.

The Student Senate will be better for students in many ways, Parry said.

“I most look forward to the new representative structure. The primary function is to be a voice for students and nothing else,” Parry said. “It frees the Student Senate to get in touch with students and hear their concerns. We will act as a direct line to the administration for students on campus.”

Nathanael Hovda, a chemical engineering senior, was nominated by Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering. The senate is a chance to give back to CBU, improve the student experience and leave the university in a better position than when we started, Hovda said.

“I wanted the senate to be a pulse for CBU students,” Hovda said. “We know some of the larger concerns students have, but we can’t miss the details. It’s about bringing every piece of the puzzle together, and if some of the pieces don’t exist yet, we work alongside students to create them.”

Makenna Wells Ayres, an applied theology senior, was nominated by the School of Christian Ministries.

“I wanted to be involved because I truly love CBU, and I want to be part of improving and enhancing student experiences on campus as well as cultivating growth throughout our university,” Ayres said. “Ultimately, I want to be a part of seeing more people come to know Christ and grow in their relationship with Him.”

 

Family Updates

Dr. Joshua Knabb, professor of psychology, published a second edition of his workbook, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Christian Clients: A Faith-Based Workbook (Routledge, Nov. 1, 2022).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, professor of psychology, co-authored a paper in the journal Religion, Brain & Behavior (Nov. 24). The title is The interaction between forgiveness and resentment on mental health outcomes: two sides of the same coin?

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robert Shields, associate professor of computer information technology, served as a judge for the Technical Research Exhibition held during the 2022 National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Fall Regional Conference in Los Angeles on Nov. 18. The exhibition highlighted the research and communication skills of collegiate students.

 

 

 

Dr. Lisa Bursch, professor of nursing, and Dr. Dayna Herrera, professor of nursing, received a grant through the California Department of Health Care Access and Information. The $132,000 from the Song-Brown Healthcare Workforce Training Program will expand programs for underrepresented students admitted into the family nurse practitioner program.

 

 

 

Dr. John Park, assistant professor of psychology, published a paper in the Journal of Scholarly Engagement (Vol. 5, Issue 2). It was titled A preliminary pilot study of the College Exodus Health Professions Program in San Bernardino County, CA.

 

 

 

 

Jennie Riad, curriculum and accreditation coordinator in Academic Affairs, had an article published in the International Journal for Innovation Education and Research (Dec. 1). It was titled Obstacles to successful curriculum management in higher education and opportunities for improvement.

 

 

 

Dr. Candace Vickers, professor of communication sciences and disorders, presented on Nov. 21 the third in a series of webinars on aphasia for Speech Recovery Pathways, a nonprofit organization that serves people with aphasia and brain injury. The title of the webinar was Communication Partner Training for Speech Language Pathologists + Tips for Partners and Speakers with Aphasia.

 

 

Dr. Michael Nalbandian, associate professor of civil engineering, published a paper in the Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances (Nov. 25). It is titled Recent advances and remaining barriers to the development of electrospun nanofiber and nanofiber composites for point-of-use and point-of-entry water treatment systems.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Gretchen Bartels-Ray, professor of English, presented a paper at the Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association Conference in Los Angeles on Nov. 11. It was titled Now, Eolo, can you hear me?’: Narration, Performative Utterance, and Heterotopic Space in Ann Leckie’s The Raven Tower.

 

 

 

Keelan Kaiser, professor of architecture, presented a paper at the AMPS (Architecture Media Politics Society) Representing Pasts – Visioning Futures virtual Architecture Conference on Dec. 1. It was titled Material Exploits: Exploring Genomic Data in Cosmological Architecture Toward Alternative Material Expression.

 

 

 

Rida Leonard, adjunct professor of English, presented at the PAMLA (Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association) conference in Los Angeles on Nov. 11. The paper was titled Langston Hughes’ Diverse Portrayal of Women.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Trevor Gillum, professor of kinesiology, Dr. William Boyer, associate professor of kinesiology, and Dr. Jong-Kyung Kim, professor of kinesiology, participated in the Southwest Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting in Costa Mesa, California, on Oct. 28-29. As president-elect of the chapter, Gillum developed and coordinated the conference program. Boyer gave a symposia presentation Resistance training and Health: A summary of the epidemiologic literature and suggestions for future research. Kim, with kinesiology graduate students, presented a poster Effects of Acute Grape Seed Extract Supplementation on Muscle Metaboreflex in Healthy Young Individuals.

 

Dr. Melissa Anozie, assistant professor of nursing, presented a poster of her Ph.D. dissertation at the Sigma SoCal Odyssey Research Conference in San Diego on Oct. 12-13. It was titled It’s More Than Nursing: The Experiences of Psychological Safety of Pre-Licensure Nursing Students that Identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

 

 

 

Dr. Dayna Herrera, professor of nursing, and Dr. Heather Ontiveros, associate professor of physician assistant studies, presented at the 2022 Interprofessional Education Collaborative annual poster fair virtually on Nov 29. The presentation was titled IPE Exposure to Roles & Responsibilities; A Large Scale Table -Top Simulation.

 

 

 

Dr. Sophia S. Mun, assistant professor of behavioral and social sciences, with undergraduate students Jonathan Nava, Rebecca Petty and Rowen Zamora presented at the Southern California Conferences for Undergraduate Research at Pepperdine University on Nov. 19. The presentation was titled The Relationship between Pro-environmental Behaviors, Compassion, and Subjective Well-being.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, professor of public administration, Jim Bishop, associate professor of criminal justice and business law, and Dr. Mark Kling, professor of criminal justice, had an article published in the PA Times (Nov. 14). It was titled Citizen Volunteers or Lawless Vigilantes: Who is Helping Protect our Cities?

 

 

Three faculty members had poetry published in Inlandia: A Literary Journal (Fall 2022). Poems by Dr. Berniece Alspach, associate professor of English, were But Not New and Preschool Zoom School. Dr. Gretchen Bartels-Ray, professor of English, published Eclipse and Hygiene Theater. Dr. Erika Travis, professor of English and behavioral sciences, published before evening comes, After and Pentecost.

 

 

Dr. Melissa Croteau, professor of film studies, published a book titled Transcendence and Spirituality in Japanese Cinema: Framing Sacred Spaces (Routledge, Nov. 14). It is a study about Japanese aesthetics and cinema, exploring representations of Shinto and Buddhist sacred space, spiritual symbols and religious concepts that are embedded in the framework of Japanese films.

 

 

 

Dr. Shawn Wilhite, associate professor of New Testament, had an article published in Credo Magazine (13, No. 3). It was titled The Beatific Vision and Augustine: Happiness and Beatific Enjoyment in Seeing God.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Christy Gonet, assistant professor of theology, presented at the Evangelical Theological Society’s annual meeting in Denver on Nov. 15. Her paper was titled The Narrative of Salvation in Anselm of Canterbury’s Cur Deus homo.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jiliang Li, assistant professor of civil engineering and construction management, co-wrote a chapter in Advances in Transportation Geotechnics IV (Spring International Publishing, 2022). The chapter was titled Application of FEA in a Highway Fill Embankment Slope Stability Failure Study.

 

 

 

Dr. Owen Staley, lecturer of English, participated in a roundtable discussion at the Pacific Ancient and Modern Languages Association on Nov. 13. The discussion was called French Visions of LA. Staley contributed a paper titled Blaise Cendrars’ Trompe L’œil L.A., focusing on the Swiss author and his visit to California in 1936.

 

 

 

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Electronic & Photonic Packaging Division (EPPD) awarded Dr. Amanie Abdelmessih, professor of mechanical engineering, the EPPD Woman Engineer Award in recognition of her accomplishments and service. The award was presented to Abdelmessih at the ASME 2022 InterPACK Conference in Garden Grove, California, on Oct. 25-27. Abdelmessih also received a Certificate of Appreciation for her service as a track co-chair, heterogeneous integrated systems at ASME 2022 InterPACK.

 

 

Dr. Kenneth Nehrbass, director of special projects, Dr. Ted Murcray, associate professor of education, and Dr. Elizabeth Morris, professor of education and mathematics, published an article in the Journal of Applied Instructional Design (11, 3). It was titled Flexibility Within Structure: Factors Contributing to Faculty Perceptions of Autonomy and Standardization in Course Design and Delivery.

 

 

Psychological Services of Riverside, the CBU-run community clinic that also provides training for Doctor of Psychology students, was recently awarded $25,000 from the Rauch Family Foundation to support therapy services for low-income clients.

 

 

The CBU student chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) won second place in the Dev Jam 2022 hackathon competition at the 2022 NSBE Fall Regional Conference in Los Angeles on Nov. 17-20. The 12-hour competition was hosted by video game developer Sledgehammer Games, one of the developers of the video game Call of Duty. The CBU team formed two teams in the competition. One team, named (/CBU), won second place in the competition for its entry titled NsWork, which was a chat-based application.

 

 

 

CBU Photography has an exhibition featuring the work of more than 30 students at the Riverside Art Museum. The show, Interlude, represents a variety of projects from the 2022 fall semester. More than 500 guests attended the opening reception on Dec. 1. The exhibit will be on display until Jan. 22.

 

 

 

The Robert K. Jabs School of Business held the grand opening for the Center for Family Business on Dec. 1. Nearly 100 people attended, representing 22 family-owned businesses. Moss Bro’s Auto Group was presented with the first Centennial Award for being a continuously family-owned business for 100 years and is now in its fourth generation. Dr. Keanon Alderson, professor of business and director of the Family Business Center, interviewed third-generation CEO Glenn Moss Sr. regarding learning lessons from a 100-year-old firm.

 

 

The creative writing department published its second annual Advent edition of the Dazed Starling: Unbound. It features work from CBU faculty, students and alumni.

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

School of Performing Arts to present ‘A CBU Christmas’

The Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Performing Arts is thrilled to present its fifth annual Christmas special “Gloria – A CBU Christmas” on Dec. 3 and 4.

Guests are invited to experience holiday music in a broad array of musical styles and celebrate the timeless message of the Christmas season.

The show features world renowned artists, accomplished artist faculty and more than 350 gifted CBU music students. Guest artists include Grammy-winner Alan Parsons, opera tenor Bruce Sledge and many more.

Dr. Joseph Bolin, dean of the School of Performing Arts, said the performance gives CBU a platform to communicate clearly, creatively and on a mass scale the true meaning of Christmas.

“This performance showcases the breadth of the School of Performing Arts at CBU,” Bolin said. “We are a very broad and comprehensive program, and few people really get the full picture of who we are and what we do. This allows us in one night to showcase the rich reservoir of talent that God has brought to CBU.”

The show comprises over 20 ensembles featuring vocalists and instrumentalists.

Dr. Gene Peterson, director of choral and vocal studies and the artistic director for “A CBU Christmas,” said the show is a great celebration. He is looking forward to performing “The Promise” written by Michael W. Smith.

“It speaks of the great promise of the light of the world that has come to Earth,” Peterson said. “To me it is one of the most beautiful and picturesque pieces we will be doing in this performance.”

Tori Hitchcock, a music sophomore and a vocalist in the University Choir and Orchestra, said Christmas time is about joy and sharing the joy of the gospel.

“I’m praying the Lord’s name will be glorified while getting to enjoy incredible music,” Hitchcock said.

Jeremy Warren, a music education junior, will play the violin in the show.

“The violinists get to set the texture and the tone of all the pieces,” Warren said. “The orchestra gets the big intro for almost every tune, and we get to set the vibe and the atmosphere for the entire arena, and it’s a really cool opportunity.”

“Gloria – A CBU Christmas”
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 3; 2:30 and 7 p.m. Dec. 4
Where: Events Center, California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA, 92504
For tickets or more information, please visit: https://performingarts.calbaptist.edu/cbuchristmas/

 

Jabs School of Business to launch the Family Business Center

The Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business launched the Family Business Center on Dec. 1.

The center will provide seminars and networking opportunities to family-owned businesses in the Southern California region. Additionally, experts with family business experience — in banking, legal, estate planning and other areas — will be available as a resource.

“Every business is unique and special, and every family is unique and special. Now you put the two things together and you have an amazingly unique organization,” said Dr. Keanon Alderson, professor of business and director of the Family Business Center. “Commonly their issues are succession and long-term planning, communication, decision making and conflict. We have the resources, the tools and the knowledge to help these family firms succeed to the next generation.”

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget lists metropolitan statistical areas in the country. In the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area, 45% of employers are family owned, making it No. 1 in that category, according to the U.S. Census Annual Survey of Entrepreneurship (2016).

Family businesses should consider joining the center if they are “complex,” Alderson said. Such as being large, older, multiple generations and multiple family members involved, experiencing conflict, or, more importantly, facing an upcoming transition or succession.

“Some people think family firms are the same as any other kind of firm, but they’re not. They do have the same challenges, but the family dynamic is what separates them,” Alderson said. “Plus, many of them intend to pass it on to the future generations, and that separates them from nonfamily firms.”

Alderson brings first-hand experience to his role. He worked 17 years in the family business, Sonergy Nutritional Products, which was started by his parents. They sold the company in 1992.

It was that experience that gave him the desire to learn more and study family business management.

He has written two textbooks and several articles on the subject and works as a consultant for family firms.

“I deal with family conflict, improving communication and family decision making. I make recommendations and set up governance tools to help manage the business more effectively,” Alderson said.

The grand opening launched the center and honored the 100th anniversary of Moss Bros. Auto Group and its three generations of family ownership.

“Dr. Alderson knows first-hand the unique challenges that come with the combination of family relationships and business enterprise. It seemed a natural extension of our efforts to engage directly with these organizations,” said Dr. Tim Gramling, dean of the School of Business. “We are pleased to bring this knowledge and experience to our area through the CBU Family Business Center.”

 

CBU celebrates Christmas season with tree lighting

The California Baptist University community celebrated the Christmas season at the Merry & Bright event on Nov. 29. The evening featured the tree lighting and live Christmas music.

Before the lighting, Brett Vowell, director of chapel, read the Christmas story from Luke 2. About 1,500 people attended the event, which also included sledding, inflatable jumpers and slide.

Attendees also had an opportunity to fill boxes for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. They filled more than 1,080 shoe boxes with toys, hygiene items and school supplies. The boxes will be delivered to children in need around the world.

 

 

 

Culture and Justice Lecture focuses on care of children

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences held a Culture and Justice Lecture on Nov. 17.

The lecture featured Dr. Amanda Hiles Howard, an associate professor of psychology at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. She specializes in developmental science, action research and social psychology. Her scholarly work focuses on understanding the effects of adversity on vulnerable children and their families and improving the quality of practice being provided by the communities, organizations, and governments that serve them.

The title of her lecture was “Scaffolded Deinstitutionalization: Successfully Transitioning from Residential to Family Care for Vulnerable Children.” We asked her about the topic.

Tell us about your lecture.
The discussion is on both the science and policy of deinstitutionalization, which is the process of reforming childcare systems and closing down orphanages and children’s institutions, finding new placements for children currently in residential care, and setting up replacement services to support vulnerable families in non-institutional ways. Though there is a strong and consistent call for deinstitutionalization, the process of transitioning from residential to family care is complex and poorly understood. This talk focuses on the factors that lead to children being placed in residential care, the current state of deinstitutionalization, and best practices for supporting the process of transitioning from residential to family-based models of care.

Why is the topic so important to you?
This topic is important because both science and policy suggest that children develop best in the context of a safe, nurturing, consistent family. Further, the Bible affirms that we were created to live in families.  Yet over 6 million children worldwide live in residential settings, such as orphanages and children’s homes. Understanding the impact of institutional care on development and how to best transition institutions from a residential to family models of care is crucial for the long-term success of vulnerable children who are separated from parental care during childhood.

What do you hope the audience gets from the message?

• Children develop best in safe, nurturing, stable families.
• Not all children in orphanages are orphans. Indeed, many have surviving parents or other family members, who may be able to care for them with some additional support.
• Simply closing institutions in not enough. If we want families to be successful, we need to build up replacements services and use a scaffolded approach to deinstitutionalization.

Anything else you would like to add?
Though we discuss deinstitutionalization extensively there is surprisingly little scientific research on this process. To best support families and organizations during this transition, we need to be sure that we are using evidence-based practices.

Culture and Justice Lecture Series
The series invites professionals in the behavioral science and community development related fields to share their experiences with students. They also provide information on current trends, practices and research within their respective professions. Building upon a foundation of over 40 years of behavioral science education in the Inland Empire, CBSS is excited to expand its reach – building bridges between students, community partners and nationally recognized experts.

 

Family Updates

Christine Lee Smith, adjunct professor of photography, presented a paper at Baylor University’s 2022 Symposium on Faith and Culture on Oct. 27. Her paper was titled Opie’s Pig Pen & the Christ: The Spiritually Formative Impact of Identity Portraiture.

 

 

 

Dr. Thomas Schneider, associate professor of English, presented at the Annual Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association conference in Los Angeles on Nov. 13. His presentation was titled Malory’s Forest in Motion.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Brian Bovee, assistant professor of computer information technology, presented a research paper at the Jeet Gupta Research Symposium at the University of Alabama, Huntsville, on Nov. 4. The paper was titled Gamification in Knowledge Management Systems: A Systematic Review.

 

 

 

Kristin Beinschroth, assistant professor of radiologic sciences, attended the American Society of Radiologic Technologists’ 2022 Leadership Academy. The program prepares radiologic technologists for leadership roles. Fifty to 75 people usually apply for the program and 19 were accepted into the 2022 program. Additionally, she presented at the 83^rd Annual California Society of Radiologic Technologists in Sacramento on Nov. 5-6. Her lecture was titled Forensic Radiology- Part 2. She also gave the lecture at the Utah Society of Radiologic Technologists Fall 2022 Virtual Conference on Nov. 12.

 

 

Dr. Melissa Wigginton, professor of public health sciences, presented at The American Public Health Association annual conference in Boston on Nov. 6-9. Her presentation was titled Social and Behavioral Predictors of Physical Activity Among Youth: An Analysis of the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. She also received the Outstanding Leadership Award for her role as the chair of the policy committee.

 

 

 

Dr. Ted Murcray, associate professor of education, and Dr. Kenneth Nehrbass, director of special projects, presented at the 2022 POD Network Annual Meeting in Seattle on Nov. 14. The session was titled Re:Connect and Reflect: Using the ACE/POD Matrix. Murcray co-presented two additional sessions. The sessions were titled Re-imagining our roles: An emerging framework for Educational Developer professional competencies and Re:imagining our role in supporting faculty well-being.

 

 

Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, professor of public administration, Dr. Mark Kling, professor of criminal justice, and Jim Bishop, associate professor of criminal justice and business law, had an article published in the PA Times (Oct. 14). It was titled Fentanyl Fatalities: A Halloween Nightmare.

 

 

 

Dr. Wayne Fletcher, associate professor of health sciences, presented a seminar to City of San Jacinto managers and directors on Oct. 6. Titled Cultivating Cultures of High Expectations and Engagement, it was part of the CBU Paul and Annie Kienel Leadership Institute series.

 

 

 

Dr. Adele L. Harrison, professor of finance, co-presented two papers at the Christian Business Faculty Association annual conference at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma, on Oct. 21-22. The titles of the papers were Measuring Christian Faith Commitment Among Business Undergraduates: The Christian Faith Index and Faith Integration Among Business Undergraduates at Christian Colleges: An Empirical Study. Additionally, she participated in the panel titled Peer-to-Peer Personal Finance Coaching at Christian Institutions of Higher Education.

 

 

Dr. James Lu, professor of English, presented a paper at the 119^th Pacific and Ancient Modern Languages Association Conference at UCLA on Nov. 12-13. The paper was titled A Peculiarity in the Study of Poetics: Prose Poems vs Verse Novels. He also organized and chaired a panel titled Comparative American Ethnic Literature.

 

 

 

Dr. Berniece Alspach, associate professor of English, chaired a panel at the 119^th Pacific and Ancient Modern Languages Association Conference at UCLA on Nov. 13. It was titled Defining Digital Humanities. Adeleigh Sexton, adjunct professor of English, presented her paper Hauntology and Twine: Deconstructing Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House for the panel. At the conference, Alspach also presented a paper titled William Blake’s Hymns: A Fight with the Quotidian in Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience.

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, professor of psychology, was interviewed for the L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, which was featured in its podcast. She talked about research on trauma and children’s ministry.

 

 

 

Dr. Shasha Zheng, associate professor of nutrition, published a research article in the International Journal of Biotechnology and Bioengineering (Oct. 28). It was titled A Novel SUMOylation Site in the Influenza A Virus NS1 Protein Identified with a Highly Sensitive and Quantitative FRET Assay.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Ogbochi McKinney, associate professor of public health, virtually presented two articles at the 12th International Conference on Food Studies on Oct. 23-24. The titles of the studies were Takeaways from Fifteen Month Lessons Learned from Community Food Distribution and Nutrition Teams during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Food Insecurity and Other Basic Human Needs during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in the Jinja District Suburbs, Uganda.

 

 

 

Dr. Krystal Hays, associate professor of social work, Dr. Ted Murcray, associate professor of education, and Dr. Liza Arellano, assistant professor of social work, presented at the Council on Social Work Education annual meeting in Anaheim on Nov. 12. Their presentation was titled Answering the Call to Teach.

 

 

Mark Roberson, dean of the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design, presented at the International Leadership Association’s 24^th Global Conference in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 13. His presentation was titled Experiencing the Architecture of Washington DC: The Wisdom of Physically Bringing Forth a New Nation.

 

 

 

Dr. Victoria Brodie, associate professor of public relations, and Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, professor of communication, presented on behalf of the Dr. Paul and Annie Kienel Leadership Institute at the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health annual meeting on Nov. 17. Their presentation was on emotional intelligence and the adversity quotient.

 

 

 

Debbie Jahant, project specialist/professional license analyst for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, was named employee of the month for December. Her nomination included the following statements: “Debbie greets CBSS students by name with warmth and always makes every effort to support and offer appropriate help. She is the epitome of professionalism; she is always punctual, hard-working and produces the highest quality of work. She frequently finds solutions for students before the concerns rise to a higher administrative level of concern.”

 

 

Two chemical engineering students presented posters at the AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers) Annual Student Conference in Phoenix on Nov. 14. Priscilla Amaya presented a poster (co-authored with Dr. Mario Oyanader, professor of chemical engineering and bioengineering, and alumna Karmina Quichocho) titled Dynamic Simulation of Alveoli Function under COVID-19 Stress: A Microfluidic and Toxicological Approach. Nathanael Hovda presented a poster (co-authored with Dr. Mark Anklam, professor of chemical engineering and bioengineering) titled Separating Phenolic Compounds from Water by Adsorption on Surfactant-Modified Ion Exchange Resins.

 

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, professor of kinesiology, chaired presentations at the International Leadership Association Conference in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 15. The presentations were on Perspectives on Wisdom. Dr. John Shoup, executive director of the Leadership Institute, Lisa Friesen, assistant professor of allied health, Dr. Troy Hinrichs, professor of criminal justice, presented Wisdom’s Necessary Companion: The Cardinal and Theological Virtues.

 

Dr. Carolyn Heine, instructional services librarian, presented a research paper at the virtual Library Assessment Conference on Nov. 1-3. It was titled Comparing Two Information Literacy Development Strategies for Online Doctoral Students.

 

 

 

Andrew Zhou, assistant professor of chemical sciences, had a paper published in the Journal of Chemical Crystallography (Nov. 9). It was titled Supramolecular complexes built of octahedral [Ta6Cl12(CN)6]3−/4− clusters and terpyridine-metal complexes. 

 

 

 

Dr. Mary Vanhoozer, adjunct professor of music, released an album of 16^th century English dance music featuring the hurdy gurdy, a Renaissance instrument. The album is titled Under the Birchwood Tree. Vanhoozer was also featured on the recently Grammy nominated soundtrack for the video game Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

 

 

 

Modern Languages and Literature held its first A Night of Prose: Fiction and Nonfiction Readings from CBU’s Creative Writing Community on Nov. 8. Eight authors were featured, and three readers shared their work during the open mic readings.

 

The Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business participated in the Can Tree Wonderland event at the Galleria at Tyler on Nov. 12. The event benefits Feeding America Riverside-San Bernardino. Dr. Tad Hove, assistant professor of business administration, Delores Washington, administrative assistant to the dean, and students Ali Ann Merrill and Carson Merrill built a “tree” with 600 food cans. The trees are on display until Dec. 15. Carolyn Solar (’19) is CEO of Feeding America.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU to celebrate Parent and Family Weekend

Thousands of visitors are expected to attend the Parent and Family Weekend at California Baptist University on Nov. 11-12.

The weekend is filled with activities and opportunities for families to connect with their students and make memories together.

“We are excited to welcome CBU families to campus for Parent and Family Weekend,” said Paul Elderidge, J.D., vice president for University Advancement. “We cherish the time parents and students can share in the college experience and be active participants in the campus-wide activities for the entire Lancer community to enjoy. We hope wonderful memories are made on this fun-filled weekend at CBU.”

On Friday, visitors have an opportunity to tour academic colleges and schools and meet the deans.

In the evening, a pregame party before the men’s basketball game will feature live music, food trucks, a climbing wall and face painting. On the court, the Lancers will face New Jersey Institute of Technology.

The following morning, families can participate in a hike up Mt. Rubidoux, which includes a parent prayer during the hike.

Later, Spiritual Life will provide a service opportunity of assembling Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. These will be filled with donations from staff and students at the Merry & Bright Christmas event later this month.

Both days offer other athletic events, including a women’s basketball game, baseball and softball scrimmages and games for the WAC Men’s Soccer Tournament.

Saturday afternoon, the Block Party on the Front Lawn features food trucks, a live band and other attractions.

The day ends with the Fortuna Bowl, the annual intramural flag football championship that started in 1991.

“Parent and Family Weekend featuring Fortuna Bowl is one of the largest events that happens on campus. It brings back alumni who played intramurals, current students and their families along with people from our surrounding community,” said Tyler Cox, senior director of campus recreation.

Sam Robertus, a sports analytics senior, has been looking forward to the Fortuna Bowl, the annual intramural flag football championship, for a year.

His team, J.A.C.K., played for the championship last year and lost.

“That’s just been haunting us the entire year,” Robertus said. “It just feels so good to be back. I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to play with. Top to bottom, I love my team.”

J.A.C.K. will face Twinkle Toes. His goal?

“Win. Win big. We want a blowout win versus Twinkle. We’re going to be ready, and [we are] super excited.”

In the women’s game, Hail Mary’s will play Smooth Criminals.

Jessica Holloway, a kinesiology senior, has played three seasons with Smooth Criminals.

She joined because she loves football and enjoys the team camaraderie.

“On and off the field, we were able to laugh and just enjoy our time together, and I think that’s what made it worthwhile,” Holloway said.

That doesn’t mean she’s not serious about the game. For the championship, she wants “to have fun and take the W.”

After the final game, fireworks will end the night.

To see the full schedule, go here.

 

CBU will bring a ‘Joyful Noise’ to the stage

The theatre program at California Baptist University will perform a “Joyful Noise” as its second production of the semester. It opens Nov. 18.

This 1700s-period piece, based on real events and people, follows the life of composer George Frederick Handel as he attempts to present his opera “The Messiah” amid opposition from the church. The story also follows Susannah Cibber, a woman caught in an abusive marriage who becomes involved in the opera.

“The play has a story of redemption that glorifies our need for a Savior in a broken world, and that is something we think a CBU audience would resonate with,” said Zachary Bortot, associate professor of theatre and director of the production.

For this production, Bortot is working alongside a cast and crew of eight student actors, three student stage managers and several behind-the-scenes technicians. As director, he dived into research on the script, which helped him coach the actors in learning their roles.

“My goal as a director is to provide this big vision that everyone can jump on board with,” Bortot said. “What I do tell the actors is that by the time we open, hopefully they become the experts on their specific character.”

Shane Moser, a theatre senior, plays Handel. Prepping for the role looked different from other shows because it required research into who Handel was, Moser said. Also, since Handel lived during the 1700s, there are limited resources about him.

“It’s very different [from] a normal role because he was a person,” Moser said. “Everyone in the show is a person, not just a character that was made up. We’ve had to be very specific on how we’ve gone about this.”

Since the production features German, Irish and British characters, the actors have worked with a dialect coach to master accents, which has been challenging but rewarding for the students, including Moser, who had to learn a German accent.

“When you are trying to mimic these sounds that are not natural to you, it’s difficult to do that and focus on the acting itself,” Bortot said.

Jennifer Palacios-Cardenas, a theatre senior, plays Kitty Clive, an antagonistic figure in the story. She uses several methods to get into character, from running lines in a corset and hoop skirt to finding ways to relate to her character.

“I have learned that even if a character is completely the opposite of myself, there are still elements of myself that are in the character, so really it’s still a piece of me I am putting on that stage,” Palacios-Cardenas said. “This character is very feisty and she’s mean and she’s loud, and that’s the opposite of what I am, but I can be that way sometimes and I think I’ve had to learn she’s not the opposite of me.”

Eden Sides, a theatre senior, plays Susannah Cibber. Sides is looking forward to putting on a show that is entertaining while also highlighting darker, more serious themes such as the mistreatment Susannah undergoes at the hands of her husband.

“Some parts of Susannah’s story are uncomfortable or can even be triggering for some people, but it still needs to be talked about,” Sides said. “This still happens. Her story is someone’s story today, so it’s still relevant.”

“Joyful Noise” will touch on the story of Christ and emphasize that redemption is always possible, propelling the CBU community into the Christmas spirit, Bortat said.

“It is this story about redemption and overcoming both our personal demons and the demons of the world that would seek to destroy us and persisting in order to find human thriving on the other side of those trials and tribulations,” Bortot said.

Joyful Noise
When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18-19; Dec. 1-2; 2 p.m. Nov. 19, Dec. 3
Where: Wallace Theatre, California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA, 92504
For tickets or more information, please visit https://calbaptist.edu/theater/current-production

 

CBU has record-breaking year for charitable gifts

Fiscal year 2022 was a record-breaking success for charitable giving at California Baptist University. Thanks to the generosity of alumni, parents, corporations, foundations and community members, $23.8 million was committed to furthering CBU’s mission. Donors generously contributed to schools, colleges and programs across the university—surpassing the previous giving record in 2014 ($14.2 million) by over $9.6 million.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our alumni and friends! This extraordinary outpouring of support is a testament to the Lord‘s favor on CBU, the generosity of our friends, the leadership and vision of CBU president Dr. Ronald L. Ellis and the overall excellence that we see across campus here at CBU. It’s exciting to see so many invest so significantly in this wonderful campus and in our students,” said Paul J. Eldridge, J.D., vice president of University Advancement.

For several years, the University has matched any endowment gift of $25,000 or more. In 2021, a generous supporter and close friend of CBU proposed a $40 million Endowment Challenge for the School of Christian Ministries. He pledged up to $10 million to match gifts, and CBU would match both, creating a $40 million goal. The donor then proposed endowed scholarships helping students complete two majors—one from the School of Christian Ministries and one from any other CBU school or college—or for other endowment programs associated with the School of Christian Ministries. True to CBU’s commitment to the Great Commission, the donor’s intention of these double-major scholarships is to challenge CBU students to deepen their Christian worldview and glorify God wherever life leads them. This donor match, plus CBU’s institutional match, quadruples an investment in these special endowed scholarships.

Several transformational gifts led the extraordinary giving:

• A generous local family gave $5.5 million, one of the most significant endowment gifts in CBU’s history. With the $40 Million Endowment Challenge match, as well as additional donations, a $19 million endowed fund was created. This endowment will serve generations of CBU students.
• The most significant estate gift commitment in university history was given in the amount of $6.2 million.
• An anonymous donor committed over $1 million to Lancer Athletics.

Every gift, no matter the size, can be transformational in the life of a student. CBU is thankful for the prayers, friendship and financial generosity that ensure the next generation of CBU students will live their purpose, invest in things that matter and become individuals whose skills and integrity set them apart from the world.

“Through your giving, I am blessed to call Cal Baptist University my school. I am a double major in Christian behavioral science and Christian studies. These programs have proven to be beyond my expectations and contributed to my personal, spiritual and professional growth. Thank you for being a part of making my aspirations and desires come true.” —Olivia, a CBU student

 

Lancer Media Group earns multiple awards

Students in the Lancer Media Group brought home more than 28 awards last month from multiple competitions.

Students attending MediaFest22 in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 26-30 won honors from the College Media Association’s Pinnacle Awards and the Associated Collegiate Press’ Pacemaker Awards.

At the Pinnacle Awards, Pursuit magazine earned a second-place award for writing and a third place for best page/spread design. The 2022 Angelos yearbook, “Restructure,” won third place for Yearbook of the Year and second place for best sports page/spread. CBU TV’s Ignacio Dominguez and Lauren Brooks received third for Best Multimedia Breaking News Story for “John W. North Teacher on Leave.” LMG’s Instagram Page, @cbulancermedia, won third place for Best Social Media Main Page.

At the Pacemaker Awards, Pursuit magazine’s Luc Stringer, Camille Grochowski and Caleb Chong won second place for Magazine Cover Design of the Year. Anyssa Gonzalez and Kia Harlan earned fourth place for Yearbook Cover Design of the Year, and Stringer received fourth place in the Feature Story of the Year category for his story “Our 9/11: How COVID-19 Changed Everything, Again.” Additionally, Pursuit magazine earned a Pacemaker as one of the top magazines for its Spring 2022 magazine, and CBU TV was a finalist in Broadcast Program of the Year.

The Associate Collegiate Press also presented Best of Show awards. Every Lancer Media Group publication placed in the top seven, with Angelos yearbook earning second place. CBU TV’s Dominguez received third place in the Broadcast News Story for Fairview fire continues to grow.

Broadcast journalists from CBU TV traveled to Baltimore for the College Broadcasters Inc. National Student Electronic Media Convention on Oct. 26-29. In CBU TV’s first time competing in the contest, Dominguez took home a second-place award for Best Feature News Reporting, and Ivania Montes took home second for Best Sports Reporting.

“It’s exciting and encouraging to see the hard work of LMG students recognized by professionals in all three of these competitions, especially alongside top-notch programs across the country,” said Sonya Singh, director of student publications. “We love seeing students from other universities pick up copies of LMG publications, and we return inspired by their work as well. We’re so proud of our students and their commitment to producing good journalism that serves the CBU community.”

 

College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design marks 10 years

The College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design (CAVAD) at California Baptist University marked its 10th anniversary this fall.

The college started in 2012 with 173 students in three programs — art, film studies and graphic design. Today it has nearly 600 students and has added six additional programs: architecture, photography, illustration, interior design, art therapy studies and art education.

Mark Roberson, founding dean of CAVAD, said the program has changed a great deal and has grown from being a new kid on the block to a growing and respected force for Christian art and design in the United States.

“We uniquely prepare our graduates to live lives of kingdom impact in their chosen professions through a very strong, college-wide, faith integration system,” Roberson said.

The college is deeply respected across the spectrum of creative professions, he said.

“We have been able to see the accomplishments for our students, faculty and programs that have been beyond our hopes and expectations,” Roberson said. “CAVAD has grown into one of the biggest and most comprehensive art and design colleges at a Christian university in America.”

Bethany Brodwolf (‘22), who works at U Brands, said CAVAD was the place where she discovered who she was as an artist.

“Through the wisdom of my professors, CAVAD was where I decided to explore and embrace what I could uniquely bring to the table with my work,” Brodwolf said. “CAVAD prepared me to be a better designer in the real world by teaching me to celebrate others’ victories and know that the best thing I can do is be the unique artist God made me to be.”

The architecture program is now the largest such program at a religious university in the U.S. and has achieved full accreditation, Roberson said.

“Our architecture students have won regional and state design competitions, been named top in the country and received nationally competitive scholarships,” he said. “Additionally, our graphic design and illustration students have won multiple national gold ADDY awards, and our photography students have won major national and international awards.”

Andriani Sugianto (‘21) pursued a degree in architecture from CAVAD and said the program played a primary role in laying the foundation for her career. She works at SOM as a junior designer.

“CAVAD truly transformed my understanding of creativity and God, exposing me to the deep intertwining of what I once thought were two very separate things,” Sugianto said. “I strive to implement this renewed, Christ-centered mindset toward creativity.”

Dirk Dallas, program lead for graphic design and visual experience, has been part of the CAVAD faculty since day one. He said it has been a privilege to serve alongside so many gifted faculty members and to mentor talented young creatives.

“Under the CAVAD umbrella, we sought to design a unique, well-rounded interdisciplinary education through the Christian worldview,” Dallas said. “Through our approach, we have helped our students develop a richer understanding of truth, goodness and beauty so they can better influence, engage and inspire the world around them.”

Roberson hopes in another 10 years that CAVAD will be leading and shaping the conversation on Christian architecture, art, design and film in large ways.

“My deepest hope is that we will continue to be better at raising up and training leaders who go out into the world and proclaim the kingdom in and through their creative lives and professions,” he said.

 

Aviation science professor lands airport role

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, recently added a new role that will keep him grounded in aviation.

He became airport manager at the Riverside Municipal Airport on Sept. 30. He will continue to teach full time at CBU.

“I wake up every morning excited to get to the airport and get on the airfield,” Prather said.

He has been in education for 16 years, 10 of those at CBU where he started the aviation science program. He began his aviation career as assistant director of operations at Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Florida.

“I really enjoy teaching. I enjoy helping my students be successful in the industry,” Prather said. “But I love airports, and to get back to airports and kind of my first love was an opportunity too good to pass up.”

The city of Riverside operates the airport, which has more than 150 tenants — individuals and companies that own aircraft — maintenance shops, several flight schools — including CBU’s — and a café. Additionally, the runways and taxiways need to be maintained, wildlife kept to a minimum and emergencies handled.

“Airports are really like small cities,” he said. “The airport manager oversees the operation of the entire airport.”

He admits to still figuring out how he’ll do both jobs. He will continue to teach 12 units per semester, but beginning in the spring, those will become mostly night classes.

“In the dynamic aviation environment, things are changing daily, and I can bring that back into the classroom,” Prather said.

In his first week, a plane had just departed when it started leaking oil. It returned, landing safely, with oil on the windshield and on the side of the aircraft. The cause was an oil filler tube lid that had not been secured tightly enough.

“I’ve always tried to stay active in the industry, but actually being on the field on a daily basis, I’ll experience things and address issues that I can share with students,” Prather said. “They’ll benefit from that current industry knowledge and experience.”

Students will also be able to conduct projects and ride along on airfield inspections.

“By bringing the airport into the classroom and bringing students out to the airport, there will be great opportunities for collaboration,” Prather said.

Working at the airport also will allow him to live out his faith.

“I know God will give me the discernment and the grace to really be light and salt,” Prather said. “I’m excited because I think if we’re open to God’s leading, then He gives us additional opportunities and expands our territory so that we can have even greater influence than we currently have.”

His wife and two teenage children are understanding of his busy schedule, Prather said.“My wife, Grace, is very supportive. At first, she questioned if I was crazy, which she’s done in the past,” he said. “But she knows that I operate at a certain tempo and I love to be busy.”

Prather said he is thankful the city of Riverside and CBU leadership were open to him doing both jobs.

“By combining my two passions, the airport benefits, the city benefits but also the students benefit. It’s this win-win-win situation,” Prather said.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Joshua Knabb, professor of psychology, Dr. Veola Vazquez, professor of psychology, Dr. Robert Pate, professor of psychology, Dr. Jessie Lowell, associate professor of psychology, and Dr. John Park, assistant professor of psychology, published a study in Spirituality in Clinical Practice (Oct. 20, 2022). It was titled Lectio Divina for Trauma Symptoms: A Two-Part Study.

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, provided training in safety management systems for attendees of the National Business Aviation Association annual convention and exposition, held in Orlando, Florida, on Oct. 17-20.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Ed Garrett, professor of sport and performance psychology, co-presented at the 2022 Association of Applied Sport Psychology annual conference in Dallas on Oct. 27. The lecture was titled The Novel Application of Sport and Performance Psychology in Medicine: Promoting Application Outside the Ballpark.

 

 

 

Dr. Joshua Knabb, was interviewed on The Well Mind Podcast, with Dr. Benjamin Kohls. The title of the podcast is 21^st Century Christian Mental Health (Oct. 21).

 

 

 

 

Sonya Singh, visiting professor of journalism, was published in The Guardian on Oct. 19 for coverage of Taste of Soul, a street festival that reflects and celebrates the Black cultural experience. The headline was We ain’t done dancing: Los Angeles festival brings Black community together.

 

 

 

Kristin Beinschroth, assistant professor of radiologic sciences, was elected vice president of the California Society of Radiologic Technologists. She began the two-year term Nov. 5.

 

 

 

 

Psychological Services of Riverside, the training clinic for CBU’s PsyD program, was recently awarded a $30,000 Stebler Grant from Riverside Community Health Foundation. The grant will help support PSR’s partnership with Riverside Unified School District to provide therapy services to students in the schools.

 

Dr. Andy Herrity, professor of entrepreneurship and business, presented a paper at the annual national conference of the Christian Business Faculty Association in Shawnee, Oklahoma, on Oct. 22. It was titled How to Foster Psychological Safety for Stud​ents to Risk the Interpersonal Vulnerability of a Character-Building Exercise in the Classroom: Principles and an Empirical Test.

 

 

 

Dr. Shawn Wilhite, associate professor of New Testament, published an article, What is Lament? And how to help others lament, in The Gospel Coalition (Canada edition, Oct. 24).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Teresa Hamilton, professor of nursing, and Dr. Karen Bradley, dean of the College of Nursing, presented at the 26^th annual Sigma So Cal Odyssey Research Conference in Mission Valley, California, on Oct. 13. The presentation was titled Exploring Student Experiences In A Dedicated Education Unit.

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, professor of psychology, gave the 7^th Annual Evangelical Voices in the Academy Lecture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Wake Forest, North Carolina, on Oct. 25. The talk was titled Burning Neural Circuits: The Acts of Daily Formation.

 

 

 

Dr. Ogbochi McKinney, associate professor of public health, was a panelist for a myCovidMD Fire Side Chat on Oct. 12. The panel discussed the role of the new student loan forgiveness and the pros and cons of such program on minorities and middle class.

 

 

 

 

Steve Morris, adjunct professor of education, presented a session at STEPCon22 at the Bournes Technology Center in Riverside on Oct. 11. The session was titled Choice Boards in the STEM Classroom.

 

 

 

Dr. Gaynell Vanderslice, assistant professor of business management, Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, professor of communication, and Dr. Monica O’Rourke, professor of kinesiology, presented a research paper at the University of New Mexico Mentoring Conference on Oct. 24-28. It was titled Rethinking Leadership Strategies to Improve Communication. Additionally, Pearson presented a paper titled Inspirational Mentoring with Leadership Education.

 

 

 

Dr. Melissa Croteau, professor of film studies, was chosen as a fellow for U.S.­-South Korea NextGen Creative Fellowship Program, which is run by USC’s Center on Public Diplomacy and the Korea Foundation. The fellowship included a trip to Seoul, South Korea, for the nine program fellows from Sept. 18-23. They visited major multimedia corporations, the Korean Film Council, and universities with film and public diplomacy programs, and attended events at the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival. In addition, Croteau presented at the Pacific Northwest Renaissance Society’s 65^th Annual Conference in Banff, Canada, on Sept. 16. It was titled Monsters in a Brave New World: Shakespeare and Ecocinema in HBO’s Station Eleven (2021-2022).

 

Dr. Jennifer Cruz, associate professor of music, and Dr. Barry Tan, adjunct professor of music, co-wrote an article in the Fall 2022 issue of the CAPMT Connect. Titled Sight-Reading for the Contemporary Pianist, the article details some of the authors’ work that they have incorporated into applied instruction at CBU, with practical approaches to piano lessons, preparing their students for success in the gigging economy.

 

 

Adrés Vera, assistant professor of New Testament, contributed several articles to the Biblia Temática de Estudio (B&H, October 2022). The study Bible, edited by Dr. Miguel Núñez, has over 50 articles on theological topics and over 200 theological devotionals and introductions. Vera’s articles include La Santidad de Dios (The Holiness of God) and El Mandato Cultural (The Cultural Mandate).

 

 

Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, dean of College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Dr. John Shoup, professor of leadership studies, Dr. Troy Hinrichs, professor of criminal justice, and doctoral student Nora Gonzalez, presented at the International Leadership Association Conference in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 14. The presentation was titled Accelerating the Acquisition of Wisdom: How to Get Wisdom Sooner than Later and Before it is Too Late.

 

 

 

Dr. Kendra Flores-Carter, assistant professor of social work, co-authored a research paper published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (October 2022). It was titled Prenatal Depressive Symptoms, Self-Rated Health, and Diabetes Self-Efficacy: A Moderated Mediation Analysis. She also presented at the 36^th Annual Children’s Network Conference in Ontario, California, on Sept. 14. Her presentation was titled Surviving Motherhood: Trauma and Triumphs.

 

 

Di Rasmusson, administrative support specialist for communication sciences and disorders, was named employee of the month for November. Her nomination included the following statements: “Di’s position involves providing support for both the academic and clinical education units of our MS Speech-Language Pathology program. Since she joined our department two years ago, Di has applied her incredible organizational skills to create procedures for tracking student academic and clinical experiences and competencies. Di is a self-starter and takes the initiative of recognizing an area of need and attacking it head-on.”

 

 

Dr. Robert Shields, associate professor of computer information technology, co-presented at the 15th Annual Mentoring Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Oct. 26. The presentation was titled Peers as Mentors: Examining Virtual Peer Mentorship in the Workplace.

 

 

 

Dr. Joshua Knabb, professor of psychology, and Dr. Veola Vazquez, professor of psychology, published a study the journal Spirituality in Clinical Practice. It was titled The Christian Worldview Scale: An emic measure for assessing a comprehensive view of life within the Christian tradition.

 

 

 

The photography program had 79 students submit to the 2022 High School Showcase. Students from Riverside, Murrieta, Wildomar, Moreno Valley, Corona, Hemet and Hesperia submitted photos. On Nov. 4, more than 200 administrators, teachers, family and friends attended an appreciation that featured the photos.

 

 

 

Andrés Vera, assistant professor of New Testament, and his wife, Courtney, welcomed a daughter on Oct. 21. Lucy Anne Vera weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces and measured 19.5 inches. She joins sisters Elyce, 5, and Liliana, 2.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

First-Year Experience connects new Lancers to campus life

The transition from high school to college can be daunting as students leave behind familiarity to embark on their next journey.

At California Baptist University, the First-Year Experience (FYE) course was carefully created to make this process seamless, so new Lancers can transition easier to campus life.

The semester-long course is required for all first-semester freshmen and includes campus information, activities and meaningful discussions to identify the needs of new students at CBU. The course also covers students’ spiritual journey, emotional and physical wellness, and time and money management.

Activities include movie and game nights, hikes and dinners. FYE leaders and students also connect by getting coffee, visiting the Recreation Center or shopping together.

Courses are run by two FYE student leaders and classes have approximately 25 freshmen.

First-Year Experience exists to welcome and connect all first-year students to CBU’s campus and culture, said Taylor Rilling, assistant director of new student programs.

“The First-Year Experience course is for freshmen to take as an introduction to CBU resources and create connections with other students,” Rilling said. “This program seeks to support students as they navigate the transition to college.”

Victoria Bucy, a civil engineering senior and FYE leader, said FYE greatly impacted her experience at CBU.

“As a freshman, FYE truly helped me get plugged in with everything that happens on campus,” Bucy said. “Being an FYE leader has allowed me to meet other students outside of my major and form connections with people who love to serve and give back as much as I do.”

Involvement and connections start during a student’s first semester on campus, Rilling said.

“We see time and time again that the more a student is involved and connected at CBU, the more likely they are to not only have a positive college experience but also graduate with a degree,” Rilling said. “From Welcome Weekend, FYE class and other campus events [Community Life] hosts, we hope that students engage outside the classroom in order to have a successful time during their CBU journey.”

Taira Hall, a biology sophomore, met one of her best friends during FYE.

“I loved FYE so much that I am now an FYE leader myself, and it is such a rewarding experience to be here and to help freshmen through their first semester because we all know it is not easy coming into a university,” Hall said.

Elisabeth Mather, an elementary education freshman, said she was nervous getting the help she needed because she was coming to CBU from out of state.

“FYE taught me that there are resources everywhere and has also showed me how easy it is to use them,” Mather said.

Allison Holliday, a public relations senior and FYE leader, said FYE has been incredibly fulfilling as a student leader and follower of Christ.

“At the end of the day, my hope is that students come out of the class feeling comfortable navigating their first year with all the changes, but also [that they] look back and recognize how their participation in FYE and forming meaningful relationships will benefit them in the long run,” Holliday said.

 

Alumnus scientist selected as Hanna Gray Fellow

Gabriel Muhire Gihana (’13) was recently named a 2022 Hanna Gray Fellow by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

The institute seeks to increase diversity in biomedical science by recruiting and retaining early-career scientists from groups currently underrepresented in the life sciences. Twenty-five fellows receive funding for their postdoctoral training and may continue to receive funding during their early faculty years. In total, fellows may receive up to $1.4 million each over eight years.

In 2020, Gihana had also received a postdoctoral fellowship from both the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation and The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research. The four-year national award encourages young scientists to pursue careers in cancer research by providing funds to work on innovative and high risk projects.

Gihana came to California Baptist University in 2009 on a scholarship from a partnership between the government of Rwanda and CBU. He studied biochemistry and molecular biology. After graduating, he went to Indiana University for doctoral studies in biology. He is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

We asked him questions about receiving the honor and his research.

What does it mean to be named a 2022 Hanna Gray Fellow?
I came to this country from a relatively disadvantaged background, and I had to work very hard to succeed academically and gain exposure to research when I was still an undergraduate student at CBU. After CBU, I pursued research through a Ph.D. program at Indiana University. Being selected as a Hanna Gray Fellow gave me a gratifying moment to reflect back on my journey as a student and a researcher, and it brought me a great sense of honor and satisfaction. This fellowship provides significant and long-term financial support to my research, which not only boosts my confidence but also gives me a great opportunity to plan my transition from the postdoctoral position to the research faculty position.

Explain your research.
I study how the shape of human cells affects their potential to become cancerous. I focus on a cancer-causing gene called RAS in pancreatic and lung cancers.

What attracted you to cancer research?
My Ph.D. research was in basic cell biology, and I wanted to switch to biomedical research for my postdoctoral phase. Although we continue to see promising therapeutic breakthroughs, cancer is a very complex disease that we still have a lot to learn about in hopes for even better therapies. I realized that the cellular features that I investigated during my Ph.D. were poorly understood in cancer biology, and yet cancer is a cellular disease. For my postdoctoral research, I was fortunate to join a team of interdisciplinary experts who were doing cancer research in areas that intersected with my Ph.D. research.

What is your future goal?
My goal is to continue to do cancer research in an academic setting. I am also passionate about helping younger students, especially those from Africa, gain competent research experience. A few years ago, I cofounded AFRISNET, a nonprofit organization with the goal of exposing African students to modern research.

How did CBU help prepare you for these endeavors?
As an undergraduate student at CBU nine years ago, I was fortunate to have encouraging professors who not only realized my academic interests but also pushed me to seek research exposure outside CBU. I think these professors, especially Dr. Dennis Bideshi (professor of biology), made all the difference. I still tell them today that I owe it all to them; they have remained great friends.

 

Career fair brings engineering employers to campus

The Career Center at California Baptist University hosted an Engineering Fair on Oct. 12 in the Project Hall of the Dennis and Carol Troesh Engineering Building.

The fair featured over 50 employers in search of qualified applicants in the engineering field to fill various job and internship opportunities. More than 30 alumni came as representatives for their companies. Additionally, more than 320 students attended the event, making it the largest attended career fair to date, said Lisa Singer, director of the Career Center.

Ahead of the fair we asked a few of the employers what they look for in a future employee and what stands out about CBU applicants.

Adriane Flores, human resources recruiter, Sorenson Engineering

What are you looking for in an applicant?
We are looking for candidates with a desire to learn, humility and a sincere interest in precision manufacturing. As our manufacturing processes are unique, both to our industry and relative to U.S.-based manufacturing, engineers coming out of school need to be willing to learn hands-on and ask lots of questions.

What is a quality that stands out to you?
Humility and honesty are the key traits that we are always screening for.

Why do you come to CBU to search for applicants?
We have been recruiting from CBU for some time now and have always been able to find excellent candidates who exemplify the principles we’ve stated above. We have extraordinary talent at Sorenson Engineering, and we appreciate our partnership with CBU to help us identify that talent in the past and into the future!

Richard Quesada, territory manager, Abbott

What are you looking for in an applicant?
We are looking for a strong team player. Someone with the ability and drive to educate themselves, with the help of the team, to be better than our competition. We are looking for self-starters and someone who is willing to go the extra mile so that our customers and patients feel the difference between us and our competition.

What is a quality that stands out to you?
Drive! That is something that is rarely taught. People either have it or they don’t. It’s a character trait that separates individuals who want to accomplish a goal.

Why do you come to CBU to search for applicants?
We come to CBU for the people. The individuals who come out of CBU are real. They have been taught something you don’t see everywhere — morals and character.

Capt. Austin Lenick, U.S. Marine Corps

What are you looking for in an applicant?
We are looking for well-rounded individuals who want to lead others in a multitude of work environments. We not only want to create great leaders but great people who lead a life of servant leadership and community support.

What is a quality that stands out to you?
Confidence in abilities and an eagerness to learn. Knowing personal strengths and weaknesses and seeking self-improvement shows an eagerness to learn and continue to grow personally and professionally.

Why do you come to CBU to search for applicants?
We go to CBU because we know that the high quality of person and standard are equal among all students. CBU students are not only academically driven but they are also driven to serve each other and their communities.

 

Hispanic Heritage Fiesta celebrates culture

California Baptist University held its annual Hispanic Heritage Fiesta on Oct. 11. This event, scheduled during Hispanic Heritage Month, aimed to provide an opportunity for Hispanic students to express themselves and share their culture with fellow CBU students.

“This event is to educate, bring awareness and celebrate cultures within the Hispanic heritage,” said Emilee Thomas, assistant director of campus activities. “We have partnered with our student body to create a fun event that celebrates our Hispanic culture on campus.”

To prep for the event, Community Life connected with Latino students on campus to ensure the event accurately represents the Hispanic community at CBU. Eric Schmidt, a junior software engineering major, was one of the Community Life interns involved in planning the event.

“We put a lot of time, preparation and thought into this event because it means a lot,” Schmidt said. “It’s an event where we celebrate culture and history, something that is super important to me and to a lot of others on the team.”

Having conversations with Latino students on campus about their culture was a vital part of the process.

“We were able to have some really good conversations about what they would love to have here … to make them feel at home,” Schmidt said. “I think that’s the goal: to make a lot of our Hispanic students on campus feel at home.”

Schmidt said that the planning team settled on three aspects of Hispanic culture to highlight: food, music and people. At the event, students tried food from many different Latin American countries, participated in salsa dancing, listened to music and made arts and crafts inspired by Hispanic culture.

Schmidt said he hoped Latino students see that the CBU community cherishes their culture and will have the opportunity to connect with other Latino students. For non-Latino students, he would like this event to provide some insight into and understanding of Hispanic culture.

“I’m looking forward mostly to seeing students’ reactions to the event and to seeing students smile, especially the Hispanic students, and to know they feel at home,” Schmidt said.

Ultimately, the event is to foster connections and encourage understanding of different cultural backgrounds, especially as CBU grows, Thomas said.

“For this event, we want to educate, bring awareness to and celebrate Hispanic cultures on our campus,” Thomas said. “As we continue to grow in our diversity, we want to make sure that our student population is being seen.”

 

Family Updates

Dr. S. Jeannette Guignard, professor of organizational leadership, Dr. Cammy Purper, professor of education, and Dr. A. Greg Bowden, professor of organizational leadership, presented their work on a new model for interpersonal collaboration at the International Leadership Association 24^th Global Conference Virtual Event on Oct. 6.  Their presentation was titled Interpersonal Collaboration: The Mapping of a Model.

 

 

Dr. Joshua Knabb, professor of psychology, was interviewed by Dr. Eric Johnson on Houston Christian University’s Think About It podcast (Oct. 3) on how to draw from the Christian tradition to conduct psychological research.

 

 

 

 

Christopher Kern, associate professor photography, and three 2022 alumni—Raymond Alva, Alicia Berardelli, and Ashley Chruszcz—spoke at the virtual SPE West x Southwest Student Showcase on Oct. 6. They talked on their work, photographic process and experience as undergraduate students.

 

 

 

Dr. Thomas Frederick, professor of psychology, Dr. Scott Dunbar, associate professor of human resource management, and Dr. Yvonne Thai, professor of sociology, created a new website for the purposes of helping pastors cope with burnout. It is called Center for Pastoral Renewal.

 

 

 

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, professor of communication studies, presented a research paper at the International Leadership Association online conference on Oct. 6. The title of the paper was Inspiring Wisdom through Mentoring and Leadership in a Student Publication Team Setting.

 

 

 

 

Dr. S. Jeannette Guignard, professor of organizational leadership, presented at the International Leadership Association Global Conference (virtual) on Oct. 7. The presentation was titled Mindful Leadership: Enhancing Workplace Climate and Employee Wellbeing.

 

 

 

Dr. Riste Simnjanovski, professor of public administration, and Dr. Kenneth Minesinger, professor of law, published an article on Bitcoin Magazine titled D.C. Vs. Michael Saylor: Tax Fraud Or Another Political Attack Against Bitcoin? (Oct. 4).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Thomas Frederick, professor of psychology, was interviewed for a London Lyceum podcast (Sept. 28). The discussion was on integrating Christianity and counseling.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Virgo Handojo, professor of psychology, made several presentations in July. He presented research findings titled A Correlational Research and Biblical Reflection on Love and Inter Cultural Relationship for the Creative Family Counseling Institute in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 2. He presented a workshop on Love, Spirituality and Happiness: Research Findings at the 17th Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Salatiga, Indonesia, on July 6. Additionally, he presented a seminar on Developing Resilient Self, Family and School for the Jakarta teachers’ conference in Indonesia on July 9.

 

 

Dr. James Lu, professor of English, published an article in Academic Perspectives, titled Two Tales of a City: An Ethnic and Cultural Study (Vol. 15, December 2021). Additionally he co-authored an article, Virginia Woolf’s “Between the Acts:” A Case Study of Trauma Theory, in The Journal of Social Sciences (September 2022).

 

 

 

CBU’s photography program hosted a photography workshop for community college and high school photography educators and students on Oct. 8. Thirty participants came from High Desert, Murrieta Valley, Perris and Riverside. The workshop was led by CBU faculty and educational partners from Canon USA and Hahnemühle Paper.

 

 

 

Dr. John Marselus, professor of aviation science, presented at the annual University Aviation Association meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He spoke on Safety on the Flightline and on Implementation of a Safety Management System. He also visited the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he provided input to research and development initiatives currently within the Department of Defense. Marselus is a retired colonel from the Air Force with over 3,000 fighter hours.

 

 

 

 

Cathy Letherer, associate professor of physician assistant studies, and Mary Ann Stahovich, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, presented a research poster at the national PA Education Association convention in San Diego on Oct. 12-15. The poster was Bad News Delivery using Telemedicine – Is It Bad?

 

 

 

Four aviation science students attended the Champions of Flight March Air Reserve Base dinner at the March Air Museum on Oct. 14. The students — Nola Samuels, Kate Ahlberg, Seth Guthrie and Patrick Shaneck — met Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, who was being honored. A donor gave the tickets to the Department of Aviation Science.

 

 

 

CBU received several awards at the Public Relations Society of America, Inland Empire Chapter’s Polaris Awards ceremony in Redlands on Oct. 20. The Marketing and Communication division earned three: a Polaris Award for Audiovisual – Video Long Form: Breaking the Silence; a Capella Award for Magazine, Newsletter or Periodical: The Roundtable, Summer 2021; and a Capella for Writing: Crossing the Finish Line. Lancer Public Relations and CBU PRSSA received a Polaris for Public Relations for the campaign The Shadow Days. Student Hannah Tudor received a Polaris in Marketing for the ASCBU campaign titled California Baptist University stress relief week.

Personnel Updates

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU enrollment holds stable for Fall 2022

Enrollment at California Baptist University remains steady this year, Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, announced on Sept. 30.

At the regular fall meeting of the CBU Board of Trustees, Ellis announced that Fall 2022 enrollment totaled 11,496 students. That is five more than the fall 2021 enrollment, an increase of .04 percent from 2021.

“Fall 2022 enrollment is stable. To see this, even as we continue to navigate the aftereffects of a global pandemic, is encouraging,” Ellis said. “CBU is still zeroing in on the goal of 12,000 by 2025. We are thankful for the students who have chosen CBU to pursue their academic goals.”

CBU’s enrollment has grown even as college enrollment declined nationwide through the pandemic. Total enrollment—undergraduate and graduate students—dropped by 2.7 percent in fall 2021 compared with fall 2020, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Private nonprofit four-year undergraduate enrollment decreased by 1.6 percent or 63,200 students during that time. Meanwhile, enrollment at CBU increased by 1.5 percent or 174 students.

This year’s enrollment follows three years of 600-plus enrollment increases (610, 698, 618), one four-digit increase (1,113), seven three-digit increases (813, 584, 616, 784, 545, 559, 272), and the Fall 2021 increase of 174.

Since Ellis arrived as president in November 1994, CBU enrollment has grown from 808 students to 11,496, more than 14 times larger in 28 years.

 

CBU to open theatre season with ‘Lightning Thief’

Opening night is only days away for the California Baptist University theatre program’s first production of the semester, “The Lightning Thief.”

“The Lightning Thief” follows the story of beloved fantasy book character Percy Jackson, a kid who discovers he is half-god, half-mortal and must navigate this newfound fantasy world, making friends and enemies along the way. The musical—a mix of contemporary musical theatre and rock—opens on Oct. 14.

Ethan Park, adjunct professor of theatre, is the director for this production. He works with a production team to plot how scenes will unfold on stage, planning details such as lighting, sound, costumes and design. He also blocks the show, telling actors where they should go during scenes in order to help them perform their roles.

“It starts with, ‘Where do I stand and how do we move?’” Park said. “After we have all that set, it goes into the nitty-gritty of ‘What are my intentions with this line? What is my character going through and thinking about? And how am I affecting the other characters in the scene?’ We really get down to the emotions of it all.”

Park said the most challenging aspect of the preparation process was the fast turnaround time. Auditions began the first week of school and rehearsals began the second week.

Park has directed two CBU theatre productions in the past, including “Fools” by Neil Simon last semester. He said “The Lightning Thief” is unique compared to other shows because many members of the cast are playing multiple characters. The cast only consists of seven actors, but they are playing a total of 40 roles.

“There really are no small roles,” Park said. “Everyone is so busy the whole time, and I’ve just been really proud of how all of the actors have stepped up and dealt with all the craziness and the costume changes and everything. It’s been a lot of hard work but also a lot of fun so far.”

Nathan Sporcich, a marketing senior, is playing the lead role of Percy. He will be on the stage the entire show, which requires him to be intentional about remaining engaged throughout the show. To get into character, he works with Park during rehearsals to explore what Percy might be feeling in any given moment.

“We talk with our director, and we go over scenes multiple times to develop our character,” Sporcich said. “It is usually happening in the moment. We will be delivering some lines, and then he’ll stop us, and we’ll talk. … It is usually dissecting things as you go.”

Although having a small cast can present challenges, Sporcich said his favorite part of the show has been the tight community that has come with it.

“That smaller cast has helped to build some good relationships with everybody,” Sporcich said. “These are people I’ve done shows with before in the past, but having a smaller group allows us to get to know each other on a deeper level.”

Madilyn Fleming, a theatre sophomore, will be playing Clarisse, along with additional characters. She is looking forward to seeing audiences relate to the characters.

“Everyone in the audience can take different things from a performance, and it can be different every single time,” Fleming said. “I love that about theatre, and I love that about this show. It’s funny because they are half-bloods—half-gods, half-people—but they’re so human. I feel like there are a lot of traits in those characters people in the audience will be able to resonate with.”

Park said he hopes that the production will help audience members step away from any stressors in their lives for a period of time.

“That’s one of the things I love about this show — we have crazy fight scenes, and we have hilarious comedic bits that I’m excited to share with the audience,” Park said. “But also, this show has a lot of heart. This kid goes through this journey where his life gets upended, and he’s kind of discovering himself as he goes along, and so I think the audience will leave with a smile.”

When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14-15, Oct. 20-22; 2 p.m. Oct. 15, 22
Where: Wallace Theatre, California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA, 92504
For more information, please visit https://calbaptist.edu/theater/current-production

 

Cultural event gives CBU students a taste of different nations

The International Center kicked off its mobilization season with Taste the Nations on Oct. 6.

The event is an introduction to all things global happening at CBU and introduces ways for students to see how they can be involved globally and culturally, said Courtney Watson, director of International Student Services.

Cuisine from every continent excluding Antarctica was represented at the event. Each station provided guests with an inside look into how the food is important in each culture and where in the world they can find it.

The main food was catered by Provider, and a local store provided boba to give students a taste of the popular Taiwanese drink. Additionally, stations had authentic candy and snacks from various nations.

When planning the menu for the event, International Student Services looked to regions where students call home, Watson said. CBU has 370 international students from more than 60 countries.

“We want to use Taste the Nations to elevate some of our smaller populations,” Watson said. “We hope they feel celebrated and a sense of excitement when they see a little taste of home at CBU.”

Camille Bailey, a communication sciences and disorders senior, works as an event intern at the International Center. She hoped that the international students feel a sense of pride when they see their home represented at the event.

“I hope that through this event, our student population will get a tangible glimpse of the cultural diversity present at CBU,” Bailey said. “My hope is that we would begin to take advantage of the close proximity we have to international students on campus, and we would learn from these students.”

Noelle Avera, an exercise science sophomore, is an event intern as well.

“I wanted to become involved with this event because it gives me the chance to embrace the cultures of international students on campus and make them feel appreciated as people try their food,” Avera said.

One of CBU’s core values is to be globally minded. That can mean taking off the American lens and seeing through somebody else’s lens, Watson said.

“It’s being able to take yourself out of your culture just for a second and put yourself in the shoes of someone else to see what it’s like,” Watson said. “It’s also being aware of what’s going on around you and being sensitive to things that are happening around the world.”

Watson said it is difficult to share the gospel and relate to other cultures if people have no understanding of the culture.

“Being able to take the posture of a learner and saying, ‘I don’t really know a ton about this culture so I’m here to learn and experience new things’ is the first step in bridging the cultural gap and trying to understand different people and backgrounds,” Watson said.

 

Scottish theologian speaks at Christian Ministries lecture

Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson, a Scottish theologian, shared with the audience what it means to know Christ while speaking for the School of Christian Ministries Lecture Series at California Baptist University on Oct. 4.

He is a chancellor’s professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. Ferguson has served as a minister of two churches in Scotland and at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina. He has authored about 50 books and has contributed to many more.

Ferguson talked about the life of Saul of Tarsus and his conversion into Paul the Apostle.

“In Philippians 3, it may be the supreme place where Paul takes you inside the transition he experienced,” Ferguson said. “It’s not stated how he viewed himself before he became a Christian, but [he states] what it meant for him to experience this surprising conversion of his own life.”

Paul said that righteousness from God depends on faith so that believers may know Him and be found in Him, Ferguson said, quoting Philippians 3:8-9 (ESV): “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith …”

With his conversion, Paul became a man in Christ, Ferguson said.

“No wonder the Apostle Paul spoke about the surpassing greatness of Christ,” Ferguson said. “That’s the narrative of a surprising conversion.”

Paul writes to know Christ also means to know the Trinity, Ferguson said.

“You begin to notice how [Paul] weaves together Father, Son and Holy Spirit in all kinds of marveleous ways,” Ferguson said. “What is clearly central in Paul’s ministry is his devotion to Jesus Christ and the riches of God’s grace that he had discovered in Jesus.”

About 200 people attended the event. The lecture series provides an opportunity for students, alumni, faculty members, pastors and guests to learn from leading evangelical scholars who use their academic expertise to serve the church.

 

Partnership brings Master of Social Work program to the desert

California Baptist University is partnering with Olive Crest to offer the Master of Social Work program in Coachella Valley.

Students can take classes at the Palm Desert office of Olive Crest, a nonprofit organization aimed at preventing child abuse. The program, which started this month, is open to anyone, not only Olive Crest employees.

Dr. Antonio Mejico Jr., associate dean for academic services for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, said the program was developed because of the need for practitioners who have their master’s degree and serve in that area.

“The inspiration for the program is to deliver classes to desert residents, in the desert, in order to expand the pool of existing practitioners in the Coachella Valley and the larger desert region of Riverside County,” Mejico said.

The two entities have had an ongoing partnership that has included Olive Crest providing practicum placements for CBU students and faculty and students assisting with the nonprofit’s events.

“This new aspect of our partnership arose from a mutual interest in bringing additional higher education opportunities to the Coachella Valley—an area that is desperately in need of MSW graduates to support mental health programs in this local area,” said Walter Mueller, director of development at Olive Crest.

The hybrid program features faculty from the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences teaching in-person classes twice a week and a distance learning class every other week. The program is the same for the Palm Desert students as if they came to the Riverside campus. It simply eliminates the drive.

“The area is a significantly underserved region from a social services perspective, and the need is extremely high for those with advanced degrees,” said Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. “That need creates a barrier with the employment pipeline, so the agencies are limited in providing services.”

Short term, the Coachella Valley will benefit from student field placements within desert organizations, which historically serve marginalized clients, Mejico said.

“Long term, the Coachella Valley will experience a growth in its social work practitioner pool, which will work to increase the physical and mental health and wellbeing of desert communities by training competent social workers and clinical professionals,” he said.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Sangmin Kim, professor of public health sciences, Dr. Shasha Zheng, associate professor of nutrition, Dr. Esther Lee, associate professor of statistics, and Juleene Moritz, Rae Min, and Zachary Vrobel, nutrition and food science students, published an article in Nutrition Research and Food Science Journal (Sept. 15). It was titled BMI and Physical Activity in College Students Assessed Using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).

 

 

Brianna Zepeda, assistant director – housing maintenance and operations in Facilities and Planning Services, was named employee of the month for October. Her nomination included the following statements: “Customer service is a priority for Brianna  She does what it takes to resolve any issues that come up, Brianna is not one to say ‘no.’ When help is needed, she prioritizes the need and works to get the task completed on time and to the satisfaction of her customers.”

 

 

Dr. Jong-Kyung Kim, professor of exercise science, co-authored a paper published in the Frontier in Physiology Journal (March 2022). It was titled Arterial Baroreflex Inhibits Muscle Metaboreflex Induced Increases in Effective Arterial Elastance: Implications for Ventricular-Vascular Coupling. He also co-presented at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology conference in Philadelphia on April 2-5. It was titled Arterial Baroreceptor Denervation Enhances Muscle Metaboreflex Induced Increases in Effective Arterial Elastance Without Worsening Stoke Work During Dynamic Exercise in Heart Failure.

 

 

Ruth Noemy Wheeler, instructor of music, has been appointed as the associate conductor of the Freedom Philharmonic for the 2022-23 season. It is based in Pasadena.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robert LaChausse, professor of public health, has been awarded the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act grant by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for $49,920. This program aims to prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth and young adults ages 12-20.

 

 

 

Dr. Kristin Mauldin, assistant professor of sport and performance psychology, has been awarded a grant from Riverside Medical Clinic for $4,400. Through an ongoing partnership, CBU and RMC developed a program—reIMAGINE—for reducing bullying incidents in schools. reIMAGINE combines a Riverside Medical Clinic program and new curriculum based on the practices taught in CBU’s Sports and Performance Psychology program.

 

 

Dr. Teresa Hamilton, professor of nursing, had two manuscripts published in Nursing Science Quarterly (Vol. 35, Issue 4). The first is a book review on Dossey & Keegan’s Holistic Nursing: A Handbook for Practice (8th ed.). The second is the editorial contribution to the Teaching-Learning column, Sacred Cows in Nurse Education: Are Faculty Scared to Dream.

 

 

 

Dr. A. Greg Bowden, professor of organizational leadership, and Dr. Elaine Ahumada, professor of public administration, presented at the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities Council at the Collaboration in Doctoral Education Forum held Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Judson University in Elgin, Illinois. Their presentation was titled Interdisciplinarity in Doctoral Programs.

 

 

 

The Counseling Center hosted a Suicide Awareness Tabling Event on Sept. 16. The event aimed to raise awareness and the prevention of suicide. Students were encouraged to write words of hope and encouragement on a two-sided whiteboard.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Photo exhibit at airport showcases alumni and CBU program

As passengers wait to board planes at Ontario International Airport, art exhibits near the gate areas in Terminals 2 and 4 can help them pass the time. Currently featured in Terminal 4 are photographs taken by five California Baptist University alumni.

Christopher Kern, program lead of photography, said he tries to think outside the box on where to display students’ work. Locations have included pop-up gallery shows in the program’s warehouse studio, the spring show in shipping containers, downtown Riverside Arts Walk and now the Ontario International Airport.

“The prompt is to get the photographers’ work out there to the public, to engage the community as a viewer and prompt curiosities and start conversations,” Kern said. “Having our work out at the airport in a more permanent space allows for ongoing foot traffic from the community, promotion for the program and visibility for these emerging photographers. It’s also an opportunity for the students to include these opportunities on their CV.”

The Chaffey Community Museum of Art in Ontario manages the Art at the Airport program. Artists wanting to exhibit at the airport need to apply. A three-person panel evaluates each submission for artistic merit, the perceived ability to draw busy travelers to the exhibit and whether the artist resides in the area served by the airport, said Nancy DeDiemar, board president of the museum.

Typically, art is shown in 24 glass cases in Terminals 2 and 4. The CBU photography exhibit is an expansion of that to two new locations in Terminal 4, DeDiemar said. The first is a long wall adjacent to Gate 405. The exhibit replaces a series of posters depicting Route 66. The second location is in the passageway near Gate 401.

“CCMA is delighted to have the expansion exhibits and CBU’s active participation in the A3 [Art at the Airport] program,” DeDiemar said.

CBU has the space for two years. Students’ work will be changed twice a year, Kern said.

Photos by Ryan Fields (’22) focuses on surfing.

“I was honored and so excited that more people will be able to view the work we put so much time and effort into,” he said. “I hope my work is able to give a look into what the culture of surfing really is and emphasize the craftsmanship that goes into a surfboard.”

Alicia Berardelli (’22) features photographs of athletes on bikes, skateboards and skis in her photos.

“My hope for my work is to be able to capture the athletic talents of passionate individuals in beautifully powerful ways and for the viewers to feel a glimpse of the same adrenaline that the athletes themselves are experiencing,” Berardelli said. “I want the viewers to ask themselves: What drives these athletes? Is it passion? Addiction? Madness?”

The airport location is a wonderful opportunity to have her work seen and for CBU’s photography program to have such exposure, she said.

“The photography program at CBU and the professors helped me to discover and refine my photographic style, understand why my work matters and how to channel underlying themes that are important to me and my community through my work, and taught me about the business side of photography through branding and marketing one’s work,” Berardelli said. “I cannot express my gratitude enough to my professors for the time that they invested in me, their passion to see me succeed but also their care in building solid relationships with me.”

To see the installation, go here. 

 

New leadership brings new philosophy to Safety Services

California Baptist University has welcomed the new director and two assistant directors of Safety Services to campus to spearhead safety initiatives that ensure a safe, welcoming environment.

John Freese, director of Safety Services, started in February, bringing more than 25 years of experience at the UC Riverside Police Department. Chris Thomas, assistant director of Safety Services, started in July, and has over 25 years of experience in the field. Christian Dinco, assistant director of Safety Services, started in August and has 30 years of experience protecting and serving the local community.

Freese said when he came to CBU, he began changing the philosophy of Safety Services.

“When I first arrived, Safety Services’ goal was to respond, observe and report incidents,” Freese said. “We’ve changed that to a proactive, collaborative partnership with our campus partners with the primary goal of supporting student success.”

With that goal in mind, Freese recruited a leadership team including Dinco, whom he worked with over the years.

“Christian [Dinco] and Chris Thomas, our other assistant director, are both men of strong faith and conviction and have a very high level of professionalism and integrity,” Freese said. “I feel very fortunate to have been able to bring them both together to form our new leadership team.”

Freese said changes are coming to the Safety Services team and to campus.

“I’ve completely changed the expectations for our officers,” Freese said. “I’ve committed to developing each of them, demanding that they be problem solvers with the understanding that they have a high calling of changing the trajectory of a student’s life.”

Students could be suffering from mental health issues, they could’ve been a victim of sexual violence or both, Freese said.

“We have an opportunity to meet students where they’re at and help them get through the situation,” Freese said. “Everyone, no matter what time of day, can be here to solve problems and provide a safe experience for our students.”

Uniform changes are also coming to the team. The current one looks similar to RPD’s uniform. The new one will feature a polo shirt and cargo-style pants to make the officers look less like actual police, Freese said.

He recognizes that students come from all over the globe.

“Depending on what culture people come from or where they were raised, they or their family members might not have a great experience with police,” Freese said. “We have to overcome that, and I want our officers to be seen as engaging and approachable, and a uniform is just a part of that.”

Freese began at the UC Riverside Police Department as an officer and worked his way through the ranks as a detective, sergeant, field supervisor and lieutenant.

“I had the opportunity to have the big city policing experience while working with the Riverside Police Department but also years of experience collaborating with student partners on campus,” Freese said. “I was excited to be able to bring that experience to CBU.”

He retired in February 2022 from UC Riverside as interim chief of police.

“I wanted to keep working in a new role that was different but would leverage and utilize my experience,” Freese said. “I found that opportunity with CBU, but what I didn’t realize initially was that it was going to be an amazing opportunity to live out my faith and use my philosophy that this work should be a calling and a ministry.”

Dinco (’15) began his career at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and then came to the Riverside Police Department in 1995. He retired in April 2022. Throughout his career he had the opportunity to work in a variety of positions from officer to detective sergeant and, eventually, lieutenant. In addition to his CBU duties, Dinco serves as a council member for the City of Eastvale.

“Law enforcement was just a vehicle to realize that service comes in many different ways,” Dinco said. “I was a police officer and now in retirement I came here to work as another way to provide service to the community and the residents of this faith-based environment. I am really proud to be part of this team.”

Prior to joining CBU, Thomas served with the Orange County Sherriff’s Department. His assignments included corrections, Special Investigations Bureau and critical incident review. His final one was in the Homeland Security Division as the Chief of Transit Police Services. For the past 10 years, Thomas has taught law enforcement training courses at the Rancho Santiago Community College District.

Born and raised in Riverside, he has watched CBU grow into a university that has become a jewel in the city, Thomas said.

“My wife attended when it was CBC,” Thomas said. “I wanted to be part of this extraordinary Christ-centered culture. It is exciting to me to play a small part in helping our students have a safe space to thrive and find Christ’s path for them. I love coming to work every day to watch what He continues to accomplish through CBU.”

 

CBU architecture grad student participates in fellowship

Pablo Guzman, an architecture graduate student at California Baptist University, completed a fellowship with the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) program as an intern at Populous during the summer of 2022.

The fellowship offers students a mentorship experience to enhance their skills at top design firms. NOMA aims to increase diversity in the field of architecture and design. Guzman was one of three CBU students who received a NOMA Foundation Fellowship. Twenty students total were selected nationally for the program.

Aaron Greene, assistant professor of architecture at CBU, said the NOMA Foundation Fellowship is a major program because it provides students of color with an opportunity to engage with firms of a high caliber.

“This program has been developed to provide a gateway for students of color into practice during the academic experience, network creation/building, opportunities for mentorship and monetary encouragement to obtain an architectural license,” Greene said.

This was Guzman’s first internship, and he was able to learn more about the field while understanding how the operations and management side works at a large firm.

“I learned a lot of communication skills and ways to be more efficient in team collaborations,” Guzman said. “Populous handles numerous projects and ventures and the most challenging part was the first two weeks and trying to understand how their processes and work structure was done around the office.”

Additionally, the firm, which is located in Kansas City, Missouri, conducted education sessions that were tailored to interns and new graduates, Guzman said.

“A few of my favorites [included] intro to sports architecture, esports designs, internal data and crucial conversations,” Guzman said. “These were great sessions because they brought us up to speed on proper terminology and standards while also explaining how to continually improve designs on projects and how it works within the work-life culture.”

Guzman was inspired to pursue a career in architecture after he started working for his father’s construction business located in the San Fernando Valley. Many projects they work on are located in Los Angeles and Hollywood.

“I was exposed to a variety of spaces—from commercial to residential buildings—and saw how they were transformed to create new living experiences,” Guzman said. “Seeing this firsthand convinced me to be on the design side where I have the opportunity to serve communities through my designs.”

Guzman said that his degree through the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design (CAVAD) at CBU focuses on a practical and empathetic design approach.

“In the program we learned through readings, research, discussions and projects that, to be able to serve communities at the micro or macro levels, we must first understand who our users are [in order] to fully be able to design and serve them,” Guzman said.

Guzman has been mentored by Krysten Burton, assistant professor of architecture at CBU.

“Professor Burton helped break down the interview process with the firms,” Guzman said. “She also reviewed my portfolio providing feedback and tips to better show its content, which is crucial during interviews.”

Burton said Guzman is a tremendously talented, creative and hard-working student with a generous and humble heart.

“We are very proud to see Pablo utilizing the skills he gained developing his projects in the studio to be a light in the world working with a prestigious and talented team to bring complex and fascinating architectural projects to life,” Burton said.

 

CBU advances in 2023 “Best Colleges” rankings

California Baptist University received high marks in U.S. News & World Report’s annual 2023 Best Colleges rankings.

In the listings, released Sept. 12, CBU claimed the No. 2 spot for “Most Innovative Schools,” up a spot from last year’s No. 3. The list is curated by college presidents, provosts and admissions deans who are asked to nominate up to 15 peer colleges that are making the most innovative improvements in curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.

CBU also received a No. 28 spot for “Best Regional University” in the West, climbing up from last year’s No. 34 position.

The 2023 rankings mark the ninth consecutive year that CBU has received a top-50 ranking in the publication’s “Best Regional Universities” category for public and private colleges in the West. It is also the 17th year that CBU has appeared in the “Best Colleges” list.

“I am thankful these influential rankings continue to recognize California Baptist University and the continuing advances happening here,” said Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of CBU. “College rankings such as these acknowledge the effort and commitment by faculty and staff who work to give our students the best educational experience possible.”

CBU also earned significant placement in several other U.S. News rankings: No. 6 for “Best Undergraduate Teaching”; No. 23 for “Top Performers on Social Mobility” (based on enrolling and graduating students who received federal Pell Grants); No. 24 for “Best Colleges for Veterans”; and No. 30 in the “Best Value Schools” category.

The “Best Regional Universities” category compares nearly 600 institutions in four regions of the nation that offer a broad scope of undergraduate degrees and master’s degrees but few, if any, doctoral programs.

CBU offers seven doctoral programs, 40 graduate programs and more than 100 bachelor’s programs.

U.S. News & World Report publishes the “Best Colleges” rankings each year to aid prospective students and their parents looking for the best academic values for their money. Now in its 38th year, the annual comparative listing uses a system of weighted indicators of academic excellence to rank universities. Those indicators include student selectivity, retention and graduation rates, assessment by peer institutions, faculty resources, financial resources and alumni giving, according to the U.S. News website.

 

New CBU Soccer Stadium is dedicated

When soccer season started last month, the teams at California Baptist University took to a new field.

The $3.9 million CBU Soccer Stadium includes a new game field, bleachers that can seat 520 people with space for overflow crowds, and a covered, open-air press box. The field also features 90-foot-tall stadium lighting for night games.

On a very warm evening on Sept. 8, more than 900 fans watched the women’s team play University of California, Riverside. The teams battled to a 3-3 draw. The stadium was dedicated with a ribbon cutting during halftime.

“As I look around here tonight, I feel optimism about the opportunity in front of us to realize a new vision, a vision for building a nationally recognized brand for NCAA men’s and women’s soccer,” Coe Michaelson, head men’s soccer coach, said during the program. “We now have a home that our student athletes can be proud of, a place where they can build a legacy at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics.”

The new facility features a field with hybrid Bermuda grass, which sits on top of eight inches of sand and an underground drainage system. The former soccer field is now used for practice and is surrounded by a two-lane track.

“What a great space for our student-athletes to show their exceptional skills,” said Paul Eldridge, vice president for University Advancement, during halftime. He also thanked the Lancer Athletics Association donors and gave a prayer of dedication.

“May there be fierce competition here over many, many years. May our student athletes excel, and may they always play to the very best of their ability and to Your glory in this stadium,” Eldridge prayed.

Adding to the excitement of a new field, the teams are eligible for postseason play now that the transition to full NCAA Division 1 membership was completed last month. The Lancers will host the 2022 Western Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament at the CBU Soccer Stadium this fall.

“With the successful transition to Division 1, the completion of the beautiful multimillion soccer facility, and the opportunity to build one of the most competitive home field advantage atmospheres in Southern California, it is a very exciting time to be here at CBU,” said Tyler Mariucci, director of Athletics. “The combination of this new facility and our growing fan base and attendance is a game changer, and I believe one that can catapult us to the NCAA tournaments to compete against the best of the best in the nation.”

Players are excited to have the opportunity to play on the field.

“It feels like a long time coming getting to play on that field,” said Brian Gonzalez, a graduate midfielder. “I’m very excited that we have a top-tier facility on campus where our soccer program can do something special this year and for years to come.”

“It’s really exciting and a huge honor to be on the inaugural team to play on this field,” said McKenna Ray, a junior midfielder. “We are all very committed to bringing a WAC Championship to CBU and to plaster some banners on our new stadium!”

 

Family Updates

Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, professor of public administration, Dr. Mark Kling, professor of criminal justice, and Jim Bishop, associate professor of criminal justice and business law, had an article published in the PA Times (Sept. 9). It was titled Is Escalating Crime Altering the Social Contract? 

 

 

 

Eleven students and alumni from CBU Photography received Honorable Mentions for 16 pictures in the 2022 International Photography Awards. The awards are an annual competition for professional, amateur and student photographers. A jury of renowned photography experts judged 13,000 entries from 120 countries.

 

 

Dr. Trevor Gillum, professor of kinesiology, and Zack McKenna (’15, ’17) co-wrote two papers. Ibuprofen increases markers of intestinal barrier injury but suppresses inflammation at rest and after exercise in hypobaric hypoxia was published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (Sept. 5). High altitude exposure and intestinal barrier dysfunction was published in American Journal of Physiology Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology (Feb. 16).

 

 

Christopher Kern, professor of photography, became a docent at the California Museum of Photography (UCR ARTS) in Riverside. It is a one-year term.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Joshua Knabb, professor of psychology, has launched a weekly podcast, The Christian Psychologist: Mental Health for 21^st Century Christ Followers. It is aimed at helping church attendees improve their psychological and spiritual health.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robert LaChausse, professor of public health, has been awarded a Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the ninth consecutive year. Jessica Ducsay, research associate for public health science, is the DFC program coordinator. The grant is for $125,000. The DFC program aims to mobilize community leaders to identify and respond to the drug problems unique to their community and change local community environmental conditions tied to substance use.

 

 

Dr. Rebecca Meyer, professor of nursing, has been awarded $49,992 by the Health Resources and Services Administration for the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP). This is in addition to the $1 million award in 2018 and $999,551 in 2020. The purpose of the program is to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty nationwide. NFLP provides funding to accredited schools of nursing to establish and operate a student loan fund and provide loans to students enrolled in advanced education nursing degree programs who are committed to becoming nurse faculty. Meyer is the director of the program at CBU.

 

 

Zachary Vrobel, Madelyn Bradley and Hanchu Dai, nutrition and food science students, and Dr. Shasha Zheng, associate professor of nutrition, had an article published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Food Science (Aug. 30, 2022). It was titled Impact of Dietary Vitamin Intake on Obesity in Native American Adolescents. The students were the first, second and third authors.

 

 

 

Dr. Joshua Knabb, professor of psychology, Dr. Jessie Lowell, associate professor of psychology, Heather Boyd and Katie Duvall, graduate students, had an article published in the Journal of Psychology and Theology (September 2022). It was titled The relationship between God attachment, transdiagnostic processes, and symptoms of psychopathology among Christian adults.

 

 

 

Dr. Kendra Flores-Carter, assistant professor of social work, presented a workshop at the 36th annual Children’s Network Conference in Ontario, California, on Sept. 14. It was titled Surviving Motherhood: Trauma and Triumph and aimed at helping healthcare providers learn about the experiences of motherhood when impacted by racism and bias.

 

 

 

Dr. Sandra Romo, associate professor of communication, and Dr. Shannon Leinen, adjunct professor of communication studies, published an article in the Journal of Education and Social Policy (Vol. 9, No. 2). It was titled Universal Assessment Practices across Traditional and Online Programs: An Explanatory Case Study Analysis of Universal Assessment Practices.

 

 

 

California Baptist University made the 2022 Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges list. Military Times, which is a news outlet for service members, surveyed more than 300 schools on their services and programs specific to military students.

 

 

 

Robyn Glessner, adjunct professor of political science, married Michael Luna on Aug. 5 in Orange, California.

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Minyard, associate athletic director for external relations, and his wife, Katie, welcomed a son on Sept. 9.  Memphis Monroe Minyard weighed 8 pounds and measured 20.5 inches.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

In-person chapel returns to campus at CBU

Students streamed into the Events Center for chapel at California Baptist University on Sept. 6. Not only was it the first chapel of the school year, but it was also the first in-person chapel since March 2020 when the pandemic shut everything down. During the past two years chapel was held online.

Dr. John Montgomery, associate vice president of Student Services, said he was thankful the students could gather again.

“What we already knew but has been reinforced by our shared experience over the last couple of years is that worshiping together is so much more vibrant and life-giving when we are physically together,” Montgomery said. “The pandemic has been tragic, but it has taught us that the virtual cannot replace the benefit of singing praises together, hearing from God’s word together and responding to God together.”

Most CBU students attended in-person for the first time. The only students who have experienced in-person chapel are seniors who were freshmen when the pandemic was declared in March 2020.

Daniel Hubert, a senior in the mathematics and preliminary single subject credential programs, was looking forward to attending chapel again.

“Chapel is important to CBU culture because it brings community. Chapel online was individualistic. I don’t know of anyone that watched chapel together,” Hubert said. “In person, we go together, sit with our friends and share experiences. It also is the starting point for great conversations.”

For Damara Wilson, an applied theology senior, chapel is a helpful launch pad for those interested in knowing more about Jesus and Christianity.

“I’m looking forward to the consistency of being reminded of God’s word throughout the school week. Chapel can be a restful place on campus in the midst of all the busyness that comes with a semester,” Wilson said. “Chapel is important for the community at CBU because we are a Great Commission school, and it helps students to know what that actually means for us here in Riverside.”

Dr. Rick Warren, a CBU alumnus (’77) and founding pastor of Saddleback Church, gave the message for the first chapel. The students have three options, Warren told them. They can waste their life, spend their life or invest their life. There are “thousands of ways” to waste a life. They can spend their life on a career, on money or on being popular.

“The greatest use of your life is to invest it in something that will outlast it. You were made to make a difference with your life. You were made to live for something greater than yourself,” Warren said.

Warren encouraged the students to find their purpose and do that.

“College is not just for knowledge. College is to discover your purpose and then give the rest of your life, however long it is, to fulfilling God’s purpose in your generation,” Warren said. “There’s no greater pleasure in life. There’s no greater joy in life than to know you are being used by the hand of God for a purpose greater than yourself.”

Chapels are held Tuesdays throughout the semester. Students are required to go to 15 sessions and faculty and staff are also invited to attend.

“Chapel is really the only time when the entire campus community is invited to come together for worship and spiritual encouragement,” Montgomery said. “Once a week, we have the unique opportunity to be reminded of the greatness of our God, the power of the gospel, who we are in Christ and what it means to be a university committed to the Great Commission.”

 

New CBU journal focuses on faith integration in the classroom

The Teaching and Learning Center at California Baptist University launched a new journal this summer.

The Journal of Faith in the Academic Profession is aimed at Christian faculty as it examines the role that faith plays in the work of a higher education instructor, said Dr. Ted Murcray, director of the Teaching and Learning Center and the journal’s editor.

“One of the things that teaching and learning centers do is they drive innovation at their institutions, and we have wanted to increase the research and scholarship activity here at CBU,” Murcray said.

The catalyst for the online journal began four years ago when the TLC started Faith Integration Fellowships to provide faculty time to delve into how faith intersects with their particular discipline.

The fellows write research articles, but there were few options to publish their work, Murcray said. That ultimately led the Teaching and Learning Center to create the biannual journal.

“We’re looking for the article to be about the faculty experience as an academic professional from a biblical perspective,” Murcray said. “We’re looking specifically for how do [Christian] faculty teach differently. How do they exist in the academic profession differently using their biblical lens?”

The journal, which has a blind peer review process, includes theoretical, research and practical application articles along with book reviews. Anyone can submit, not just fellows or CBU faculty.

Dr. Jenifer Nalbandian, associate professor of chemistry, had an article in the first issue. “Common Myths Surrounding Faith Integration” focused on the basics of faith integration.

“I am aware that faith integration can be daunting for new and veteran faculty alike, so the topic originated from a desire to provide some encouragement for all of us to begin or to dive even deeper into faith integration in our disciplines,” she said.

The journal shows that faith integration is not something faculty have to pursue alone, Nalbandian said.

“We should be trying to connect with faculty outside of our discipline, as well as within our discipline, as we grapple with this topic,” Nalbandian said. “In that vein, this journal allows for the transfer of ideas between those whose paths might not ever cross in their daily life. The journal is open to any faculty at faith-based institutions, which allows those of us at CBU to benefit from the wisdom and knowledge of those outside the CBU community.”

Dr. Kenneth Nehrbass, director of special projects in the TLC and associate editor, said the publication provides faculty support and depth in relation to faith integration.

“I think we grow up in churches where we are taught to look at the Bible for how it gets us into heaven and deals with forgiveness of sins, but we spend a lot less time in our church life thinking about how faith impacts what we’re learning in school, especially at the college level,” Nehrbass said. “We might get into issues of faith and science a little bit in church, but other than that, we don’t think a lot about faith in kinesiology or faith in architecture.”

  

Newest Lancers arrive for Welcome Weekend

The newest Lancers received a warm reception as they arrived at California Baptist University for Welcome Weekend, Sept. 2-4. That came both from the high temperatures and the faculty, staff and student leaders. About 1,400 freshmen and transfer students arrived for the start of the fall semester at CBU.

The weekend started with residential freshmen and transfer students moving in on Sept. 2. As students arrived at their living areas with vehicles full of luggage, student volunteers lined up to help with the move.

Camdyn Taylor, an elementary education freshman, said she was very excited to move in.

“I’m looking forward to connecting with the Lord more and making new friends,” Taylor said.

The day also included academic involvement fairs and a Welcome Session.

During the Welcome Session in the Events Center, new students and their parents were introduced to leaders on campus, including Dr. John Montgomery, associate vice president of Student Services; Tyler Mariucci, the director of Athletics; and Dr. Charles Sands, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. The audience members learned about CBU’s values and had the opportunity to have some fun, too, by learning the CBU fight song.

“Being a university committed to the Great Commission is so important to who we are,” Sands said at the event. “One thing we want you to realize is we are here because we believe God’s called us to serve you. We want you to come here. We want you to learn, we want you to grow and we want you to become part of our Lancer Nation. One of the things we want to do is cultivate God’s gifts in you.”

Other events throughout the weekend included connecting with First-Year Experience (FYE) groups, which are designed to help the transitional needs of new students, participating in various activities across campus, experiencing Spiritual Life (SL) Night and attending a movie night to watch “The Greatest Showman.”

Eli Washburn, an exercise science sophomore, transferred into CBU after visiting the campus.

“I really like the environment and the community on campus,” Washburn said. “I really like the program and the teachers. I’m excited to get to know more people, especially in the field I am interested in.”

Delaney Keller, a graphic design and visual experience freshman, especially enjoyed the FYE group events since they allowed her to connect with a smaller group of students on a deeper level.

“I really like the FYE groups and getting to know people,” Keller said. “It helps calm your nerves because you are actually talking to people and communicating.”

The weekend wrapped up with the return of Clash N Roll, an annual event that has been absent from campus life since fall 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 1,000 students — both new and returning — attended the event dressed in their craziest clashing outfits to play a massive game of bunco on the Front Lawn.

Alyssa Humphreys, a psychology senior, is a Community Life intern who helped prepare and run the Welcome Weekend and Clash N Roll events.

“We’re so excited to have Clash N Roll back,” Humphreys said. “It’s an event that brings everyone together right at the start of the year. It’s such high energy and it sets the tone for the rest of the year. We’ve been through a lot of struggles with COVID, and we weren’t able to do this event, so it’s really cool to be on the other side of that and be able to start this event again.”

Throughout the weekend, Humphreys said she enjoyed seeing students form connections during events.

“Once you have community and once you have connections, that’s really what’s going to lead you to be able to stay at school and enjoy your college experience,” Humphreys said.

Classes began for the fall 2022 semester on Sept. 6.

 

CBU scores high in 2023 Niche college rankings

The Niche 2023 college rankings recently were released, and California Baptist University once again received top marks for campus life.

Nationally, CBU came in at No. 3 for “Best College Campuses,” No. 5 for “Best College Food” and No. 24 for “Best College Dorms” respectively. CBU continues to place high in the national categories year over year.

The Niche college rankings are based on various statistical analyses per category, according to the site. The results compile data from sources such as the U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation and nearly 500,000 reviews from students.

“Coming from a state school I must say this is the far better choice to get a quality education and college experience. There are so many ways to get connected to other people including students and professors,” wrote a student reviewer on Niche.com for CBU. “The food is amazing whether it be in the cafeteria or the small food shops around campus. The people here are very open and kind. Staff, counselors and professors are easy to get a hold of and are usually very responsive and understanding of student situations.”

CBU placed No. 27 for “Best Hispanic-Serving Institutions” in the national rankings. In the Niche ratings for California colleges, CBU ranked No. 2 for “Best College Campuses,” “Best College Food” and “Best College Dorms.” Additionally in the state rankings, CBU placed No. 5 for “Best Christian Colleges,” No. 7 for “Best College Athletics” and No. 11 for “Best Colleges for Education.

 

CBU announces $1 million-plus gift benefiting Athletics

California Baptist University announced a gift exceeding $1 million from an anonymous donor to the benefit of the Department of Athletics on Thursday.

The commitment includes a combination of both cash and planned gifts. It will support a number of athletic projects and initiatives including a major gift to the men’s basketball program through its newly established fundraising arm, the Sixth Man Club.

“These types of estate gift commitments are a remarkable testament to the generosity and thoughtfulness of our donors,” said Paul Eldridge, CBU Vice President of University Advancement. “By including CBU athletics in their estate plan, this anonymous donor has basically raised CBU to the level of family.”

The gift comes after CBU recently announced a $20 million phase of the master facilities plan, with several projects that began earlier this year wrapping up in time for the 2022-23 season. In all, CBU has invested over $100 million in athletic-related projects over the last decade.

“This is truly a significant commitment from one of our longtime and greatest supporters here at CBU,” said CBU Director of Athletics Tyler Mariucci. “This level of support not only helps our university and department in a very meaningful way, it helps us continue to build the culture of philanthropy within athletics now and into the future.”

For more information on how to get involved with supporting Lancer Athletics, contact Robby Mansfield, Director of Development, at rmansfield@calbaptist.edu.

 

Kienel Leadership Institute graduates first doctoral students

The Dr. Paul and Annie Kienel Leadership Institute at California Baptist University graduated its first doctoral students on Aug. 17.

Dr. Kathryn Grimble, Dr. Brittnee Quintanar and Dr. Lindsey Rosa received their Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Studies.

Dr. John Shoup, executive director of the Leadership Institute, commended the graduates for their resolve to earn a Ph.D. in three years while balancing careers and family — all during a pandemic. He also highlighted the importance of leadership studies in equipping students to be “people of influence who make the right things happen the right way in their personal and professional communities.”

“Your degree conveys that you are an expert called to judiciously equip and teach others to thrive in their individual and collective endeavors — to be salt and light in a society in desperate need of good leaders,” Shoup said during the hooding ceremony on Aug. 17.

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, chair of Grimble’s dissertation committee, commended her hard work.

“On Sept. 10, 2020, Katie Grimble sent me an email. Five emails later she asked me to chair her committee. Forty-eight emails later she became Dr. Grimble. Her diligence throughout the pandemic was incredible. This was all done while she worked in public education in Riverside,” Pearson said.

Quintanar said she actually began her doctoral journey 16 years ago at another university, but she soon knew in her heart it wasn’t the right fit. When she joined the Leadership Institute, she felt support from the faculty and from Shoup, her dissertation committee chair.

“Knowing that my dissertation committee members truly wanted me to succeed and prayed for my diligence and fortitude to see it through was the defining factor that got me to the finish line,” Quintanar said.

The program hosted its fourth orientation on Aug. 23. They welcomed 17 students to the cohort.

Quintanar presented her dissertation research and a panel of current candidates offered advice to the new students, such as Dawn Carter, industry liaison for the School of Business, who will begin her studies this fall.

“As a first-year Ph.D. student, the orientation was such a blessing. I particularly appreciated the words of wisdom that current students passed along to us about the process and how pursuing a Ph.D. affected them,” Carter said. “Now when ‘imposter syndrome’ invariably hits, I feel equipped to counter it using their strategies.” 

 

Family Updates

Dr. Erin Smith, professor of psychology, co-wrote an article published in Social Work & Christianity (Vol. 29 No. 2). It was titled The relationships between positive character traits, virtues, and health.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mark Kling, professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, professor of public administration, had an article published in the PA Times (Aug. 12). It was titled Los Angeles Hotels: Serving Travelers or Homeless Individuals?

 

 

 

 

Dr. Virgo Handojo, professor of psychology, presented a live seminar titled Building Parent-Child Attachment during Pandemic during Covid-19 on June 11 for the Indonesian Christian Family Counselor Network in Jakarta, Indonesia. On June 16 he presented Well-being as Evidence-Based Practice at the plenary session of National Consortium of Indonesian Christian Psychological Association, Bandung, Indonesia. He presented a webinar on Psychology of Well-being at the AKI University, Semarang, Indonesia, on June 22. Additionally, he presented Psychology of Multiculturalism: Attachment and Intercultural Relations, at the Pre-International Conference of Psychology of Multiculturalism, Satya Wacana Christian University, Salatiga, Indonesia, on June 30.

 

Dr. Michael J. Nalbandian, associate professor of civil engineering, presented a research poster at the American Chemical Society Fall 2022 National Meeting on Aug. 21 in Chicago. The poster was titled Synthesis and characterization of electrospun silica-based nanofibers for Cu(II) removal of contaminated water.

 

 

 

 

Kristin Beinschroth, visiting professor of radiologic sciences, co-presented at the California Society of Radiologic Technologists Student Committee Meeting on Aug. 29. The title was Resume and LinkedIn for Medical Imaging Professionals.

 

 

 

Dr. Sylvie Raquel, adjunct professor of Christian studies, co-edited a recently published book. It was titled Teaching the Bible with Undergraduates (SBL Press, July 2022).

 

 

 

Dr. Sangmin Kim, professor of public health sciences, co-authored a paper published in the International Journal of Health, Wellness, and Society (Sept. 6). It was titled Correlates of Occupational Stress on Emotional and Physical Health in Veterinary Technicians.

 

 

 

Jamond McCoy, adjunct professor of music, performed with Leon Bridges, a soul singer, songwriter and record producer, at the Forum in Inglewood, California, on June 30. He was part of the choir on the song River. McCoy also co-wrote a song, This Kid Acts Like She’s 21 Years Old!!, for Brent Rivera, a social media personality.

 

 

Zachary Bortot, associate professor of theatre, served as a discussion moderator for New Threads Theatre Company’s staged reading of Jennifer Shaley’s The Nether. The performance took place on Aug. 27 at Ruhnau Clark Architects in Riverside.

 

 

 

Dr. Barry Parker, librarian, officiated his son’s wedding. Jesse Parker (’05) married Devin Meehan, on Aug. 13 in Vancouver, B.C.

 

Corey Stegman, adjunct professor of kinesiology, and his wife, Jordan, welcomed a son on Aug. 19. William Lee Stegman weighed 8 pounds and measured 21 inches. He joins sisters Charlotte, 6, and Ryann, 5.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

The view behind the landscape at CBU

California Baptist University resides on more than 155 acres in the heart of Riverside’s historic Magnolia Avenue District in sunny Southern California.

To complement the buildings on campus, the landscape was planned to not only enhance the natural beauty of the campus and its surroundings but also to help support CBU’s sustainability efforts.

CBU’s Facilities and Planning Services contracts with BrightView Landscape to maintain CBU’s grounds. From the sports fields to the lawns and various types of trees, a team of 13 ensures that CBU is kept beautiful.

Ed Schmachtenberger, manager of grounds and landscaping at CBU, said BrightView brings a vast knowledge of landscape and sports field maintenance to campus.

“BrightView maintains CBU’s campus landscape to provide students, parents, faculty and staff with an aesthetically pleasing experience while on campus,” Schmachtenberger said.

Kyle Kramer, account manager for BrightView, said the crew is on campus five days a week, trimming, mowing and edging, as well as removing and preventing weeds.

“We work with a very knowledgeable crew and alongside CBU Facilities to maintain the campus, proactively solve any problems, and ensure things are running smoothly,” Kramer said.

BrightView also maintains CBU’s outdoor sports fields—soccer, softball and baseball.

CBU recently completed its transition to NCAA Division 1. Each field must comply with NCAA regulations. Specific mowers are used to ensure that CBU adheres to the guidelines.

“Our job is to ensure than the infields and outfields are absolutely playable,” Kramer said. “We are mowing upwards of five days a week with a specific type of mower for the infield and a specific type of mower for the outfield.”

Around campus, water-wise vegetation has been planted to support CBU’s water conservation efforts. They require less watering but still contribute to the overall beauty and feel of the campus. CBU has two wells on campus that provide 80 percent of the campus’s irrigation.

“CBU is great because it has access to its own water,” Kramer said. “We are trying to create more of a desertscape, and these plants are acclimated to the climate.”

BrightView has a full-time irrigation tech on campus to ensure that the water systems are running smoothly. Most of the campus is on smart controllers that is managed by both BrightView and CBU staff.

“The controllers will make adjustments depending on how hot it is, the humidity in the air, the wind and how much sunlight is actually hitting the ground versus the shaded areas,” said Kramer. “Everything has turned really high tech when it comes to watering.”

 

Graduates celebrated at summer commencement ceremonies

While the temperatures were rising outside, excitement was rising inside the Events Center at California Baptist University during the summer 2022 commencement ceremonies. Students received cheers and encouragement from friends and family members during three ceremonies on Aug. 17-18.

Combined applications for summer 2022 commencement included 58 candidates for doctoral degrees, 582 for master’s degrees and 311 for bachelor’s degrees for a total of 951 applicants.

“Each of these graduating students has arrived at this point because of a shared commitment to the challenging yet rewarding endeavor of higher education. Graduates, you have faced many difficulties and yet you persevered,” said Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of CBU. “The faculty and the entire university family join me in saying we are proud of you, and we pray God’s blessings upon you.”

In giving the graduates words of advice, Dr. Anthony Dockery, chair of the CBU Board of Trustees, referred to the words of David before he faced Goliath in I Samuel 17.

“I selected that passage because you have already slayed some Goliaths in your life, you’ve already slayed some bears as well as some lions. And now you’re moving to the next chapter, the next phase of your life,” Dockery said. “Know that God has already equipped you and prepared you to face whatever Goliaths you may have in your profession.”

In the commencement address, Ellis told the graduates their effort in academics paid off.

“Today, all the demanding work and sacrifice poured into your college years finally pays off. The goal you have been pursuing at last is at hand,” Ellis said. “You have successfully navigated the various requirements, deadlines and assessments necessary to receive your diploma.”

Ellis said he hoped that CBU provided a foundation for the graduates’ ambitions and dreams as they moved forward.

“May you also take with you a continuing passion for learning, the friendships made, and the life lessons gained during your college years,” Ellis said. “My earnest hope and prayer is that each of you will embrace this new beginning with Lancer enthusiasm.”

Jenna Rivero, who earned her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, said CBU helped prepare her to enter the field by equipping her with the skills needed to work in a variety of settings.  After graduation, Rivero will work at a school.

“They placed us in different settings throughout our two-year program,” Rivero said. “We’ve experienced both ends, working with children and adults.”

Lindsey Supple, who also earned her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, said the program offered plenty of clinical rotations.

“We had our different experiences all around, and we each were able to choose the path we wanted to take,” Supple said. “I’m excited to work in a private practice with pediatrics.”

Mauro Moreno, who received a Master of Business Administration, said the program helped him get a manager position.

“The program set me up with leadership skills and that is a key role in business,” Moreno said. “It took a deep dive into the decisions that have to be made, and how marketing goes into a product and how that product gets into the customer’s hands.”

 

Hoodings include first cohort from Doctor of Social Work

This week hundreds of graduate degree candidates at California Baptist University celebrated their academic achievements with hooding ceremonies leading up to commencement on Aug. 17-18.

More than 580 master’s degree candidates and 58 doctoral candidates are eligible to participate in the summer commencements. Colleges and schools at CBU host program-specific hooding ceremonies to recognize their candidates. Students are given distinctive colored hoods, representative of their program, to wear at their commencement ceremony.

The doctoral candidates included the first cohort to graduate from the Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program. The 30 students made up the largest graduating doctoral class in CBU history.

“All of these students started their doctoral journey during a global pandemic that was fraught with uncertainty,” said Dr. Krystal Hays, program director of the Doctor of Social Work. “It was beautiful to watch God use them to develop all kinds of socially innovative programs that will have a real impact on the world.”

During the two-year program, the students designed social innovations to address a specific social problem. Their projects ranged from nonprofit organizations seeking to eliminate homelessness to initiatives that will reduce disparities in healthcare.

“The breadth and depth of these innovations is amazing and will make a significant impact on families, organizations and communities in our region and around the globe,” Hays said.

Dr. April Johnson, who earned her DSW, created a nonprofit, Genesis Hope, aimed at providing communities with equitable access to nutritious food. She is also a licensed marriage and family therapist and became an adjunct professor at CBU.

“Being a part of the first cohort to graduate is a wonderful but humbling experience,” Johnson said. “I want to show that I am living proof for all the boys and girls who would never dream or think it is possible to become a doctor because of their situation, ethnicity, lack of resources or health. Guess what? There is hope.”

Dr. Autumn King wanted to earn her DSW to expand her knowledge of serving communities. She created the National Fatherhood League, a nonprofit aimed at increasing father involvement in the Black American community.

Because of the program, she was promoted at her foster care employment agency and is also an adjunct professor at CBU.

“The DSW program has developed my leadership, management and community engagement skills,” King said. “It has also prepared me to see others from the eyes of the Lord.”

Along with her DSW, Dr. Teresa Serrano also earned her bachelor’s and master’s at CBU. She is CEO of Hope Wellness Counseling Inc. in Riverside.

“The DSW program has eliminated self-doubt and given me the mindset to want more advancement in my career to lead others. It also has given me the skills to advance in my own group practice,” Serrano said. “As a first generation, former teen mother and woman of color, it is an honor to receive a doctor title by CBU.”

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences is thrilled to celebrate the inaugural graduation of Doctor of Social Work students, said Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.

“This applied program is designed to develop leaders as change agents within the field of social work,” Gustafson said. “Those students who are graduating will impact our local, national and global communities in meaningful ways—bettering the lives of children, families and systems.”

 

CBU alumna is part of Emmy-winning team

California Baptist University alumna Kiani Margolis (‘20) is part of a team at “Entertainment Tonight” (“ET”) that recently won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Entertainment News Series.

Margolis works at “ET” as a music assistant, where she juggles many different responsibilities in her role. She pitches celebrity guests, works with music producers to set up interviews and works with directors to ensure all materials are ready to go when guests arrive.

“I have recently taken over producing the music shoots for ‘The Download,’ the online show for ‘ET,’” Margolis said. “In this role I oversee and produce the shoots with my supervisor.”

A typical day on set is an exciting and busy one.

“My day can vary from working with directors to pulling materials for their pieces, looking over the script for music pieces, approving videos of music interviews and working with my supervisor to prepare for future guests,” Margolis said. “I occasionally shadow the film and TV producers on shoots, and I get to go to the premieres and learn how red carpets work.”

While studying at CBU, Margolis pursued a degree in film through the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design (CAVAD).

The CAVAD program helps prepare students for their careers by stressing the importance of not only working hard but utilizing the connections around you, Margolis said.

“Whether you know it or not, the people you are surrounded by have the potential to help you with your career,” Margolis said.

Margolis landed at the show because of a connection she made with a fellow student while working as a tour guide in the CBU Admissions office.

“My co-worker posted on her Instagram story that her roommate had just won her first Emmy from working at ‘Entertainment Tonight.’ I replied to it and said her roommate had my dream job,” Margolis said.

That turned into a bigger conversation, and by September 2021 Margolis started at “ET” as a production assistant.

“By June 2022, I won my first Emmy. It was a full circle moment, and it wouldn’t have happened without CBU!” Margolis said.

Mark Roberson, dean of CAVAD, said the program takes great care to prepare its students to have the knowledge and tools they need to be successful in their professional pursuits.

“This Emmy win by Kiani is another in a long line of impressive achievements for CAVAD alumni and students. We pride ourselves on our students’ ability to successfully compete against the very best students from across the country,” Roberson said.

CAVAD’s film program combines a solid film studies foundation, cutting-edge technological training and extensive business-of-film exposure to equip students to enter the field, Roberson said.

“Kiani’s unusually quick rise through the ranks at ‘ET’ to being an Emmy winner is evidence of that preparation in action,” Roberson said. “We are so proud of her for her amazing accomplishment and also for how she represents CBU film every day.”

 

Family Updates

Academic work by CBU students in the architecture program was showcased in the Annual Dezeen School Shows. Eleven designs were featured in the online architecture and design magazine (Aug. 9).

 

 

 

Dr. Veola Vazquez, professor of psychology, and Savannah Senger, Josue Esperante and Leah Manya, students in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program, presented a research poster at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention on Aug. 5. The poster was titled Religion/Spirituality, Expectations of Discrimination, and Distress Among Biracial Christians.

 

 

 

Dr. Elisa Shepard, associate provost for psychology, Dr. Robert Shields, associate professor of computer information technology, Dr. Dirk Davis, professor of organizational leadership, and Julianna Carrera, assistant director of disability services, co-presented virtually at the 38th Annual Distance Teaching and Learning Conference on Aug. 3. The presentation was titled Examining a Teaching Assistant Model for Online Courses.

 

David Isaacs, visiting professor of English, presented at the East/Southeast Regional Conference on Christianity and Literature in Purcellville, Virginia, on June 10-11. The title of his paper was Pixel Perfect: Heroes in Graphic Novel Bibles.

 

 

 

 

Dr. John Marselus, professor of aviation science, organized the fifth Missionary Aviation Leadership Summit in McNeal, Arizona, on Aug. 9-10. Additionally, he was re-elected to the board for Mission Safety International. He had previously served on the board for nine years as vice chair. He also serves on the board of the International Association of Missionary Aviation.

 

 

 

Dr. Karim Youssef, assistant professor of architecture, had a book published. It was titled The Morphological Development of Square Victoria in Montreal (Nova Science Publishers Inc., July 8).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biology, and Dr Hyun-Woo (Andrew) Park, professor of biology, co-authored a paper published in the journal Nature Communications (July 2022). It was titled De novo determination of mosquitocidal Cry11Aa and Cry11Ba structures from naturally-occurring nanocrystals.

 

 

 

 

Zachary Bortot, associate professor of theatre, directed a staged reading of a play for New Threads Theatre Company at Madison Street Church in Riverside on July 30. The name of the play was An Almost Holy Picture.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Josh Rodriguez, assistant professor of music, presented a paper at the Academic Roundtable of the C. S. Lewis Summer Institute in Oxford, England, on July 27-Aug. 5. The title of the paper was Transcending Text: Tradition over Transcendentalism? Charles Ives’s Fourth Symphony and Musical Depictions of a Pilgrim’s Progress Toward Faith.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Candace Vickers, professor of communication sciences and disorders, presented a virtual seminar for Speech Recovery Pathways, a nonprofit dedicated to serving stroke and brain injury survivors with aphasia, on July 18. It was titled Multiple ways to elicit communication: EBP approaches for aphasia.

 

 

 

Kristin Beinschroth, visiting professor of radiologic sciences, was featured on the RadTechLife Podcast (Season 1, Episode 6). She talked about advocacy, radiologic professionalism and why to consider radiology as a career field.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mark Kling, professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, professor of public administration, had an article published in the PA Times (July 8). It was titled Nonprofit Regulations: Does Accountability Discourage Helping Others.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Richard Ardito, associate professor of accounting, Dr. Scott Dunbar, associate professor of human resource management, Dr. Thomas Frederick, professor of psychology, Dr. Joe Putulowski, associate professor of marketing, and Heather Chester, a CBU student, published an article in Journal of Faith in the Academic Profession (July 27). It was titled Spirituality and Psychological Well-Being Among Faculty at a Private Christian University.

 

 

Dr. Keanon Alderson, professor of business, published an article in the Inland Empire Business Edge magazine (August 2022). It was titled Family Business Governance: The key to increasing business effectiveness.

 

 

 

 

Christopher Kern, associate professor of photography, was nominated for a Callanan Excellence in Teaching Award by CENTER, a photography nonprofit.

 

 

 

 

Ruth Noemy Wheeler, instructor of music, was invited as the guest conductor of the Los Angeles Conducting Competition on Aug. 6. She won first prize at last year’s competition.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jeff McNair, professor of education, was named recipient of the 2022 Reimagining Spirituality Leadership Award by the Religion and Spirituality Interest Network of AAIDD (American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities). The award was presented on June 13.

 

 

 

The Career Center hosted the 2022 Student Leadership Workshop in the College of Engineering on Aug. 13. More than 125 engineering student leaders from CBU and surrounding University of California schools attended the event. The day featured recruiters from engineering companies who presented on leadership topics, followed by a job fair.

 

 

Spiritual Life is holding the first chapel of the 2022-23 year on Sept. 6. Faculty and staff are invited to attend. Watch the invite by Dr. John Montgomery, associate vice president for Student Services, here.

 

Andrew Shortall, director of Athletics communications, and his wife, Chelsea, assistant women’s water polo coach, welcomed a daughter on July 25. Penny Marin Shortall weighed 8 pounds, 1.5 ounce and measured 19.5inches. She joins sister Mae, 2.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

NCAA board approves CBU’s Division 1 membership status

California Baptist University has been granted active status as a Division I institution effective for the 2022-23 academic year by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors.

“This is an exciting day for California Baptist University,” said Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president. “Division I is the pinnacle of intercollegiate athletics and making the transition to full membership represents a significant step forward for CBU. It’s another way we demonstrate our continual pursuit of excellence, and I am convinced that our student-athletes will compete strongly on the national stage.”

With active status, CBU student-athletes now have the opportunity to compete for berths in NCAA Division I championships.

“Years of preparation went into this and I am thankful for all of the hard work by our campus leadership and staff members to make this a reality,” said Tyler Mariucci, Director of Athletics. “We are ready for this new opportunity of postseason eligibility.”

CBU first announced its plans for a move to the next level in a press conference on Jan. 13, 2017. During the four-year transition process, CBU Athletics teams experienced considerable success including winning 11 conference championships, logging 24 top-three conference finishes and qualifying 14 teams for postseason tournaments involving Division I programs. The Lancers are now immediately eligible for NCAA Division I postseason play, including all Western Athletic Conference Championships, in the 2022-23 season.

 

CBU pair earn awards at national advertising competition

A California Baptist University student and an alumnus recently received awards for their work at the American Advertising Federation (AAF) national awards, known as the ADDYs.

Over 25,000 entries from across the country were entered into this year’s competition.

Jessiel Leander (’22) had two winning entries in the competition. His entry titled “Nike Campaign” in the student category “mass transit” earned him a gold ADDY. He also won a silver ADDY for his entry “Spotify is Everywhere” in the student category “animation or special effects.”

Leander said the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design professors helped him prepare for this competition by supporting him in his creativity.

“They are caring and have great knowledge of the industry and know what the professionals are looking for today,” Leander said.

Brenna Buell, a graphic design and visual experience senior, received a silver ADDY for her entry titled “Airline Branding” in the student category “integrated brand identity campaign.”

Buell said having this national award attached to her resume is a tremendous win for her, and CAVAD is the reason she was able to produce a prize-winning project.

“It was my work, but it was the loving and guiding hands of my professors pushing me to create it that made it all possible,” Buell said. “The faith that my professors have in me often exceeds my own, and I am always encouraged and uplifted to drive for excellence, even when I feel I lack it.”

Earlier this year, AAF Inland Empire Awards recognized multiple CBU students, including Mackenzie Peters, who received Best of Show.

Michael Berger, professor of graphic design, said CBU students historically do well in the competition because the program prepares them for a rigorous career.

“It’s part of our DNA,” Berger said. “We don’t just do it for the competition, it’s part of who we are.”

 

Lancer Farms and Gardens bring science to life

California Baptist University’s campus is home to a hidden gem. Tucked away behind the Colony apartments that house junior and senior students is a garden blooming with life.

The Lancer Farms and Gardens are planted next to the Hawthorne House, built in the late 1800s, and found in the Colony area.

The Botany and Environmental Science clubs created Lancer Farms and Gardens in the spring of 2019 after seeing a need to establish an area for students of all majors and interests to go relax and be out in nature, said Dr. Jacob Lanphere, associate professor of environmental science and advisor to the Botany Club. Honoring the house and respecting its historic charm, the clubs partnered with Facilities and Planning Services to construct raised garden beds around the outside of the house.

The garden includes lavender and sunflowers, along with tomatoes, different types of lettuces and a citrus grove. The space is now maintained by Facilities staff and the environmental science faculty as well as CBU students.

The various plants and foods in Lancer Farms and Gardens are grown organically, without chemicals or synthetic fertilizers. A permaculture system allows the garden to utilize sustainable farming and gardening methods, along with creating a natural ecosystem, Lanphere said.

“We added tons of biodiversity, so if you go out to the farm and look around, you’ll see so many different types of flowers and plants, and what we are trying to do is mimic God’s creation,” Lanphere said.

Jaz Livingstone, an environmental science junior, said the garden became his favorite place on campus after attending a volunteer event held by the Botany Club.

“My favorite thing about the garden is all the organic vegetables, many of which I have never seen or heard of,” Livingstone said. “It’s fun to go there using my plant identifier app and learn more about new plants that I might not have known about otherwise.”

Throughout the course of the school year, Lanphere takes every opportunity to teach his students out in nature. Learning in the garden takes the material they are learning in their textbooks and brings it to life.

“Whether it’s a soil and water class or having my students identify certain plants and flowers, I always find an excuse to get my students out there,” Lanphere said.

Livingstone said he enjoys when class took place in the garden.

“Dr. Lanphere took us to the garden for a scavenger hunt, which was a lot of fun,” Livingstone said. “I am taking an urban agriculture course in the fall, and I can’t wait to be out at Lancer Farms and Gardens.”

All are welcome to visit the garden throughout the year, especially when life gets busy and stressful. Students, faculty and staff can even pick the produce. Upon the entrance of the garden, the sweet scent of French and Spanish lavender fills the air.

“God provided these things for us because he knew we had to live in a stressful world, and these little systems are made to benefit us,” Lanphere said.

 

CAVAD academies give hands-on experience to high schoolers

High school students from around Southern California participated in Summer Academies hosted by the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design (CAVAD) during July 11-15 at California Baptist University.

Students from 11 high schools attended the academies that focused on photography and architecture programs. Students received hands-on learning experience to help them grow their knowledge of the field, learn additional skills and travel to The Getty Museum in Los Angeles to see how art and design comes to life.

Christopher Kern, program lead of photography, said the academy provides students access to the tools and facilities needed to experiment and be creative.

“We build off of the students’ coursework at the high school level and we meet the students where they are technically, and introduce them to more complex ways of thinking,” Kern said. “We challenge their taste and expand their capabilities creatively and critically.”

True and Brave Bratcher are sisters from Riverside Springs Charter School and traveled from Walnut, Calif., to attend the academy. The pair said they were excited to learn more about photography.

“I think this academy will help me think more creatively and learn new techniques to take better photos,” Brave Bratcher said.

The week also allowed participants to see life as a CBU student, said Krysten Burton, assistant professor of architecture.

“The academy gives students an opportunity to experience architecture school in a concentrated week to help them determine if this is a path of study they would like to pursue,” Burton said. “It also gives them an introduction to instruction, faculty, students and campus life at CBU. I hope the academy sparks a flame of curiosity to continue to learn, grow and design.”

Prior to attending CBU, Miguel Esparza, a photography junior, participated in a Summer Academy. He enjoyed it so much that he decided to enroll at CBU. He now works as a student studio manager, and he provides help during the Summer Academies.

“I was yearning for a collaborative spirit and that’s what I saw here. Kern did a really good job at bringing everyone together,” Esparza said. “It’s really interesting to see that I was in the academy just a few years ago and now I have the opportunity to help them.”

 

Family Updates

Dr. Alex Chediak, professor of engineering and physics, co-authored a paper in the peer-reviewed journal Applied Bio Materials (July 11, 2022). It was titled High-Throughput Biofilm Assay to Investigate Bacterial Interactions with Surface Topographies.

 

 

 

Dr. Charles Sands, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, was appointed as a commissioner on the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities’ Chief Academic Officers Commission beginning July 1. The appointment is for a three-year term.

 

 

 

Dr. S. Jeannette Guignard, professor of organizational leadership, presented at the Online Teaching Conference in Long Beach on June 29. The presentation was titled Strategies for Overcoming Barriers to Fostering Inclusion in Online Classrooms.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Keith Hekman, professor of aerospace, industrial and mechanical engineering, presented a paper at the 2022 American Society of Engineering Education conference in Minneapolis on June 26-29. The paper, Using Blackboard Quiz Pools and Other Automated Grading in Mechanical Engineering Courses, was co-authored by Dr. Ziliang Zhou, professor of aerospace, industrial and mechanical engineering. Hekman had an additional paper presented, Improving Student Learning Experience with MATLAB Grader and Live Scripts.

 

 

CBU’s Student Success leadership team participated in a seminar hosted by the Growing Inland Achievement regional collaborative at University of California, Riverside’s Student Success Center on July 21-22.  The seminar focused on planning, implementation and measurement of initiatives to increase student persistence through college graduation from a four-year institution. CBU participants were Rich Simpson, university registrar; Jeff Tennis, director of student success coaching; Dr. Steve Neilsen, dean of academic persistence and support; Dr. Tae Sung, dean of Student Success; Dr. Wayne Fletcher, associate provost for academic services; Grace Brown, director of student success coaching.

 

 

 

Dr. Victoria Brodie, assistant professor of public relations, presented at the 6th Annual Women and Leadership Conference in Portsmouth, United Kingdom, on June 15. The presentation, titled Women Leaders: Redefining Leadership Characteristics to Lead Toward an Ambiguous Future, was on behalf of the Dr. Paul and Annie Kienel Leadership Institute.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Riste Simnjanovski, professor of public administration, published an article on Bitcoin Magazine titled July 4th, Bitcoin And Sovereignty — Declaring Your Own Financial Independence Day (July 2).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Kendra Flores-Carter, assistant professor of social work, was recently recognized by both the Belize Consulate in Florida and by the First Lady of Belize, Her Excellency Rossana Briceno, for her service in Belize. The work includes Flores-Carter helping to establish a partnership between CBU and the University of Belize, establishing a memorandum of understanding to help students with tuition assistance toward obtaining their Bachelor of Social Work degrees in Belize.

 

 

 

Dr. Karen Bradley, dean of the College of Nursing, was elected to the California Association of Colleges of Nursing board of directors. She will serve three years in the positions of president-elect, president and immediate past president.

 

 

 

Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biology, co-authored a paper that was published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology (July 2022). It was titled Evaluation of inhibitory compounds produced by bacteria isolated from a hydrogen-producing bioreactor during self-fermentation of wheat straw.

 

 

 

Dr. Bonjun Koo, professor of environmental science, presented a paper at the 2022 International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter in Seoul, South Korea on June 30. It was titled Silicon Fractionation of Soluble Silicon in Volcanic Ash Soils That May Affect Groundwater Silicon Content on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea.

 

 

 

Dr. Mark Blincoe, professor of history, and Dr. John Shoup, executive director of the Leadership Institute, published a book. It was titled History and Leadership: The Nature and Role of the Past in Navigating the Future (Routledge, June 2022).

 

 

 

Dr. Rick Van Haveren, adjunct professor of psychology, recently earned the status of Certified Mental Performance Consultant with the Association of Applied Sport Psychology.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Thomas Schnieder, associate professor of English, presented a paper at the Symposium on Medieval and Renaissance Studies in St. Louis on June 21. His paper was titled Malory’s “Fyne Force”: Motion in Le Morte Darthur.

 

 

 

 

Dr. James Lu, professor of English, has been elected as a member on the board of the Pacific Ancient and Modern Literature Association. He will serve a three-year term. Additionally, he is serving a two-year term as editor-in-chief for the journal Academic Perspectives.

 

 

 

Dr. Shawn Wilhite, associate professor of Christian Studies, gave two talks at the IT Project, a ministry training organization equipping students for ministry and international service, in Costa Mesa on July 18. The talks were titled The Trinity: Contemplating the Happy Life and QnA Discussion: Gender and Ministry Pursuits, A Vision of Mutualism and Ministry for the Church.

 

 

 

Dr. Melissa Croteau, professor of film studies, gave an invited lecture for the Seshadripuram Evening Degree College and Bangalore University English Teachers’ Association on July 19. The virtual presentation was titled Cinematic Adaptations of Shakespeare’s Plays: Japanese Samurai and Salarymen.

 

 

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, professor of kinesiology, Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, professor of communication, and Dr. Gaynell Vanderslice, assistant professor of business management, presented a national webinar for the Public Relations Society of America on July 28. The title was Increase Leadership Capacity: Improve Communication With Mentoring Communities and the Honeycomb Leadership Development Model.

 

 

Dr. Marina Girju, associate professor of marketing, co-authored a paper in the Journal of Consumer Affairs (July 20). It was titled The paradoxes of smartphone use: Understanding the user experience in today’s connected world. Additionally, she co-authored a paper published in the Proceedings of the Second Workshop on Bridging Human–Computer Interaction and Natural Language Processing (July 2022). It was titled Design Considerations for an NLP-Driven Empathy and Emotion Interface for Clinician Training via Telemedicine. She also presented a paper and poster at the Conference of the International Society for Research on Emotion in Los Angeles on July 14-18. They were both titled Adaptive Multimodal Empathic NLP-driven Interface for Enhanced Human Communication. 

 

Stacy Meyer, assistant professor of education, went to Malawi on July 15-25 and met with the U.S. ambassador to Malawi, vice chancellor of Malawi’s University of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education’s deputy director to discuss the implementation of a biblical life skills program into Malawi’s public school system. Meyer shared her research that showed how the program, called “Why Wait,” is increasing school retention among vulnerable populations.

 

 

 

Dr. Ed Garrett, professor of sport and performance psychology, co-presented a poster at the 2022 American Psychology Association annual conference in August. It was titled The Novel Application of Sport and Performance Psychology in Medicine.

 

 

 

Dr. Tom Ferko, professor of chemistry, Dr. Ted Grant, assistant professor of physics, Dr. Erin Smith, professor of psychology, and Dr. Effat Zeidan, associate professor of science and mathematics, presented at the American Scientific Affiliation’s Annual Meeting in San Diego on July 29-Aug. 1. Ferko presented a paper, Meeting Human Needs through Chemistry: The Distributed Pharmaceutical Analysis Laboratory. Grant and Matthew Williams, a CBU student, presented a poster, Composition Analysis of Metal Coins by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy. Smith presented a paper, The Brain’s Default, Selves, and Telos. Zeidan presented a paper, Interdisciplinary Studies: A Unique Opportunity to Teach Integration within a Coherent Biblical Framework. Also, Tenicka Missouri, a student in the Doctor of Psychology program, presented a paper What is a Person? Implications of Personhood on Theology and Research.

 

Dr. Joshua Knabb, professor of psychology, and Josue Esperante, a student in the Doctor of Psychology program, presented a poster at the American Psychological Association’s annual convention in Minneapolis on Aug. 4. It was titled Mindfulness, Christian Contentment, and General Contentment Among Christian Adults: A Mediation Study.

 

 

 

Cathy Chang-Letherer, associate professor of physician assistant studies, and Mary Ann Stahovich, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, facilitated an ultrasound workshop at the UCR School of Medicine on Aug. 1. CBU students in the physician assistant studies program also participated in the workshop.

 

 

Dr. Jeff Cate, professor of New Testament, welcomed his first grandson on July 23. Michael Noah “Isaiah” Stephen weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces. His parents are Abigail Cate Stephen (’20) and Jared Stephen (‘20). Additionally, Cate’s other daughter, Amanda (’18), married Aaron Siemens (‘19) in Riverside on July 24.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU photography students receive Award of Excellence

Three students from the California Baptist University photography program recently received the Communication Arts magazine’s Award of Excellence.

Over 2,200 entries were submitted to this year’s photography competition. Of those entries, only 117 were accepted. The competition is judged by an international jury of established creative professionals, and participants are awarded based on creativity. The winning entries are included in the Communication Arts Photography Annual.

Only seven student photographs were selected, with four of them being taken by CBU students—Alicia Berardelli, Caleb Ericksen and David Ardill, who had two winning entries.

Christopher Kern, photography program lead and associate professor of photography, said the achievement is one of the most coveted awards in the photography industry.

“It places our students among the highest ranks in the field and creates a destination for employers to seek out creative professionals for various career opportunities,” Kern said. “It’s a launching pad for their efforts that they now must maintain and continue to nurture.”

The CBU photography program prepares students to enter the field by running like a photography studio. Additionally, the Christian worldview is implemented throughout the curriculum and coursework, Kern said.

“We’re creating servants of the Lord through our every interaction,” Kern said. “We are sending our students into the secular world to be His light.”

See the students’ winning entries here. 

 

Athletics win two NACMA ‘Best Of’ Awards for the first time

California Baptist University Athletics earned its first-ever National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) “Best Of” Awards, which were announced during the NACMA Convention in Las Vegas on June 29.

The Lancers won Silver in the Digital Video Segment and Bronze in Fan Engagement Video in Group II, which is includes all NCAA Division I Non-Power 5 institutions. Group I includes only Power 5 schools while Group III involves all non-DI members.

CBU was one of only 24 NCAA Division I schools in the country to receive two or more NACMA “Best of” Awards this year. Of those 24 DI schools, only eight including CBU are classified as NCAA DI-AAA (non-football).

Initiated in 2003, the NACMA “Best Of” Awards program honors outstanding achievement in marketing and promotions. Awards are presented in 16 categories, with each category divided into three groups based upon school size and conference affiliations.

The Digital Video Segment was an Instagram Reel that promoted the women’s basketball home opener and generated over 17,000 views on the platform. The Fan Engagement Video was the Men’s Basketball “Isn’t it Great to be Back?” feature produced to welcome fans back to the Events Center for the 2021-22 season after not having fans in the stands the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

See CBU’s winning entries here.

 

SAE club goes to the track in Formula competition

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) club at California Baptist University traveled to the Michigan International Speedway for the annual Formula SAE Competition held June 15-18.

CBU entered two vehicles this year: Lancer 5, an internal combustion entry and, for the first time, an electric vehicle (EV), eLancer 1. The internal combustion car won first place for fuel efficiency and placed ninth overall, beating schools such as Cal Poly Pomona; University of California, Berkeley; and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

The 2022 competition had 49 universities participating, nearly a 50 percent increase from previous years.

“It was not without challenges,” said Dr. Phil van Haaster, club advisor and dean of the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering. “Day one inspections revealed some minor faults that required corrections. Even minor issues take time to correct and there are hundreds of moving parts. The team’s efforts lasted past 2 a.m. with a wakeup call at 6 a.m. Their hard work and tenacity paid off.”

The SAE competition included presentations on cost and design as well as dynamic events such as acceleration and autocross. On day four, the internal combustion vehicle was on the track for the endurance event, outlasting and outperforming the competition.

While the internal combustion team had a four-hour inspection, the eLancer 1 had to pass the same mechanical inspection along with an electrical systems inspection, called eTech. The EV passed the mechanical technical inspection, no easy feat for a new car.

“The pressure is intense,” van Haaster said. “The list of universities that can field the quality engineering required to design and build a vehicle in one of the competition categories is small; the list of universities that have a program mature enough to produce two vehicles is probably less than a dozen across the nation.”

During this year’s competition, Tesla sponsored several first-year EV teams with power cells. CBU was awarded nearly $10,000 worth of Tesla power cells to energize the motor.

Jordan Fabbrini (‘22), outgoing president of the SAE club, said the most memorable part of this experience was seeing the vehicle finish the endurance race.

“The team has worked so hard to get to this point and we finally get to see the team’s efforts pay off,” Fabbrini said.

Every year the team designs the car in the fall semester and manufactures it in the spring semester.

“Once the build is complete, we transition to testing for about a month. The most challenging part is testing,” Fabbrini said. “We had multiple engine failures, which made it very frustrating because we’ve spent so much time designing and building the car. Then you realize there’s still even more work you must do to get the car ready for competition.”

David Everhart, an electrical and computer engineering senior and incoming president of the EV team, said the highlight of the competition was talking with professionals in the field.

“Talking with the design judges and the sponsors who came out to the event made it all worth it,” Everhart said. “We were able to talk knowledgeably to the engineers about things they do on a daily basis.”

The team starts preparing for the next competition upon returning from the previous season’s competition.

Lindsay Monroe, a mechanical engineering junior and incoming president of the internal combustion vehicle, said preparation for the competitions take dedication to the vehicle and to each other.

“As soon as we can, we get the car out on the track and begin testing it to validate our designs,” Monroe said. “It’s so worth it because you will learn invaluable lessons on how to work with an engineering team, meet deadlines and expand your skills in both knowledge and craft.”

 

CBU creates Collinsworth School of Performing Arts 

The music and theatre programs at California Baptist University have been joined together to create the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Performing Arts effective July 1.

The change will benefit students by integrating faculty and resources, said Dr. Joseph Bolin, dean of the Collinsworth School of Performing Arts. The school was formerly known as the Collinsworth School of Music.

“The faculty and administration are confident that we can serve our theatre and music students better by combining faculty, resources, vision, and cultures,” Bolin said.

The coming academic year will bring minimal changes to the programs as faculty and administrators focus on developing a strategy as the school moves forward, he said.

“This is a merger of two significant CBU communities into something new and unprecedented in the university’s history—a unified school of performing artists committed to applying its full power toward cultivating the next generation of actors, musicians, educators, producers, technicians and worship facilitators,” Bolin said.

An immediate perk is that performance schedules can be adjusted so students can participate in both a theatre production and a musical ensemble, said Lee Lyons, director of the theatre program.

“That’s a clear benefit because before a student would have to choose,” Lyons said.

In 2021-22, CBU music programs had nearly 250 students and 71 full-time and adjunct faculty. The theatre program had more than 40 students and five full-time and adjunct faculty.

“Our mission moving forward is to inspire students to the highest standards of craft and character, preparing them to impact the world through careers in the performing arts,” Bolin said.

Dr. Charles Sands, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said CBU is thrilled to be joining these performing arts programs.

“We know that both of these areas have a rich history, and I am excited about the future collaboration as we continually create conditions for success for our students,” Sands said.

 

Orientation gives new students an inside look to life at CBU

Hundreds of incoming students attended New Student Orientation at California Baptist University on June 20 to prepare for the upcoming fall 2022 semester.

Over 200 first-year and transfer students attended the event alongside their families as they learned about life as a new Lancer.

The day included informational sessions highlighting CBU’s mission, campus traditions, important resources and offices along with campus tours and a living area open house to see what living at CBU is like.

Gavin Andrew, director of new student programs, said the event is designed to give new students the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of CBU from faculty, current students and staff members.

“We know that the transition to college can sometimes be overwhelming, but we are committed to making sure new Lancers are set up for success as they begin their time at CBU,” Andrew said.

Ketsia Kabangu, a pre-nursing major from Upland, said she chose CBU because she loved the campus. She is especially looking forward to using the Recreation Center.

“I really enjoy the atmosphere here,” Kabangu said.

Her mom, Malika Kabangu, said she feels safe knowing her daughter will be at CBU.

“I like CBU because it’s Christian, and as a mom, you want something that feels safe for your kid,” Kabangu said.

Alessia James, a health science major from Corona, said the Christian environment was super important to her.

“My brother goes here and hearing about his one-on-one connections with his professors and all the experiences he had helped me decide that CBU is the place I wanted to be,” James said.

Kylie Gerger, an early childhood studies major from Orange, said she fell in love with CBU’s campus.

“The first time I stepped on campus I just felt so welcomed,” Gerger said. “I’ll be living in the dorms and I’m excited but also nervous. I’m excited for the social aspect of it and being able to get involved, make new friends and do intramural sports.” 

 

Engagement practicum brings lessons to life in Australia

During the spring semester, students at California Baptist University in Cultural Social Service Engagement Practicum (BEH 334) studied indigenous people groups, focusing on Australia.

Coursework covered social issues such as racism, cultural identity and life on the missions for Indigenous people. CBU student-athletes from Australia also talked to the class about the country. Come late May, the students then traveled to Australia for two weeks to bring the lessons to life.

Dr. Carol Minton-Ryan, professor of sociology, and Dr. Doug Wallace, associate dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, started the course several years ago. Previously, Minton-Ryan had led eight International Service Projects teams. That caused her to want to apply academics to the travel and service.

“I wanted to create a course where the students can study the culture before visiting the country,” she said. “It’s academic engagement combined with service when that’s relevant. If you ever want to serve a particular population, you should be knowledgeable about the people and their culture and the organizations that serve them.”

Wallace said the trip is an amazing opportunity for the students because they live in a global village and having a cross-cultural experience is important.

“In my international travels, what has stood out to me is that every culture is different and yet there are many things about humanity that is the same,” Wallace said. “That’s always been profound to me—at our core we’re human beings, and yet we live differently. We dress differently. We like different kinds of foods and different music. We do our families in different ways but we’re all human.”

The faculty decided each year would have a focus. The first year was on food insecurity in third world countries, and the class went to Malawi. The second year was the impact of a lost generation. The course studied the Holocaust and the impact of Alzheimer’s disease. The third year, 2020, was focused on the culture in Peru and Ecuador, though it turned into journaling about COVID when the trip was canceled.

In Australia, the group took cultural tours with elders of Indigenous tribes and heard from University of Sydney researchers of the indigenous people groups.

“The trip was extraordinary!” Minton-Ryan said. “We learned from the Indigenous elders who shared about their culture including art, dance and knowledge of plants and trees for eating, healing and making tools.”

Abigail Lopez, an English sophomore, said she learned about the Indigenous peoples’ culture and Australia’s history.

“Every location we visited in-country paid homage to each native group whose contributions maintained the local environments before colonization,” Lopez said. “As we toured and learned throughout Sydney, at each destination, the tour guides would articulate gratitude to the elders—past, present and emerging.”

Highlights included a boomerang throwing lesson and visiting Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, she said.

“The guide for this trip was a native Indigenous who shared many stories throughout our day that brought facts to life,” Lopez said. “He taught us the value of respecting the ancestors by applying clay to our hands before entering what he considered sacred space.”

Kene Thomas, a psychology junior, learned that Australia is comprised of over 200 Indigenous “nations” or countries.

“While in Australia, it is customary to acknowledge the country which one has entered out of respect for the land and the indigenous people groups to whom it belongs,” Thomas said. “An acknowledgment of country usually begins by honoring the traditional custodians of the land and past, present and future elders.”

The trip made Thomas widen her perspective, she said.

“Although much progress toward restorative justice for the Indigenous people still needs to be made, Australia’s steps towards reconciliation has inspired me further to educate myself on the history of Native Americans and seek opportunities to help broaden my understanding and my worldview,” Thomas said.

For Wallace, a highlight was being there during Australia’s National Reconciliation Week, which celebrates Indigenous history and culture in Australia and foster the relationship between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

“Australia has made serious efforts to try to reconcile things of the past, and they’ve done it in a way that people from each group can feel respected,” Wallace said. “They have entire cultural celebrations around this reconciliation. It’s like ‘Here’s what we can do to acknowledge this, now let’s try to move together as a unified people of Australia.’ I think that was something we can all learn from.”

 

Language and literacy preschool provides support to families

California Baptist University wrapped up its first language and literacy preschool this week. The school was aimed at children ages 18 months to 4 years with communication disorders.

The Clinical Education Center at CBU held the preschool over eight sessions offered at no cost to the participants and their families. Graduate students from the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program helped run the activities.

Dr. Danette Bonillo, director of the Clinical Education Center, said students have learned so much theory and now they’re able to apply it to real life situations.

“There’s a dynamic learning process of working with preschoolers, and students can use a variety of materials like crafts, books and songs to engage them,” Bonillo said. “When you learn how to adapt, it’s just amazing. It’s like magic watching these children mix and participate in activities.”

The graduate students also practice parent engagement, Bonillo said.

“Students are learning how to educate the families and feel more comfortable with that,” Bonillo said. “They tell the families how to build activities to facilitate language in the home.”

Jessica Goolsby, whose 4-year-old daughter has mosaic Down syndrome, said this program integrates learning all the senses into fun new ways.

Goolsby’s husband, Chip, has lupus and needs the support of a service dog named Boaz for mobility and detecting flare ups. The clinical education team created a program about Boaz and invited him to class to engage in activities where the children learned that the dog has a purpose and to teach them to see and not touch.

“They were very thoughtful in how they came to class and included him,” Goolsby said. “Touch, visual and movement are taught all at once, and that makes the learning experience faster and makes it stay with them. My daughter is already talking more in the few weeks she’s been here.”

Brittney Colvin, a graduate student at CBU, said this program is setting her up for success.

“We come in and provide these children with an opportunity to have a space and make sure they understand that they are loved and feel that love,” Colvin said.

Mercy Homer, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders, said hands-on experience is the most valuable to students.

“We give the students a lot of book and research knowledge, but I really feel in my heart that hands-on knowledge and interaction with parents is a valuable asset,” Homer said. “It gives the students this priceless opportunity, and I think that has been a blessing to them to reap the rewards of that.”

 

New vice president for Marketing and Communication named

California Baptist University has announced the appointment of Angela Meluski as vice president for Marketing and Communication.

She began her new duties at CBU on July 1.

“I am pleased to welcome Angela Meluski to the executive leadership team at California Baptist University,” said Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president.

“With her background in higher education and previous marketing experience, I believe she will make an important contribution to support and strengthen the positive reputation, enrollment growth, and strong brand identity that mark CBU as a leader in Christian higher education with a global impact,” Ellis said.

Meluski brings to her new role at CBU more than 15 years of combined marketing leadership in higher education and award-winning public relations campaign management for local organizations, national brands and Fortune 500 companies.

Meluski was assistant dean for strategic initiatives and marketing for the Marian and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) at the University of California, Riverside. Prior to becoming assistant dean, Meluski held successive positions as manager and director of marketing and communications at BCOE.

Previously Meluski was an account supervisor in San Bernardino for Westbound Communications, a public relations agency with headquarters in Orange County.

Meluski received a Bachelor of Science in Communications from California State University, Fullerton. Her professional affiliations include the Public Relations Society of America and the Council for Higher Education.

Meluski succeeds Dr. Mark A. Wyatt, who retired in January 2020 after 18 years as the first to serve in that position at California Baptist University.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Erika Travis, associate professor of English and behavioral sciences, Jennifer Tronti, assistant professor of English, and David Isaacs, visiting professor of English, presented a panel at the Charlotte Huck Children’s Literature Festival in Redlands in March. It was titled Getting Graphic: Exploring Adaptations into Graphic Novels.

 

 

Dr. Shasha Zheng, associate professor of nutrition, published two articles. One was collaborative research published in the Frontiers in Immunology (February 2022). It was titled Maternal Influences and Intervention Strategies on the Development of Food Allergy in Offspring. The second article included Fatma Kadayifci and Madelyn Bradley, now CBU alumni, and was published in Nutrition Reviews titled Review of nutritional approaches to fibromyalgia.

 

 

 

Amanda Madrid, assistant professor of nursing, last month accepted two positions:  Western Region member-at-large for the Association of Community Health Nursing Educators and president of the Greater Inland Empire Black Nurses Association. She will serve two-year terms on both.

 

 

 

Dr. Erika J. Travis, associate professor of English and behavioral sciences, had a poem published in KAIROS literary journal (April 2022). It was titled Portland, not.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dinah Herrick, associate professor of nursing, presented at the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse conference in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 6. The title of the presentation was Elderly Partners’ Lived Experience of Bladder/ Colorectal Cancer living with ostomy. 

 

 

 

Dr. Melissa Croteau, professor of film studies, presented a paper at the 2022 International Conference on Religion & Film in Amsterdam on June 9^. It was titled Framing Sacred Spaces in Japanese Cinema: Explorations of Space-Time and Expanded Approaches to Transcendental Aesthetics.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Sandra Romo, associate professor of communication, and Dr. Shannon Leinen, adjunct professor of communication, presented at the National Social Science Association Virtual Summer Seminar on June 20. Their presentations were titled Inclusive Branding Strategies of SeaWorld San Diego Sesame’s Place Certified Autism Center and Storywalks: Indirect Communication for Health, Literacy, Communities, and Entertainment.

 

 

Dr. Joshua Rodriguez, assistant professor of music theory and composition, won first place in The American Prize band/wind ensemble category on June 17. His piece is titled When Stone Becomes Forest, a work that was premiered by CBU Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. Guy Holliday, on Nov. 5.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biology, co-authored a paper published in the journal Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins (May 2022). It is titled Thurincin H is a Non-hemolytic Bacteriocin of Bacillus thuringiensis With Potential for Applied Use.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robin Duncan, dean of Metcalf School of Education, Mandy Themm, adjunct professor of education, Yvonne McFadzean, adjunct professor of education, and Stacy Meyer, lecturer of education, traveled to Belize to discuss a CBU partnership with the University of Belize on May 31. They also met with Belize’s prime minister, Johnny Briceño, to discuss support of Themm’s ministry of literacy training and materials for the K-12 schools.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Riste Simnjanovski, associate professor of public administration, and Dr. Scott Dunbar, associate professor of human resource management, published an article on Bitcoin Magazine titled Bitcoin is the Answer to Financial Burnout (June 7). Additionally, Simnjanovski published two other articles on Bitcoin Magazine: Gilded Age Greed and Golden Bitcoin (May 28) and Bitcoin and the Soul-Seeking of Humanity (May 23).

 

 

Dr. Mark Kling, professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, professor of public administration, had an article published in the PA Times (June 10). It was titled Public-Nonprofit Partnerships: Selecting the Right Partners.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robin Duncan, dean of the Metcalf School of Education, graduated as part of Leadership Riverside’s 2022 class on June 17. Leadership Riverside is a 10-month program sponsored by the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce to empower and educate decision makers in the community by immersing them in the issues and challenges that shape Riverside’s future. The class project is an interactive sculpture downtown Riverside titled Lock in Your Love. Dr. Victoria Brodie, assistant professor of public relations, is chair of Leadership Riverside.

 

 

 

Dr. Lisa Hernández, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Esther Lee, associate professor of statistics, and Dr. Ricardo Cordero-Soto, professor of mathematics, presented at the 23rd Biennial Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences at Azusa Pacific University on June 1-4. Hernández and Lee presented Topological data analysis and the housing market. Cordero-Soto presented Restoring faith: a philosophy and model for faith integration in mathematics and co-presented Discovered or Invented: the ontology of mathematics. He also facilitated a pre-conference workshop.

 

 

Dr. Teresa Hamilton, associate professor of nursing, was a panel presenter at the Pre-Health Symposium held at the California University of Science and Medicine in Colton on May 28. The panel was titled Pathways in Healthcare.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Keanon Alderson, professor of business, published an article in the Inland Empire Business Edge magazine. It was titled Family Business Challenges and Opportunities (June). He also was interviewed for the Bigger than Business podcast, titled Overcoming the Challenges of a Family Business (May).

 

 

 

Kristin Beinschroth, visiting professor of radiologic sciences, published an article in the American Society of Radiologic Technologists periodical magazine Scanner (June/July). It was titled Arrange for Change.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Candace Vickers, professor of communication sciences and disorders, presented a virtual seminar for Speech Recovery Pathways, a nonprofit organization offering virtual aphasia conversation groups and other training, on June 27. The seminar was titled Social Networks Approach to Aphasia.

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, professor of psychology, presented a paper, Relational Shaping of Rationality, at the Dabar Conference at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois on May 18-21. She also participated on Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s panel on Valuing Life: Insights from the Bible and Science at the Southern Baptist Convention in Anaheim on June 14. Additionally, she presented at the 2022 Science for Seminaries Retreat in Maine on (June 20-23). Her presentation was titled Developmental Process in Religious Context.

 

 

Dr. Tom Frederick, professor of psychology, and Dr. Scott Dunbar, associate professor of human resource management, published a book. It is titled Identity, Calling, and Workplace Spirituality: Meaning Making and Developing Career Fit (Lexington Books, July).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Lizbeth Gaona, assistant professor of social work, was chosen to attend the Center for Health Equity Research Institute in Long Beach on June 6-10. There she continued her clinical research that would support identifying beneficial interventions for minorities and underserved children, youth and adults who are receiving mental health services due to engaging in self-harm behaviors or suicide ideation.

 

 

 

Russ Bermejo, lecturer of social work, co-authored an article published in CW360° (2022), an annual publication by the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare. The article was titled A Call to Reimagine: The Role of Resource Parents in Family Recovery and Reunification. 

 

 

 

CBU Graduate Admissions welcomed more than 200 new graduate students at its Graduate Student Kickoff on June 16. Students connected with various campus resources and met other students, staff and program directors.

 

 

 

Dr. Charles Lee-Johnson, associate professor social work, and the Master of Social Work program were awarded a $25,000 grant from Health Care Access and Information Health Careers Exploration Program for the project Be the Difference: Mental Health Matters. The project seeks to engage underrepresented high school and community college students to provide mentoring in behavioral health.

 

 

 

CBU’s Civil Engineering and Construction Management Department hosted its first summer camp on June 20-22. Five faculty taught 30 fifth through eighth graders. Topics included 3D scanning technology, surveying, water pipe design and shake table testing.

 

 

 

Dr. Joshua Knabb, professor of psychology, has published a second edition of his book, Faith-Based ACT for Christian Clients: An Integrative Treatment Approach (Routledge, July 2022).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Juliann Perdue, professor of nursing, and therapy dog Rugar were invited to attend the Southern Baptist Convention in Anaheim on June 15. They provided stress relief with animal-assisted therapy to the executive committee.

 

 

 

 

Patty VanBuskirk, department secretary for communication arts, and her husband, Scott, welcomed their second grandchild on April 10. Levi Scott VanBuskirk weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce and measured 20.5 inches. His parents are Brandon (’14) and Casey (Lee, ’13) VanBuskirk.

 

 

 

The son of Alycia Benson, adjunct professor of education, graduated from the University of California, Merced, on May 16. Robert Benson earned a degree in mechanical engineering.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jin-Sil Mock, assistant professor of education, and her husband, Frank Yi, welcomed a daughter on June 28. Eden Hyosung Yi weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 22 inches.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates