In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Summer Ministry and Job Fair gives students options for service

More than 40 conference centers and ministry groups participated in the Summer Ministry and Job Fair on Feb. 7 at California Baptist University. The Career Center at CBU hosted the event that offered students internships and summer ministry opportunities.

Marc Lemieux, a Christian studies sophomore, stopped and chatted with numerous ministry representatives. Lemieux said he is interested in serving others over the summer break.

“I’ve learned that change for one’s heart and soul comes through service,” Lemieux said.

Valerie Hernandez, a public relations junior, has a desire to develop her faith and work with children over the summer.

This will be my last summer before graduation. I am looking to grow my relationship with God through service,” Hernandez said.

Emily Miller, an exercise science student, found an internship through the Summer Ministry and Job Fair two years ago. She worked at the Salvation Army’s Mt. Crags and Gilmore Camp and Conference Center for the past two summers. This year she returned to the fair to explore other opportunities for service.

“I’ve learned how to grow in my faith at these camps but also how to work with people,” said Miller of her time with the Salvation Army.

 

CBU professor brings management experience to classroom

With a warm smile and friendly laugh, Dr. Gaynell Vanderslice encouraged her students to dig deeper for answers during a classroom assignment. As students brainstormed and wrote on oversized poster papers that hung throughout the classroom, Vanderslice praised their efforts.

Vanderslice, assistant professor of business management at California Baptist University, is passionate about teaching and sees it as a calling. Vanderslice started as an adjunct professor at CBU in the fall 2016 semester and then became a full-time instructor in the fall 2017 semester.

After working more than 20 years in organizational leadership and management roles, she now brings that experience, knowledge and passion to the classroom. Vanderslice said her teaching style is more as a facilitator. For her, learning is in the discussion.

“I want the students to be leaders who are invested in helping their team members grow,” Vanderslice said.

Vanderslice worked for more than 19 years as a manager in the information technology department at ESRI, a geographic information system mapping software company. Part of her job responsibility was to train supervisors on new technology. The supervisors would then train the employees. The goal was to ensure employees could be successful in their roles when new technology was rolled out, Vanderslice recalled.

“What I’ve always done is train people, regardless of the title or the role,” Vanderslice said. “I was always vested in training individuals who wanted to advance their skills.”

Vanderslice wants her students to enhance their critical thinking skills. For instance, in one class, the students created a company, assigned titles and identified issues that might occur in a company, including layoffs. She gives the students an opportunity to co-create their learning experience and to make decisions regarding classroom engagement.

“I will share with them, ‘I want you to make decisions [in the classroom] because when you get on the job, your leaders are expecting you to have ideas, make decisions and bring them to the table,’” Vanderslice said. “This is where they can practice becoming familiar with that.”

Vanderslice said she considered teaching later in life, but then God opened the doors at CBU.

“We can have a plan, or Plan B as I call it,” Vanderslice said. “Then there’s the Master’s plan and I learned that they are not the same.”

Beyond her work experience, Vanderslice said her management philosophy has been developed by biblical principles. From a biblical standpoint, people are created to be relational, visionary and creative, she explained.

“Leaders are there to help enrich the lives of others, to work collectively and collaboratively and to encourage knowledge sharing at all levels,” Vanderslice said.

 

CBU Counseling Center boosting awareness on eating disorders

With the National Eating Disorders Awareness Week occurring later this month (Feb. 26 – March 4), the Counseling Center at California Baptist University took time this week to raise awareness.

Staff from the Counseling Center at CBU greeted students at an information table set up at Stamps Courtyard on Feb. 7-8.

Getting help for an eating disorder starts with learning how to recognize the symptoms, said Dr. Natalie Rios, assistant director at the Counseling Center.

At the information table, students learned about symptoms of eating disorders in addition to other relevant information. Students also were encouraged to engage in a mindful eating exercise. Students wrote down their negative thoughts on paper and then threw them away—practicing a purposeful way to handle stress.

The goal for the event was to raise awareness about eating disorders and how the CBU Counseling Center helps students address this issue, Rios said.

“Eating disorders and body image concerns are prevalent among college students and continue to be on the rise,” Rios said. “The earlier a student can recognize and get help for an eating disorder, the greater the chance of recovery.”

Rios said the Counseling Center offers a safe place to address a student’s concerns.

“We want to offer ourselves as another resource, among many other incredible departments on campus, where students can share about their struggles and receive support as they strive toward healthier and purposeful lives,” Rios said.

There are times when a student knows they struggle with an eating disorder and they reach out for help, Rios said. Often though, students who have an eating disorder wonder if they even have one and if they do, they wonder if they can overcome it on their own, she added.

“The Counseling Center is a place where students can be listened to, supported, and helped as they seek out answers to these questions and more,” Rios said.

For more information on the Counseling Center click here.

 

Career Center trains students at LinkedIn seminar

Students at California Baptist University learned the inner workings of LinkedIn, the employment-oriented social networking site, at a seminar hosted by the Career Center on Feb. 6.

Morgan Teruel, career counselor at CBU, said that using LinkedIn effectively can be an important part of a job search. Teruel presented a detailed walk-through of each section on a LinkedIn profile offering students tips along the way.

“Being strategic in how you present yourself is extremely important,” Teruel said. “Employers will look at whom you are associated with on the website, so also be strategic with whom you connect with.”

Teruel said a summary section should be professional and written in a way that aligns with your desired career path. Also, indicate all your diverse skill set, especially anything technology based, she added.

Kayla Masters, career counselor at CBU, gave students a tutorial on using the job searching function within LinkedIn.

“You can target companies of your choice on LinkedIn, and then follow them to become aware of job opportunities that are posted on their page,” Masters said.

The seminar also featured a Q&A session followed by an opportunity for students to have a photographer take headshots for their LinkedIn profiles.

 

Homecoming game to be featured on Fox Sports Networks

California Baptist University announced a landmark multi-tiered distribution partnership for its inaugural men’s basketball homecoming game, held at the CBU Events Center against Biola University, on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.

In partnership with Fox Sports Regional Network, Fox Prime Ticket and Fox Sports GO digital, CBU fans will now have multiple ways to watch the Lancers take on the Eagles. Distribution platforms for the game include DISH Network, AT&T U verse, and DIRECT TV.  In addition, the game will be streamed on the Lancers’ game day portal.

“With our partnership with Fox Sports Regional Networks, we are able to reach all of Southern California from San Diego to Central California,” said Dr. Micah Parker, director of athletics. “That represents over 8.1 million television households that includes the nation’s No. 2 and 29 television markets.”

The Lancers will enjoy live digital coverage on Fox Sports GO and on the Lancers Digital Network live stream.

“This multi-tiered partnership with Fox Sports, in addition to our Lancers Digital Network, allows us to reach more alumni and fans throughout the region and nationwide,” added Parker. “With our impending move to NCAA Division I for the upcoming 2018-19 season, it’s important for us to maximize our coverage in key markets and multiple distribution platforms.”

Rounding out the Lancers digital tier, post-game player interviews and coaches press conference are streamed live on Facebook with post-game highlights available on the Lancers Digital Network and CBU’s YouTube page.

To watch the Lancers vs. Biola live on Feb. 10, at 7 p.m.:
Fox Sports Prime Ticket/Spectrum Cable:  Channel 321
Fox Sports San Diego:  channel 61 (SD) / 732 (HD)
AT&T Uverse: channel 1774
DISH:  channel 411
DIRECTV:  channel 693
Lancer Digital Network: cbulancers.com/live

 

Biblical scholar frames how Christians should view suffering, evil

Biblical truths needs to guide believers through difficult seasons in life, Dr. D.A. Carson told a California Baptist University audience on Feb. 1.

“Before the evil day comes, what biblical theological truths should you have firmly driven into the soil of your mind so that you’re stable?” asked Carson, who spoke as part of the School of Christian Ministries Lecture Series.

The lecture series provides an opportunity for students, faculty, pastors and guests to learn from leading evangelical scholars who combine their academic expertise with service to the church.

Carson is president of The Gospel Coalition, a network of churches focused on the theological application of the gospel to accomplish the Great Commission. He also is a research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois and the author or editor of more than 50 books.

Carson spoke about theological pillars needed to support faithful Christian reflection on the issues of suffering and evil. He said the biblical storyline begins with the portrayal of God as the Creator who made everything good before evil entered the world.

“He made us, we owe him everything,” Carson said. “Sin is bound up in rebellion against the sovereign God.”

In Scripture, all evil tracks back to the fall, Carson said.

“With this background, we need to see that the Bible expresses surprise, not that we suffer, but that we are not wiped out,” Carson said. “In much of the Bible, what provokes wonder and reflection is not human suffering but God’s grace.”

Insights from the end of the biblical storyline show the coming of the new heaven and the new earth—to be cherished—and a hell that is to be feared.

“All of our sufferings in this life have to be measured against the blessings that will come for believers,” Carson said.

He also cited the Book of Job as an example of innocent suffering in which Job loses everything because of an arrangement between God and Satan.

“Job teaches us that there are limits to our knowledge and sometimes God is more interested in our trust than in providing more explanations,” Carson said. “At some deep level we must recognize that omniscience is an incommunicable attribute of God, and we cannot understand everything.”

Carson said additional insight comes from looking at the persecuted church. When the New Testament talks about suffering, it mostly focuses on persecution, Carson said. In persecution, believers need to “take up our cross,” that is why the apostles rejoiced when they are first beaten. They considered themselves worthy to suffer for Jesus (Acts 5:41), Carson added.

“If darker times come to North America in the months ahead, in years ahead, let not the church wallow in self-pity and talk about the good old days,” Carson said. “Rather, rejoice because you’re counted worthy to suffer for His name. You’ll start joining your brothers and sisters in Christ all around the world.”

For more information on the Lecture Series and videos of past presentations, please visit https://calbaptist.edu/school-of-christian-ministries/lecture-series.

 

Lancers capture wrestling conference championship

The No. 9 nationally ranked California Baptist University wrestling squad, won its second straight Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship. Additionally, for the third year in a row, three Lancers won individual conference championships.

Read the full story here.

 

 

 

 

 

CBU alumni share leadership experience for seminar series

Four prominent alumni from California Baptist University shared their life experience and offered advice on leadership to students at the Leadership Seminar Series on Jan. 29.

The event, titled “How They Made It,” was hosted by the Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education and moderated by Mike Bishop, director of the Career Center. The panel consisted of Daniel Bishop (’06), lead pastor at The Grove Community Church in Riverside; C.L. Lopez (’03, ’16), human services communication officer for San Bernardino County; Joshua Moss (’03, ‘06), director of CBU alumni and parent relations; and Michele Nissen (’15), city manager of Eastvale.

Moss said when he received a promotion as a school administrator in his twenties, he had to prove he was capable.

“It was about listening and working really hard and showing people I was here to support them. It wasn’t about me,” Moss said.

Lopez said when hiring, she looks for someone who is skilled, prepared for the interview but also shows a servant’s heart.

“We want to find somebody who has a humble spirit, who we know will be able to take directions,” Lopez said. “They also need to come in with a plan that shows what they would like to bring to the table.”

When asked how to help employees become more engaged in their work, Daniel Bishop said a leader needs to help workers feel valued.

“Everyone wants to make a difference and wants to know their life counts and their job counts,” Bishop said. “As a leader, [I try to] help them identify that what they’re doing counts and draw their attention to that. It’s a win for the organization and a win for them.”

Lopez said she seeks to identify employees’ strengths and then offers ways for them to grow.

“We focus on something positive we can build on,” Lopez said. “If there are weaknesses or opportunities for growth, we do everything we can to get them training and resources and mentoring, so they can make their weaknesses strengths.”

To land a dream job, advice from the panel members included seeking help, taking advantage of the resources at CBU, making connections and being persistent.

“Be true to who you are, what your passion is, what your calling is and what God has asked of you to do,” Moss said.

“Step out in faith. Stretch yourself beyond what you think you’re capable of doing,” Nissen said.

 

Chapel speaker encourages CBU students to obey God’s calling

God is calling every person to heed His voice, but other voices often cause a distraction, Chrystal Evans Hurst told a chapel audience at California Baptist University on Jan. 29.

“All He asks is that we’re willing to respond and follow His voice,” Hurst said.

Hurst, who is an author, speaker and worship leader, used the biblical story of Ruth and Naomi to explain how different voices can be a distraction. When Naomi planned to return to Bethlehem after the death of her husband and two sons, she encouraged her Moabite daughters-in-law—Ruth and Orpah—to go back to their homeland, Hurst explained.

“She was telling them this is going to be uncomfortable for them,” Hurst said. “What she was offering was the voice of emotion. It was the voice of ‘do whatever feels comfortable and good to you right now.’”

When both women indicated they desired to stay with Naomi, she again told them to go home. There can be a second voice that encourages people to do what makes sense, Hurst said.

“Most of the time, God is not going to think about something the way you do,” Hurst said. “Many times in our logical economy, what God asks us to do doesn’t add up.”

Ruth ended up following Naomi back to Bethlehem, which caused a stir when they arrived. The third distracting voice is the chatter from people around you, Hurst said. Ruth pushed through the noise because of her desire to know God. Ruth made the hard choices and as a result, she ended up in lineage of Jesus, Hurst added.

“Follow His voice, even if that means choosing to be uncomfortable, choosing to do what doesn’t make sense and choosing to tune out what well-meaning people might have to say… while you may not know exactly where it leads or how long it will take to get there, He always knows exactly what He is drawing you to,” Hurst said.

 

Students undergo training for International Service Projects

Mobilization at California Baptist University hosted an Intensive Training Weekend from Jan. 26-28 to prepare students for their upcoming International Service Project (ISP).

Groups of students at California Baptist University emerged from the cold, windy and dark evening—with suitcases, backpacks and even their favorite pillow in hand—to a robust Stamps Courtyard around 6 p.m. on Jan. 26. A sign in the courtyard read, “Welcome to Ispland International Airport. When your flight has arrived, please proceed to the appropriate check-in counter.”

Stamps Courtyard was transformed into a makeshift international terminal to help stimulate a trip abroad. This summer will mark the 22nd year of global outreach by CBU. Nearly 300 students and team leaders will comprise more than 30 ISP teams.

Jeff Lewis, director of Mobilization at CBU, said for some students, this will be their first trip overseas.

“We want them to be prepared for what life looks like outside of the U.S.,” Lewis said.

For the airport simulation, CBU students had received a letter before the Intensive Training Weekend listing what items would be appropriate to pack for an ISP trip. Multiple individuals, who played the role of airport security, checked students’ bags. Several students were found bringing items in violation of airport security; as a result, they were taken into a classroom for an “interrogation.”

Lewis said the first evening of the training is more about simulation and receiving relevant information on their trip.

The next two days, students traveled to San Diego to work with New Vision Church to gain hands-on ministry experience.

New Vision Church has an urban mission ministry that aims to serve low-income families, at-risk children and youth and marginalized populations, such as the homeless, disabled and refugees.

“We want to get students into an authentic situation and not just simulation,” Lewis said. “Everything we do overseas is to fit into the strategy of the local church or field worker. We want to be a blessing to them. This opportunity with New Vision Church is similar in that we want our students to be flexible and mold to their ministry needs.”

Lewis indicated that working with urban ministries is one of the new strategies for the ISP Intensive Training Weekend.

“I believe that some of the cultural interactions that the students received over the weekend will mirror what they will see in their ISP trips,” Lewis said.

 

CBU hosts workshop on engaging in crucial conversations

Before having a crucial conversation, educators and administrators need to do some internal inventory first, Dr. Kathryn Short, professor of education at California Baptist University, told a group of Christian High School Principals and counselors.

“The only person you can push, shape or change is you,” Short said. “In changing you, you can change others. It’s that model of being Christ-like.”

The Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education at California Baptist University hosted the 11th annual Christian High School Principal & Counselor Workshop on Jan. 25.

Dr. John Shoup, dean of the School of Education at CBU, said the workshop provides relevant, professional development activities to counselors and principals from Christian high schools in Southern California.

“The seminar also creates opportunities for Christian high school counselors and principals to network and visit the campus,” Shoup said.

High school counselors, teachers and principals have crucial conversations each day, Short said. You have three ways of handling these conversations—you can avoid them, face them but handle them poorly or face them and handle them well, she added.

Short quoted James 1:19, a verse she tries to live by, “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” (NASB).

“It’s a great biblical way to handle yourself before entering a crucial conversation,” she said.

Crucial conversations also need to be filled with love that seeks to make a difficult situation better, Short said.

“As teachers of adolescents, as counselors and principals, do they know that you care?” Short asked.

Michael Crites, superintendent for Bethel Christian Schools in Riverside, brought some of his staff with him to the workshop.

“Most of my job is about having crucial conversations, with either the people who work for me or the parents of students,” Crites said. “The wisdom that Dr. Short shared with us is how to deal with people. You can still have a good conversation and still reach an agreement, even if the news isn’t always good. [This training] is invaluable for me.”

 

Blood drive helps two causes important to CBU community

Students, staff and faculty at California Baptist University took advantage of an opportunity to make a donation that gives back twofold—via a blood drive that was hosted on Jan. 24-25. Mobilization in the Office of Spiritual Life hosted the drive that supplied blood for LifeStream and in the process raises funds for this year’s International Service Project (ISP) volunteers.

LifeStream will distribute the blood collected to local hospitals. Additionally, they will make a $15 dollar donation on behalf of the blood donor to an ISP participant or the general Mobilization scholarship fund.

Libby Rivera, a sociology sophomore, indicated that she is afraid of needles, but nonetheless, she became a blood donor to support her CBU roommate, who is going on an ISP trip to Taiwan.

“It’s something I can give that costs me nothing and I’m helping someone else out,” Rivera said. “I would have given the blood even if it wasn’t a fundraiser, but knowing that I could support my roommate as well, it’s awesome.”

Emily Lerias, a biology senior, said she requested her contribution go to a friend who is participating in an ISP trip to South Africa. Along with the importance of the financial donation, Lerias is discovering the significance of blood in her pre-medical concentration.

“I’m learning how important blood is and how emergency rooms are in need of it,” said Lerias, who has participated in ISP trip in the past.

John and Karen Eggleston, of Highland, donated in support of their daughter and her fiancé, who are going to South Africa and Spain respectively. The Eggleston couple are both nurses.

“Donating helps others out. We know what it is to have the need [for blood],” Karen Eggleston said. “At the same time, it helps our daughter and fiancé for their ISP program.”

ISP participants need to raise $2,000-$4,500, depending on the length of the project. More than 350 people are expected to participate in ISP over the summer of 2018. Mobilization has hosted blood drives for the past 10 years.

 

CBU Gallery hosts exhibit that highlights the limitations of art

The CBU Gallery in downtown Riverside is hosting an exhibit titled “Art is a Lie” through March 2.

The title is inspired from a quote by Picasso, “Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth.”

“Picasso was commenting on how mankind is limited by how we create art and how we can only mirror the objects of our interests,” said Scott Canty, guest curator for the CBU exhibit.

The exhibit will showcase pieces by eight Los Angeles-based artists who applied a wide variety of materials and processes in their work. The artists featured are Enrique Castrejon, Harold Green, Noel Korten, Nery Gabriell Lemus, Tine Linville, Antonio Muniz Vallina, Aaron Shepard and Ann Weber. The exhibit includes paintings, drawings and sculptures.

Through their art, the artists have created focal points of discovery and inquiry and also works based on pure mystery, said Canty, the former director for the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Park. The art gives “us a greater understanding of our world,” he added.

“Art is a reproduction of how the artists see and investigate their world. Look at the history of art and you can see how artists have recorded events, movements, and if you want to know how the world thinks, just look at what artists are making,” Canty said.

Duncan Simcoe, professor of visual arts, said Canty continues the tradition of having respected professional curators create exhibits for the CBU Gallery.  Canty’s exhibit follows a 2016 show by guest curator—Gordon Fuglie, director and head of curatorial affairs at the Central California Museum of Art.

“[Guest curators] enhance the standing of the gallery, provide direct contact for our students with serious art professionals as they begin to imagine their own futures, and introduce the gallery to a range of artists,” Simcoe said.

Art is a Lie

Where: CBU Gallery, 3737 Main St., Suite 101, Riverside, CA 92501
Exhibition Dates: Through March 2
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Questions: Laura Peralta, receptionist for the College of Architecture, Visual Arts & Design, lperalta@calbaptist.edu or 951-552-8866

 

CBU Online earns high rankings for online education programs

The Division of Online and Professional Studies (OPS) at California Baptist University has earned the No. 23 national ranking on the 2018 Best Online Bachelor’s list released by U.S. News & World Report (USN&WR). CBU Online, which placed in the top 40 for the sixth consecutive year, is the only California college ranked in the top 25 nationwide.

“The latest rankings support our mission and goal to build and deliver quality, relevant and affordable programs online,” said Dr. David Poole, vice president for the division of OPS at CBU. “In addition to being the only California school in the top 25 nationwide for best online bachelor’s programs, we are also one of only four private institutions in that group.”

In the USN&WR rankings, CBU Online also scored high in the faculty credentials and training ranking indicator category, earning a No. 1 spot for the MBA, online graduate education and online graduate business programs. Additionally, CBU Online ranked No. 6 for bachelor’s program in the same category.

“We continue to be pleased with our consistently high rankings by U.S. News & World Report in the area of faculty credentials and training,” Poole said. “We strive to allow individuals interested in pursuing their education the opportunity to achieve this goal, and the high ranking across our online programs confirm students have received outstanding instruction and are prepared to advance in their workplace.”

CBU Online serves approximately 4,000 students, offering 24 undergraduate majors and concentrations, 14 graduate majors and specializations and two doctoral programs in business administration and public administration.

For more information on 2018, online rankings click here.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Melissa Wigginton, associate professor of health science, presented research at the Hawaiian International Conference on Education Jan. 4-7 in Honolulu. The title of the presentation was Predictors of Diabetes Self-Management Education among Adults in the United States: Findings from the 2015 BRFSS Data.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Joel Bigley, assistant professor of management, Dr. Andy Herrity, professor of entrepreneurship and business, and Dr. Keanon Alderson, professor of business, presented at the United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship annual meeting in Hollywood on Jan. 13. The presentation was titled The Importance of Cultural Awareness and Values in an Innovative Social Enterprise in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Darla Donaldson, assistant professor of finance and social entrepreneurship, also contributed to the presentation but was unable to attend.

 

Dr. Alex Chediak, professor of engineering and physics, presented a paper at the American Association of Physics Teachers conference Jan. 5-9 in San Diego. The title was A Concept Inventory for Momentum, Energy, and Rotational Dynamics: 15 New Test Items with Equivalent Difficulty to the Force Concept Inventory Test Items. Dr. Kyle Stewart, associate professor of physics, was a co-author on the paper.

 

 

 

Mary Ann Stahovich, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, and 15 physician assistant students participated in the kick-off for Start RIGHT (Riverside Is Getting Healthy Together) Jan. 20 at The Grove Community Church in Riverside. The students conducted health checks. Start RIGHT is a city-wide, healthy living campaign and challenge.

 

Dr. Joel Bigley, assistant professor of business, was a keynote speaker as a Fellow for the Paul & Annie Kienel Leadership Institute at the International Leadership Training Conference in Cauayan City, the Philippines, on Dec. 4. His presentation was titled Innovative Leadership in a Multi-cultural Environment.

 

 

 

Dr. Seong Kong, associate professor of bioengineering, co-authored a paper published in the scientific journal Langmuir (volume 34). The title was Aqueous Superparamagnetic Magnetite Dispersions with Ultrahigh Initial Magnetic Susceptibilities.

 

 

 

 

Brandon Smith, adjunct professor of Christian studies for Online and Professional Studies, co-authored a Bible study. It is titled Echoes of the Reformation: 5 Truths that Shape the Christian Life (The Gospel Coalition/LifeWay Christian Resources, 2017). He also co-authored a book, They Spoke of Me: How Jesus Unlocks the Old Testament (Rainer Publishing, 2018).

 

 

 

CBU’s Athletic Training Program held a tactical medicine workshop for athletic trainers on Jan. 20 on the Health Science campus. The event included a lecture and a lab section practicing skills to use in an emergency. Tactical medical skills are aimed at civilian first responders to mass casualty/active shooter situations.

 

 

Dr. Joshua Knabb, associate professor of psychology, and Dr. Veola Vazquez, professor of psychology, had an article published in Spirituality in Clinical Practice (Jan. 25). The title was Randomized Controlled Trial of a 2-Week Internet-Based Contemplative Prayer Program for Christians With Daily Stress.

 

 

 

Dr. Shawn Wilhite, assistant professor of Christian studies for Online and Professional Studies, served as editor for Fides et Humilitas: The Journal of the Center for Ancient Christian Studies (Winter 2018). He also co-authored an editorial in the issue: Retrieval, Resourcement, and the Reformation: Tradition, Scripture, and the Protestant Reformation. Additionally, he had a review of Paul’s New Perspective: Charting a Soteriological Journey by Garwood P. Anderson published in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (December 2017).

 

 

CBU College of Engineering students Claire Pamintuam, Joshua Quezada, James Suzuki and Genaro Gonzales had an exhibit at the first Moreno Valley Unified School District STEAM Expo on Jan. 20. More than 600 guests including students, parents and teachers attended the event, which highlights science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Melissa Croteau, professor of film studies, took three film studies students to the Sundance Film Festival, held Jan. 18-28 in Park City, Utah. Each of the students viewed 18 to 22 films over six days and attended Fuller Seminary’s Windrider Forums, an immersive experience between filmmakers and film lovers designed to facilitate conversation and inspire change.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Effat Zeidan, assistant professor of science and mathematics for Online and Professional Studies, presented at the American Scientific Affiliation’s Southern California Christians in Science 2018 Day Conference Jan. 27 at CBU. The title was Cutting- Edge Cutting Technology: Made Possible by Our Faith & Perseverance.

 

 

 

 

Victoria Brodie, visiting professor of public relations, presented at the Hawaii International Conference of Education Jan. 4-5 in Honolulu. She presented on Preparing Future Leaders: Exploring leadership and team development in higher education using the Strength Deployment Inventory(c) and Technology in the Flipped Classroom as it Supports Agentic Engagement in the Higher Education Classroom.

 

 

 

Dr. Melissa Antonio, assistant professor of biology, and students Brigitte Buchanan and Bailey Dahlgren presented research at the American Scientific Affiliation’s Southern California Christians in Science 2018 Day Conference on Jan. 27 at CBU. The presentation was titled Effects of Engineered Nanomaterials on the Behavior of the Nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Melissa Croteau, professor of film studies, published a chapter in the book Shakespeare / Not Shakespeare (Palgrave, 2017). The title of the chapter is Surfing with Juliet: The Shakespearean Dialectics of Disney’s Teen Beach Movie.

 

 

 

Joe Way, director of multimedia services in Information and Technology Services, was featured as the special guest Dec. 21 on the Worship Team Training University podcast, hosted by Branon Dempsey, a nationally recognized worship leader. Way spoke on Keeping Your Tech Team Healthy at Christmas.

 

 

 

 

Staff from the Financial Aid Office participated in the Spartan SoCal Sprint on Jan. 28 at Prado Regional Park in Chino. The team consisted of Josh Morey, director of Financial Aid; his wife, Andrea; Andy Musser, financial aid assistant director — tradition; Daley Roche, financial aid counselor; Shane Paulson, financial aid counselor; Ryley Marble, financial aid counselor; Courtney Collette, administrative assistant – Financial Aid; Jonathon Williams (husband of Melissa Williams, financial aid outreach coordinator). The race was about 5 miles long and consisted of 21 obstacles, such as running in mud, carrying buckets of gravel and scaling a 7-foot wall.

 

 

 

Anna Crosby, a December 2017 graduate of applied statistical analysis, presented at the Joint Mathematical Meetings Jan. 13 in San Diego. Her research was titled Propensity Score Matching: The Key to Comparative Analysis.

 

 

 

The College of Health Science hosted an American Heart Association event Jan. 27 called Inland Empire Strokes for Stroke. The event gave stroke survivors and caregivers an opportunity to paint. Art therapy has shown promise in assisting patients with recovery issues including speech and language difficulties, depression and physical pain associated with stroke. Daphne Paramo, department secretary for kinesiology, customized the painting instructions. Dr. Candace Vickers, associate professor of communication disorders, and students in the Master of Science in speech language pathology paired up with the stroke survivors during the event.

 

The Department of Biological Sciences hosted an event titled Women in Biomedical Science Careers on campus Feb. 3.  A panel—Dr. Rhonda Tetz, an internist at Loma Linda University Medical Center; Dr. Melissa Chun, a dentist with a practice in San Bernardino; Dr. Ashley Beem (’09), finishing her residency training; and Kasi Bodiford (’12), fourth-year medical student at Loma Linda University—answered questions about their paths to a professional career, pressures and joys of their work, and the balance required in their lives.

 

 

 

Susanna Rempel, an advanced studies mathematics senior, presented at The Joint Mathematical Meetings Jan. 13 in San Diego. Her poster was titled Mosaic Number of Torus Knots.

 

 

 

Cameron Council, customer support analyst II in Information and Technology Services, and his wife, Micah, welcomed a son on Dec. 14. Atticus Allan Council weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 19 inches long. He joins sister Phoenix, 3½.

 

 

 

 

 

Ashley Sonke (’11), director of nursing admissions, and her husband, Matt (’10, ’12) welcomed a son Oct. 31. Lincoln Joel Sonke weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and measured 20.5 inches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dominick Sturz, associate professor of public health for Online and Professional Studies, and his wife, Aja Fernandez Sturz, welcomed a daughter Nov. 25. Olivia Catalina Sturz weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 19.5 inches.

 

 

 

 

Michael Jewell (’09, ’14), director of guest services and marketing for Tahquitz Pines Conference Center, and his wife, Breanna (’11), lifeguard at Tahquitz Pines, welcomed a daughter Jan. 31. Ariana Noelle Jewell weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce and measured 21 inches long. She joins brother John, 5, and sister Joelle, 3.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU students take inspiring and educational journey to Israel

A group from California Baptist University traveled to Israel from Dec. 30–Jan. 10 for the chance to examine many biblical locations and to become more aware of the geopolitical factors of the area.

Jillian Helt, a biology sophomore, said the trip brought the Bible to life.

“Having seen the locations and topography of the land, I now have a deeper understanding of biblical stories including character motivations, geography and history,” Helt said.

The Israel trip, sponsored by the Philos Project and the Museum of the Bible Foundation through Passages, a tour agency, provides financial assistance for Christian college students seeking a guided tour of the Holy Land. The CBU group consisted of 39 students and four faculty members.

The group visited biblical sites including Nazareth, the Jordan River and the Mount of Beatitudes. They also took a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, visited the Garden of Gethsemane and experienced the Lord’s Supper at the Garden Tomb. Participants also joined Jewish families for a Shabbat (Sabbath) dinner.

Abigail Cate, a nursing sophomore, said a highlight on the trip was singing worship songs on the Sea of Galilee.

“Seeing the biblical sites we have always heard about was like watching a picture turn into a reality,” Cate said. “It shocked me how real and ordinary the sites were, yet they were a reminder that Jesus uses the ordinary to bring God glory.”

The group also visited Tel-Aviv, the Western Wall, the Christian and Arab quarters in the Old City of Jerusalem and Yad Vashem, a Holocaust museum. They heard from an array of speakers, including Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders in addition to college-age Israelis, who were serving in the Israel Defense Forces.

Dr. Dawn Gilmore, assistant professor of music, who had Jewish ancestors that died in the Holocaust, said knowing that her relatives’ names are listed in the Holocaust museum had significance for her. To be in a museum that memorializes the tragedy and helps people understand what happened was very moving, she added.

Akeem Bentick, a philosophy junior, said the trip gave him a new perspective on the situation in the Middle East.

“I witnessed the daily lives of the people. I was amazed to see calmness in their daily lives and how there were friendly interrelations between the Palestinians and Israelis in Jerusalem,” Bentick said.

 

Rec Center director aims to help CBU community reach goals

Stefani Plummer, director of the California Baptist University Recreation Center, acknowledges the New Year brings more people to her place of work. She welcomes these new fitness seekers with a word of advice.

“We believe in results, not resolutions. To get to those results, we have to set appropriate goals,” Plummer said. “We try to educate people on what a real fitness goal would look like based on what they want.”

Plummer believes in setting goals. When her mother cautioned her about gaining weight as a college freshman at the University of California, San Diego, Plummer was determined not to let that happen to her. Her goal was to keep active. She took an exercise class at the college’s rec center and after a time, she ended up assisting the teacher and then eventually teaching the class.

Plummer was then hired to teach exercise classes seven days a week. In her junior year, she was asked to present at a National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association conference.

“I saw thousands of people who do this for a living and enjoy it, and I thought that’s what I want to do,” Plummer said.

Plummer, who earned a psychology degree in her undergraduate studies, switched career goals before graduate school. She earned a master’s in recreation management from Arizona State University and spent 15 years as assistant director of its rec center.

In October 2012 Plummer was hired at CBU to run the Recreation Center, which opened a few months later.

“It’s really a dream job because it allowed me to put years of creativity on display,” Plummer said. “Being at a faith-based institution, we’re able to bring Christ into the foundation of everything we do, from our mission statement to our policies to our programs.”

Plummer acknowledges that the Rec Center staff has to combat a narrow view of fitness, which often focuses on fast results or gimmicks.

“Our message to people is that fitness is about being healthy for you,” Plummer said. “We’re all different shapes and sizes and abilities, and there isn’t a one-stop shop for everybody. We train our staff to meet people where they’re at.”

The Rec Center is open to students as well as staff and faculty and their spouses. Resources for fitness seekers include a fitness assessment and several free personal training sessions. Additionally, the Rec Center hosts an array of weekly group classes such as cycling, boxing and high-intensity interval training. There are also short-term programs that focus on Olympic lifting and training for Spartan races. And for those who cannot get to the Rec Center, workouts from personal trainers and workout videos are available online.

Plummer said she enjoys helping people create and reach their fitness goals.

“We’re given an opportunity to use our gifts and talents, whatever they are, in life, but if we ourselves are not healthy and fit, we’re not as effective for the God’s Kingdom,” Plummer said.

 

Speaker shares her experience as a Samaritan’s Purse intern

Interning at Samaritan’s Purse is all about working hard and serving God and others, said Annie Arbiter, who spent six months interning with the evangelical Christian humanitarian relief organization. Arbiter spoke at an information session for Samaritan’s Purse Global Internship Program for interested California Baptist University students on Jan. 18.

Samaritan’s Purse Global Internship Program allows students and recent graduates to use their skills to impact the world for Christ in a tangible way, Arbiter said.

Arbiter, a Wheaton College graduate, interned from the end of 2016 until the summer of 2017, working in Greece and also in the Caribbean islands during the intense hurricane season that left many island communities devastated. Arbiter said she spent much of her time in the islands serving in refugee camps, helping maintain shelters, water sanitation stations and hygiene projects.

“I learned so much from the resilience and grace that so many refugees show in the face of such dire circumstances, and I feel honored to have built relationships with some of them,” Arbiter said.

Arbiter said Samaritan’s Purse focuses on serving in places of great need.

Samaritan’s Purse also conducts Operation Christmas Child (OCC), partnering with churches and organizations to deliver gifts and share the gospel message with children around the world.

CBU has participated in OCC since 2012. In 2017, the CBU community packed more than 950 shoeboxes in a campus-wide effort, with several departments and schools donating items for the shoeboxes. Additionally, FOCUS groups assembled the boxes and the Associated Students of CBU provided food for the event.

 

CBU Outdoor Adventures program hosts Mammoth trip

A group of California Baptist University students and staff spent the first holiday weekend of 2018 skiing and snowboarding on the snow-covered slopes of Mammoth Mountain. Thirty-five adventure seekers participated in the excursion, hosted Jan. 12-15, by the CBU Community Life Outdoor Adventures program.

“Mammoth Resort is a renowned place to ski and snowboard,” said Tucker Carl, Community Life’s program coordinator – outdoor adventures. “It has great snow, and is an incredible place to experience big terrain.”

Carissa Arguello, a kinesiology sophomore, signed up for the trip to meet new Lancers.

“It was really awesome being able to meet so many new people,” Arguello said. “I only knew a few people before the trip and by the end of the trip I felt like I made so many new friends.”

Outdoor Adventures programs at CBU offer students opportunities to enjoy natural wonders such as prestigious national parks, popular mountain ranges and the iconic beaches of the Pacific coast. Community Life provides, for a nominal fee, transportation, appropriate gear for the adventure and most of the food.

Future planned Outdoor Adventures for this semester will include a day outing to Snow Valley and a Pacific coast beach to snowboard and surf on the same day. There is also a camping trip planned to Big Sur.

Students at California Baptist University jot down their dreams while reflecting on the Martin Luther King Jr. “I Have a Dream” speech at an MLK tribute held at Stamps Courtyard on Jan. 16.

 

CBU students remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream

With Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech booming in the background, California Baptist University students lined up to write down their dreams on a large display in honor of the late minister and civil rights activist.

Community Life at CBU hosted a Dream event in Stamps Courtyard on Jan. 16. King dreamed big, said George Martin, director of cultural and commuter programs.

“His dream might have seemed impossible at the time, but look what has happened since then,” Martin said. “We want our students to dream big about their own lives.”

Alisa Molina, a business sophomore, said that she recognizes King as a catalyst for social change.

“Even though we still have ways to go with race relations in our country, I believe that King Jr. is responsible for a lot of the progress we’ve made,” Molina said.

Kaitlyn Alvarez, an early childhood studies junior, wrote down her dream, “Always show love and kindness to others.”

Alvarez said she views King as a person who had worthy dreams. His life was an inspirational one to follow, she added.

Community Life at CBU will be hosting several other events in the coming weeks to celebrate the life of not only King but also other African-American leaders.

On Jan. 26, there will be a Poetry Slam evening at Wallace Theater where poets or spoken word student artists at CBU will have an opportunity to reflect on influential leaders in their lives.

Additionally, on Feb. 8, CBU will kick off Black Heritage Month by hosting a Dream event at Innovators Auditorium where students will present in numerous artistic ways what King’s contributions to society have meant for them.

 

Architecture club makes strong showing at national competition

The National Organization of Minority Architects student chapter (NOMAS) at California Baptist University earned a fourth-place finish at a national design competition held in the fall 2017 semester.

The NOMAS chapter, in only its second year at CBU, featured seven team members who are either architecture undergrad or graduate students. The students took part in a design competition against 18 other NOMAS chapters across the U.S.

“Placing at the NOMAS national competition shows that our students are competing at the national level with highly established programs of architecture and demonstrating high levels of success,” said Dr. Matthew Niermann, associate dean of the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design at CBU.

The competition required teams to create a design for a school/community center set in Sunnyside, Texas. The project started in January 2017, when team members traveled to the Lone Star State to complete a site analysis. In the next phase, the team studied and researched architectural structures of buildings that have similar usage to the one they were conceptually designing. Then, over a period of several months, the students developed their design. The team sketched numerous concepts, debated the designs, made multiple revisions and finally used several software programs—including Autodesk Revit and various Adobe programs—to render a final version.

The students’ final concept revolved around the theme: come, stay and thrive.

The concept, which drives the design, was the hardest thing to develop, said Lettie Ramos, a graduate architecture student.

“We had to think, what’s important for this community? What is the goal for this community? What do we want to achieve with this project?” Ramos said.

In October, team members attended the NOMA conference in Houston, Texas, to present their design. They competed against universities such as Washington University, University of Buffalo and Cornell University.

Stephanie Vaz Ferreira, a graduate architecture student, said the coursework at CBU helped prepare her for the presentation.

“We often present in front of our professors and local architects when we do our individual projects,” Vaz Ferreira said. “It was rewarding to see I’ve been equipped well to present and do architecture.”

Ramos, who attended the previous year’s NOMA national conference, said that other schools and professionals at the 2016 national conference were curious to learn more about the architecture program at CBU. This year’s accomplishment continues to help elevate the CBU architecture program’s reputation, Ramos added.

 

Anthropology class examines cross-cultural views of medicine

Students at California Baptist University have a new opportunity to delve into cross-cultural views of human health with a course called Ethnomedicine (ANT320).

Offered for the first time at CBU this spring, the course covers the biomedical model (Western medicine) and compares and contrasts it with other ethnomedical models, said Dr. Ash Melika, associate professor of archaeology/anthropology.

Melika said the course aims to produce cultural sensitivity.

“Exposure to different cultures always creates awareness,” Melika said.

The course will additionally explore ethnographic materials that are used in Western and non-Western settings and how they are culturally shaped. Moreover, students will cover health issues pertaining to suffering, illness, death and life after death, Melika said.

Even in the Western world, people are interested in alternative medicine and other cultures are influencing the Western medical structure, Melika said.

“In California, I think it’s very important to be culturally aware, because we’re very diversified,” Melika said. “Becoming conscientious of the patient and how people view medicine and illnesses are important.”

Beyond cultural differences, there are also common human experiences that tie us all together, Melika added.

“Sometimes we emphasize the human differences, but the commonalities between human beings and shared experiences are also something that we should stress in order to look beyond cultural differences, and from a Christian point of view, see people as God’s image,” Melika said.

 

Teams form for spring intramural basketball season at CBU

Sign-ups for intramural men’s and women’s basketball are currently underway for the spring 2018 intramural sports schedule at California Baptist University.

Tyler Cox, director of recreation programs, anticipates close to 40 teams forming to compete in the several different basketball leagues offered at CBU. Additionally, CBU will have a co-ed soccer season and a Whiffle ball league offered later in the semester.

There will also be various day tournaments held through the spring semester for Spikeball, street hockey, bubble ball soccer and kickball.

“Intramural sports provide students an opportunity to connect with others who share similar interest.  It also gets them more connected to the university,” Cox said.

During the fall 2017 semester at CBU more than 1,000 students participated in intramural sports.

 

New students at CBU begin the spring 2018 semester

A steady rain welcomed freshmen and transfer students during the orientation activities at California Baptist University. But while wet outside, the weather did not dampen the excitement of starting a new chapter in life for the newest Lancers.

The students moved into residential facilities on Jan. 8. The next day they attended orientation sessions that covered topics such as the mission at CBU, an overview of student services, excelling academically and the numerous ways to get involved on campus. Later, students participated in the traditional Kugel Walk, a symbolic gesture of committing to a life of purpose as they begin their studies at CBU.

FOCUS groups – short for “First-Year Orientation & Christian University Success” – started on Jan. 9. The program helps acclimate students to campus life. These groups will provide continual support for students in their first semester at CBU.

The sessions and activities help the students become familiar with the campus, services and traditions, said Jay Stovall, director of new student programs.

“We make them feel connected by the programming,” Stovall said. “The programs connect them to the university by introducing them to resources, staff and other students.”

Classes began for the spring 2018 semester on Jan. 10.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Bonjun Koo, professor of environmental science, co-authored a paper published in the Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer (Vol. 50, No. 6, 2017). The paper was titled Cation Exchange Capacity in Korean Soils Determined by the Copper(II) Acetate Spectrophotometry Method.

 

 

 

Dr. Jacob Lanphere, associate professor of environmental science, presented a poster at the International Academic Forum Conference on Energy, the Environment and Sustainability on Jan. 4 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The title of the poster was Finding Green Chemistry Synthesis Techniques Based on Stability, Transport, And Hydroponic Studies of Engineered Nanomaterials in Terrestrial and Aquatic Environments.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Greg Bowden, associate professor of education for Online and Professional Studies, presented a paper at the Hawaii International Conference on Education Jan. 4-7 in Honolulu. The title of the study was Student Experiences of an Online Metacognitive Journaling Assignment. The study was co-authored by Dr. Cammy Purper, associate professor of education for Online and Professional Studies.

 

 

 

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, professor of public relations for Online and Professional Studies, presented a poster at the Hawaii International Conference of Education Jan. 4 in Honolulu. The poster was titled Personal Branding Projects for Effective Communication in Online Education, which included best practices and findings from Pearson’s doctoral dissertation.

 

 

 

Dr. Thomas Schneider, assistant professor of English, had an essay published in the academic book The Passenger: Medieval Texts and Transits (Punctum Books, December 2017). The title of the essay was Chaucer’s Physics: Motion in The House of Fame.

 

 

 

 

Dr. William Boyer, assistant professor of kinesiology, presented research at the annual World Congress on Insulin Resistance, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease on Nov. 29-Dec. 2 in Los Angeles. The poster was titled C–Reactive Protein and All-Cause Mortality in U.S. Adults: An Analysis of Gender and Race/Ethnicity NHANES 1999-2006. The abstract also was published in Endocrine Practice (Jan. 1, 2018).

 

 

 

Dr. Jeffrey Gage, professor of nursing, received an Appreciation and Fatherhood Award from Riverside Life Services, a nonprofit that serves women and couples facing unplanned pregnancies, for his research and volunteer service with fathers.

 

 

 

 

Mandy Themm, adjunct professor of education, was recently honored as an associate member of the Toledo, Belize District Education Centre for the development of literacy in the Toledo District in Belize. Themm has been going to Punta Gorda, Belize, since 2014, holding teacher/principal literacy training conferences and sending educational materials, school books and supplies and delivered to the village schools.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, assistant professor of psychology, published a peer-reviewed module and instructors’ materials for the Noba Project, a nonprofit educational organization. The title was Thinking Like a Psychological Scientist. She also wrote a blog announcing the piece for Noba.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Joe Putulowski, assistant professor of business and marketing, and Dr. Robert Crosby, associate professor of psychology, both for Online and Professional Studies, presented a paper at the 2018 International Conference on Business Jan. 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. The presentation was titled Marketing a Mental Health Care Specialization: The 4P’s of Play Therapy.

 

 

 

Nearly 100 new graduate students participated in the Spring 2018 Graduate School Kick Off on Jan. 5. Representatives from each graduate school office were present, including more than 60 staff and faculty members. To launch the event, students and faculty members gathered around the Kugel for prayer, followed by a dinner and presentation in the Innovators Auditorium where the students learned about CBU student culture and academic resources. The College of Engineering contributed 3D-printed models of the James Building bell tower for table centerpieces.

 

 

Thirty students in the Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2019 visited the Riverside County Coroner Forensic Center in Perris, California, on Jan. 12. They witnessed three autopsies and heard a presentation by a deputy of how homicides and deaths are investigated.

 

 

 

 

Victoria Brodie, visiting professor of public relations, spoke at the Pick Power Breakfast for the Pick Group of Young Professionals on Dec. 21 in Riverside. She spoke on the topic of aligning goals to encourage more authentic leadership. The Pick Group is a network of young professionals interested in engaging with and bettering their community while pursuing excellence in the workplace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Anthony Donaldson, dean of the College of Engineering, talked to the ninth- and 10^th- graders at the Western Center Academy in Hemet on Jan. 16. He spoke about biomimicry inspired sensors and opportunities in engineering and computer science.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Linn Carothers, professor of mathematics, presented at the Joint Mathematical Meetings of the American Mathematical Society and Mathematical Association of America on Jan. 10-13 in San Diego. The title was Youth @ Risk: Data Mining A Longitudinal Cohort to Predict Patterns of Family Instability and Crime.

 

 

 

Dr. Sanggon Nam, associate professor of public health, and Dr. Marshare Penny, associate professor of public health, presented at the Riverside County Health Coalition general membership meeting on Jan. 17 in Moreno Valley. Nam presented on An Aging Nation & Older Mexican Americans Health, and Penny presented The Persistent Care of Health Disparities: From Birth to End of Life.

 

 

 

The office of Mobilization is holding a blood drive fundraiser for the ISP teams going overseas this summer. Every donation earns Mobilization $15. Appointments may be made for Jan. 24 and Jan. 25.

 

 

 

Kaitlyn Lamb (’16), international admissions specialist, and Steven Wu (’15) were married Dec. 17 in Fallbrook, California.

 

 

 

 

 

Craig Shibley, audio visual services manager for Conferences and Events, and his wife, Amanda, welcomed a daughter on Dec. 9. Lorelai Shibley weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce and measured 19.5 inches long.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU concludes commencement ceremonies at Events Center

Fall commencement at California Baptist University wrapped up two days of celebration as the Fall Class of 2017 held the first commencement ceremonies at the Events Center. Students received recognition in front of cheering friends and family members on Dec. 14 and Dec. 15.

An estimated 8,000 individuals attended the three ceremonies at CBU.

This fall 806 students were eligible to participate in commencement ceremonies—a significant number considering the total enrollment was 808 students in 1994, the year Dr. Ronald L. Ellis became president of the university.

In his commencement address, Ellis noted that the ceremonies in the Events Center were an example of the many components CBU has assembled over the years that benefit students.

“During the past year, a number of important building blocks have been put in place or further reinforced to enhance the CBU experience for the members of this year’s graduating class and for those who will follow in the years, even generations to come,” Ellis said in his commencement address. “A prime example of campus development is this wonderful new Events Center. Since its opening this fall, the center has hosted student orientation activities, banquets and chapel services. It is the new home of Lancer men’s and women’s basketball. And thanks to this venue, for the first time in years, commencement ceremonies are proudly back at home on the CBU campus.”

During the ceremonies, Ellis commended the students and their families for their commitment to education. In that spirit of pursuing academic excellence, Ellis separately honored Assembly Member Jose Medina and state Sen. Richard Roth with “Champion of Students” awards.

Ellis said that their yearlong advocacy on behalf of students to continue funding Cal Grants was a significant commitment to higher education.

“By fully funding financial aid, you help keep the promise alive for California students and help the state meet its workforce development needs,” Ellis said when presenting the awards.

Ellis reviewed a number of achievements at CBU during the past year including growth in academic programs, athletics and other areas. He also cited significant campus improvements, such as an engineering building currently under construction and more projects now being planned.

“Soon, work is scheduled to begin in Lancer Plaza to expand the athletic training center and build CBU’s first multi-level parking structure. The five-level car park is designed to accommodate more than 1,450 vehicles and scheduled to come online in the fall of 2019,” Ellis said. “The project is part of a multi-stage development plan for Lancer Plaza that also features a new main entrance into the campus from Adams Street.”

Drawing a parallel from CBU’s strategic growth model, Ellis encouraged students to use their educational experience as a foundation for continuing personal growth.

“May your CBU experience and your CBU degree serve as rock-solid building blocks in a strong foundation for your future goals and dreams.  And May the Lord continue to bless!” Ellis said.

 

CBU fall graduates encouraged to pursue their purpose in life

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of California Baptist University, encouraged fall commencement candidates to “lean into this new beginning with genuine Lancer zeal.”

“May you live your purpose with passion and with the same determination that has guided you to this joyful day of celebration,” Ellis said. “May your CBU experience and your CBU degree serve as rock-solid building blocks in a strong foundation for your future goals and dreams.”

Ellis delivered the fall commencement address—the first ever held in the Events Center—to a packed arena where more than 260 Online and Professional Students participated in the ceremony on Dec. 14. CBU held two additional commencement ceremonies on Dec. 15 for traditional undergraduate and graduate students.

The 9:30 a.m. ceremony on Dec. 15 also featured the first doctoral students graduating from CBU. Three students received the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

Ellis said the graduates’ hard work at CBU was an important part of developing in life.

“Graduates, your experiences at CBU have given you an important foundation and helped to equip you to figure out where you will go from here—personally, professionally and perhaps most important, vocationally,” Ellis said. “In addition to excellent academics, the spiritual focus at CBU has been an important part of your preparation, whatever future activities you intend to pursue.”

Ellis encouraged students to stay in touch as they forge new experiences.

“Wherever you are, we want you to keep us posted on your progress. The CBU experience was designed to help all of you become Biblically Rooted, Academically Prepared, Globally Minded and Equipped to Serve,” Ellis said. “So as you step into the future beyond CBU, be sure you let us know where and how you are continuing to ‘live your purpose.’”

More than 800 students were eligible to participate in the 2017 fall commencement ceremonies at CBU.

 

Student returns from abroad to attend OPS commencement

Jenna Johns eagerly greeted her family and friends after the Online and Professional Studies (OPS) commencement ceremony at California Baptist University on Dec. 14. Amid the radiant smiles and warm embraces, Johns sighed, took a deep breath and rubbed her eyes a bit.

It was mid-afternoon in Riverside, but back home she would still be in bed.

Johns, a newly minted Master of Counseling Psychology graduate, is a resident of London, England. But she is no stranger to CBU. Johns lived in Southern California during her undergraduate years, completing a Bachelor of Psychology degree through OPS in 2012.

After her first CBU commencement, Johns met Teo, an English national. The two married and moved to his native London. Her family jokes with her that she even picked up a British accent along the way.

Despite having moved thousands of miles from Riverside, Johns said she wanted to continue her educational journey at CBU.

“They tailor the programs online to the working adult,” Johns said. “The educational experience is amazing. I enjoy how each class is opened in prayer and how they incorporate biblical principles into the coursework.

“The instructors are down to earth and I have earned so much from them,” Johns added.  “I’ve also made many friends through the program. It was nice to get to see many of them at commencement.

Johns currently works as a therapist in London. With her new degree, she hopes to move toward a marriage and family therapist role. For the moment, however, she enjoyed being back on familiar turf.

“It was nice to have the ceremony on campus this time in the beautiful Events Center in front of so many supportive people at CBU,” Johns said.

 

CBU Master’s hooding ceremonies celebrate achievements

Hundreds of master’s degree candidates at California Baptist University celebrated their academic achievements at hooding ceremonies the week of Dec. 11 leading up to commencement ceremonies on Dec. 14-15.

Colleges and schools conduct individual hooding ceremonies to recognize their candidates and also give students their distinctive colored hoods to wear at the commencement ceremony. The ceremonies also provide the students’ families an opportunity to meet faculty and staff.

Nearly 300 master’s degree candidates are eligible to participate in CBU’s three fall commencement ceremonies at the Events Center. The largest group of master’s candidates comes from the Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education with 42 candidates. The Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business has the second-largest group with 32 candidates. Additionally, through its various programs, the Online and Professional Studies had 141 master’s students who applied for graduation this fall.

At the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences hooding ceremony held Dec. 13, Dr. Nathan Lewis, professor of psychology, encouraged students to pursue Godly wisdom to aid with their academic training.

“You gained theoretical and practical knowledge that lays the foundation and framework for a competent professional practice—always value that,” Lewis said. “Pursue more knowledge and more importantly, pursue Godly wisdom.”

 

Distinguished students ring in CBU commencement tradition

As more than 800 students of California Baptist University prepared to walk during the three fall commencement ceremonies on Dec. 14 and 15, they heard the ringing of the bell, which was carried out by several notable Lancers.

CBU tradition calls for the ringing of the bell to kick-off each commencement. Each toll represents one decade of the university’s existence. The bell rang six times at each commencement to commemorate more than six decades of academic excellence. CBU was established in 1950.

Graduates from among the highest-ranking students were chosen for the honor this fall.

Megan Nichols, graduating with a master’s degree in education with a specialization in early childhood studies, rang the bell at the Online and Professional Studies ceremony on Dec. 14. Dayanara Ramos, who received a bachelor’s degree in accounting, rang the bell at the Dec. 15 morning ceremony and Stephanie Davis, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in health science and a concentration in pre-physician assistant, rang the bell at the Dec. 15 afternoon ceremony.

Nichols said she was elated to be involved in the prestigious tradition of ringing the bell at CBU. Nichols, who has a current 4.0 GPA said she desires to start a career in the field of early childhood education after graduation.

“Through my time at CBU, I have gained valuable information about the development of children which has shaped my career goals,” Nichols said. “Spiritually, CBU has allowed me to grow in my relationship with God. I feel blessed to have been taught by brilliant men and women who have a passion for God and learning.”

Ramos, who currently maintains a 3.96 GPA, has a job as a tax accountant waiting for her after graduation.

“I have been able to meet lifelong friends [at CBU] that encourage me in my faith and pray for me,” Ramos said. “My journey at CBU has been the biggest blessing. I am so grateful for all that I have learned and the people I have met during my time at CBU.”

Davis, who has a current 3.98 GPA, is currently serving in an internship role at St. Joseph Hospital of Orange. Davis will continue her educational endeavors in the physician assistant studies program at CBU after she earns her undergraduate degree.

“CBU has prepared me for the future,” Davis said. “My professors have been great mentors. They have really guided me and laid out a path for me to follow to my chosen profession as a physician assistant.”

 

Students pause studies for finals to enjoy a late-night breakfast

Students took a short break from finals preparation to enjoy a traditional late-night breakfast served by California Baptist University faculty and staff on Dec. 11.

The breakfast, served from 9-11 p.m., gives faculty and staff an opportunity to encourage and serve students during finals week. Students were offered a hot spread of eggs, French toast, bacon, Tater Tots and Krispy Kreme doughnuts at the Alumni Dining Commons.

Madelyn Bradley, an exercise science freshman, came out for the food and community.

“The food gives me energy, and energy equals brain power,” Bradley said.

Sage Zbinden, a graphic designs freshman, said he appreciated the evening.

“I really enjoyed the faculty and staff serving us and putting our needs first,” Zbinden said.

Dr. David Pearson, dean of the College of Health Science, enjoys taking part in the tradition at CBU.

“This event gives me a great opportunity to spend time with students who I normally wouldn’t get to interact with,” Pearson said. “As a dean, it’s really cool to surprise students by doing things like serving them or picking up trash. I love seeing their smiles.”

 

Engineering students display their “Robots’ Talent”

Engineering students put their robots’ unique flair on display Dec. 5 during a “Robots’ Got Talent” event hosted by the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering at California Baptist University. The annual event featured the top eight teams in a semester-long competition to construct robots designed to perform specific functions.

Teams of undergraduate students enrolled in Introduction to Engineering courses (EGR 101) used design kits consisting of LEGO pieces, controllable motors and sensors to construct robots from scratch. The aim was to satisfy the twofold criteria of creativity and functionality, said Dr. Matthew Rickard, professor and chair of bioengineering at CBU.

“The purpose of the project is for engineering students to gain exposure to group projects, in a very free format, and to gain technical abilities in a multi-disciplinary competition that touches on a wide variety of disciplines such as conventional engineering, construction and software,” Rickard said.

Members of the winning team—Alisa Kidwell, Nathan Botello, Shaun Cary and Ashley Bretado—designed and programmed their robot to play the xylophone.

Other teams in the competition presented robots that performed tasks such as moving objects, opening soda cans and drawing, as well as a jukebox robot that played programmed songs with a synchronized color show.

“Each year we are pleasantly surprised by the creativity and technical demonstrations from our EGR 101 teams,” Rickard said.

 

Student musicians herald the Christmas season in chapel

Sounds of Christmas filled chapel at California Baptist University on Dec. 5 as musicians from the Collinsworth School of Music performed a mix of seasonal music.

As students arrived for the traditional School of Music chapel, the Jazz Band, conducted by Dr. Guy Holliday, kicked the gleeful gathering off by performing songs such as “Go Tell It on the Mountain” and “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

Throughout chapel, musicians brought joy and cheer to the occasion. The Symphony Orchestra played “Christmas Festival” and “Trepak” (Russian Dance) from “The Nutcracker Suite.” The Wind Ensemble performed the musical score for “The Night Before Christmas,” while Dr. Joseph Bolin, dean of the School of Music, narrated.

Afterward, the University Choir and Orchestra performed “Sing We Now of Christmas,” “The Bells” and “Let Us Be.”

Holliday said this time of year people can have personal struggles for various reasons, but Christians have a hope beyond circumstances.

“We are encouraged by the fact that we know the living Savior,” Holliday said. “We have a job to do—to share the light of Jesus that is inside of us.”

The audience was invited to sing along to “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “The First Noel.”

John Montgomery, dean of Spiritual Life at CBU, read the Christmas story from Matthew and Luke and encouraged students to consider ways to make Jesus the center of the Christmas season.

The musicians concluded with “Little Drummer Boy,” accompanied by CBU’s new Drumline.

 

CBU volunteers to serve in 25 countries on 34 teams in 2018

Hundreds of eager students at California Baptist University filled Magnolia Church pews in Riverside on Nov. 30 for Team Reveal – a time when the Office of Spiritual Life reveals which volunteer teams the students will serve on.

“Our training is not in focusing to get you overseas, our training and focus is to get you ready for something that needs to be happening here and now,” Jeff Lewis, director of mobilization, told the students. “It is not about what we are doing this summer, but what we are doing for the rest of our lives and live in the context of the rest of our lives in the calling of Christ upon us.”

This upcoming summer will mark the 22nd year of global outreach by students, staff and faculty members at CBU. In 2018, nearly 300 students and team leaders will comprise 34 engagement and immersion teams for International Service Projects (ISP). Engagement teams will serve an average of three weeks, and the immersion groups will serve five to 10 weeks. Students will depart for 25 countries to offer various forms of service.

The theme for 2018 ISP is “Advance,” with the theme scripture passage from Philippians 1:12-13.

Lewis said when deciding on the theme, he felt led to a continual need to emphasize the gospel in service.

“We used a verse that relates to the advancement of the gospel,” Lewis explained. “We can focus on gospel development and the idea that as a follower of Christ, we’re to be strategic participants in the advancement of the gospel.”

For Jeremy Duket, a sociology sophomore, the 2018 ISP trip will be his first. He was motivated to participate in an ISP by a discipleship class that inspired him to pursue mission trips, Duket recalled.

Elyse DeFoe, a graduate assistant in Spiritual Life, will lead a team to Southeast Asia. DeFoe, who has served previously on ISP teams to Southeast Asia and Africa, enjoys the transformational experience the trips offer.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the students grow and see them encounter other cultures and to have their eyes opened, to see them be burdened with a heart for the nations,” DeFoe said.

 

Art students create sculpture for Riverside’s Festival of Lights

Twelve students, enrolled in Advanced Art (Art 300) at California Baptist University, worked diligently this fall semester to turn a sketch art concept into a sculpture just in time for Riverside’s annual Festival of Lights.

The sculpture, titled “The Ship,” is a collection of symmetric cones that weave and extend to the sky with Christmas lights adorning its journey. The teal color represents the cool water that the ship will face on its voyage. The sculpture now resides outside the Riverside Art Museum, located on the corner of Lime Street and Mission Inn Boulevard in downtown Riverside, where it is scheduled to remain into March 2018.

Each participating student sketched an idea for the art project and the class then narrowed it down to one, said Kristi Lippire, associate professor of visual arts at CBU. The students then had to decide what materials to use to create a sculpture within an assigned budget.

“They had to make design choices together as a team, make alterations as they progressed, learn how to be flexible and deal with change,” Lippire said. “There’s a lot of problem-solving on the way, and they had to brainstorm together and come to agreement.”

The students settled on wire mesh covered with paper mache to create their art sculpture.

Michaela VanSant, a visual arts junior, said she enjoyed the planning and discovery phase of the project.

“It’s not just making what we want. It’s understanding what does the public want,” VanSant said. “How can we embody the spirit of this event in our sculpture while still keeping our ideas and our vision?”

The project gave the students valuable real-world experience, Lippire said.

“It’s important to do community outreach, to get ourselves out of the classroom as much as possible, and think about what people will want to see as they walk around the city,” Lippire said.

 

Family Updates

John Pate, assistant professor of communication, was a finalist in the 2017 Beverly Hills International Book Awards. His novel, Tears Of Gaduhav, was in the Historical Fiction category. The novel recounts the tales of what happened to the Confederate gold and the people involved in that great mystery surrounding it, during and after the Civil War.

 

 

Dr. Jinxiang Xi, associate professor of bioengineering, was co-author of Snoring Sounds Provide Insight for Obstructive Airway Disorders. The paper was presented at the American Physical Society’s Division of Fluid Dynamics conference Nov. 19-21 in Denver. It was also one of eight selected from 3,000 presentations to be a press release by the division.

 

 

 

Moses Sun, adjunct professor of guitar, has released a Christmas CD. Glory and Peace is a mix of rock, orchestral and acoustic styles.

 

 

 

Dr. Derek Updegraff, associate professor of English and creative writing, published three articles in The Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature in Britain (Wiley-Blackwell, 2017): The Gifts of Men, The Fortunes of Men and The Rhyming Poem. He also published four short stories in the fall 2017 issues of the following literary journals: North Dakota Quarterly, Raleigh Review, Yemassee and Storm Cellar. He was a finalist for the 2017 Force Majeure Flash Fiction Prize and a finalist for the 2017 Iron Horse Literary Review single-author chapbook prize at Texas Tech University. His collection of short stories, The Bull from Kelp Forest, was a finalist for the 2017 Sunshot Prose Book Prize and a semi-finalist for the 2017 Elixir Press Book Award for fiction. Updegraff also took part of a creative writing panel and chaired a session on Old English literature at the Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association Conference Nov. 10-12 in Honolulu.

 

Dr. Namhee Kim, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, and students Miguel Garcia-Salas, Jessica Wegrzyn and Melissa Gonzalez had research presented at Southern California Conferences for Undergraduate Research Annual Conference at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona on Nov. 18. The posters were titled The Relationship of Parent-Child Conversational Turns and Child Vocalizations in English and Spanish Speaking Families and Caregivers’ perceptions on client needs in the United States and in South Korea.

 

 

 

Dr. Dominick Sturz, associate professor of public health for Online and Professional Studies, was recognized Oct. 29 for his work on the executive planning committee for the Binational Health Week (BHW) and Binational Health Fair in San Bernardino. BHW seeks to improve the health of wellness of underserved Latino populations living in the U.S. and Canada and has evolved into one of the largest collaborative health mobilization efforts in the Americas.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Gary Steward, adjunct professor of history for Online and Professional Studies, presented a paper at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society Nov. 16 in Providence, Rhode Island. The paper was titled Jonathan Edwards’s Reception and Alteration of Sola Fide.

 

 

 

Dr. Carol A. Minton-Ryan, professor of sociology, presented research at the 2017 Linguistics Association for the Southern African Development Community Universities conference Sept. 14-15 in Zomba, Malawi. She conducted the research with graduate student Jackson Brown, Mary Sorola (‘10), adjunct professor of ASL for Online and Professional Studies, and Dr. Pamela Perez (‘08). The presentation was titled A Lexicostatistical Study: Phonological Similarity between American and Malawi Sign Languages.

 

 

Dr. Robert LaChausse, associate professor of public health sciences, presented a paper at the American Evaluation Conference on Nov. 9 in Washington, D.C. The paper was titled How to Measure Implementation Fidelity to Understand Prevention Program Impacts.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jeffrey Gage, professor of nursing, co-authored a paper that was published in Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (December, 2017). The paper was titled The psychological salience of religiosity and spirituality among Christian young people in New Zealand: A mixed-methods study.

 

 

 

Dr. Shawn Wilhite, assistant professor of Christian studies for Online and Professional Studies, presented To Which of the Angels did God Ever Say?’: Filial Language and the Angelic Polemic in Hebrews 1–2 at the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting Nov. 18-21 in Boston and at the Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting Nov. 15-17 in Rhode Island. He also presented a writing seminar titled The Process of Writing a Dissertation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary on Dec. 1 in Louisville, Kentucky.

 

 

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences assisted Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Services hold a harvest festival on Nov. 18 for residents of Casa Blanca, a neighborhood in Riverside. Jennifer Costello, assistant professor of social work, and Kenya Robins, Jaylee Trumbo, Esteban Sanchez, Megan Banks and Darshell Bryant, all Master of Social Work students, helped Magnolia Church serve tamales. Dr. Krystal Hays, assistant professor of social work, Dr. Charles Lee-Johnson, assistant professor of social work, and Costello, and the students also helped run games and provided information to residents about programming offered at Casa Blanca Home.

 

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences and the Master of Social Work (MSW) program distributed more than 100 coats to children Dec. 5-6 at the Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Services in Riverside. Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Jennifer Costello, assistant professor of social work, Dr. Krystal Hays, assistant professor of social work, and Jan Stanfield, assistant professor of social work, along with Kenya Robins, Jaylee Trumbo and Esteban Sanchez, MSW students, helped hand out the coats.

 

Students from the College of Engineering participated in outreach events, promoting the program and STEM—science, technology, engineering and math. Clairemargaret Pamintuan, Teo Harlan and John Haggerty gave a Nao robot presentation to students at Highgrove Elementary School on Nov. 29. Pamintuan and Julianna Zoccola also presented the engineering program and a Nao demonstration at Terrace Hill Middle School to approximately 250 students on Nov. 30.

 

 

Dr. Thomas Schneider, assistant professor English for Online and Professional Studies, presented at the Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association Conference on Nov. 11 in Honolulu. The title was Introducing Beowulf to the General Reader.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Todd Bates, professor of philosophy, presented a paper at the Evangelical Philosophical Society’s annual meeting Nov. 15-17 in Providence, Rhode Island. The title was Calvin and Plato on Human Finitude and Pleonexia.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Pennee Robertson, assistant professor of nursing, presented a poster at the American Association of Colleges Nursing conference Nov. 15-16 in Atlanta. It was titled Leadership development for simulation lab accreditation.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Vance Nichols, adjunct professor of education, co-presented at the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Professional Development Forum on Nov. 20-21 in Anaheim. The presentation was titled From Surviving to Thriving: Developing Strategic School Actions to Grow and Thrive in the Midst of Cultural Change. Nichols recently completed a three-year term as commissioner and chair of the ACSI Southern California Regional Accreditation Commission.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Greg Cochran, associate professor of applied theology, presented the introductory message for the 2017 California Southern Baptist Convention Pastor’s Conference on Oct. 23 in Riverside. The title was Contend for the Faith. He also presented a paper at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society Nov. 15-17 in Providence, Rhode Island. The paper was titled Persecution and Ecclesiology in Biblical Context.

 

 

 

Dr. Joel Bigley, assistant professor of business, Dr. Andrea Scott, dean of the School of Business, and 26 MBA students visited three cities in China—Shanghai, Beijing and Xi’an—Nov. 6-17. The students were from the Global Management (Business 545) classes taught by Bigley and Dr. Tad Hove, adjunct professor of management. The group visited cultural sites including the Terracotta Army and the Great Wall. The group also took tours and heard lectures at various businesses, including Microsoft, the American Chamber of Commerce (business advocates), Haworth (office furniture), JLL (real-estate management) and Mazars (finance auditing).

 

Elizabeth Brandt Flater, collection development librarian, and her husband, Drew, welcomed their daughter on Sept. 7. Louise Antonia Flater weighed 7 pounds, 3.5 ounces and measured 20 inches long.

 

 

 

 

Shauntel Woods (’11), call center admissions specialist for Online and Professional Studies, and Christopher Mcfarquhar were married Nov. 18 at the Indian Hills Golf Club in Riverside.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Tree-lighting event celebrates start of Christmas season at CBU

Students, staff and faculty at California Baptist University welcomed  the holiday season with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting on the Front Lawn on Nov. 29.

“This event is a long-standing tradition at CBU that kicks off the Christmas season,” said Kristin Holderman, director of campus activities for Community Life. “We hope this event benefits students by fostering community between students, staff and faculty, and developing a sense of school spirit and recognition of campus traditions.”

The event was organized by Community Life and the Associated Students of CBU. Approximately 2,500 attended the event. Event-goers warmed up to the brisk night with hot cider or cocoa while CBU President Dr. Ronald L. Ellis read from Luke 2, which records the birth of Jesus. After the reading of the first Christmas account, individuals lit candles and counted down to the Christmas tree lighting.

“My favorite part was watching as everyone lit candles,” said Jordan Fuller, a history and philosophy sophomore. “I love how others extended their candles to help others light theirs. It brings the whole school together.”

After the tree lighting, attendees shared a variety of activities with their friends, such as taking photos in a photo booth or with Santa, sledding on an artificial snow, making s’mores, decorating ornaments or writing Christmas cards for members of the armed services. As an extra treat, the worship band For All Seasons performed Christmas songs in addition to some original tunes.

“I’ve been coming to this event for years,” said Rachael Owens, a junior and public relations major. “CBU does a great job celebrating Christmas. The environment combines community and friendship.”

For Ryan Christensen, an exercise science freshman, the event helped bring the Christmas sentiment to life.

“I loved the countdown to light the Christmas tree,” Christensen said. “It almost felt like a Hallmark movie.”

 

Apodaca earns Player of the Year Award

Aidan Apodaca, a senior forward for the men’s soccer team at California Baptist University, has been named the Ron Lenz National Player of the Year. Apodaca became the first Lancer to earn the award.

Apodaca finished the year with 29 goals, the most in a single season by any player in all of NCAA (Divisions I, II and III) competition. Apodaca also owns the single-game scoring record at CBU after scoring five goals in a 5-0 victory over Northwest Nazarene on Sept. 16. Moreover, He holds the CBU career record for goals with 48 over his four-year career at CBU.

Read the full story here.

 

 

Chapel speaker urges audience to respond to gift of salvation

“Every great gift demands a great response,” Albert Tate told a California Baptist University chapel audience on Nov. 30. “The question I want to ask you today, ‘What is your response to the gift God gave for you?’”

Tate, the founder and lead pastor of Fellowship Monrovia, a multi-ethnic and integrational church, expounded on John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (NASB)”

Tate said belief is more than the accent of the mind or a concept of the will.

“Belief is the reclining of the heart to fully rest and recline in God,” he said.

Tate said that we can have a tendency to play “backseat driver” with God.

“God is meant to be trusted; He can handle this season of your life. You can trust Him,” Tate declared. We can believe and trust in God, or we can begin the descent into perishing away from Him, Tate added.

“Perishing is a slow drift away outside of the presence of God. Outside of what you were created to be,” Tate said. “Sin will leave you dead, it will take you on a ride that will end in your destruction and derail you from God’s plan and purpose for your life.”

Everlasting life is a gift that God offers through His Son, Jesus—an invitation to become more like the Heavenly Father each day, Tate explained.

“God wants to transform your life. It’s not about perfection but you will begin to be transformed by the ‘Perfect One.’ That’s what God wants to do with your life,” Tate said.

 

Drumline adds to Pep Band impact at CBU

The California Baptist University Pep Band is sporting a bigger, bolder sound thanks to the addition of a new drumline team. The 2017-18 grouping is the largest Pep Band ever assembled at CBU.

The Drumline performs as part of the Pep Band at sporting events such as CBU basketball games. In total, the Pep Band comprises 87 members.

Tommy Goddard, adjunct professor of music at the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music, said the 14-member CBU Drumline adds energy, emotion and a sense of flashback—reminding fans of pep rallies from their high school days.

“Just seeing a drumline will build interest and excitement from a nostalgia perspective,” Goddard said. “From a performance standpoint, our drumline will entertain the audience with our grooves, cadences, flashy visuals and dynamic rhythms.”

Guy Holliday, assistant professor of music and director of bands, said playing upbeat music during an athletic event helps create the appropriate environment. The band has more than 30 titles in its repertoire, which includes pop tunes and classic rock.

“The game is an emotional experience. You’re invested in your team and you want them to win and you’re pulling for them,” Holliday said. “I think the emotions run high and the energy is high. The Pep Band just needs to be a part of that.”

Holliday said the drumline combined with CBU’s new school fight song, “Lance Up, CBU!” help advance the Pep Band to the next level.

“From my perspective, basketball games wouldn’t be the same without the Pep Band,” Holliday said.

Dr. Micah Parker, director of Athletics, agreed with Holliday’s assessment.

“The Pep Band is a huge part of the basketball game experience. They keep the crowd engaged in the experience [even] when the game isn’t in play,” Parker said.

Jacob DeRieux, drumline captain at CBU, said he hopes the percussion team will leave a lasting impression on spectators.

“A drumline is not something people really see outside of schools too often, so it’s exciting to see it when you get the chance,” said DeRieux, a music education junior.

 

Chapel speaker encourages students to turn to Christ for peace

College years can be filled with pressures of assignments, lack of money and relational problems that all seemed to crop up during the Christmas season, Jo Saxton told a California Baptist University chapel audience on Nov. 28.

Saxton said turmoil she experienced during her college years caused her to seek refuge in unproductive means. But she said meeting Jesus in a real way began to impart peace to her soul as she learned about his loving attributes.

Saxton is the chair of the board for 3D Movements, a ministry that helps church leaders emphasize discipleship and mission work to their congregations.

Saxton said Jesus provided the healing and answers she needed in her faith journey, and added that Jesus is more than the institutional Jesus or Jesus of the Nativity, who only comes out at Christmas.

“He is a Wonderful Counselor when you need someone to come alongside you in your life,” Saxton said. “Someone to tell you that you’re already enough, that you’re already worthy.”

Saxton encouraged students to look to Jesus to give them peace and not to let grades, jobs, or relationships overshadow their identity in God’s eyes as believers.

“I hope for you, in the midst of this chapter of life that you would know that peace is actually possible for you,” Saxton said. “The peace is yours because you’re already valuable.”

 

Speaker discusses eating disorders at lecture series

When it comes to developing an eating disorder, nature provides the vulnerability and social pressures trigger the process, Dr. Jeffrey Mar told a California Baptist University audience on Nov. 16.

Mar was a speaker for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences’ Culture and Justice Lecture Series. A Dartmouth College medical school graduate and founder and medical director at the Valenta Eating Disorder Program, Mar focuses his professional efforts on the evaluation, treatment and causes of eating disorders.

Mar said physiological development plays a big role in the evolution of a disorder.

“An eating disorder can also serve as a coping mechanism,” Mar said. He added that the environment where a person grows up in can aid in the development of an eating disorder.

“At Valenta, we work hard to use a developmental process to understand a person’s eating disorder,” Mar said. “We’ve noticed that a lot of eating disorders are related to the lack of early childhood developmental stages.”

How a person views himself or herself is formed early in life, Mar said. When there is a lack of awareness in these areas, individuals can have an underdeveloped sense of identity.

“An eating disorder is a representative of a flaw in the sense of self,” Mar said. “They are not flawed people, but their identities have a flaw in it. There is a sense of uncertainty and an element of mental illness.”

“[With our patients] we want to explore the self, to identify and heal self,” Mar said of his approach to treating eating disorders. “We want to reduce shame. We want to address guilt, which means we are going to explore inappropriate guilt, correct transgressions against their set of values and approve self-worth through an identification of core values.”

Each person is vulnerable to external influences to varying degrees, Mar said.  It is important to look at what affects and influences one’s sense of self.

“We can actually ameliorate the effects on our sense of self,” Mar said. “It is important to take time and intentionally look at yourself in a positive way, and I think that has a lot to do with community, what our environment is, what our spiritual life is like and what our own aesthetic values are.”

 

CBU theatre program brings Dickens’ holiday classic to the stage

The theatre arts program at California Baptist University is bringing a classic to the Wallace Theatre in time for the holidays—Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

CBU will present the tale, adapted for the stage by Karen Louise Hebden, of the bitter miser Ebenezer Scrooge and the spirits who visit him one Christmas Eve to remind him that it is never too late to change. Filled with lively music, colorful characters, ghostly effects, Victorian splendor and one brave little boy, the heartwarming tale of good will and hope reminds people of the true spirit of the Christmas season.

“These characters are just so wonderful, so bigger than life,” said Lee Lyons, professor of theatre and the play’s director.

Lyons said he read many adaptations of the novel before choosing one by Hebden, a British playwright.

“The author wove Christmas carols into ‘Christmas Carol.’ She takes us to the moments where Scrooge makes the mistakes that caused him to be the man that he is,” Lyons said. “The humanity comes through this production.”

Lyons said there are many wonderful themes woven into the play, including family, giving and community.

“I hope this play moves people. These are living characters that we begin to care about,” Lyons said.

Alexis Safoyan, a public relations junior, plays Mrs. Dilber and the Ghost of Christmas Past. Safoyan said she felt honored to present one of the most famous holiday shows.

“We hope to do the story justice and I believe that we do in this production,” Safoyan said. “We hope that the audience understands and is affected by the message of the story.”

Mario Adurias, a theatre arts junior, who plays Bob Cratchit, said he hopes the message of the story resonates with the audience.

“It is never too late to change wayward and cruel ways,” Adurias said. “There is redemption for Scrooge, there is grace. God is gracious to us in our all mistakes.”

For the first time, CBU held performances before and after Thanksgiving. Lyons said the theatre department decided to have shows in December, since the story is Christmas related.

“This can be a Christmas present,” Lyons said. “You can come and have some joy and have a great time and can kick-off your Christmas season.”

When: Dec. 1-2 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 2 at 2 p.m.

Where: Wallace Theatre, California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA, 92504

Tickets or questions? Call the theatre box office at 951- 343-4319 or email: mhyde@calbaptist.edu.

 

Christian filmmaker offers storytelling insights at lecture series

Retelling familiar stories through your own narrative is one of the most powerful ways of communicating, said Brian Godawa, a Christian filmmaker, screenwriter and author at a California Baptist University speaker series on Nov. 14.

“How is this done? You enter someone else’s story, then you retell their story within your own paradigm,” Godawa said. “You use a culture that is familiar and retell those stories, but you’re investing it with new meaning and that is what subversion does.”

The College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design hosted Godawa, who shared insights into filmmaking, screenwriting and fiction writing.  Godawa has written and directed multiple documentaries over a 15-year career. He is also an award-winning screenwriter and author. Additionally, his book, “Hollywood Worldviews: Watching Films with Wisdom and Discernment” is used as a college textbook across the U.S.

Godawa cited the Acts 17 account of the Apostle Paul’s speech to religious seekers and philosophers at the Areopagus in Athens as an example of subversive storytelling.

“In a sense, he’s finding common ground. He’s using means and images and actual narrative elements of their narrative and he’s getting a Christian spin on it,” Godawa said.

Godawa said many Christian movies offer up clichés or preach at the audience.

“I would argue that the power of the story is not telling them everything,” Godawa said. “Yes, you’re leading them. But you’re not spoon-feeding them everything, because if you are, then they feel preached at.”

 

CBU professor’s leadership seminar focuses on civility

Dr. Troy Hinrichs, professor of criminal justice at California Baptist University, spoke on “remaining civil in an uncivil society” on Nov. 13 at the Leadership Seminar Series. The series is hosted by the Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education.

Hinrichs said he hears a lot that these are some of the “most uncivil of times.”

“Everybody is yelling and everybody is tweeting. There are tweet storms and real storms. This must be the worst of times,” Hinrichs said.

“It’s very easy to be uncivil when you hide behind something, whether it’s a social platform or a mask or an ideology,” Hinrichs added. “In the age of Twitter, I think we see and hear more of the people’s inner monologues than we probably care to see and hear.”

But Hinrichs said he does not view today’s society as the “most uncivil of times” and said people need to know history. He elaborated: during the Revolutionary period, taxmen were tarred and feathered; congressmen got into physical altercations; political cartoons attacked people; elected presidents did not always win the majority of the popular vote; outgoing presidents refused to attend their successor’s inauguration; and the Civil War left 623,000 dead.

There have always been times of incivility, Hinrichs said, but there are ways to lessen the incivility today. One step is understanding the difference between tolerance and acceptance.

“Tolerance doesn’t mean accepting the truth of another’s moral precepts, it just means listening to what they say, accepting that they are sincere about it and they may not have ill will or bad motives,” Hinrichs said.

Another way is to avoid self-righteousness, Hinrichs said, quoting Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (NASB).

“From a Christian standpoint, this should flavor all of our conversations,” Hinrichs said. “We’re not better than everybody else.”

Other tips for civility Hinrichs offered included being respectful, watching one’s tone during dialogue, in addition to being willing to disengage from an unruly conversation.

“If each of us does our own part in terms of civil discourse, whether it’s online or in person, we will have less uncivil times,” Hinrichs said.

 

Art students display exhibit at Parent and Family Weekend

A unique art exhibit greeted event-goers attending the Block Party on Nov. 11 at the inaugural Parent and Family Weekend at California Baptist University.

Janet Crate, special events and volunteer coordinator for University Advancement at CBU, said the “Doors to the World” exhibit was designed to make people think of the world of possibility.

“You never know what is on the other side of the door,” Crate said.

Crate pitched the idea of the exhibit to Kristi Lippire, associate professor of visual arts at CBU, who accepted the challenge and worked with her students to bring the exhibit to life. Lippire assigned students from two courses, Drawing II and Advanced Art, to form teams and then work to infuse their artistic interpretations onto actual doors that served as their assigned canvasses. In total, students created eight “doors” that explored the concepts of nature, outer space, magical realms and other worlds of possibilities.

Lippire said she stressed the importance of designing art with the audience in mind.

“The installation was about doing something larger, doing something interactive, thinking about the public and what they would want to see and do and be interested in engaging with,” Lippire said.

Andrea Baugh, a visual arts and psychology senior, and her teammates chose the concept of “old and new.” On one side of the door the team attached old, repurposed wood; on the other side the door was painted with colorful flowers and vines.

“There’s this beaten-down, tattered side of you but then from that comes growth and new experiences,” Baugh said. “[This project taught me] to not be afraid and to try different materials—be bold in the materials and to add another layer and another depth to it and try something that we hadn’t worked with before.”

Another team that included Brooke Villegas, a visual art senior, explored the concept of traveling and missionary work. Their door included decorations such as a map, postcards and a traveling bag. The team wanted to make it something very personal to CBU students, Villegas said, because students graduating from CBU are ready to go out and use their talents and resources to impact the world.

 

CBU inaugural Parent and Family Weekend attracts large crowds

More than 1,000 family members of California Baptist University students attended various activities at the inaugural Parent and Family Weekend held on Nov. 10-11.

The weekend kicked off Nov. 10 with a breakfast in the Recreation Center followed by an opportunity to witness the first basketball game in the Events Center. The women’s basketball team beat California State University, San Marcos 80-63 in front of a program-record crowd (1,024).

“It was a lot of fun out there,” said Jarrod Olson, head coach for women’s basketball at CBU. “The Events Center was pretty awesome; it was a great atmosphere. We are happy to get CBU its first win in there.”

After the game, students had the opportunity to show their families around the CBU campus including the university’s highly acclaimed dining and housing areas.

In the afternoon at the Events Center’s plaza, CBU hosted a men’s basketball pregame party. The event featured food trucks that lined up on Lancer Lane across from the Events Center. Additionally, the Pep Band at CBU brought a lively atmosphere to the plaza, entertaining thousands of spectators in attendance. As the men’s team arrived in front of the plaza on the team bus, the crowd cheered their arrival.

The No. 14 nationally ranked Lancers went on to claim an opening day 83-78 victory over California State University, Dominguez Hills in front of nearly 5,000 spectators.

“First off, we want to thank the Lancer faithful; this was a big night for everybody, for our school, for Riverside, for the Inland Empire and for our guys,” said Rick Croy, head coach for men’s basketball at CBU. “I can imagine there wasn’t a better college basketball environment anywhere else in the country than at our place tonight.”

The following day the Parent and Family Weekend included the Block Party where hundreds of event-goers were treated to games and activities for the whole family in addition to a unique art display called “Doors to the World.” The art exhibit featured decorated doors that were created by students from two art classes.

Christian Salley, a freshman at CBU, said the weekend allowed him to bring his passions together.

“I’m passionate about sporting events and combine that with my love for my family, Parent and Family Weekend is a great time for me,” said Salley, while attending the Block Party.

Michael Koenke, father of Ryan Koenke, an electrical engineer junior at CBU, said the weekend activities helped him get a glimpse of his son’s life at the university.

“The basketball game in the Events Center was so much fun,” Michael said. “I’ve also been able to see what my son’s life is like at CBU and that’s been equally fun.”

The annual Fortuna Bowl championship intramural flag football games on Saturday evening drew an estimated 4,500 spectators to both games. Team SWAT beat Canadian Bowlers 25-0 in the women’s championship game and team Fruit of the Boom won an overtime thriller over Goon Squad (21-20). The night also featured a firework show after the final championship game and a concert by Kings Kaleidoscope.

 

Family Updates

College of Nursing faculty and student volunteers partnered with Riverside Medical Clinical to administer more than 2,500 flu shots throughout Riverside County in October and November. Faculty volunteers included Virginia Cadenhead, assistant professor of nursing, Melissa Gutierrez, adjunct professor of nursing, Dr. Teresa Hamilton, associate professor of nursing, Vina Ocampo, assistant professor of nursing, and Diane Torna, adjunct professor of nursing.

 

 

Dr. Teresa Hamilton, associate professor of nursing, published a book review in Nursing Science Quarterly (Oct. 1, 2017). The review examined Grounded theory: A practical guide (2^nd ed) by Melanie Birks and Jane Mills.

 

 

 

 

The Department of Physician Assistant Studies helped organize and facilitate an interprofessional education event on Nov. 3 in Riverside. More than 300 students pursuing various medical fields attended from six schools: Moreno Valley College, Riverside City College, University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, Keck Graduate Institute School of Pharmacy, Azusa Pacific and CBU. The students learned about each other’s medicals fields and worked a case together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jeffrey Gage, professor of nursing, co-authored a paper published in the Health Education Journal (Nov. 7, 2017). The title was Head teachers’ views of oral health education in schools in Tamil Nadu, India.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robert G. LaChausse, associate professor of public health sciences, presented two papers at the American Public Health Association Conference on Nov. 4-7 in Atlanta, Georgia. The titles were Differences in Health Education Competencies among Obesity Prevention Professionals and Impact of the California’s Harvest of the Month Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Program.

 

 

 

Dr. Sanggon Nam, associate professor of public health, recently joined the editorial board of the Journal of Gerontology & Geriatric Research. The peer-reviewed medical journal includes a wide range of fields in its discipline.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Seung-Jae Kim, professor of bioengineering, co-authored a paper with CBU students Carlos Tobar, Eva Martinez, and Nada Rhouni that was published online in Annals of Biomedical Engineering (November 2017). The paper was titled The Effects of Visual Feedback Distortion with Unilateral Leg Loading on Gait Symmetry.

 

 

 

 

Krista Wagner, adjunct professor of English, recently had a book published. The Forest (The Magical Forest Series Book 2) is a young adult/middle grade fantasy novel.

 

 

 

 

Denise Payne, senior credential analyst/project manager in the School of Education, presented at the Credential Counselors and Analysts of California Conference (CCAC) Oct. 10-12 in Sacramento. The title was What is CCAC? She also completed her second term on the board of directors as the immediate past president for the 2016-17 year. During that time, she served as a liaison between education agencies and will continue serving in that role.

 

 

 

Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biology, co-authored a paper published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology (November 2017). The paper was titled Antimicrobial activity of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) cultivar Avenger against pathogenic bacteria, phytopathogenic filamentous fungi, and yeast.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Krystal Hays, assistant professor of social work, presented at the annual program meeting for the Council on Social Work Education on Oct. 21 in Dallas, Texas. Her presentation was titled Do African Americans Transition between Risk Types for Depression?

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mario Oyanader, professor of chemical engineering, and Dr. Sarah Zhao, assistant professor of chemical engineering, attended and had students present posters at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting Oct. 29-Nov. 3 in Minneapolis. Oyanader’s posters with CBU students: Validation of A Novel Algorithmic Approach To Solve The Poisson-Boltzmann Equations In Electrokinetics; Mathematical Analysis of Bone Remodeling under Influence of Electrical Field (Joshua Ashworth and Steffano Oyanader); Chemo-Electro-Thermotherapy in Capillary Systems: Simplify Model and Simulation (Robin F. Smallwood and Steffano Oyanader); Electro-Aided Peritoneal Dialysis: A Fundamental and Modeling Analysis Approach (Genaro Gonzalez and Steffano Oyanader). Zhao’s poster: The Application of 3-D Printed Colorimetric Paper Sensor in the Detection of Antioxidant Activity of Southern California Native Plants (Viviane Niyomwungeri, Samuel Barnett, Brian Silva, Imagine Davis-Ward, students, and Dr. Hannah Hu, associate professor of chemistry.)

 

Josh Moss, director of alumni and parent relations, and Rachael Solis, administrative assistant for alumni and parent relations, organized a Nashville CBU Alumni and Friends reunion Oct. 20-21. More than 50 alumni attended the “Network, Grow, and Live your Purpose” reunion events. Dr. Monica O’Rourke, associate professor of kinesiology for Online and Professional Studies, and her husband, Brian, hosted the Oct. 21 event at their home. The following day included a riverboat tour of Nashville. Dr. Joe Putulowski, assistant professor of business for Online and Professional Studies, also assisted in organizing the event.

 

Dr. Dominick Sturz, associate professor of public health for Online and Professional Studies, was a co-presenter at the 2017 American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo Nov. 4-8 in Atlanta. The presentation was titled Talking Public Health: From Climate Change to Human Trafficking, An Innovative Professional Development Series for the Public Health Workforce.

 

 

 

Dr. Kathryn Norwood, dean of assessment and accreditation for Online and Professional Studies, was awarded the International Service Projects Leader of the Year Award for 2017 at the Sept. 12 Leader Appreciation Dinner. Her team went to Belize this past summer. The award was given by the office of Mobilization.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Satara Armstrong, professor of social work, and four master of social works students participated in Riverside County’s Department of Public Social Services’ annual adoption event in Riverside on Nov. 4. The students dressed up as superheroes and princesses to distract the children as they waited for their case to be heard by the judge. The MSW program was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for helping with the event.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Charles Lee-Johnson, assistant professor of social work, and six master of social works students made and served dinner at the Pomona Armory on Nov. 4. The students served and dined with more than 100 people experiencing homelessness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robert Shields, assistant dean of curriculum development for Online and Professional Studies, presented research from his dissertation at California State University, Fullerton’s annual College of Education Research Symposium on Nov. 14. The title of his research/poster was A Phenomenological Study: African-American Male STEM Undergraduates from 4-Year Universities.

 

 

Dr. Laura Veltman, professor of English, presented a paper at the Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association conference Nov. 10-12 in Honolulu. The paper was titled A Hideous and Desolate Wilderness: In Search of the Promised Land in Silko’s Ceremony. Veltman also had an essay published by Intervarsity’s The Well. The title was Teaching Towards Hope in an Age of Despair.

 

 

 

Mark Drew, senior admissions counselor for Online and Professional Studies, joined 17 other members of Northpoint Church of Corona on Nov 4-12 for a Hurricane Harvey Relief Mission Trip to Houston. They teamed up with ReachGlobal Crisis Response (Evangelical Free Church of America). The Northpoint team replaced drywall in homes and shared Christ with the homeowners and neighbors through prayer walks and a community dinner.

 

 

 

Dr. Darla Donaldson, assistant professor of finance and social entrepreneurship, presented a paper at the Annual Conference of the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action on Nov. 17 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The paper, co-authored with Dr. Andrew Herrity, professor of entrepreneurship, was titled Individuals’ Donation Decisions and Social Enterprise: A Quantitative Investigation.

 

 

 

Dr. Namhee Kim, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, Dr. Lesley Mayne, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders, Dr. Bryan Ness, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, and Dr. Candace Vickers, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, participated at the American Speech Language Hearing Association Convention Nov. 9-11 in Los Angeles. Kim presented her research poster, Caregivers’ perceptions in South Korean orphanages and implementation of caregiver training program. Mayne co-presented a poster session on I Communicate: Developing Participation Using Augmentative & Alternative Communication with Young Children. Ness led a panel on Establishing and Maintaining a Culture of Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice for Rehabilitation of Individuals with Traumatic Bain Injury. Vickers presented her research poster, Results of Three Months of Melodic Intonation Therapy for Two Adults with Aphasia.

 

Dr. Creed Jones, professor of computing, software and data sciences, and Dr. Matthew Rickard, professor of bioengineering, were recently issued a patent for their Systems and Methods for Monitoring Eye Health. The patent discloses and protects ideas stemming for their Ocular Engineering Lab at CBU in which they have been developing new ideas to monitor eye health.

 

 

 

The Master of Science in Athletic Training program at CBU celebrated its 10^th anniversary on Nov. 11. The program accepted its first class in the fall of 2007 and will graduate its 10th class May 2018. The event was held in conjunction with Parent and Family Weekend. Students, preceptors, faculty and family participated in lawn games, tours of the new athletic training facilities and giveaways. A second celebratory event will be Feb. 10 in association with Homecoming weekend.

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU community packs shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child

The spirit of Christmas arrived early at California Baptist University as students, faculty and staff—along with their families—packed more than 950 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child (OCC) on Nov. 9.

Christmas decorations and music filled the Van Dyne gym, creating a festive atmosphere as more than 1,000 participants filled shoeboxes with items such as hygiene products, clothes, school supplies and toys. Volunteers also had the opportunity to write a special message on a card for the child recipient.

Packing boxes is an opportunity to serve others in a personal way, said Julie Dobbins, director of compassion ministries and women’s ministries at CBU.

“It’s one of my favorite events of the year because it is the biggest way for us to get the whole CBU Family involved,” Dobbins said. “I love when staff and faculty bring their kids. You hear the parents talking to their kids about, ‘how ‘this isn’t a gift for us, this is something we want to give to other people.’”

Alexander Iannone, a film studies freshman, said the event was rewarding.

“I really enjoy giving back. T, the feeling to give to those in need is very fulfilling,” Iannone said. “It makes me feel like I’m making a difference even if it’s just in a small way.”

OCC is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an evangelical Christian organization, which has delivered more than 146 million gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 150 countries and territories since 1993. The gifts are delivered to children affected by war, poverty, natural disasters and other crises. Included with each box is a pamphlet, “The Greatest Gift,” that shares the gospel message of Jesus.

The event was a campus-wide effort, with several departments and schools providing donations for the shoeboxes. Additionally, FOCUS groups built assembled the boxes and the Associated Students of CBU provided food for the event.

 

CBU band grooves to jazz at fall performance

The Jazz Band from California Baptist University performed a free fall concert to an appreciative audience at Magnolia Church on Nov. 9. The band showcased diverse jazz sounds from different eras of music in addition to unique cultural interpretations.

Dr. Guy Holliday, associate dean and director of bands at CBU, said the Jazz Band provides student musicians an opportunity to play and experience the art form of jazz in a traditional “big band” format.

“This type of music was made popular in the ’30s, and has been an important part of our musical heritage and culture ever since,” said Holliday, who conducted the Jazz Concert.

The concert also demonstrated that the students understand various styles of jazz such as swing, bebop, funk, Latin, fusion and blues, Holliday said.

“Each of these styles has its own characteristics rhythms, harmonies, articulations and stylistic interpretations,” Holliday said. “It was pretty amazing to witness these performances, and it is an important aspect of performing jazz.”

The Jazz Band typically includes an array of instrumentalists that perform on the saxophone, trumpet, trombone, drum, piano, guitar, bass and vibraphone.

Nathan Castro, a chemical engineering freshman at CBU, attended a Jazz Band concert for the first time.

“The Jazz Band gave a good representation of culture and how music feels,” Castro said.

 

Students serve L.A. homeless through Urban Excursion project

Sarah Weber found herself moved with compassion as she connected with and served the homeless community on her recent California Baptist University service trip to the Fred Jordan Mission located on skid row in downtown Los Angeles.

“The homeless are people very much like myself. They have fears and they hurt, just like me,” said Weber, a psychology senior. “I do not know what they have been through but what I saw is that they are far from what God intended.”

More than 20 CBU students participated in the Urban Excursion project from Nov. 3-5. The students performed a variety of service-related tasks at the Fred Jordan Mission, such as cooking, cleaning and serving meals to the homeless. Students also walked the surrounding area to invite people to chapel, for a meal or to pray for the individuals they met.

Julie Dobbins, director of compassion and women’s ministries at CBU, said Urban Excursion is a way to put faith into action.

“People tend to listen more if you care about their story and often, if you can meet a physical need, they are more willing to talk about a spiritual need. We want to be able to create opportunities to do that,” Dobbins said.

The students trained for three weeks prior to their service trip. They participated in team-building activities, received training on how to share the gospel and learned about the Fred Jordan Mission and the needs of the people it serves.

Weber, a student leader on the trip, said service is a tangible way to show God’s love.

“I serve because God has called us to do so as a reflection of His glory and His love. Serving is nitty and gritty and sometimes messy, but it is wonderful,” Weber said.

 

CBU Online offers new concentration in logistics and operations

The division of Online and Professional Studies at California Baptist University has added a new concentration in logistics and operations this fall semester for its Bachelor of Arts in business administration program. The new concentration is geared toward helping meet the current and future employment demands of the region.

“This transportation industry is getting bigger and bigger, and the multiple ways you can put products into the hands of consumers is amazing,” said Dr. David Poole, vice president for Online and Professional Studies. “We have the opportunity to be a part of that, to help drive the educational component as companies continue to expand.”

The CBRE Group, a commercial real estate services and investment firm, reported that from 2010 through 2016 the Inland Empire region saw the opening of 13-mega-warehouses, each containing at least 1 million square feet of storage room. In Moreno Valley, California, alone there are several large warehouses for companies such as Skechers, Amazon and Sherman-Williams. The city also has plans to build the World Logistics Center to provide more than 40 million square feet of warehouse complexes.

The logistics and operations concentration is designed to broaden students’ career opportunities and help them advance into management positions, Poole said. Students will benefit from classroom theory applied to work-related projects.

“We have faculty from the transportation industry. The classroom learning students receive is the equivalent of real-world experience, taught by people who have been out there doing transportation work,” Poole said.

Students graduating from the program will also be equipped to address issues in a global content from a Christian perspective and are taught to think critically to lead and engage others in making effective decisions, Poole added.

 

CBU makes historic sweep of PacWest fall championships

California Baptist University became the first program in PacWest history to win or capture a share of five conference championships during the fall athletic season. CBU won conference championships in men’s and women’s cross-country, men’s and women’s soccer, and at least a share of the conference championship in women’s volleyball.

For the fourth year in a row, men’s and women’s cross-country teams swept the PacWest championships on Oct. 23. Additionally, for the first time each team produced the individual champion as well, and both teams earned the lowest team scores in program history. The women’s team went on to win the West Region Championship—a first in program history—and will advance to the NCAA Division II championship in Evansville, Indiana, on Nov. 18. The men’s squad also qualified for a trip to the D-II championship for the second time in program history.

The No. 4 nationally ranked men’s soccer squad, won its first conference championship since 2011 with its 2-1 double-overtime victory over Notre Dame de Namur University on Nov. 4. The Lancers (16-0-2, 12-0-1) advance to the D-II West Region playoffs as the No. 1 seed. They will play against the winner of California State University, Los Angeles and California State University, Dominguez Hills on Nov. 11 at 4 p.m. at CBU.

The women’s squad won the PacWest championship after a 0-0 draw that gave the Lancers the point they needed to remain ahead of second place Fresno Pacific University. CBU ends the regular season at 11-4-3, and 9-1-3 in conference play. The women squad earned its third PacWest title. The Lancers earned the No. 6 seed in the D-II West Region and will head to Bellingham, Washington, to play No. 3-seeded Sonoma State University on Nov. 9.

Women’s volleyball improved to a perfect 24-0 this season with its latest 3-1 victory over Azusa Pacific University on Nov. 4. CBU needs just one more win or a Biola University loss to clinch the conference title outright. The Lancers have four more remaining games including one on the road against Biola on Nov. 11.

 

Midnight Madness initiates basketball season in Events Center

Bul Kuol, California Baptist University forward, soars high at a dunk competition at the Midnight Madness event hosted in the Events Center on Nov. 5.

Thousands of students filled the Events Center at California Baptist University to kick-off the basketball season at the high-energy Midnight Madness event on Nov. 5.

Students began lining up hours before the start of the event, one of the most popular activities at CBU, to obtain prime seating. Midnight Madness featured an introduction to both the men’s and women’s squads, a 3-point shooting contest, a dunk competition, cheer routines and plenty of Lancer pride. This basketball season will be the first hosted in the Events Center.

Lancers have many reasons to be enthusiastic about the upcoming season. The men’s squad is ranked No. 14 nationally by the Association of Basketball Coaches NCAA Division II Preseason Poll and named preseason favorite to the win the PacWest Conference. Additionally, The Basketball Times tabbed Kalidou Diouf, starting Lancer center, with an all-American selection. The Lancers are aiming for their fifth-straight NCAA postseason appearance. The men’s team will start its season at home on Friday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. against California State University, Dominguez Hills.

The women’s squad is coming off three consecutive PacWest titles and two NCAA D-II West Region titles in the past three years, with a 93-13 record during that time span. The women’s first home game is on Friday, Nov. 10 against California State University, San Marcos at 11:30 a.m.

View men’s schedule here.

View women’s schedule here.

 

Alumni share advice at Faith & Justice series

Several California Baptist University alumni answered questions and offered key life lessons on their transitions from college student to the professional realm at the Faith & Justice series on Nov. 1.

The seminar, titled “10 things I wish I knew before leaving CBU,” was hosted by the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business at CBU.

Bethany Walden (‘09,’12), a program manager at Wells Fargo, said she regretted not developing an accurate budget sooner in life.

“The first step in managing a budget is making one,” said Walden, who graduated from CBU with a bachelor’s in marketing and an MBA. “A lot of times people will make a budget and say, ‘I only spend $10 on food in one week,’ when actually you spend $250 per week. Having a realistic budget is super important.”

Walden also encouraged students to monitor their credit scores. Walden said in her professional industry, organizations run credit checks on prospective employees, and the results can affect whether or not you are offered a position.

Phillip Cothran (‘13, ’14), who is an agency owner for Goosehead Insurance, said he had to learn to sell himself.

“You need to learn how to navigate the business world and market yourself in the best possible way,” said Cothran, a bachelor of business and MBA graduate of CBU.

Cothran said that students should not take rejection personally. Navigate toward the open doors, he added.

Jon O’Neill (’08), senior director of enrollment and analytics at Concordia University Irvine, said he has learned to let his passions guide his career decisions.

“Let your passion dictate your life, not money,” said O’Neill, who obtained a bachelor’s of business degree from CBU and an MBA from Concordia University Irvine. “God will continue to mold and change your passions; pray and thank God wherever you find yourself.”

Dr. Andrea Scott, dean of the School of Business at CBU, sees many positives in hosting a Faith & Justice series.

“We long for students to embrace their careers in business as a calling from the Lord. God is at work all over the world and commerce is no exception,” Scott said. “We also hope that they will glean practical tips and encouragement regarding transitioning from school and, of course, that they will use these events to work on their networking skills as all alumni are invited to attend.”

 

God’s Word changes lives, chapel speaker says

Only the Word of God can change lives, author and speaker Bianca Juarez Olthoff told a California Baptist University audience on Oct. 31.

“The only thing that can change our lives is the incorruptible, immutable, everlasting, unchanging Word of God,” Olthoff said.

Olthoff is the founder of In the Name of Love, a nonprofit organization that aims to take the gospel into prisons. She also works with The A21 Campaign, a global anti-human trafficking organization.

Olthoff said people often allow issues, such as upbringing, financial status or their relationships, to become their identity. As Christians, the Bible tells us that our identity should be rooted in the fact that we are children of God, she added.

“The only identity to hold onto, especially in this stage of your life, is that ‘I’m a chosen child of God. That is my identity and no one can take that away from me,’” Olthoff said.

Olthoff cited an account in the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 2 as evidence of how the Bible speaks into our lives. The biblical story describes a group of men that lowered their paralyzed friend through a hole in the roof down to Jesus. Olthoff said, in the Gospels, when Jesus heals someone, the person’s name is rarely revealed, just their physical problem such as the woman with an issue of bleeding, a paralyzed man or a group of lepers.

Before healing the man, Jesus forgave his sins, Olthoff said.

“Sometimes in the secret places of our heart, we’re crying out, ‘God, if I didn’t have this problem, I’d be able to walk so much better,’” Olthoff said. “But that problem may prepare believers to hear from God.”

Before Jesus could deal with the disease of the body, He had to deal with the internal disease of sin, Olthoff said. Jesus did heal the man, and then He told him to “get up, take your mat and go home” (Mark 2:11).

“He picked up his mat as a reminder of what God did for him,” Olthoff said. “When we see a miracle happen, our opportunity to praise God goes through the roof. [We can] move past the worry, the doubt, the disbelief, the anger. It’s time for you to get up.”

 

Fall Arbor Day celebration brings new trees to CBU campus

More than 200 students, faculty and other volunteers celebrated Fall Arbor Day by planting 20 trees and performing horticultural maintenance at California Baptist University on Oct 28.

The university’s Facilities and Planning Services office and the Environmental Science Club at CBU organized the event. CBU is one of 13 higher education institutions in California designated as a Tree Campus USA college, a program implemented by the Arbor Day Foundation. CBU recently was awarded the title for a third straight year.

Arbor Day volunteers met at the Kugel located at the Ronald L. and Jane D. Ellis Great Commission Plaza bright and early. The volunteers then broke into teams to either plant new trees around campus or work on revitalizing center planters along Campus Bridge Drive. The teams worked throughout the morning to complete their tasks.

Antonio Diaz, a biology freshman who attended the Fall Arbor Day, said his faith places an importance on stewardship.

“It is important to show that you care about the area you live in and give respect to [community]. The service also shows our gratitude to God for blessing us with so much,” Diaz said.

Donica Loney, a pre-physician assistant freshman, enjoyed spending time outside at the event.

“Nature is a blessing that God provides us. Helping our campus shows that we at least acknowledge the things we’re lucky to have on a daily basis,” Loney said.

 

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences celebrates milestones

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at California Baptist University marked three historic milestones on Oct. 26 at a celebration ceremony. The college recognized the 35^th anniversary of the launch of the university’s first master’s degree program—counseling psychology. Additionally, the school transitioned to the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (CBSS) on July 1; and the college introduced the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program, scheduled to start in fall 2018.

Nearly 200 people—a mix of students, alumni, faculty, donors, community partners and practicum site supervisors—attended the event.

Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, said the event was a wonderful opportunity to bring together current students, alumni and community partners. The event was also a chance to celebrate bookend experiences within the college, Gustafson added.

“Now we offer the full spectrum of psychology training, from undergraduate through master’s and, shortly, through doctorate,” Gustafson said.

Jackson Brown (’14), who is deaf, communicated through an interpreter to the audience at the event about his time as a student at CBU.

“CBSS has been instrumental in developing me through interpersonal interactions with my respected professors, taking an active role by sponsoring me in my research endeavors, providing opportunities for critical thinking and independent studies, and providing sound academic rigor,” said Brown, who is pursuing a graduate degree in counseling ministry at CBU. “Owing much to CBSS, I have been able to combine knowledge with experience to gain much wisdom.”

When the counseling psychology master’s program started in 1982, it was the first graduate program at CBU (then California Baptist College). The first class graduated in 1984 with 10 students. Since then more than 1,300 students have graduated from the program. Currently, there are 232 counseling psychology students and 12 dual-degree students (counseling psychology and counseling ministry) enrolled.

“The program has grown in size and influence,” said Mischa Routon, associate professor of psychology. “The program’s graduates continue to help individuals, couples, families and children live more meaningful lives.”

 

Career fair preps CBU students for job opportunities

The buzz and energy levels were booming out of the Recreation Center gym as students networked with nearly 100 business and government agencies in attendance. The Career Center at California Baptist University hosted the Fall Career Fair, one of the largest of its kind, on Oct. 25.

The fair offers a beneficial opportunity for both employers and students, said Lisa Singer, associate director of employer relations in the Career Center.

“By stepping on to CBU’s campus, businesses profit by seeing a great representation of our student body and by meeting a large amount of students,” Singer said. “The fair is also an outstanding opportunity for students to practice putting their networking skills in action. This is an opportunity to stand out and put a ‘face’ to their resume.”

Matthew Swope (’15, ’17), an alumnus who works for Hill + Knowlton Strategies, a global communications and public relations firm, returned to campus as a company representative along with Kelly Vee Stephens, talent acquisition manager.

Stephens said Swope’s talent makes it important for her company to attend career fairs at CBU to evaluate and potentially find the next “Swope.”

“I think it’s a huge advantage for us to be able to connect with great schools that have strong communications programs—students who are coming with a skillset that we need and that we value,” Stephens said. “It’s also an opportunity to connect with the students and share what our company does.”

Haley Wheelon, an accounting senior, had landed a summer internship through a previous CBU career fair. She was back at this year’s event, looking for another internship or employment opportunity.

“The Career Fair prepares you for talking and meeting people professionally,” Wheelon said. “It gets those jitters out.”

 

CBU music students perform at CSBC annual conference

The University Choir and Orchestra (UCO) at California Baptist University performed for pastors and others attending a breakout session on worship at the 2017 California Southern Baptist Convention (CSBC) annual meeting on Oct. 23.

CSBC conducted the annual meeting at nearby Magnolia Church in Riverside on Oct. 23-25. The conference schedule included a session on worship held in the JoAnn Hawkins Music Building at CBU.

Several worship musical groups performed at the breakout session. Then Mike Harland, director of LifeWay Worship Resources, spoke about leaving a legacy of worship to the next generation.

“As we think of passing the baton of worship ministry to the next generation, we have to realize how important this task is,” Harland said. “The younger generation needs to calibrate their speeds and reach out to those handing them the baton, and we must be in proximity to the younger generation.”

Harland commended CBU for its commitment to training up the next generation of worship leaders.

“We must hand this baton to the next generation and that is what California Baptist University is here to do,” Harland said.

The Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music at CBU offers seven bachelor’s degree options as well as a Master of Music degree. New this fall, CBU launched a Bachelor of Arts in worship arts and ministry.

Dr. Joseph Bolin, dean of the School of Music, said CBU trains students to be competent in a multitude of styles of music.

“We train students to use eclectic styles individually or in concert to create a coherent, unified and powerful worship experience,” Bolin said.

UCO concluded the worship session for CSBC, performing with its array of musical talents. UCO typically features 150 plus vocalists and instrumentalists. The group performs up to 50 concerts in a calendar year.

 

CBU students participate in Love Riverside service project

On a sunny autumn morning, more than 90 California Baptist University students and faculty spent their time serving in various ways as part of the Love Riverside service project, on Oct 21.

Activities included picking up trash at Fairmount Park; gardening and brush removal at Loring Park; painting and general clean up at University Heights Middle School; and assisting with recreational activities with residents at Meridian Gardens Senior Living,.

The Love Riverside service project goal is to inspire generosity that brings love in action to Riverside. The College of Behavioral and Social Science and the University Advancement division at CBU co-sponsor the event along with the City of Riverside. Approximately 500 volunteers from the community worked on 28 separate projects during the day of service.

Dr. Veola Vazquez, professor of psychology, worked with the students at Fairmount Park. Service learning is a requirement in her Theories of Counseling (PSY 422) course.

The service day lets the community know that there are individuals who care for Riverside, Vazquez said. The projects also place students into the community and allow them foster connections with people who have different experiences and perspectives on life, Vazquez added.

“I think our students need to be able to experience what it’s like to live in those communities, to see the people, talk with them, get to know them, work alongside them, so we can have a better understanding of what their needs are,” Vazquez said.

Andrew Fogg, a junior psychology major, enjoyed the camaraderie of service.

“This experience inspires teamwork and gives everyone an opportunity to work together,” Fogg said. “I gained a whole new perspective on life outside of CBU.”

Shalia Eslick, a junior psychology major from Fresno, California who volunteered at Fairmount Park, said she wanted to become better acquainted with Riverside.

“From volunteering, I am learning how important it is to be an active part of the community,” Eslick said. “I also think it’s really important to set an example for others by serving our community.”

 

CBU students enjoy Zion on Outdoor Adventures trip

Jakob Hartt, a history sophomore at California Baptist University, is admittedly scared of heights. Nevertheless, on a recent trip, he joined a daunting hike with other CBU students up a steep, narrow trail to Angels Landing, a peak in Zion National Park in Utah that towers 1,500 feet above the canyon floor.

“I would definitely say that I have a stronger connection to the CBU community as a result of this trip,” Hartt said. “I met new people and bonded with them in a way I wouldn’t be able to anywhere else. You really get to know a person after hanging on for dear life a thousand feet above the valley floor with them!”

Hartt was part of a CBU team that went on Community Life’s latest Outdoor Adventures trip to Zion on Oct. 20-22.

Three staff and 27 students participated in the trip, camping and hiking peaks such as Angels Landing and The Narrows, the tightest section of Zion Canyon, with walls looming a thousand feet above the river.

“I would definitely recommend Outdoor Adventures to anyone who has a passion for the outdoors and building community with new people,” Hartt said. “The program provides unforgettable experiences for anyone who is interested.”

Delaney Sorrell, a mechanical engineering freshman, enjoyed getting to know people around the campfire and on the drive to and from the park.

“Everyone was so welcoming and inclusive that it made the hikes more enjoyable and fun,” Sorrell said.

Community Life’s Outdoor Adventures program helps students take advantage of natural wonders. Previous trips have included excursions to Yosemite National Park, Mammoth Mountain and beaches along the Pacific Ocean. For a small fee the program provides transportation, gear and most of the food.

“These trips benefit students because we offer a way for them to connect with students with similar interests,” said Tucker Carl, program coordinator for Outdoor Adventures. “This allows us to create the opportunity for people to have community with others while doing the activities they love.”

 

Family Updates

Benjamin Knisley, adjunct professor of mathematics, Dr. Joshua Morgan, adjunct professor of behavioral science for Online and Professional Studies, and Dr. Linn Carothers, professor of mathematics, co-wrote a paper, Integrating Health Data Sources to Identify, Stratify, and Predict High Utilizers of Public Systems. Knisley presented the paper at the Western Users of SAS Software Conference 2017 in Long Beach on Sept. 21.

 

Zach McKenna (’17) published his thesis in the European Journal of Applied Physiology (Oct. 24, 2017). The article was titled Bovine colostrum supplementation does not affect plasma I-FABP concentrations following exercise in a hot and humid environment. Co-authors included graduate students Quint Berkemeier and Ashley Naylor along with undergraduate students Austin Kleint, Felipe Gorini. Thesis committee members included Dr. Trevor Gillum, associate professor of kinesiology, Dr. Sean Sullivan, professor of kinesiology, and Dr. Jong-Kyung Kim, associate professor of kinesiology.

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, chaired an external review of the School of Aviation Sciences at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Oct. 23-24 on behalf of the University Aviation Association.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Andrew Herrity, professor of entrepreneurship and business, and Dr. Natalie Winter, professor of marketing and management, presented at the Christian Business Faculty Association’s Annual Conference in San Diego Oct. 21. The title of the presentation was Business Education as Process for Forming Character Capable of Changing the World.

 

 

 

Dr. Ogbochi McKinney, assistant professor of public health for Online and Professional Studies, presented a paper at the Seventh International Conference on Food Studies held in Rome, Italy, Oct. 26-27. The title was Disability and Mental Health Status as Barriers to Food Security among California Residents. Dr. Pamela Mukaire, assistant professor of public health, and Levi Garrett, assistant professor of kinesiology, both for Online and Professional Studies, were co-authors on the paper.

 

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, associate professor of kinesiology for Online and Professional Studies, presented on the field of kinesiology and shared her Christian testimony to high school students at Jurupa and Alvord unified school districts on Sept. 22-23.

 

 

 

Jennifer Costello, assistant professor of social work, and six master of social work students participated in a poverty simulation in Riverside facilitated by Catholic Charities of Riverside and San Bernardino on Oct. 28. The poverty simulation was a role-playing experience about living in poverty.

 

 

Dr. Satara Armstrong, professor of social work, gave a presentation at the Windows Between Words event in Los Angeles on Oct. 3 and Oct. 25. The event was part of the city’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month programming. The title of her presentation was When Words Fail and was accompanied by art by Armstrong and other artists.

 

 

Dr. Sanggon Nam, associate professor of public health, presented research at the Korea Society of Health Policy and Administration Conference in Seoul, Korea, Nov. 2-3. The title was Utilization of Clinical Risk Management Policies in U.S. Primary Care.

 

 

 

Joseph Moorman, admissions counselor in undergraduate admissions, and Dr. Bonjun Koo, professor of environmental science, were CBU representatives at the 2017 Green STEM Summit at the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita on Nov. 4. The event featured an interactive way to learn about a variety of green careers directly from experts in the fields of environmental science, engineering, science and sustainability.

 

 

 

 

The CBU Marketing and Communication division received five Capella Awards at the Public Relations Society of American Inland Empire dinner in Fontana on Nov. 9. The awards were given for the flagship publication for CBU, “The Roundtable”; two profiles that were featured in the publication: “Michael Deatherage” and “Coach Fleming”; a marketing campaign: “Our Program Has Stamina”; and for the creation and implementation of “CBU Trade Show Booth.”

 

 

Kerri Horton, logistics coordinator for Spiritual Life, and her husband, David, welcomed their second grandchild on Oct. 16. Abraham Owen Horton weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 21.5 inches long. Abraham’s parents are Jeremy and Anna Horton.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU team assists with Hurricane Harvey cleanup efforts

Austin Romito, a sophomore at California Baptist University, eagerly signed up to serve on a Hurricane Harvey relief team that the university had organized. Romito started the trip attentive to the service tasks students were assigned to perform. However, shortly into his service trip and after watching a homeowner’s reaction to observing the wreckage for the first time, he realized the trip was bigger than just tasks—it was about helping people rebuild their lives.

“That’s when it clicked. This trip isn’t really about CBU. We’re here serving, but this is about her (homeowner) and this is how we’re helping her and this is about her starting her life again,” Romito said. “The homeowner was crying, but thanking us that we were there. That made it real, seeing her and realizing this is her life and this is her story.”

Harvey hit southeast Texas Aug. 25, and over the course of several days, the storm brought a record rainfall to the area that resulted in catastrophic flooding and damage to thousands of homes. CBU sent a team comprising more than 40 faculty, staff and students to Houston, Texas, on Oct. 12-15 to help with the cleanup efforts.

The CBU group worked with Send Relief, a branch of the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board (NAMB). Team members spent two days helping with cleanup tasks such as the removal of drywall and debris in addition to sanitizing efforts, said Julie Dobbins, director of Compassion and Women’s Ministries.

“Compassion Ministries through Spiritual Life exists to put our faith into action, and so we want to be able to serve and share Christ with those in need. It is a perfect opportunity to work with NAMB in this capacity,” Dobbins said.

John Montgomery, dean of Spiritual Life, recalled meetings he had with NAMB about collegiate ministry opportunities. The desire of college students to help with disaster relief was often blocked by the hurdles of training and certification, and NAMB helped remove those obstacles, Montgomery said. When Harvey hit, NAMB contacted CBU about an opportunity for students to go to Houston. Compassion Ministries organized the Houston trip in less than a month.

The CBU volunteers removed drywall, flooring, cabinets and furniture—anything that had developed mold. Those items, along with other damaged goods, were piled up on the front lawn for city workers to collect for disposal.

Jacob Campbell, a marketing junior, said the trip brought to life the devastation of the Hurricane Harvey.

“It was unreal demolishing someone’s home,” Campbell said. “It wasn’t until the homeowner came in to see her home for the first time in over a month that I was really hit with the realness of what has happened. Although it was a sad moment, it was an opportunity to serve her because we know she would not have been able to do all that work by herself.”

Dr. Jacob Lanphere, associate professor of environmental science, was a team leader for the CBU volunteers. Lanphere said the project was an opportunity for students to grow in their faith.

“The teams that go on these trips grow in their walk with the Lord and grow stronger in their faith as they exercise their faith while serving others,” Lanphere said.

 

CBU receives Outstanding Waste Management Award

California Baptist University has received the 2017 Outstanding Waste Management Award from the Keep Riverside Clean & Beautiful (KRCB) program.

CBU received the recognition at KRCB’s community recognition luncheon on Oct. 19. Bob Ryan, chair of KRCB’s advisory board, presented the award to Steve Smith, director of Planning and Facilities Services, who accepted the accolade on behalf of the university. CBU earned the award for its efforts to manage waste responsibly. CBU also received the award in 2011.

“We want to be good stewards of the environment,” Smith said. “We, each one of us individually and corporately, should be shining stars in that area—custodians of our environment.”

Burrtec Waste Industries nominated CBU for the award. The nomination letter indicates: “CBU’s sustained leadership in development and implementation of waste reduction programs and initiatives demonstrates their long-term commitment to resource conservation to not only the surrounding community but to their more than 9,000 students.”

Examples of CBU’s waste management include working with contractors on building projects to identify and reduce the amount of construction and demolition waste. Additionally, CBU uses compactors at the Alumni Dining Commons and the Events Center to compress food waste and trash. The university recently began to divert pre-consumer food waste (prep food waste and unserved leftovers) into bins at four student-dining areas. The material is then distributed to a local facility for composting. CBU also uses balers to compact and bundle up excessive cardboard.

Moreover, members of the CBU community can properly dispose of trash or recycle items via the numerous landfill or recyclable bins throughout campus, said Brenda Flores, assistant director of business administration for Facilities and Planning Services.

KRCB is a community-sponsored program by the City of Riverside and the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. Its mission is to foster a sense of community pride by creating partnerships that work toward the beautification of the city.

 

Scholar expounds on Luther’s view of “Sola Scriptura”

“We need to be more rooted and grounded in the word of God,” Dr. Steven Lawson told an audience at California Baptist University.

Lawson, director of the doctor of ministry program at The Master’s Seminary, spoke at the Christian Ministries Lecture Series on Oct. 19. Lawson is also an author of numerous books including biographic works on historic Christian figures such as Martin Luther, the famed Reformation founder. The end of October will mark the 500-year anniversary of Luther’s revolutionary “95 Theses.”

“The Protestant Reformation was about recovering the gospel that had been lost,” Larson said. “It was a recovery of the authority of the word of God.”

“Sola Scriptura” or scripture alone is the foundation upon which everything rests, Larson said. It is the principle from which Christians form their beliefs.

“If there is any crack in the foundation, the whole thing comes tumbling down,” Larson said. “If there is any equivocating on the Bible, on the word of God, then the gospel comes crashing down and we rob God of His glory.”

You can never be too grounded in the word of God, Larson added.

“If we are to have another reformation, which we so desperately need, it is going to require a new generation of men and women who are sold out to the word of God,” Larson said.

The Reformation was the greatest “turn-back-to-the-Bible movement” ever, Larson argued.

“Martin Luther was a man who stood for the truth,” Larson said. “He preached the truth and proclaimed the truth even at the risk of his own life. In the face of mounting difficulties and life-threatening adversities, Martin Luther went all in on the word of God.”

Larson highlighted several speeches Luther gave including at the Diet of Worms on April 18, 1521.

“When Luther gave his famous summation, he said, ‘Unless I’m convinced by the testimony of the scriptures, or by clear reason, for I do not trust either the pope or councils alone since it is well-known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves, I am bound by the scriptures,” Larson said reading portions of Luther’s speech.

Luther understood this concept—when the Bible speaks, God speaks, Larson said.

“There is no other book in all of the world like this book,” Larson said. “Only Scripture can be considered inerrant. That is why Luther was willing to go to the mat for the Scriptures. Not just because he had some religious sympathy, but because he had deep convictions about Scripture.”

 

“Lance Up, CBU!” becomes official school fight song

It took well over a half century to nail down a school song, but “Lance Up, CBU!” has made its way into Lancer lore as the official school song for California Baptist University.

The song is catchy, short, repetitive and meant to add excitement and enthusiasm to Lancer sporting events.

Dr. Steve Posegate, associate professor of music at CBU, composed the song. He said with the university scheduled to advance to NCAA Division I athletics in the summer of 2018, members of the music faculty were discussing creating an official fight song.

“I thought to myself at the time, I can write one,” said Posegate, who has a master’s degree in music composition and a doctorate in music education. “All great schools have a great song.”

Posegate was warned that there had been multiple previous attempts at writing a fight song throughout the years.

“I guess they just didn’t reflect what CBU is all about,” Posegate said.

Determined to use his gifting to write a legacy song for the Lancer Nation, Posegate spent two weeks writing “Lance Up, CBU!” Some 40 versions later, he felt the song was at last where it needed to be.

Written for concert band, “Lance Up, CBU!” features a total of 22 different musical parts. Posegate turned to Thomas Goddard, adjunct professor of music, to write the drumline section. Goddard works with the drumline team in the Shelby and Ferne Collingsworth School of Music. Posegate said the drumline feature will bring additional energy to sporting events.

After Posegate composed his song, Matthew McConnell, technical director in the School of Music, arranged for the pep band, drumline and vocalists to record a rough cut.

“I got a lot of positive vibes about the project; everybody liked the core of the song,” Posegate said.

At their regular fall meeting, the CBU Board of Trustees agreed, voting to accept the new song into Lancer history on Sept. 29, 2017.

Lance Up, CBU!

Words and music by
Steve Posegate, D.M.A

C-B-U
Live your purpose every day
C-B-U
Lance up! We’re ready to play
C-B-U
Go, Lancers!
C-B-U
Go, Lancers!
C-B-U
Win a victory to lift our name.
L-A-N-C-E-R-S!

 

Speaker delves into Reformation doctrine in lecture

Biblical teachers and preachers need to reclaim key Reformation insights, but they need to do it in a biblical balanced manner, Dr. Douglas J. Moo told an audience at California Baptist University.

Moo, a professor of the New Testament at Wheaton College in Illinois and chair of the Committee on Bible Translation for the New International Version, spoke at the School of Christian Ministries Lecture Series on Oct. 17. Moo has written numerous books, including commentaries on Romans, Galatians, Colossians and James.

“The Reformation ‘faith-alone’ slogan is built on passages on which Paul claims that justification comes not through works but through faith,” Moo said.

Moo said that scholars do wrestle on how to complement the writings of Paul with those of another biblical author, James, who emphasized good works. Believers need to look at the circumstances of the two authors, Moo added. Paul faced the Jewish tendency to put too much emphasis on human works. James reacted to people who heard Paul talking about faith alone and used it as an excuse for not living the Christian life fully.

“We need to guard against that ‘faith alone’ becoming a faith that is alone, a faith that does not adequately tie into works,” Moo said. “I think that’s what James is doing. His point is saying genuine, biblical faith is a faith that will work.”

The Reformation view on justification is that it occurs the moment a person places faith in Christ’s atoning work, a view Moo held for a number of years. While working on a commentary on Galatians, however, Moo said his viewpoint on justification evolved.

It seemed Paul was saying that believers await the righteousness for which they hope (Galatians 5:5), giving righteousness a future focus, Moo explained.

According to Scripture, therefore, there seem to be past and future elements of justification, but both occur through faith alone, Moo said.

“We need to be balanced teachers and proclaimers of this truth who say, yes, you are justified by faith alone. If it rests on us, we’re all in trouble. It rests on God and what He’s done in Christ for us,” Moo said. “Proclaim that and at the same time emphasize now that you are enjoying the benefits of that relationship in Christ and your justified status. Remember that you are now in the process of being transformed.”

 

Service is a powerful experience, surgeon tells CBU audience

Service to others is one of the most unique and powerful experiences a person can have in life, Dr. Scott Nelson, an orthopedic surgeon at Loma Linda University Health, told a California Baptist University audience on Oct. 16.

The College of Health Science at CBU hosted Nelson as part of its Distinguished Lecture Series.

“Go beyond our borders, don’t get stuck in life, try new things, and embrace life, reset playing it safe,” Nelson said.

After graduating from medical school, Nelson accepted a position to work as a doctor at the Cure International Orthopedic Hospital in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

While there, Nelson lived through one of the island’s deadliest earthquakes that struck in 2010. His work with the victims in the following months earned him the Humanitarian of the Year award from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in 2014.

“Because of troubles and issues today, it is all the more reason to go out and serve the world,” Nelson said.

Nelson said the process of helping others is divine.

“While I’m helping others, the presence of God is palpable,” Nelson said. “When I look at the smiles of the children that I have helped, it is worth more than what anyone could pay me.”

 

Infant lab at CBU brings babies to kinesiology class

Students at California Baptist University had their Lifelong Motor Development course (KIN 332) come to life on Oct. 16 as they observed infants grabbing, sitting and behaving, well, like babies.

Groups of students assessed babies, aged one year and under, for reflexes, spontaneous movements and other motor milestones.

The infant lab is an opportunity for lessons to become tangible, said Lauri Hauck, visiting professor in the department of kinesiology at CBU.  Hauck said babies do not always move according to what the textbook says and the students need to assess why. Is the baby developmentally behind or is there another reason, such as they are tired or maybe the baby just woke up, Hauck added.

“In a classroom, it’s black and white. Here is the definition, be able to diagram it and take a test,” Hauck said. “Once you get into the field, the skill may not be easily observed.”

Soleil Smith, an exercise science senior, said observing the babies helped her visualize the information better.

“Observing babies in real life was very beneficial to identifying development patterns,” Smith said. “Seeing it helps us to put the concepts we’re learning in class together a little bit more.”

Throughout the semester, the course includes other labs tailored to different age groups such as children, teens and even older adults. These labs are intended to help students to learn about motor development as individuals develop and age, Hauck said.

“Christ has given us this vessel, this body, made to do His work. As kinesiology and exercise science students, what does that mean for us?” Hauck asked. “How do I help that patient or that client to regain mobility to serve Christ as we’re supposed to?”

 

CBU students, faculty show academic creativity at city event

The biennial Long Night of Arts & Innovation event made its way back to downtown Riverside on Oct. 12, and California Baptist University students and faculty were well represented.

At the opening reception on the main stage, the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music’s HOPE group performed a variety of music.

On Main Street, near the CBU Gallery, CBU had multiple interactive booths, displaying a wide range of creativity in the different academic settings. For instance, engineering students held a demonstration of a five-fingered, remote-controlled robotic hand.

Adam Calderon, an electrical and computer engineering freshman, instructed passer-byers of how a 3-D printing machine at CBU created the exterior of the robotic hand and how the wiring was constructed by students throughout the robot.

“As a freshman, it’s really neat that I get to have this type of hands-on interaction with this technology,” Calderon said.

The Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering at CBU also displayed its SAE Formula Vehicle. Event-goers stopped to chat about the vehicle and also had an opportunity to get in and get a feel for the small racing car.

Andrew Chicas, a mechanical engineering junior, said that the vehicle was built last year.

“The vehicle was created from the ground up,” Chicas said. “What was accomplished with this car in one year was pretty amazing. I’m looking forward to what we can accomplish this year to improve the car.”

The College of Nursing at CBU had an autism awareness display at the event. The indie film “Voyage of the Gamelan,” created by nursing faculty and students, was shown on a loop throughout the evening. The film looks at life from the lens of a person with autism.

Sarah Pearce, assistant director of the nursing learning resource center at CBU, said the video helps students get a visual representation of what an autism person faces daily.

“The film takes you inside the brain of a boy of autism,” Pearce said. “The film is meant to help bring about compassion and understanding for potential patients students might help.”

CBU faculty also presented lectures and demonstrations throughout the evening on a variety of topics related to their academic strengths.

 

Hip-hop workshop dissects history and influence of music genre

The Slam Poetry Club at California Baptist University hosted a workshop to learn and appreciate the history and the influence of hip-hop on Oct. 12, 2017.

Dr. Charles Lee-Johnson, assistant professor and field director for the social work program at CBU, lectured on the cultural relevance of the popular music genre that stemmed from rap music.

Lee-Johnson said that music transcends culture.

“Part of the beauty of rap music is it is the unedited life of the people making it,” Lee-Johnson said. “Within the music and born of the people is their pain.”

Lee-Johnson also broke down and dissected songs and demonstrated to the audience the differences in hip-hop beats.

Anna Gutierrez, a social work graduate student, said the event reminded her of how important different forms of expression can be.

“In music, you have the freedom to express how you feel, including topics like oppression, and this can be done through music, dance and gestures,” Gutierrez said.

The event also featured the opportunity for students to read their own poetry.

Margaret Jones, Slam Poetry Club president, said her club seeks to promote dignity and self-worth.

“Through our club, we can share our struggles, testimonies and pain. For me it’s a ministry,” Jones said. “Our club’s desire is for students to share their creativity and get comfortable with expression. We are committed to bringing forth creativity in all of its aspects.”

 

Family Updates

The department of biological sciences hosted a mock multiple mini interview (MMI) session on Oct. 7 to prepare students for professional school interviews, such as medical, dental, and pharmacy or physician assistant programs. Dr. Hyun-Woo Park, professor of biology, Dr. Bonjun Koo, professor of environmental science, Dr. Bruce Prins, professor of biology, Dr. Lisa Hernandez, professor of mathematics, Allie Floyd, department secretary – natural and mathematical sciences, and Michelle Gray, department secretary – biological sciences, conducted interview stations for the students.

 

 

Dr. Hannah Hu, associate professor of chemistry, Dr. Jenifer Nalbandian, assistant professor of chemistry, and Chemistry Club students presented research at the Long Night of Arts & Innovation on Oct. 12. The research, titled The Chemistry of Light, was on the organic synthesis and photophysical study of light emitting materials.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Greg Bowden, associate professor of education, and Dr. Cammy Purper, associate professor of education, both for Online and Professional Studies, presented at the Clute International Conference on Technology in Education in Las Vegas on Oct. 10. They presented results from their study, Student Experiences of an Online Metacognitive Journaling Assignment.

 

 

 

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, professor of public relations for Online and Professional Studies, presented a pedagogical lesson at the Public Relations Society of America International Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, on Oct. 7. The title was called The Lost Art of Letter Writing in Public Relations.

 

 

 

 

Amanda Madrid, associate professor of nursing, was the keynote speaker for Inland Health Professionals Coalition’s Public Health 101 Seminar in San Bernardino on Sept. 23. The title of her talk was Essentials for Public Health Nursing. She also held a workshop where attendees worked through case scenarios to understand the functions of a public health nurse.

 

 

 

Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, associate professor of public administration, and Dr. Stephen Brown, associate professor of behavioral sciences, both for Online and Professional Studies, presented at the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration Conference in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 11-14. The title of the presentation was Creating Dynamic Video Lectures Using Free Simple Tool.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Elaine Ahumada, professor of public administration, and Dr. Mark Kling, associate professor of criminal justice, both for Online and Professional Studies, presented at the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration  conference in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 11-14. The title of the presentation was Inclusivity in Doctoral Education: Curriculum Design, Teaching, and Reflection.

 

 

 

Dr. Tom Schneider, assistant professor English for Online and Professional Studies, wrote the introduction to an edition of Beowulf translated by John Earle (Race Point Publishing, October 2017).

 

 

 

Dr. Krystal Hays, assistant professor of social work, had a paper published in Issues in Mental Health Nursing (October 2017). The title was A Risk Typology for Depression in African Americans.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Pennee Robertson, assistant professor of nursing, presented her Doctor of Nursing Poster at the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Conference in Ontario, California, on Oct. 5-6. The title of the poster was Essential Elements of Simulation Accreditation.

 

 

 

 

Brent Whitefield, adjunct professor of communication studies, wrote an article in the autumn issue of ChinaSource, The Chinese Church and Its Historical Past. The title of the article was History: It’s Essential.

 

 

 

 

Nathan Iverson, assistant professor of psychology, presented at the Long Night of Arts & Innovation in Riverside on Oct. 12. The title was The Psychology of Innovation.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Keanon Alderson, professor of management and marketing, presented to three sessions at Riverside Notre Dame High School’s Career Day on Sept. 6. A total of 75 students attended. The presentation covered business as a major and career opportunities in the business world.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Geneva Oaks, dean of the College of Nursing, and Dr. Susan Drummond, professor of nursing, presented at the Long Night of Arts & Innovation in Riverside on Oct. 12. The title was Interactive Artistic Depictions of Universal Living Experiences.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jake Avila, associate professor of civil engineering and construction management, Dr. Robert Crosby, associate professor of psychology for Online and Professional Studies, and Dr. Keanon Alderson, professor of management and marketing, had research presented at the 2017 Family Enterprise Research Conference in Asheville, N.C., June 7-9. Alderson made the presentation, titled An Exploration of Family Business Dynamics in the Construction Industry Utilizing the F-PEC Scale, and the Family Climate Scale.

 

 

Dr. Dominick Sturz, associate professor of public health for Online and Professional Studies, collaborated with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) in developing, hosting and moderating a public health webinar to be used as continuing education for LACDPH physicians and other medical professionals. The topic for the webinar was Making Your Voice Heard: How to Be an Effective Healthcare Advocate. The webinar was also broadcast live to public health professionals around the Southern California region on Oct. 18.

 

 

Dr. Darla Donaldson, assistant professor of finance and social entrepreneurship, gave a presentation at Riverside Startup Week on Sept. 28. The presentation was titled Social Enterprise: A Combination of Profit, People, and Planet at Work in Communities. Startup Week focused on building momentum and opportunity around entrepreneurship.

 

 

 

Dr. Jong-Wha Bai, associate professor of civil engineering, received the award for Outstanding Faculty Advisor for Student Groups from the ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) Los Angeles Section on Oct. 14. He has served as vice president of student activities for the ASCE LA Section between October 2015 and August 2017.

 

 

 

 

Dr. David Poole, vice president for Online and Professional Studies, and Ted Meyer, dean of enrollment services for Online and Professional studies, attended the City of Moreno Valley Mayor’s Roundtable on Oct. 6^th. Dr. Poole presented an update to the Moreno Valley community on CBU and the partnership with the city. The university is working directly with city officials to tailor programs specific to the growing job market in Moreno Valley, especially those in the logistics and medical fields. The Business Roundtable program, hosted by Mayor Yxstian Gutierrez (’05), provides a space for businesses to connect with the mayor, receive updates on current Economic Development activities and discuss issues relevant to the business community. The Oct. 6^th meeting highlighted the CBU Online Educational Service Center now open in Moreno Valley on Frederick Street at the city’s Employment Resource Center.

 

The cultural and commuter programs in Community Life hosted a cultural exchange trip to San Diego on Oct. 14. Thirty-six students spent the day experiencing the city’s culture, including a trip to the U.S. Midway aircraft carrier museum, where there were various celebrations for Hispanic Heritage month. Additionally, students visited Balboa Park, where they had opportunities to attend several museums such as the San Diego National History museum. The trip also featured stops at the Gaslamp Quarter and Old Town San Diego.

 

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of CBU, and his wife, Jane, welcomed their ninth grandchild, Evangeline Carmel Ellis, on Oct. 15. She weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 18.5 inches long. She is the daughter of Ashton and Lauren Ellis.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

“Little Shop of Horrors” opens 2017-2018 theatre season at CBU

The theatre arts program at California Baptist University is bringing comedy and music to the Wallace Theatre this weekend with “Little Shop of Horrors,” which opens its 2017-18 season.

A Broadway and Hollywood smash musical, “Little Shop of Horrors” has resonated with theatre-goers for more than 30 years. The meek floral assistant, Seymour, stumbles across a new breed of plant he names Audrey II – after his beautiful co-worker. The R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to Seymour as long as he keeps feeding it.

The musical spoofs science-fiction movies, B-movies and musical theatre, said Lisa Lyons, adjunct professor of theatre and the play’s director.

“It’s over-the-top, comedically played. It’s about a plant who wants to take over the world,” Lyons said. “It’s a crowd-pleaser, it’s popular. The kids like it. The music is just fabulous.”

Julie Ann Oleson, a theatre junior, said both the biggest challenge and the best part of her role as Audrey is the opportunity to portray the iconic character.

“I hope the audience gets the fun, sweet nature of this play,” Oleson said.

Ryan Lee, a comedic arts freshman, plays Seymour, a mild-mannered young man who gets coaxed into feeding the man-eating plant.

“The biggest challenge of playing this role is being able to show Seymour’s complete emotional and physical transformation throughout the show,” Lee said. “I really hope the audience falls in love with the show. It’s so funny and interesting, the music is amazing and the story is incredibly unique.”

When: Oct. 13-14, Oct. 19-21 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 14, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m.

Where: Wallace Theatre, California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA, 92504

Tickets or questions? Call the theatre box office at 951- 343-4319 or email: mhyde@calbaptist.edu

 

CBU students receive training at LinkedIn seminar

Students at California Baptist University learned the workings of the employment-oriented, social networking site LinkedIn at a seminar hosted by the Career Center on Oct. 11.

Morgan Teruel, career counselor at CBU, offered students a detailed walk-through of each section on a LinkedIn profile.

“You want your summary to highlight your skills. Your summary should be strategic,” Teruel said.

Teruel also talked about the importance of maintaining a professional page.

LinkedIn is a networking tool and can be crucial in the hiring process, she said.

“Professional behavior is absolutely essential on LinkedIn,” Teruel reiterated.

Teruel also emphasized the need for appropriate LinkedIn profile picture.

“A professional picture is key. Having a professional picture makes you 14 times more likely to be contacted by employers,” Teruel said.

Miranda Maker, a nursing senior, appreciated the talk on professionalism.

“I like that [Teruel] said not to treat LinkedIn like Facebook,” Maker said.

After the training session, students had an opportunity to have a professional photo taken.

Drew Cummins, a psychology sophomore, did not have a LinkedIn account before the event but now he sees the platform as a tool for networking.

“LinkedIn is a good opportunity. I am going to create one and start trying to make connections,” Cummins said.

 

 

Family Updates

Dr. Fred Pontius, professor of civil engineering, published a peer-reviewed paper in American Journal of Civil Engineering (September 2017). The title was Sustainable Infrastructure: Climate Changes and Carbon Dioxide.

 

 

 

 

The Department of Communication Arts invited Tony award-winning performer Michael Maguire to speak on Sept. 26. Maguire is best known as one of the original cast members of Les Miserables. In his visit to CBU, he performed several musical numbers from Les Miserables, in addition to others songs, for more than 100 students and guests who attended the event.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Joshua Knabb, associate professor of psychology, presented at the American Association of Christian Counselors’ World Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, on Oct. 1. The title was Contemplative Prayer for Christians with Stress and Anxiety: Theoretical and Empirical Support.

 

 

 

Dr. Natalie Winter, professor of marketing and management, presented at the Marketing Management Association’s Fall Educator Conference in Pittsburgh on Sept. 20. The title was The Need to Create Tension in Marketing Education.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Yeesock Kim, associate professor of civil engineering and construction management, was awarded a three-year grant from the National Institutes of Health. With the $460,614, Kim will conduct collaborative research on the subcellular heterogeneity of cell protrusion. His role is to develop a new analysis framework for predicting the behavior of cancer cells using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithm.

 

 

 

Dr. Kathryn Short, professor of education, presented a lecture for the Leadership Seminar Series hosted by the School of Education at CBU on Sept. 25. The title was Crucial Conversations: Engaging Conversations That Matter.

 

 

 

 

Douglas Barnett, adjunct professor of business for Online and Professional Studies, participated in the Business as Mission conference held Sept. 15-17 in Dallas. Barnett spoke on a factor of success that start-up business training programs have used: pre-assessing trainees’ aptitude for entrepreneurship. Programs that pre-assess and accept only qualified students have higher rates of startup success.

 

 

 

The Department of Physician Assistant Studies welcomed its second cohort of PA students during a White Jacket Ceremony Sept. 29. Thirty students received their white jackets and CBU PA pins.

 

 

 

Noel Coronel, adjunct professor of Spanish, released a book, Desmistificación de la cultura aymara (Palibrio, September 2017). The book is about the Aymara people’s response to the misunderstandings of the anthropologists and other academicians regarding their culture. The Aymaras live in the bordering region of Bolivia, Chile and Peru.

 

 

 

Dr. Jeff Barnes, dean of student success and professor of humanities, published Beyond the Wisdom of Walt: Life Lessons from the Most Magical Place on Earth (Kidder Bombay Books, October 2017). The foreword was written by Lee Cockerell, former executive vice president of operations for Walt Disney World.

 

 

Several School of Christian Ministries faculty and adjuncts made presentations at the Immanuel Theology Conference at Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland, California, on Sept. 16. Dr. Chris Morgan, dean of the School of Christian Ministries, presented The Deity of Christ. Dr. Anthony Chute, professor of church history, presented Creeds, Councils and Christology. Dr. Ben Skaug, adjunct professor of Christian Ministries, presented The Humanity of Christ. Dr. Mark Rogers, adjunct professor of intercultural studies, presented Pastoral and Practical Implications of Christology.

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, associate professor of kinesiology for Online and Professional Studies, was the keynote speaker for the Fall Physical Education Conference at California State University, Fullerton on Sept. 23. The title of her talk was Empowering You: Permission to be Amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

Joe Way, director of multimedia services for Information and Technology Services, had an article, Boxed In, Shining Out, published in Church Production (October 2017) as the monthly devotional. He also wrote a special edition piece, Tech Director’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), on church techs preparing an emergency operations plan, in reaction to the Las Vegas shooting.

 

 

 

Mobilization held a blood drive with LifeStream on Sept. 26-27 and received 137 donations, which generated more than $2,000 for scholarships for Mobilization’s International Service Projects. The next blood drive will be Jan. 24-25.

 

The Lancers will tip off the basketball season on Nov. 10 in the new Events Center. There will be a limited amount of complimentary tickets available. You can reserve up to four tickets starting at 9 a.m. Nov. 6. For regular season home CBU Athletic ticketed events, CBU faculty and staff are entitled to receive a free ticket for yourself, your spouse and children. Season tickets are also available. Full list of pricing and benefits can be found at www.cbulancers.com/seasontickets. For more information, email Zack LaGuardia at zlaguardia@calbaptist.edu

 

The Human Resources Department has set the Benefits & Wellness Fair for 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 27 in the CBU Recreation Center. Open enrollment for health benefits starts Oct. 27 and ends Nov. 12.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Film and TV composer shares experience with CBU students

Composer, arranger and conductor J.A.C. Redford spent a day with students at California Baptist University on Sept. 26, sharing his experiences and offering advice at several sessions.

“Music is supposed to be vital. It’s supposed to have life. Don’t ever forget that when you’re sitting and scratching down [notes] or on your computer entering notes. Don’t forget it’s supposed to be a life-giving thing,” Redford told students.

Redford has composed music for feature films and television shows, such as “D3: The Mighty Ducks” and “St. Elsewhere.” He has also orchestrated, arranged or conducted for composers such as James Horner, Rachel Portman and Danny Elfman. Additionally, he has worked on theatre scores in addition to concert and choral music.

“I really think it’s important to stay curious throughout your life. If you lose the desire to learn, you’ve lost a lot of your vitality in life,” Redford said at one of the sessions.

As students pursue a career or projects, the way may not always be clear, he said.

“We often don’t get the big picture. We often only know the next step,” Redford said. “The thing you have to trust is that because Christ has promised that He will indwell you, that whatever that next step is, even if it’s the wrong step in your perspective, that He will redeem it, that He will make it purposeful.”

Dr. Josh Rodriguez, assistant professor of music theory and composition, said hearing from an experienced musician can inspire students.

“He has a lot of experience and is still involved in the industry,” Rodriguez said. “It’s important to us [at CBU] to be bringing people who are committed to their craft, who are excellent in what they do, who also care about other people and care about passing their learning on.”

Dr. Scott Key, professor of philosophy, has known Redford for nine years and arranged his visit.

“He brings that vision of excellence and a humble capacity to live out his faith in a world of real challenges,” Key said. “He tells our students that they can be authentic followers of Jesus Christ and strive for excellence in film, in music, in the world of the arts, and if they persist, if this is their calling, God will walk along with them.”

 

President Ellis delivers 2017 State of the University address

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of California Baptist University, delivered his 2017 State of the University video address at two chapel services on Sept 26. The address reported on key accomplishments at CBU over the past year and also highlighted significant upcoming events.

Students enjoy a concert by The Native Sibling on Sept. 25 in Stamps Courtyard as part of TWIRP week at California Baptist University.

 

 

 

 

 

CBU observes TWIRP week to help students build community

It is officially TWIRP (The Woman Is Required to Pay) week at California Baptist University, one of many campus traditions designed to help students connect and form friendships.

During TWIRP Week, women have the opportunity to ask men to join them at different social activities, said Kristin Holderman, director of campus activities for Community Life. The week is more about developing a positive social environment on campus rather than just dating, she said.

“We promote attending with groups of friends, as a duo or on your own to make new friends,” Holderman said.

This year the week’s activities started with a concert by The Native Sibling (an acoustic folk band) on Sept. 25. Later in the week, students can also attend a Dodgers’ MLB game, a barn dance, an outing to Sky Zone (a trampoline park) or a trip to Disneyland.

Kendall Morris, a communication studies senior, attended the concert and he also plans to go to the barn dance and to Disneyland.

“I think the environment is just fun,” Morris said. “It is not just couples but also the whole community hanging out and having a good time.”

Emily Hagar, a pre-nursing freshman, looks forward to the barn dance set for Sept. 28.

“I enjoy that TWIRP makes girls put themselves out there and ask the guy out – it’s something we wouldn’t [normally] do,” Hagar said.

As a senior, Matthew Brungardt, a mechanical engineering major, is an experienced “TWIRPER.”

“My favorite part about attending [the dance] as an upper-classman is watching it dawn on freshmen who show up in Western clothing that it is actually a costume party,” Brungardt said.

Holderman said the week is also aimed at fostering school spirit.

“It is a week full of events designed to build community, enhance the student experience through traditional events and experience something new,” Holderman said. “This has been a long-standing tradition at CBU and a fun way to kick off the year with friends.”

 

CBU students enjoy mountains during Outdoor Adventures trip

Community Life at California Baptist University hosted its first Outdoor Adventures trip of the semester to San Bernardino Mountains on Sept. 22-24. Twenty-two students and two staff members backpacked part of the Pacific Crest Trail near Big Bear Lake, camped and enjoyed the outdoors as they formed new friendships along the way.

“These trips benefit students because we offer a way for them to connect with students with similar interests,” said Tucker Carl, program coordinator for outdoor adventures. “This allows us to create the opportunity for people to have a community with others while doing the activities they love.”

The Outdoor Adventures program provides opportunities for students to enjoy iconic destinations and national parks. Community Life furnishes, for a nominal fee, transportation, appropriate gear for the adventure and most of the food.

The camping trip was originally scheduled to take place in Mammoth Lakes. However, due to severe weather, the trip was changed to the Big Bear Lake area.

For Rochelle Fisher, an intercultural studies sophomore, backpacking made the trip special.

“I loved the community and the campfires,” Fisher said about the outdoor adventure. “The opportunity to build relationships with new people is one of the things I look forward to most on these trips. It’s a great way to get connected within the larger campus community.”

Emily Anderson, an actuarial science junior, went on the “Glamping” adventure last spring. This fall semester, going on a backpacking adventure caught her interest.

“I had never backpacked before, and I loved it,” Anderson said. “It was also fun getting to experience the trip with new people. Already, a day after the trip, I have waved at new friends from this trip [on campus].”

 

Trauma recovery is focus of Culture and Justice Lecture

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at California Baptist University launched its Culture and Justice Lecture Series on Sept. 21 with a discourse on the effects of trauma. Dr. Becca Johnson, a licensed psychologist for more than 25 years, shared how she has developed a trauma recovery model based on understanding and empathy for trauma victims.

Johnson serves as the clinical director and oversees individual and group therapy for Engedi Refuge Ministries, a residential recovery home for women victims of domestic sex trafficking. Johnson also consults and provides training for organizations that help human trafficking victims.

“I was shocked with all my travels that people who work with the traumatized don’t really understand trauma,” said Johnson of her early professional consulting opportunities. “Or if they do, it’s in their head and not in their heart…and to me that is like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”

Johnson said that if you do not have the understanding or the heart for traumatized people you will not be able to help them effectively.

“My motto used to be, ‘I want to help the hurting heal,’ but now it is, ‘I help helpers help the hurting heal with God’s hope,’” Johnson said.

In her training others to help the victimized, Johnson said she wants individuals to become “trauma-sensitive.”

When working with victims we have to honor them and use our words wisely, Johnson said. People use the word trauma too flippantly. Trauma affects everybody differently, she added.

Johnson said that depending on several factors and the types of trauma a person faces, the road to recovery is a long and complex one. It is not an easy task to help a traumatized patient. However, it can also be a rewarding experience, Johnson added.

 

Constitution written for “do-it-ourselves citizens,” lecturer says

The U.S. Constitution was written to establish a limited government for unlimited citizenship engaged in the common good, Pete Peterson, dean of the School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University, told an audience at California Baptist University on Sept. 21. Peterson spoke at a Constitution Day event, marking the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.

“The Constitution provides an outline for a free people to work with and independently from government, in the provision of services and the creation of community, from disaster recovery on a massive scale to disaster recovery at the personal level,” Peterson said.

Peterson serves on the leadership council for California Forward, a nonprofit organization that aims to inspire better decision-making by governments at all levels. He is also a national speaker and writer on issues related to civic participation and the use of technology to make government more responsive and transparent.

“In the First Amendment, we see a wall built, not between government and religion but between Congress and the establishment of churches and the free exercise of believers,” Peterson said. “It is through this mechanism that the founders laid the groundwork for the world’s most vibrant civil society, once again shaped by people of faith.”

Peterson highlighted the writings of Alexis de Tocqueville, a French diplomat who visited the United States in the 1800s and then wrote about his experiences in the “Democracy in America.” Faith’s ability to form self-governing citizens while providing them opportunities to exercise this self-governance surprised Tocqueville, Peterson said. Tocqueville also warned that if religion would lessen then Americans would become more demanding of government, Peterson added.

Peterson said government does not have the capacity to meet all of the people’s needs. Citizens today are demanding more customized attention and service, Peterson added, calling it the “Amazonification” of government.

“If citizens can order a television online for delivery tomorrow, why can’t they get their street repaired or school fixed or crime reduced by tomorrow?” Peterson said.

Government is simply incapable of adequately addressing all the people’s issues, Peterson said. However, a multi-sector response involving government alongside the civic and private sectors, such as in the relief responses to hurricanes Harvey and Irma, gives Americans a chance, Peterson argued.

“What’s happening in Texas and Florida is an American story and in these ways, not a lot has changed since 1787, when a constitution was written by a group of self-governing do-it-ourselves citizens for generations of self-governing do-it-ourselves citizens,” Peterson said.

 

College of Health Science launches Distinguished Lecture Series

The College of Health Science at California Baptist University hosted Dr. Roderick Stuart to kick off its 7th annual Distinguished Lecture Series on Sept. 18. Stuart, a psychiatrist with Kaiser Permanente, highlighted his career path and offered insight into his professional duties.

Stuart, an Inland Empire native, practices at the Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center in Fontana, Calif. He received his post-graduate training at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and is a certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

After receiving his undergraduate degree, Stuart spent the next four years trying to get into medical school.

“I kept trying and trying to get into medical school and finally got in at Loma Linda, and from there the journey was difficult but doable,” Stuart said. “Getting through medical school is an obtainable goal but you have to work hard.”

Stuart said his profession allows him to be there for a person in their most broken hour. He treats clients with a variety of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

“When a person starts to recognize that their mind isn’t working the way it’s supposed to, people start to get desperate,” Stuart said. “People can be in their worst hour when they come to see me.”

Stuart is trained to offer traditional therapy practices in addition to prescribing medication for any physical ailments he diagnoses.

“My personality played a lot into my decision to become a psychiatrist,” Stuart said. “To be a good therapist, one must listen to and feel the emotions of the patients. It’s all about the connection.”

Stuart said that there is no shortage of jobs in the mental health profession.

“Anytime you receive training in the mental health field you are going to have a job,” Stuart said.

After the session, students had an opportunity to participate in a question and answer session.

 

CBU earns top national and state rankings for campus life

California Baptist University has once again received high marks for campus life in national rankings, coming in at No. 4 for “Best College Campus,” No. 9 for “Best College Food” and  No. 12 for “Best College Dorms,” according to a 2018 Niche Best Colleges list.

The Niche 2018 Best College rankings are based on numerous statistical analyses per category, according to the site. For instance, in the Best College Campus category, Niche used key statistics and student reviews in addition to data from the U.S. Department of Education. The Best College Campus standings also take into account the quality of housing, food services and students’ reviews of the campus.

CBU was ranked tops in the California standings at No. 1 for “Best College Campus” and “Best College Dorms.” CBU also ranked No. 2 in “Best College Food,” No. 6 for “Best Christian Colleges,” and received two No. 10 spots for “Best Colleges for Education” and “Colleges with the Best Student Life.”

The latest rankings come on the heels of CBU’s No. 31 ranking by U.S. News and World Report in the category of “Best Regional University” earlier this month.

 

Intramural football kicks off hunt for the Fortuna Bowl Trophy

The 2017 intramural flag-football season started with a slew of games played out on the Front Lawn at California Baptist University on Sept 18.

Flag football is the most popular intramural sport at CBU. This year’s 29 teams, combined in the men’s and women’s leagues, represents the largest number ever to chase the coveted Fortuna Bowl Trophy in a single season.

The championship games will be held Nov. 11 during the inaugural Parent and Family Weekend. Last year’s Fortuna Bowl games drew thousands of spectators, and the games are usually among the most highly anticipated campus sporting events of the year.

Tyler Cox, director of recreation programs at CBU, said that the university is intentional in offering constructive and competitive environments where students can build and forge meaningful relationships.

“Our whole goal is to bring students together and build a community and get them tied stronger to the university,” Cox said. “Some of these teams come out and practice four times a week. There is some intense competition out there.”

Cox said that more than half of the squads are legacy teams that in some cases have been around for more than a decade.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biology, and Dr. Hyun-Woo Park, professor of biology, co-authored a paper that was published in the journal Scientific Reports (September 2017). The paper was titled Highly Effective Broad Spectrum Chimeric Larvicide That Targets Vector Mosquitoes Using a Lipophilic Protein.

 

 

 

The Department of Aviation Science hosted the annual University Aviation Association (UAA) Conference in Riverside Sept. 13-15. Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation, recently completed a one-year term as president of UAA and received a plaque of appreciation for his service. Prather also made a presentation, New Program Challenges. Creighton Goodman, assistant professor of aviation flight, and Elisabeth Murillo, assistant professor of aviation science, presented America’s Airports: The Threat from Within. Jared Tapsfield, chief flight instructor, and Orlando Martinez, director of aircraft maintenance, presented Challenges of Transitioning to Internal Maintenance. Dan Westermann, associate vice president for University Advancement, and Curt Jarboe, director of development, presented Fundraising for Aviation Programs.

 

Victoria Brodie, visiting professor of public relations, served as the chairperson for the first day of Leadership Riverside’s class of 2018 on Sept. 8. Leadership Riverside is a 10-month program developed to empower and educate decision makers in the community by immersing them in the issues and challenges that shape Riverside’s future. Brodie has chaired the first day, known as Discovery Day, for eight years.

 

 

 

Dr. Sanggon Nam, associate professor of public health, has been named to the editorial board for the International Journal of Geriatrics and Gerontology.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Namhee Kim, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, and 20 communication sciences and disorders students volunteered at the Grove SOS program on Sept. 15. SOS is a monthly program held at the Grove Community Church to serve children with special needs and their families in Riverside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robert Pate, associate professor of psychology, served Sept. 13-18 in Honduras with Ignite Missions, a Baptist-affiliated missions group that serves missionary couples. Pate provided individual, couples and family therapy; presented a workshop on increasing connection in the family; preached a sermon on A Biblical and Psychological View of Self-Care in a church serving missionaries and another sermon on biblically based marriage roles in a church serving Hondurans.

 

 

 

Melissa Anozie (nee Marshall, ’01, ’13), assistant professor of nursing, and her husband, Benjamin Anozie, welcomed a daughter on Aug. 2. Abygale Ogechukwu Patricia Anozie weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 20 1/4 inches long.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU hosts University Aviation Association national conference

The department of aviation science at California Baptist University is hosting a national aviation conference this week that brought approximately 200 University Aviation Association (UAA) members from across the country to Riverside.

Dr. Daniel Prather, chair of aviation science and current president of UAA, said hosting the conference is an opportunity for CBU’s aviation science program to gain national recognition.

“[The conference] brings visibility to our programs and to our faculty and staff,” Prather said. “It helps elevate our programs among our peers.”

The 70th annual Collegiate Aviation Conference & Expo is being held at the Riverside Convention Center from Sept. 13-15.

UAA represents more than 100 collegiate aviation programs nationwide, as well as a number of aviation high schools and aviation companies.

“This is an opportunity for collegiate aviation faculty from around the country to come together and share best practices, share ideas, share research and collaborate in a way that’s really necessary for us to meet the demands in the industry,” Prather said.

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, spoke at the conference’s opening session on Sept. 14.

“While there have been and remain numerous challenges and opportunities birthing the CBU aviation program, under Dr. Prather’s leadership … we don’t believe there are limits to where we can take this program,” Ellis said. “As a higher education decision maker, I encourage you to embrace change. Be a problem-solver, demonstrate ROI and deliver. Help your institution to soar.”

The aviation science program, which is in its fifth year, is housed at the CBU Flight Operations Center located in the Riverside Municipal Airport. The program offers five majors: aviation dispatch, aviation flight, aviation inflight services, aviation management and unmanned systems. The program also has an approved FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Center.

For more information on the CBU aviation science program please click here.

 

Club Fair showcases more than 60 clubs offered at CBU

Community Life at California University hosted a Club Fair on Sept. 14 that provided students an opportunity to learn about the more than 60 clubs on campus.

CBU offers a wide range of organizations that focus on academic development; service-based learning or social activities.

The clubs are designed to bring like-minded individuals into a community setting, said Taylor Allen, program coordinator of clubs and events with Community Life. “We want students to be able to join and be encouraged in their college career,” Allen added.

Jessica Parker, a biomedical engineering junior, is participating in the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES). She said the club has helped her with her professional endeavors.

“The BMES club has helped me to know what professional opportunities are out there after graduation,” Parker said. “The club really focuses on helping students take their next step in their future plans.”

Logan Richardson, a kinesiology senior, said he joined the Surf Club to spend time with his friend Brandon Gherardi, the club president.

“We both grew up surfing; we love it to death. It’s also a way we connect with God,” Richarsdson said. “I look forward to meeting new friends, doing a devotional together and then catching some waves.”

 

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences hosts cinema series

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at California Baptist University kicked off its inaugural Social Cinema Series with the showing of the documentary “Sweet Dreams” on Sept. 13.

The new cinema series coincides with the launch of the college’s Master of Social Work program this fall. The aim of the series is to screen documentaries on issues related to social work or social problems said, Dr. Satara Armstrong, professor of social work and director of the master’s program.

Armstrong said the films will help bring various social issues alive and introduce students to innovative ways that social workers create change.

“Sometimes film or any type of art humanizes concepts and brings it to life. It ignites passions in people and awareness,” Armstrong said.

“Sweet Dreams” highlights the journey of women who lived through the devastation of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. A woman forms an all-female musical drumming group, open to women from both sides of the conflict. The musical group becomes a place to build new relationships and to heal the wounds of the past. The group also partners with two American entrepreneurs to open Rwanda’s first ice cream shop, allowing the Rwandan women to embark on a journey of independence, peace and possibility.

The film highlights the intersection of social enterprise, social work and global justice—components that the MSW program emphasizes, Armstrong said.

After the screening, students discussed the documentary with the filmmakers, Rob and Lisa Fruchtman, via Skype.

The film series is open to all College of Behavioral and Social Sciences graduate students.

 

Dr. Rick Warren challenges students to find their purpose

“I am here to tell you that God has a plan and a purpose for your life,” Dr. Rick Warren told a California Baptist University chapel audience on Sept. 12.

Warren, a CBU alumnus (’77) and founding pastor of Saddleback Church, spoke at the first chapel service held in the new Events Center. He focused on the importance of students finding their purpose in life. Warren is also the author of the New York Times best-seller “The Purpose Driven Life.”

“If you don’t know your purpose, you aren’t living,” Warren said.  “There are plenty of wealthy and successful individuals who feel empty inside.”

People cannot live their purpose unless they know how to find it, Warren reiterated several times.

“You can’t tell yourself what your purpose is because you didn’t make you,” Warren said. “You can also talk to others but that’s just speculation; you need revelation. The only way you will know your purpose is to talk to your creator and read your owner’s manual—the Bible.”

The Bible tells us, we were created to connect with God and to know God and love Him back, Warren said. If you want to know who God is look at the person of Jesus, he added.

“God made you to love you. He planned you for his pleasure,” Warren said. “God is love, it is the essence of His character. The only reason we can love is because we were made in his image.”

Warren said that a purposeful life is all about love.

“Jesus taught us to love the Lord God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and also love your neighbor as yourself,” Warren said, quoting Matthew 22:37.

Warren challenged the students to think about investing their lives in purposeful living.

“There are three things you can do with your life; you can either waste your life, spend your life or invest your life,” Warren said. “Invest your life in things that will outlast us. God’s word will never pass away …and people will last forever.”

God made people to live forever, Warren said in regard to putting life into perspective.

“You are going to spend more time on the next side of eternity than this one,” Warren said. “This life is learning to practice what you are going to be doing in eternity. Life is preparation for the next.”

 

New CBU Online degree serves growth in sports and fitness

The Online and Professional Studies (OPS) division at California Baptist University has launched a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports, Recreation and Fitness Management in response to the growing demand for activities that get people of all ages up and on-the-move.

The sport, fitness and recreation industries have increased in popularity, said Dr. Dominick Sturz, associate professor of public health in OPS. Mud runs, community fitness events, smaller gyms and private fitness classes are popping up all over.

Sturz said that the new sports, recreation and fitness management degree will train students to become innovative and effective leaders, who affect positive change in the field. They will also learn how to successfully operate events and facilities, how to increase profitability for these operations, in addition to mitigating liability issues, Sturz added.

A degree in sports, recreation and fitness management from CBU Online offers academic training to enhance the skillsets in order for students to work in areas such as sports, recreation, fitness, coaching, sport scouting, camp counseling, event planning and facility management, community recreation, sports ministry and more.

Many programs focus solely on the sport aspect, preparing students to work primarily in that industry, Sturz said. The OPS program, which began this month, also includes recreation and fitness.

“We hope to bring something to the table that’s not currently being done elsewhere,” Sturz said. “Our whole purpose is to fulfill the Great Commission and spread the news of Christ as we prepare students for professional practice in a growing field.”

Faculty, who are teaching the classes have a combined professional experience of more than 50 years, Sturz said. The faculty are focused on training and developing the skills students will utilize in the field. They also want to provide a biblical foundation for how a Christian can thrive in their careers.

The sports, recreation and fitness management degree requires a completion of 49 units. The OPS major can be completed in 16 months. The program is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

For more information on the sports, recreation and fitness management degree click here.

 

CBU advances in latest “Best Colleges” rankings

California Baptist University has once again been named one of America’s Best Colleges in rankings announced today by U.S. News and World Report (USN&WR). It is the 12th time in as many years that CBU has received the recognition and the fourth-consecutive year as a top 40-ranked “Best Regional University.”

The USN&WR rankings for 2018 place CBU at No. 31 in the top tier of the nation’s educational institutions. That advances CBU’s position from the No. 37 ranking received in 2017 among “Best Regional Universities” in the West.

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of California Baptist University, said the third party ranking is an important indicator.

“I am pleased that the continuing advances taking place at California Baptist University are reflected in the national rankings that influence the decisions many students make about where to attend college,” Ellis said. “As CBU rises in the rankings, it increasingly validates the choices made by the thousands of students pursuing their educational goals in both traditional and online settings at California Baptist University.”

“Best Colleges” rankings are published in U.S. News & World Report each year to aid prospective students and their parents looking for the best academic values for their money. Now in its 33rd 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.

The category of Best Regional Universities includes more than 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.

California Baptist University offers more than 150 majors, minors and concentrations, as well as more than 40 graduate programs and three doctoral programs.

To view a full list of the 2018 rankings click here.

 

CBU reflects on the 16th anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks

Students, faculty and staff at California Baptist University took time on the 16th anniversary of the collective events known as 9/11 to remember and reflect on the terrorist attacks that rocked the U.S. in 2001.

The Associated Students of California Baptist University coordinated a symbolic opportunity at Stamps Courtyard to commemorate and honor the 2,977 people who lost their lives. Throughout the day, students, faculty and staff had an opportunity to place one of 2,977 flags, one for each victim, in the lawn to form a cross. Additionally, later in the evening there was a time of prayer lead by Brian Zhuniga, director of discipleship in the Office of Spiritual Life.

Aaron Siemens, a creative writing sophomore, said it is important to remember and participate in 9/11 remembrance events.

“Things like this keep our heritage alive and why we should keep saying ‘one nation under God,’” Siemens said.

Haley Wheelon, an accounting senior, was in kindergarten when the attacks took place. She said that she remembered the event but did not understand the impact of the attacks until later in life. She added that the CBU observance was extra important to her this year since her brother is now serving in Afghanistan.

Jilliana O’Neill, an international studies sophomore, was living in her native Belarus when the attacks took place. She is now a U.S. citizen and said placing a flag was the least she could do for those family members who lost a loved one.

“They say when you forget the past you repeat it, but I think this is something that will never be forgotten,” O’Neill said. “You had all these countries coming together in support. I think there is something beautiful in seeing how, even in the darkest of times, how people can still manage to come together.”

 

CBU Online opens educational service center in Moreno Valley

California Baptist University’s division of Online and Professional Studies (OPS) has announced the grand opening of a new educational service center in Moreno Valley, California.

The educational service center site will serve as an enrollment center for aspiring students in addition to hosting classes and a study lounge for current students.

The new location adds greater university access for Moreno Valley and Riverside County residents who reside near the 215 and 60 freeway corridor. The center is located at the Moreno Valley Employment Resource Center at 12625 Frederick St.

CBU Online offers more than 40 programs in a variety of disciplines at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level. Each program is designed with the working professional in mind, allowing students the flexibility to manage school, family and work, said Dr. David Poole, vice president for OPS.

Poole said CBU Online is working closely with city officials to tailor programs to the growing job market in Moreno Valley, especially those in the logistics and medical fields.

“CBU is excited to partner with the city of Moreno Valley. Our bachelor’s in business with a concentration in logistics and operations management will be launching this fall,” Poole said. “This degree program will benefit residents who work at some of the large employers in this growing city, such as Amazon, Procter & Gamble and Skechers.”

CBU Online is now accepting applications for its various programs, starting with the second fall session that begins Oct. 30.

Apart from the new location, CBU Online has four other educational service center locations in Riverside, Temecula, Rancho Cucamonga and Brea.

For information on the Moreno Valley center, please contact 951-343-3900.

 

Fall 2017 semester begins at California Baptist University

Classes for the fall 2017 semester at California Baptist University started Sept. 5, capping off a busy four-day start to the semester that included Welcome Weekend and Lancer Palooza.

The fall semester brings several new additions to CBU since the previous academic year. Students attended Welcome Weekend activities for the first time in the Events Center, a new 5,000 plus-seat multi-purpose arena. The President’s Welcome and “Lancer Palooza” displayed state-of-the-art sound and lighting that now are available for events at CBU.

Additionally, this fall CBU launched several new undergraduate majors and master’s degree programs. In the traditional setting, CBU will offer majors in finance, radiologic sciences and worship arts and ministry. The division of Online and Professional Studies will offer new majors in human services and sports recreation and fitness management. CBU will also offer new master’s programs in social work and industrial and organizational psychology.

While official enrollment records are still pending for the fall semester, initial numbers indicate another historic enrollment mark is likely for CBU.

 

Welcome Weekend initiates newest Lancers

It was more than just the heat that gave the newest Lancers a warm welcome as they arrived at California Baptist University for Welcome Weekend, Sept. 1-4. CBU faculty and staff received approximately 2,000 freshmen and transfer students arriving for the start of the fall semester at CBU.

Welcome Weekend is designed to help students feel part of the CBU family as soon as possible, said Jay Stovall, director of new student programs and orientation.

“We want them to find friendships. We want them to thrive,” Stovall said. “I want a student to come away from Welcome Weekend with a few (new) friends, with an excitement to be a Lancer and with this place feeling a little more comfortable.”

Anna Chilson, a marketing freshman from Weed, California, said the weekend was helping her feel a part of the community.

“When we got here, everyone was ready to help,” Chilson said.

First on the Welcome Weekend schedule was move-in. As new students arrived on campus with carloads of luggage, CBU student leaders lined up next to the living areas prepared to help them move in. They unloaded vehicles, filled rolling bins with bedding, minifridges, clothes and other items and pushed them to the rooms.

Additional weekend activities included a new event, Meet the Inland Empire, to help students learn what the area has to offer as various representatives from local restaurants, shops and churches spoke with the students. There was also a welcome from CBU President Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, an opportunity to meet with deans and faculty members and a special discount-shopping opportunity at Bed Bath and Beyond. Students met their FOCUS groups, which help acclimate students to campus life and participated in the traditional Kugel walk, where new students touch the globe symbolizing their commitment to live a “life of purpose” as they begin their college experience at CBU.

Savannah Knottingham, a psychology freshman from Fontana, California said she chose CBU for its Christian foundation.

“I think the slogan ‘Live Your Purpose’ is definitely what I’ve been aiming for all through high school,” Knottingham said.

Stovall said events during Welcome Weekend are thoroughly planned out.

“I hope the parents see the intentionality that we put into our programming, that they can trust us with their students,” Stovall said.  “It’s another step for us to show that we are faithful stewards of our jobs and of their students.”

Tracy Gowling, a parent from of Bakersfield, California, said she was very happy that her daughter Alyssa chose to attend CBU.

“I just know this is a place she’s going to soar,” Gowling said. “She’s going to become more of who God created her to be.”

Concluding the fall 2017 Welcome Weekend activities is “Lancer Palooza,” a new event open to all students that features multi-Grammy award winning artist Lecrae.

“We want new students, right when they start CBU, to think, ‘I made the best decision ever.’ And then for the returners, to say, ‘this year is going to be amazing,’” Stovall said.

 

Family Updates

Shawn Wilhite, assistant professor of Christian studies for Online and Professional Studies, had two book reviews published. His review of The Composition of the Gospel of Thomas: Original Languages and Influences by Simon Gathercole was published in Gnosis: Journal of Gnostic Studies (2017, Volume 2). His review of The Cross: History, Art, and Controversy by Robin M. Jensen was published in Reading Religion: A Publication of the American Academy of Religion (August 2017)

 

 

Dr. Patrick Schacht, assistant professor of biochemistry, had a paper published in the journal Genes, Genomes, and Genetics (August 2017). The title of the paper was Functional Profiling of Transcription Factor Genes in Neurospora crassa.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Torria Davis, instructional designer for Online and Professional Studies, earned the designation “VoiceThread Certified Educator” last month. To earn this designation, participants complete a two-week online certification course and capstone project demonstrating mastery of VoiceThread features and sound pedagogy. VoiceThread is a web tool for face-to-face, hybrid and fully online courses that allows conversations around a variety of media using microphones and web cams. All CBU faculty and students can access VoiceThread through their Lancernet credentials by visiting https://calbaptist.voicethread.com.

 

Dr. Fred Pontius, professor of civil engineering, met with environmental engineering faculty at Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU), Chung Li, Taiwan, on Aug. 2 to discuss research collaboration and tour their laboratories. He gave a presentation describing CBU’s Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering and potential research areas of mutual interest and heard presentations on CYCU environmental engineering research.

 

 

 

Dr. Robert LaChausse, associate professor of public health sciences, had an opinion-editorial published in The Hill, an American political newspaper. The title was Preserve Prevention Funding to Decrease Teen Pregnancies (Aug. 24).

 

 

 

 

 

Seven students from the Master of Social Work program participated in the Mayor’s Faith Summit in Riverside on Sept. 7. Serving as table leaders, the students led discussions on how participants could partner to address homelessness in their region. The purpose of the summit was to bring together the faith community and community leaders to address homelessness as part of the Mayor’s Love Thy Neighbor Initiative. Last year, CBU’s social work certificate students helped collect data for the initiative.

 

 

 

 

 

The inaugural cohort for the Master of Social Work program, offered by the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, attended an orientation on Aug. 25. The cohort, made up of 72 students, learned about the program and met their faculty mentor.

 

 

 

 

 

Nine CBU physician assistant students from the College of Health Science were selected to present their practice improvement research projects at the UCR School of Medicine Conference of Teaching, Learning and Research held Aug. 26 in Palm Desert. Jennifer Zamora, didactic coordinator the PA program, was also a judge over presentations by medical students.

 

 

 

 

 

Kerri Horton, logistics coordinator for Spiritual Life, and her husband, David, welcomed their first grandchild on Aug. 29. Ezekiel Ryan Horton weighed 9 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 21 inches long. Ezekiel’s parents are Haley (’16) and Jacob (’17) Horton.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Ensembles tune up at Rehearsal Camp ahead of new semester

A week before the fall semester begins at California Baptist University, nearly 450 students involved in various music ensembles already are on campus for Rehearsal Camp, prepping for a busy academic year.

Dr. Dawn Gilmore, assistant professor of music, said the camp hosted by the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music from Aug. 28-31 helps students prepare new music and review old favorites for upcoming concerts.

“As each conductor works with their groups, the voices begin to learn to blend together to make that beautiful, warm and sparkly tone that CBU music groups are known for,” Gilmore said. “The end goal of Rehearsal Camp is to bring together in a group what cannot be accomplished by individuals working alone.”

During the previous academic year, student groups performed more than 220 concerts. Ensembles at CBU include large groups such as the University Choir and Orchestra, with more than 150 vocalists and instrumentalists, and smaller groups such as the Jazz Band and New Song. The groups perform at a variety of venues including university campuses, community events, local high schools and churches. They also participate in multiple concert tours each spring.

Dr. Guy Holliday, assistant professor of music and director of bands, said the camp is an important part of the preparation process for musicians.

“This is a time for beginning new relationship with incoming students and renewing existing relationships with returning students,” Holliday said. “They are also learning how to carry themselves as collegiate musicians, how to consistently perform at a high level of excellence, how to follow the direction of the conductor and how to use their gifts and talents in worship to God and in service to the others.”

Morganne Warner, a freshman majoring in worship leadership, said the camp is helping her become a part of a vocal team.

“It’s going to help me understand the [different roles] and learn the songs quickly before we have an actual concert,” Warner said.

Grace Wanyama, a junior double majoring in public relations and international studies, said the camp is a rewarding experience.

“I enjoy meeting new people,” Wanyama said. “I also enjoy learning the music. It’s hard and it’s exhausting, but it’s really encouraging.”

 

CBU welcomes students from around the world

More than 90 new international students are being welcomed at California Baptist University this week as part of International Orientation.

The orientation, held Aug. 28-31, helps prepare international students to adjust to life at CBU and in the U.S., said Leslie Shelton, director of International Student Services. For many students, it will be their first time in the country and they can experience culture shock, she added.

“Incoming international students often face a lot of different transitions than your traditional freshman or transfer student,” Shelton said.

Shelton said the orientation will introduce the international students to the CBU campus and explain how to get connected. It also includes general information on the City of Riverside in addition to relevant issues such as health insurance and immigration support. The students also undergo an English evaluation at the orientation to determine if they are proficient in the language or if they need to enroll in the Intensive English Program.

Social activities such as a barbecue and bowling also are planned during orientation to help the students get acquainted and connected with staff and their fellow international students.

“We really just want to set them up for success as best we can in transitioning to the U.S. but also transitioning to an education system that is completely different from their own,” said Shellyn Beltran, assistant director of International Student Services.

International students registered at CBU this fall come from Asian countries including China, India, Indonesia and Japan as well as nations in Europe and Africa.

“I’m looking forward to learning new cultures and making friends from other parts of the world,” said Ane Olaeta, a freshman from Spain, who came to CBU to be a part of the women’s basketball team.

Olawumi “Rebecca” Omofomah is a graduate student from Nigeria, who is pursuing her master’s in leadership and organizational studies. Omofomah said she is interested in a new educational experience.

“One of the things that made me enroll at CBU is that I wanted international exposure outside my country. I also wanted to meet other people and learn about different cultures,” Omofomah said. “I would love to be able to impact others with the knowledge and the skills that I acquire here.”

International Student Services plans events throughout the year to help international students feel welcome and connected to the CBU community by hosting cultural events such as Taste the Nations, Festival of Colors and the Lunar New Year, Shelton said.

“We want to honor our students and their culture and celebrate that with them,” Shelton said. “We also want to get our domestic students to the events, too, because it is fun to learn about [other] cultures.”

International Student Services also offers students one-on-one support. For instance, international students can be matched with an American peer to practice English. Additionally, International Student Services matches students with host families that connect with them on a regular basis including hosting meals and holiday activities.

Shelton said CBU International students also have chapel services, consisting of Bible teaching and small group discussion. CBU wants to help international students thrive not only academically but socially, emotionally and spiritually, she explained.

“We strive to make sure our students feel acclimated, that they feel accepted and that they’re a part of CBU,” Shelton said.

 

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences adjusts concentrations

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at California Baptist University will offer six undergraduate concentrations, starting in the fall semester, that will help students explore the diverse behavioral and social sciences field.

The college will offer concentrations in forensic psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, medical anthropology, lifespan development, social work and sports psychology.

“These concentrations will have an exploration aspect for a student’s academic career and will also allow students to explore new aspects of the behavioral and social sciences,” said Dr. Veola Vazquez, associate dean for undergraduate programs.

Vazquez said the college offered several certificate programs in the past. However, the college decided to eliminate the certifications and revamp the undergraduate concentrations, therefore allowing students to declare a concentration that is focused.

Vazquez said that a declared concentration would also benefit students with their post-graduate pursuits.

“These concentrations were developed with the student’s career and educational goals in mind,” Vazquez said. “The students completed concentration will go on a student’s transcripts, which will help employers or graduate school admission counselors identify specific courses student completed.”

Each concentration includes four courses (some may require additional prerequisites), which would otherwise be taken as electives, Vazquez indicated.

In four out of the six concentrations, students can pursue a master’s in a related field at CBU. The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences is offering master’s programs, for the first time this fall, in industrial-organizational psychology and social work. Next fall the college will launch a sports and performance psychology master’s program. The college already offers a master’s in forensic psychology. In total this fall semester, the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences will have five majors with six concentrations, five minors and five graduate programs.

For more information on the concentration options within the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences please contact 951-343-4676.

 

CBU faculty and staff pause to view solar eclipse

California Baptist University faculty and staff members used special eyeglasses and telescopes equipped with protective filters on Aug. 21 to view a solar eclipse described as the most observed in history. While the eclipse was total in a 70-mile wide band stretching from Oregon to South Carolina, the moon obscured about 62 percent of the sun’s surface at the CBU campus in Riverside.

“Eclipses are demonstrations of God’s glory” and serve as “yet another example of creation pointing back to our Creator,” Dr. Kyle Stewart, associate professor of physics, told Baptist Press, the news agency of the Southern Baptist Convention.

 

 

 

Family Updates

Dr. Hyun-Woo Park, professor of biology, and Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biology, helped organize the 50^th Annual Meeting and Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology, held Aug. 13-17 in San Diego. In addition, collectively they co-authored three presentations made at the meeting: Cry11B enhances efficacy significantly to Aedes aegypti when added to a Bacillus thuringiensis strain producing the Cyt1A-BinA chimera; Ascovirus P64 Homologs: A novel family of large cationic proteins that condense viral genomic DNA for encapsidation; and Comparative study of fast-killing versus slow-killing Spodoptera frugiperda ascovirus isolates.

 

Dr. Ed Garrett, associate professor of sports, recreation and fitness management for Online and Professional Studies, conducted a seminar with the senior team for the Mississippi Department of Human Services on June 19 in Jackson, Mississippi. He spoke on developing leadership and motivating others.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Juliann Perdue, professor of nursing, spoke at the Animal-Assisted Interventions 2^nd Annual Conference in Rochester, Michigan, on Aug. 11. She spoke on Integrated Curriculum for Animal-Assisted Interventions: A Nursing Case Study.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Trevor Gillum, associate professor of kinesiology, and Zach McKenna, a kinesiology graduate student, published an article in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (February 2017). The article was titled Effects of exercise induced dehydration and glycerol rehydration on anaerobic power in male collegiate wrestlers.

 

 

 

Dr. Fred Pontius, professor of civil engineering, met with faculty and graduate students and gave a presentation on microbiology in engineering at the School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, in Qufu, China, on July 28.

 

 

 

 

Ashley Sonke, director of nursing student services, was invited to be a part of a consultant group for the  American Association of Colleges of Nursing. This group of nursing school administrators and nursing admissions experts was selected because of their innovative work with holistic admissions review as it relates to diversity in academic nursing programs. The group met in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 18 to develop a toolkit to equip each member to train other schools/colleges of nursing on holistic admissions review best practices.

 

 

Dr. Jim Buchholz, professor of mathematics and physics, presented a paper at the annual American Scientific Affiliation Meeting in Denver held July 28-31. The paper was How Different Philosophies of Science Affect your Faith and Worldview. As part of the event, he also visited the National Ice Core Lab, where ice core samples from Antarctica and Greenland are kept. Buchholz also traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, for the Total Solar Eclipse on Aug. 21.

 

Dr. Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology, made a panel presentation at the International Association for the Psychology of Religion in Hamar, Norway, on Aug. 23. Her presentation was titled The naturalness of religion and science: A comparison of American and Chinese Adolescents.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jong-Wha Bai, associate professor of civil engineering, co-authored and presented two papers at the 12^th International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability in Vienna, Austria, on Aug. 6-10. The titles were Vulnerability Assessment of Smart Bridge Piers due to Vehicle Collision and Probabilistic Model for Predicting Early Creep of Self-Consolidating Concrete Containing SCMs.

 

 

 

Dr. Jeff Cate, professor of New Testament, presented a paper at the International Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature in Berlin, Germany, on Aug. 11. The title was Exegetical Insights from Minor Variant Readings in the Apocalypse. He also presented a paper at a conference on Herman Hoskier and the Future of Textual Scholarship on the Bible, at Dublin (Ireland) City University on Aug. 29. The title was Concerning the Text of the Apocalypse (1929): Herman C. Hoskier’s Lasting Legacy.

 

 

 

 

Stefani Plummer, director of the Recreation Center, and her husband, Christopher, officially adopted their son, Jacob Curtis Plummer, 3.5 years old, on Aug. 11.

 

 

 

 

 

Crystal Chavez, director of physical activity program, and her husband, Joseph, welcomed their daughter on June 15. Kyra Linux Chavez weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 20.5 inches. She joins brother Kruz Dean, 2.

 

 

 

Dr. Patrick Schacht, assistant professor of biochemistry, and his wife, Karen, welcomed a son on Aug. 21. Peter Christopher Schacht weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 21 inches. His older sisters are Rebecca, 4, and Mary, 2.

 

 

 

 

Jeff Keneaster, academic support coordinator for Online and Professional Studies, and his wife, Carrie, welcomed a son on Aug. 4. Sam Wesley Keneaster weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 21 inches.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates