In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU advances in “Best Colleges” rankings for 2017

California Baptist University has been named one of America’s Best Colleges for 2017 in rankings by U.S. News and World Report. It is the 11th time in as many years that CBU has received the recognition and the third consecutive year as a top 40-ranked “Best Regional University.”

The rankings for 2017 place CBU at No. 37 in the top tier of the nation’s educational institutions. That advances CBU’s position from the No. 39 ranking received the previous year among the publication’s “Best Regional Universities” in the West.

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, termed the third-party ranking “significant.” He said recognition by the national publication validates the choices made by thousands of students pursuing their higher education goals at California Baptist University.

“I am pleased that these influential rankings have recognized California Baptist University once again,” Ellis said. “It says good things about the value and quality of the educational programs that CBU offers in both traditional and online settings,” Ellis said.

“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 32nd 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 653 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.

A full list of the 2017 rankings can be viewed at http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges.

 

CBU remembers 15th anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attack

Students, faculty and staff at California Baptist University took time to commemorate the 15^th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack.

The Associated Students of California Baptist University offered an opportunity to remember and honor the 2,977 people who lost their lives. At the Stamps Courtyard, students, faculty and staff took one of 2,977 flags, one for each victim, and placed the flag in the lawn, outlining a cross.

Andrew Graff, ASCBU director of office affairs and a junior health science major, said the event gave the CBU community an opportunity to reflect on that tragic day.

“It’s important to remember because it was a big tragedy that caused a lot of sadness and confusion,” Andrew said.

James Vest, a biochemistry junior, was in second-grade at the time of the attacks. He remembers his mom hugging him when he got home from school. His sister was in New York on vacation at the time and his family was frantic until they heard from her. Vest said remembering 9/11 is important for many reasons.

“It was a time when the nation came together,” Vest said. “At that point in time, it didn’t matter what color skin you had, what faith you were … at the end of the day, we’re all Americans.”

Ken Sanford, an education adjunct professor, was teaching middle school at the time. He said it is important to remember major events that happened in the country.

“It’s got a special place in my heart to remember the people and the families [affected by the tragedy since] every year they have to remember this,” Sanford said.

Christian McCowan, a liberal studies freshman, is too young to remember the attacks, however, she felt it was important to plant a flag and pray.

“With every tragedy, you don’t want to forget those who were lost,” McCowan said. “It’s hard to imagine so much went down that day and so many lives were lost. I feel that people can feel prayer wherever they are. Hopefully my flag, whatever name it may represent, sends peace out to that family, because they are probably still dealing with that grief.”

 

CBU Gallery to host “Into the Mystic” exhibit

The CBU Gallery in downtown Riverside will host an exhibit titled “Into the Mystic: The Quest of Six West Coast Artists” from Sept. 20 – Nov. 19.

The exhibit will showcase 30 pieces by West Coast artists Noah Buchanan, Steve Dzerigian, Anne Marie Karlsen, Guy Kinnear, Laura Lasworth and Duncan Simcoe (CBU director of the Gallery). The exhibit represents an inspiration of spiritual themes, visionary imagery and drawing insights from transcendent encounters. The art includes painting, photography, installation, mixed media and digital configuration.

Gordon Fuglie, guest curator for the CBU exhibit, said the themes displayed in the art remind him of the Apostle John’s contrast of light and darkness in a spiritual sense: “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:5 NASB).

“I believe that encouragement for this artistic quest (spiritual enlightenment) lies within us, and is a striving born within our consciousness as human beings. Some would say that it comes from an inner light emanating from a greater power,” said Fuglie, who is the director and head of curatorial affairs at the Central California Museum of Art.

An artists reception will be held on Thursday, Oct. 6, from 6:30 p.m.–9 p.m.

Into the Mystic: The Quest of Six West Coast Artists

Where: CBU Gallery, downtown Riverside
Exhibition Dates: Tuesday, Sept. 20 – Saturday, Nov. 19
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Questions or to arrange special visit: Karen Heinze, administrative secretary for the College of Architecture, Visual Arts & Design, kheinze@calbaptist.edu or 951-552-8733

 

New students focus on faith as classes begin at CBU

Hundreds of members of the Class of 2020 at California Baptist University officially started their classes on Sept.6.  For many, faith was a key reason they chose CBU.

Amelia Horton, from Hemet, California and a biology pre-med major, indicated she chose CBU because of the sense of family and God’s presence she felt on campus during prior visits.

“I’m looking forward to making a lot of friends and meeting people who are as eager as I am to get plugged in,” Horton said. “I love that I feel that God is so present here.”

Levi Hargrove, from Istanbul, Turkey, and a nursing major, said he wants to grow in his faith and looked forward to speaking with professors that shared his Christian faith.

“I’m looking forward to interacting with professors on a deeper level than high school,” Hargrove said.

Phillip Ndowu, from Nashville, Tennessee, and a biology pre-med major, appreciates the fact that CBU encourages and enables conversations about faith.

“I’m looking forward to being able to openly have conversations about God (with his peers),” Ndowu said.

CBU offers many opportunities for students to grow in their faith, including chapel services featuring respected Christian leaders; the integration of faith and learning in the classroom; discipleship ministries that aim to show students how to live out the Great Commission; and numerous local and international service opportunities.

John Montgomery, dean of Spiritual Life, said college is a crucial time for students to form their identity.

“Traditionally students decide who they are and who they will be during these highly formative years, and they are making their faith their own,” Montgomery said. “They are looking for opportunities to discuss their thoughts and find guidance from Scripture. As a result, many students either make a [new] commitment to follow Christ or make a previous commitment stronger.”

 

Oxford project inspires prof to pursue religion-science dialogue

Dr. Erin Smith wants to bring more conversation about religion and science to the campus of California Baptist University.

Smith, assistant professor of psychology, said God has provided two ways to know truth—scripture and science.

“To get a better understanding of God, his creation and the relationship between God and his creation, those different methods of knowing truth need to be in conversation with each other,” Smith said.

Smith spent four weeks at the Oxford Summer Seminar in England over the past two summers, participating in the Bridging the Two Cultures of Science and the Humanities 2015-16 project. The seminar was geared toward equipping professors with the interdisciplinary skills required to enhance the science-religion dialogue on their campuses. Smith was one of 25 faculty participants from universities throughout the world at the seminar.

Additionally, this summer the seminar invited presidents of participating schools to attend. Dr. Ronald L. Ellis represented CBU at the conference. The goal was to discuss how to continue the science-religion dialogue on college campuses, Smith said.

Last year Smith created a science and religion club at CBU with the goal of providing a place where students can explore the connections and tensions between science and religion. This fall, Smith will be teaching a new course “Cognitive Science and the Human Person” (Psy401), which looks at the issues cognitive science (study of thought, learning and mental organization) raises and how it influences the definition of what it is to be human.

Beyond influencing the campus culture, Smith also is collaborating with fellow seminar participants to seek grants and to conduct research on this topic.

“The conservation isn’t over. It doesn’t end with the end of the seminar,” Smith said. “I’m actually trying to strengthen [the students’] faith by giving them the freedom to ask questions.”

The seminar was hosted by Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford, a United Kingdom subsidiary of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, and funded by the Templeton Religion Trust.

 

Newest members of Lancer Nation arrive for Welcome Weekend

More than 1,800 freshmen and transfer students arrived at California Baptist University as newcomers during Welcome Weekend, Sept. 2-4. Within days, however, they emerged as members of the Lancer Nation thanks to a full schedule of activities.

“Welcome Weekend is an opportunity for us officially to welcome our new Lancers to the community and help them make connections with the campus community, with the university, with fellow classmates and with Christ,” said Heather Hubbert, assistant dean of students-assessment and conduct.

First on the Welcome Weekend schedule was move-in opportunities. As students arrived on campus with carloads of luggage, CBU student leaders lined up next to the living areas prepared to help the newest Lancers move in. They carried boxes and televisions, and pushed rolling bins full of clothes and other items.

“The move-in experience was amazing,” said Anna Ent, from the San Francisco Bay area, who moved into The Cottages. “Everybody came right up to my car and unloaded everything and I didn’t have to do anything. I carried one bag.”

Additional weekend activities included a picnic on the Front Lawn, a welcome from CBU President Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, an opportunity to meet with faculty members, a Quakes minor league baseball game, and a special discount shopping opportunity at Bed Bath and Beyond. Students also met in FOCUS groups, which help acclimate students to campus life. They also participated in the Kugel walk, a CBU tradition where new students touch the Kugel (a massive floating granite globe) symbolizing their commitment to live a life of purpose as they begin their college experience at CBU.

“We are very intentional in what we do so that they do feel connected,” said Jay Stovall, director of new student programs and orientation.

Collin Magness, a nursing major from Fresno, California, was eager to become part of the CBU family.

“I’m really looking forward to the new experiences and seeing what doors God opens up for me,” he said.

Parents and guests also were able to attend some of the events.

“I think it helps the parents feel good about their choice and feel good about leaving their son or daughter here,” Hubbert said. “We try our best to give the parents a glimpse into what the CBU community and culture is all about.”

Mike Row, from Corona, California, said he attended the Academic Open House with his daughter, Shaelyn, a theatre major, to get some questions answered. The CBU community has been “awesome” he said afterward.

“She has been welcomed with open arms,” Row said. “It doesn’t feel like you’re bringing a freshman in, it feels like you’re bringing a new member to the family.”

 

New class explores the changing role of women in art

The “Women in the Arts” (ART 381) class, offered for the first time this fall at California Baptist University, will seek to analyze the evolution of women both as the subjects and the creators of art.

“We have a lot of female students in the visual arts and it’s important for them to know the history [of women artists] and to know where they’re going to fit in that trajectory,” said Dr. Katherine Papineau, assistant professor of architecture and art history, who will teach the course.

The new class was added as part of the upper division elective options for the art history minor in the College of Architecture, Visual Arts & Design.

Historically, artists–—particularly painters, drawers, sculptors and architects—were mostly men, Papineau said. Accepted art forms for females were limited to needlepoint and embroidery. If women did paint, Papineau said, they did not do portraits; but that mindset changed in the 20^th century and in modern times, women are creating all forms of art.

Papineau said gender is no longer an issue when it comes to creating art.

“Today, women are painting everything and anything, and they’re engaging with political themes and racial themes. The door is wide open, which is really nice to see,” Papineau said.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Barry Parker, librarian, had an interview with 710 WOR-AM radio in New York City about his book, Phantom Revelation, that aired on June 26. The novel is a mystery/romance.

 

 

 

Margaret Appenzeller, visiting professor of communication disorders, and Dr. Candace Vickers, associate professor of communication disorders, presented at the annual Headstart Conference for San Bernardino at the Ontario Convention Center on Aug. 24. The name of the presentation was Magic Moments for Language Learning.

 

 

 

Dr. Jong-Wha Bai, associate professor of civil engineering, Dr. Yeesock Kim, associate professor of construction management and civil engineering, co-authored a paper titled Fragility Analysis of Bridge Structures Subjected to Collision Forces. It was presented at the 5^th International Symposium on Reliability Engineering and Risk Management in Seoul, Korea, on Aug. 17-20 and received the Distinguished Paper Award from the symposium committee. Bai also co-authored and presented a paper titled Sensitivity Analysis of Shear Capacity Model for Concrete Members with Internal Composite Reinforcement.

 

 

Dr. Kyle Stewart, assistant professor of physics, gave a presentation of his research at the 2016 UCSC Galaxy Formation Workshop in Santa Cruz, Calif., on Aug. 12.  His talk was titled High Angular Momentum Halo Gas: a Code and Feedback-Independent Prediction of LCDM.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robert Shields, assistant professor of computer information technology for the Online and Professional Studies, successfully defended his dissertation on Aug. 31 for the Doctor of Education degree at California State University, Fullerton.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Marc Weniger, associate professor of business, completed a new textbook, International Marketing, published by Kendall Hunt.

 

 

 

 

Dr. James Yoo, assistant professor of economics, co-authored a paper that was published in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Policy on Sept. 6. The title of the paper was An externality of groundwater depletion: land subsidence and residential property prices in Phoenix, Arizona.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Andrew Herrity, professor of entrepreneurship and director of CBU’s new program in Entrepreneurship, presented information on the new program to the Riverside Technology CEOs Forum on Sept. 6.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU dean leads team of experts writing on “The Love of God”

Dr. Chris Morgan, dean of the School of Christian Ministries at California Baptist University, recently finished editing “The Love of God,” which will be released by Crossway publishing on Sept. 30.

The book is the seventh volume in the series “Theology in Community” that aims to unpack the biblical and theological teachings on historic and contemporary theological issues. Morgan, who is also a professor of theology at CBU, has served as general editor for each of the volumes.

Morgan said the goal of the book is to present a biblical view of the love of God from the perspectives of the Old Testament, New Testament, biblical theology, systematic theology, apologetics, missions and social justice.

“The Love of God” is written for thoughtful church members, pastors, as well as college and seminary students, Morgan said.

“We can have a tendency to make love (only) about ourselves,” Morgan said. “We need to view love in light of God and the Bible’s own teaching.”

Morgan assembled a team to write on issues such as: “Distorting the Love of God?”; “Is the God of the Old Testament a God of Love?”; and “How Does God’s Love Inspire Social Justice?” The book has 10 chapters.

“One of the things I’ve enjoyed the most in this project is finding high caliber experts in their disciplines that could come together to write about the love of God and address important current questions,” Morgan said.

Contributors include accomplished evangelical scholars D. A. Carson, Mariam Kamell, Andreas J. Köstenberger, Raymond C. Ortlund Jr., Robert L. Plummer, and more.

Morgan also contributed a chapter, “How Does the Trinity’s Love Shape our Love for One Another?” He said the ultimate purpose of every Christian’s life is to bring glory to God, but that many never consider how Jesus’ command to love others brings glory to God. Morgan’s essay seeks to address how and why love for one another is shaped by the love of the Trinity.

For Morgan, the love of God is a boundless topic.

“I’ve been captured by the love of God. God’s love is infinite in its depths and heights and I’m fascinated to see how it relates to everything in the Christian life,” Morgan said.

 

Lancers dominate at national cheer competition

The cheer team at California Baptist University scored higher than any other female or coed team from all NCAA teams—including Division I—at the National Cheerleaders Association/USA Cheer Collegiate Camp.

The Lancers accumulated 148 points, which qualified the Lancers to compete in the upcoming nationals held in April in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Lancers will be aiming for their unprecedented fifth-straight title.

“It’s so rewarding to watch this team come together quickly and learn how to be great teammates both on and off the mat,” said Tami Fleming, head coach of CBU cheer. “I feel confident that this year will be one of our best yet, and we will work hard to continue staying at the top of our game.”

Read full article here.

 

Professor hopes book on persecution will “edify” Christian faith

Dr. Greg Cochran realizes persecution may not be an easy read, but he hopes his forthcoming book will help believers develop their faith.

Cochran, associate professor of theology and director of the applied theology program at California Baptist University, said persecution is inevitable for Christians. His aim is to help the church understand what their faith teaches on persecution.

His book, “Christians in the Crosshairs: Persecution in the Bible and Around the World Today,” is set to be released Nov. 1 by Weaver Book Company. In it, Cochran breaks down persecution into three sections: “The Meaning and Magnitude of Christian Persecution”; “The Biblical Portrait of Persecution”; and “The Implications and Practical Applications (of persecution).”

“One of the most surprising aspects of studying persecution has been its effect on me. I thought I would be dour and woeful—defeated—after hearing of great suffering,” Cochran said. “The opposite is true. The gospel—with its resurrection power—is able to take the worst situations and reframe them in victory. Hearing stories of triumph through suffering has been nothing short of glorious.”

In his book, Cochran defines persecution as a hostile, retaliatory action in response to the revelation of Christ and/or His Righteousness.

“We are united with and connected to Christians all over the world who are persecuted,” Cochran said.  “You’ll be glad that you read it, you’ll be glad that you understand it and your faith will be edified because of it. That’s my hope.”

For Cochran, knowing people are being persecuted for their faith has made him more thankful for God’s simple blessings.

“I really want to enjoy the simple things, the real blessings of life that God has given me, and it’s helped me do that,” he said.

 

Lancer 5000 brings running enthusiasts to CBU

More than 200 runners and walkers participated in the 6^th annual Lancer 5000 on the campus of California Baptist University on Aug. 20.

Organized by CBU’s track and cross country program and sponsored by Lexus of Riverside, the event featured a 5K at 7:15 a.m., followed by a 1K Kiddie Run at 7:45 a.m. Awards were presented to the top five overall male and female runners. Proceeds went to the CBU cross country and track program.

The top five female runners were Megan Crum, who ran a time of 18:42.746, followed by Raizah Singh (19:14.286), Arian Mayorga (20:17.513), Natalie Cuellar (21:21.123) and Ahris Mayorga (22:25.450).

The top five male runners were Erik Gonzalez, who ran a time of 15:11.426, followed by Kevin Ramos (15:19.110), Michael Ramirez (16:17.363), Dalton Seckinger (16:33.540) and Jacob Moran (16:37.136).

“This is a wonderful opportunity to provide an enjoyable race for our community,” said Benjamin Gall, head coach for men’s and women’s cross-country and track at CBU. “It is also an opportunity to showcase our campus.”

Gall said the event was scheduled in August to spark interest in the upcoming CBU cross-country season that starts Sept. 2 with the Lancer Invite. Additionally, local high school teams are gearing up for their seasons, and this event offered a unique preseason opportunity.

Catherine Lua, a senior and cross-country runner at Jurupa Hills High School, said she was looking to run a good time at the Lancer 5000.

“I enjoy competition and it’s neat to be able to tune up on the campus of California Baptist University,” said Lua, who starts her season next month.

Alejandra Herrera, a high school student and resident of Fontana, Calif., said she signed up for the race as a new experience.

“This is the first 5K race I’ve been in,” said Herrera. “I’m enjoying the atmosphere.”

See the 5K race results below:

Women’s
Men’s

 

Student’s heart for foster kids leads her to launch nonprofit

For Natalie Dixon, a graphic design senior at California Baptist University, helping foster kids is her Great Commission service.

Dixon is the founder of Rose Again Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assists foster children through a variety of programs. This summer the Murrieta Chamber of Commerce recognized the efforts and success of Dixon by nominating her foundation for a Non-Profit of the Year award. Additionally, Dixon has also been nominated for the national Roslyn S. Jaffe Award, given to individuals that are seeking to make the world a better place for women and children.

Dixon’s passion for her current ministry was ignited as a high school student when she went on a trip, with her dad, to a Christian orphanage in Guatemala.

“I had never been to a place in the world that was so poor,” Dixon recalled. “Yet these were some of the most joy-filled kids that I had ever met.”

Dixon came back with a desire to help kids in need, and she ultimately set her sights on foster children. After researching and interviewing foster families and children to discover their needs, she, with the help of her family and friends, started the Rose Again Foundation in 2013. The name comes from a combination of Dixon’s middle name and her desire to see kids “rise again” out of their circumstances and become wholesome individuals.

“It felt like God opened all these doors,” Dixon said.

The nonprofit serves Southwest Riverside County. Some of the programs Dixon has incorporated into her organization include Kids of Summer that funds extra-curricular activities; Bless the Children that provides gifts during the Christmas season; and the Thrive Boxes initiative that gives 18-year-olds, who have aged out of the foster system, household goods. Additionally, this past spring, for the first time, the foundation offered two scholarships for college.

The Rose Again Foundation holds fundraisers, applies for grants and receives donations from individuals and organizations to pay for its programs.

The CBU community also has helped Dixon along her journey of launching the foundation. When a professor learned the nonprofit needed a logo, he made that part of an assignment in a design class. An art professor has offered Dixon art for a fundraiser. Dixon’s husband, Jeffrey Dixon, is a CBU nursing major, and the School of Nursing has made some of the foundation’s events a volunteer opportunity for nursing students.

Dixon said she hopes by providing for the children’s needs it will help in their overall well-being.

“The foundation was founded on the basis of loving these kids like Christ loves us,” Dixon said.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Elizabeth Morris, associate provost for accreditation, assessment, and curriculum, is a senior contributor for an online textbook Algebra, a zyBook to be used as a college STEM textbook replacement. The textbook was published in March 2016 in part by support from the National Science Foundation. She also worked on extended material for a new edition of the book that came out at the end of August.

 

 

 

The Communication Sciences and Disorders program in the College of Health Science received notice on Aug. 10 that it has been awarded candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology. The first cohort of 25 students in the new master’s program in speech-language pathology begins classes this fall. There were many people across CBU who contributed to the efforts. The faculty would like to offer a special thanks to Dr. David Pearson, dean of the College of Health Science, and Lisa Schwartz, department secretary for the Department of Public Health Sciences.

 

 

Evoke Magazine, a student produced CBU/Online and Professional studies publication, won a “Gold Hermes Creative Award” for the second edition of the magazine. The editorial team is made up of CBU/Online public relations and graphic design students. Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, chair of arts and sciences and associate professor of public relations, and Sam Park, assistant professor of graphic design and digital media, both for Online and Professional Studies, serve as faculty advisers for the publication, which is published annually.

 

 

Marilyn Moore, associate professor of sociology, spoke Aug. 20, Aug. 22 and Aug. 26 at recruitment orientations for Sunburst Youth Academy (SYA), a residential program for 16-18-year-old high school dropouts run by the National Guard in Los Alamitos. CBU hosts recruitment orientations and CBU students also have opportunity to volunteer as mentors for the program’s participants.

 

 

Dr. Lesley Mayne, assistant professor of communication disorders, presented at the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) conference in Toronto, Canada, Aug. 8-11. The title of her presentation was Developing Participation: An AAC Model for Practitioners, Parents, and Children.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Carol Minton-Ryan, professor of sociology, and her team have worked on the documentation of the Malawian Sign Language and the completion of an online Malawian Sign Language dictionary. They presented their work at the International Educational Conference at Chancellor College in Zomba, Malawi, on July 27.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Julie Browning, associate professor of accounting, presented two papers at the American Accounting Association’s Conference in New York on Aug. 6. The papers were titled How to get on the job experience before applying for a job and How to engage and retain principles-level accounting students in online courses.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Gretchen Bartels, assistant professor of English for Online and Professional Studies, had a poem, “Yellowing Pages,” published in KAIROS, an online literary magazine (Volume 1 Issue 1).

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Rod Foist, professor of electrical and computer engineering, presented a paper at the 2016 FYEE (First Year Engineering Experience) conference at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, July 31-Aug. 2. The paper, co-authored with Dr. Anthony Donaldson, dean of the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering, was titled An Improved “Intuitive Calculus” Project, Using Electronic Filters, for a First-Year Engineering Math Laboratory.

 

 

 

Dr. Jong-Wha Bai, associate professor of civil engineering, co-authored a paper titled Probabilistic Shear Capacity Models for Concrete Members with Internal Composite Reinforcement, which was published in August issue of the Journal of Composites for Construction.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, visiting professor of kinesiology for Online and Professional Studies, spoke at Belmont University College of Pharmacy in Nashville, Tenn., on Aug. 23. She presented on the recent American Heart Association updates on cardiac resuscitation and assisted in life support training for 85 doctoral students.

 

 

 

 

CBU hosted Jurupa Unified School District’s Superintendent Committee along with college and career counselors from Jurupa Unified Schools on Aug. 16. The visit was part of a collaboration initiative with CBU and school district’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics college readiness programs. Kent Dacus, vice president for Enrollment and Student Services, and Dr. Dirk Davis, associate vice president of academics for Online and Professional Studies, the directors of college admissions and athletics, and the deans, directors and chairs in College of Health Science, School of Nursing, College of Engineering, and Online and Professional Studies hosted the group.

 

Margaret Marquez, accounting clerk II for Facilities and Planning Services, has been chosen Employee of the month for September. The nomination form included the following statements: “Margaret works well with other departments on campus and with vendors/contractors who are checking their invoice status. She’s an exemplary employee with a true servant’s heart. Margaret has consistent, excellent work product. She’s always willing to take on new tasks without hesitation. She’s organized, thorough and has an eye for detail.”

 

 

 

 

Dr. Glenn Pickett, associate professor of music, presented at the Disney Performing Arts Inspiring Brilliance conference, held at Disneyland, Aug. 12-13. His presentation was titled The Eyes Have It!  To end the presentation, he had two CBU master’s degree students, Amanda Tabora and Traivon Williams, sing as a demonstration of effective use of eye contact in a performance.

 

 

 

Beth Groves, assistant professor of public administration for Online and Professional Studies, presented at a Leadership Training Retreat sponsored by Soroptimist International of the Americas Golden West Region, held in Ontario on Aug. 20. Her presentation was titled Lighthouse Leadership.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Natalie Winter, associate professor of marketing, spoke to the Business in Action group of the Riverside Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 10. Her presentation, titled Millennials: Mystery or Mavericks, provided insights to local businesses on how to engage millennial customers.

 

 

 

 

Frank Mihelich, assistant professor of theatre, attended the national conference for the Association for Theatre in Higher Education in Chicago on Aug. 10-15. He participated in a panel discussion titled Small Christian Theatre Programs in Motion: A Panel and Discussion Exploring Play Selection, Copyright, Administration and Audience Relations.

 

 

 

 

Sammi Sheppard, director of sports information, and Richard “Doc” Wellman, assistant men’s basketball coach, were married Aug. 14 at Highland Springs Resort in Cherry Valley, Calif.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Carol Minton-Ryan, professor of sociology, and her husband, Chris Ryan, welcomed their eighth grandchild Aug. 18. Natalie Jane Newman weighed 6 pounds and 14 ounces and measured 19.5 inches long. She is the daughter of Hannah Minton Newman (’12).

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Women’s basketball heads to Taiwan to prep for new season

California Baptist University women’s basketball team has headed overseas to Taiwan for a unique opportunity to tune-up for the 2016-17 season.

The Lancers will take on international competition including the National Taiwan University of Physical Education and Sport on Aug. 17; Dankook University (South Korea) on Aug. 18; and Fo Guang University (Taiwan) on Aug. 19. The games are part of an exhibition tournament.

Expectations for the Lancers are once again high this season with a majority of their roster returning. The Lancers are coming off a PacWest regular season finish where the team put together a program’s best 21-game winning streak and also had an undefeated record at home (14-0).

Additionally, Lancers head coach Jarrod Olson was named the PacWest Coach of the Year and junior point guard Cassidy Mihalko was awarded an All-American honors.

The Lancers will officially kick off their season at the D2 Tip-off Classic on Oct. 4 at the Santiago Canyon College Athletic Complex in Orange, Calif.

 

CBU to offer new bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship

Attention, inquiring minds and problem solvers: California Baptist University has developed a new major with you in mind. The Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business will offer a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship starting in the fall.

Dr. Andrew Herrity, entrepreneurship program director, said the program aims to equip students to become well-prepared entrepreneurs with a heart to solve problems.

“We want our students to be problem solvers, to think about how to care and serve our communities better,” Herrity said. “While profit is an important part of operating a business, at its heart entrepreneurship is about providing solutions that benefit society.”

Students majoring in entrepreneurship will also be required to minor in one of 40 different options available at CBU.

“Since entrepreneurs are unique individuals, we thought it would be a good idea to offer something unique to this program in a way of the minor requirement,” Herrity said. “Gaining knowledge in an industry is an important part of establishing a business.”

Herrity sees a correlation between minors and new ventures. He envisions computer science minors developing the next app, or a visual arts minor starting a design company.

Upper division courses will encourage students’ creativity and identify what they are passionate about, Herrity said.

Herrity also noted that most entrepreneurs do not initially start working for themselves. Instead, they learn on the job and then venture out after gaining some understanding of an industry. That is why CBU still requires 30 units of business administration in both lower and upper division courses, he noted.

“With our Christian worldview at CBU, we believe that we are all created in the image of God, who is a creator, and we want students to take that creativity and start ventures that will be beneficial to others,” Herrity said.

 

Engineering 101 prepares new students for academia, vocation

A foundation for academic and vocational success awaits new students enrolling in the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering at California Baptist University this fall. More than 200 new engineering students are expected in the fall, and one of the first courses they will encounter is EGR101, Engineering Christian Worldview.

“It’s a course where students can cast a vision for their life as a CBU engineering student and as a graduate,” said Dr. Anthony Donaldson, dean of the College of Engineering.

Donaldson teaches a portion of the course dedicated to understanding a Christian worldview. Engineers are to be a part of solving problems, he said.

“Engineers are called to serve. They are called to use the talents that God has given them to solve problems in society,” Donaldson said.

The other components help students prepare for the academic rigor, such as how to study, organize time and understand the various teaching styles.

The students also learn to work as a team and be part of a community, said Dr. Matthew Rickard, professor of bioengineering.

“It’s also part of what it is to be a Christian… being part of a community and helping others,” Rickard said.

A majority of engineering students have the same curriculum the first year. Additional courses include a seminar class, which summarizes the 10 majors offered at CBU and an engineering service class, where the students complete 30 hours of service work.

These classes contribute to the university’s goal of helping the students find their purpose in life, Donaldson said.

 

CBU Aviation Unmanned Systems degree set to launch this fall

Drones will be invading California Baptist University this fall. The Department of Aviation Science is set to launch a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Unmanned Systems.

Whether referred to as drones, unmanned aerial systems, or unmanned aerial vehicles, these remote-controlled aircraft require a pilot with specialized aviation knowledge and skills as well as an understanding of federal regulations, said Paul Haley, assistant professor of aviation at CBU.

“The new degree is relevant today due to the rapid increase in worldwide use of the various types of remotely piloted aircraft,” Haley said.

Haley said employment opportunities in the unmanned aircraft industry are numerous. For instance, large-scale, piloted unmanned aerial systems currently are being used to assist firefighters, scientists, search and rescue teams and government agencies. Smaller remote-piloted aircraft are being used in the real estate, film, agricultural, medical and oil industries.

“Graduates of the aviation unmanned systems major will enter the workforce as instrument-rated commercial pilots and will help meet the need in this rapidly developing industry for qualified unmanned systems pilots,” Haley said.

 

Family Updates

Kevin J. Cotton, adjunct professor of mathematics, taught a course on mathematical modeling to high school students for the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth. The center identifies young people of great academic promise and then develops their intellect and personal growth. The first session took place in Santa Cruz, and the second was in Easton, Penn. The sessions ran June 23-Aug 6.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Derek Updegraff, assistant professor of English and creative writing, published a collection of short fiction titled The Butcher’s Tale and Other Stories. The book was published by Stephen F. Austin State University Press and is distributed by the Texas A&M University Press Consortium.

 

 

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, taught a two-day Advanced Airport Safety and Operations Specialist School on July 30-21 to 40 airport professionals. It was part of the American Association of Airport Executives Airfield and Facilities Management conference in Boise, Idaho.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Hyun-Woo Park, professor of biology, and Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biology, presented co-authored papers at the 49^th Annual Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology in Tours, France, on July 24-28. The papers were titled, A binB knockout in Lysinibacillus sphaericus demonstrates BinA can form a crystal without BinB in Bacillus thuringiensis and Lysinibacillus sphaericus binary toxin structure revealed in situ by de novo phasing with an X-ray free-electron laser: Insights into the larvicidal biology of BinA and BinB. Bideshi also was co-author of a poster presentation titled Comparison of genome replication rates of fast-killing versus slow-killing SfAV isolates.

 

 

Eric Mendoza, marketing specialist for Marketing and Communication, has been chosen Employee of the Month for August. The nomination form included the following statements: “Eric has a true servant’s heart and strives to meet and exceed the expectations and goals of the clients for whom he produces videos. He is frequently commended by them for the excellent quality of the products he produces and for his determination to do what is necessary to deliver these products on time.”

 

 

 

 

Dr. Frederick Pontius, professor of civil and environmental engineering, was the moderator for the 2016 International Conference on Civil and Environmental Engineering, held in Xi’an, China, on July 26-27. Pontius also delivered a paper at the conference titled Chitosan as a Drinking Water Coagulant, which was published July 15, 2016, in the American Journal of Civil Engineering.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Amanie Abdelmessih, professor of mechanical engineering, presented an article, Creation of Undergraduate Engineering Laboratory with Minimal Funding, at the 2016 ASEE (American Society for Engineering Education) conference June 26-29 in New Orleans, La. She also moderated the session called M438-Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design.  Abdelmessih also served as a track organizer at the 2016 Summer Heat Transfer Conference, held in Washington, D.C., July 10-14. She oversaw the track of Heat Transfer in Electronic Equipment, which included four sessions and a panel. This is the sixth time she served as track organizer/leader, and she received a certificate of appreciation. Abdelmessih and 12 former CBU students also published an article, Design of a Magnetic Cooling Device Using Gadolinium Alloy and Permanent Magnets, in the proceedings of the conference.

 

Dr. Jong-Wha Bai, associate professor of civil engineering, conducted a seminar on seismic vulnerability and loss estimation of concrete structures for architectural engineering students at Seoul National University in Korea on July 8.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

School of Nursing set to mark decade of training students

The California Baptist University School of Nursing, which marks its 10th anniversary this fall, has developed a prescription for success: qualified and caring faculty, state-of-the-art facilities and vision to improve healthcare outcomes in the community.

Dr. Geneva Oaks, dean of the School of Nursing, has been with the school in various roles since its beginning. She noted the school has a reputation that faculty are committed to student success.

“Students say faculty invest in them personally and care about them as people,” Oaks explained. “It inspires them to be the best nurses they can be.”

This fall, approximately 720 students will be pursuing degrees in five nursing programs, including CBU’s inaugural doctoral program, the Doctor of Nursing Practice. This is dramatic increase from the inaugural 62-student class that enrolled in two programs in 2006. Since its founding, the School of Nursing has graduated more than 760 students.

Oaks said that during the past decade, the university has provided needed resources for learning such as the state-of-the-art Nursing Annex, which opened in 2014

The annex includes faculty offices, skills laboratories, classrooms and a computer laboratory. There is also a state-of-the-art simulation studio that places students in virtual reality scenarios such as administering aid in a village in Thailand or helping patients during in an emergency waiting room after a disaster.

“It is like a wow factor, the innovation and state-of-the-art technology we have,” said Dr. Juliann Perdue, professor of nursing. “The student learning [becomes] evident as they can take their experience in simulation into the patient-care setting.”

Oaks is also mindful of the impact the School of Nursing can have on the community and sees the opportunity to accomplish the university’s mission through service. CBU is the only university in Riverside County that offers a bachelor’s degree and above in nursing.

“Research supports that the [higher] level of education of the nursing workforce translates into better outcomes for patients,” Oaks said. “CBU is here to offer that higher level of education.”

 

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

Dr. Andrea Scott has been named dean of the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business at California Baptist University. She started her new position on Aug. 1.

Scott brings more than 20 years of experience in research and marketing to her new post. She is also a Fulbright Scholar, having completed a teaching and research grant at the University of Technology in Kingston, Jamaica, in 2004.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business as it is primed for equipping the next generation of business professionals who are both mindful and competent,” Scott said. “I’m passionate about alumni advocacy and networking and aim to foster reputational excellence of our school for community service and social impact. I look forward to seeing the school serve as the ‘go-to’ business hub not only for the CBU campus, but also a wide range of local enterprises.”

Scott earned her doctorate in marketing from the University of South Florida. She also holds an MBA from Emory University and a bachelor’s degree in visual communication from Wheaton College.

Scott comes to CBU from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management where she has been assistant professor of marketing for the past 12 years. Her teaching areas included marketing management, consumer behavior and marketing communications. She also taught the Case Competition class and served as the main case coach for the Graziadio School. Her previous professional experience includes work in an advertising agency; as a business analyst for Honeywell Inc.; and starting her own business, The Write Touch (marketing consulting services).

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Andrea Scott as dean of the School of Business at CBU,” said Dr. Charles Sands, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Her academic background, her professional experience and her desire to connect and engage with the community are an excellent fit for us.”

The School of Business offers a MBA program, four undergraduate majors and three minors. Approximately 550 students attended the school in 2015-2016 academic year.

 

New dean named for Collinsworth School of Music

Dr. Joseph Bolin has been named dean of the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music at California Baptist University. He assumed his new duties Aug. 1.

Bolin brings more than 20 years of experience as educator, worship pastor, conductor and performer. He most recently was the pastor of worship and arts at Bannockburn Church in Austin, Texas, where he oversaw all music and media programming/staff. He was also a lecturer in conducting and associate director of choral activities at the University of Texas at Austin’s Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music.

“I am excited to be joining the community of CBU and the Collinsworth School of Music,” Bolin said. “(CBU) has an illustrious history of inspiring young musicians to the highest standards of musical excellence. It’s an honor to be part of this legacy and I look forward to playing a role in the expansion of its global influence to the glory of God.”

Bolin earned a Doctor of Musical Arts and a Master of Music in choral conducting at The University of Texas at Austin. He received an undergraduate degree in vocal performance from Southern Illinois University.

He has sung with groups such as the Santa Fe Opera, Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, San Antonio Choral Society and The University of Texas at Austin, Chamber Singers.

“Dr. Bolin’s arrival at CBU comes at an incredibly important time for the Collinsworth School of Music,” said Dr. Charles Sands, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “His professional performance experience and his leadership as a worship pastor are in perfect alignment with where we are headed with this program. We are very excited to have him join us here at CBU!”

The School of Music offers a Master of Music program with four concentrations, six majors and one minor. More than 115 students attended the school in 2015-2016 academic year and hundreds more participated in the school’s performance groups.

 

College of Engineering introduces students to fields of study

Wearing goggles and surrounded by lab equipment, the high school students measured fluids, checked temperatures and wrote notes as they learned about distillation. That is just one of the many things the students experienced during an introductory engineering course at California Baptist University.

Engineering Innovation, a four-week summer course developed by Johns Hopkins University, was offered at 14 sites nationwide. Five students from the Inland Empire and two international students attended the program at CBU’s Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering, June 27-July 22.

The course covered several areas of engineering, including materials science, chemical, electrical, computer and civil. The program exposed the students to the various fields and what it is like to be an engineering student, said Dr. Mario Oyanader, associate professor of chemical engineering, who taught the course.

“The whole program is for high school students who would like to explore engineering as a college discipline and a future career,” Oyanader said.

The course included lectures and hands-on projects, such as designing and constructing a circuit to control a robotics car and building a bridge with uncooked spaghetti. The students also learned about ethics and teamwork.

“We give them that [teamwork] environment here because it’s part of what they have to learn in engineering school,” Oyanader said. With ethics, “they have to know engineering is not just numbers. It has to do with morals and your behavior.”

Rana Eltahir, who will be a senior at Claremont High School, found electrical and mechanical engineering attracted her the most. The program confirmed her decision to pursue engineering.

“Every time we do a lecture, I’m very interested,” she said. “When it comes to (engineering), I’m always engaged. Every day is something new and something different.”

 

Family Updates

Dr. Kenneth Minesinger, associate professor of law for Online and Professional Studies, served as issue editor for the State Bar of California Business Law Journal.  Available now, Issue 2, 2016 focused on insolvency law.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Seung-Jae Kim, associate professor of bioengineering, co-authored a paper with CBU student Ruthie Muqatach titled Effects of Visual Feedback on Treadmill Walking Speed. It was published in the July issue of International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

 

 

 

 

Janet Crate, special events and volunteer coordinator for University Advancement, and Carrie Smith, alumni and parent communications manager for University Advancement, made a presentation at the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities Alumni Professionals Conference held July 18-22 in Santa Barbara at Westmont College. Their Event Tips and Tricks for the Reluctant Party Planner showed new ways to approach university events.

 

 

 

 

Dr. William Flores, associate professor of Spanish, presented a paper at the 98th annual conference of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese held in Miami, Fla., on July 8-11. The paper was titled Ecosophies and the Apocalyptic Imagination in One Hundred Years of Solitude.

 

 

 

 

Gary Steward, adjunct professor of history and government for Online and Professional Studies, wrote the entry on Stuart Robinson for Religion and Politics in America: An Encyclopedia of Church and State in American Life (ABC-CLIO, 2016).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Barry Parker, librarian, recently published This Heaven on Kindle. The literary fiction book is the first in a series titled Jacob’s world.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Nicole MacDonald, associate professor of kinesiology, and Dr. Jolene Dickert, associate professor of athletic training, presented a poster titled Attitudes towards Interprofessional Education using a Psychosocial Simulation at the Far West Athletic Trainers’ Association Clinical Symposium in Keauhou Bay, Hawaii, July 12-16. MacDonald also presented in a webinar sponsored by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association titled Degree Transition Considerations and Best Practices: What’s Next? Lesson 3: Clinical Education.

 

 

 

 

Dr. DawnEllen Jacobs, associate provost for faculty development, traveled with her husband, Richard, daughter Kimberly Jacobs (‘13) and sister-in law Jane to Quito, Ecuador, July 6-17 on a music outreach project. They were part of a group of 40 instrumentalists from churches across the U.S. that provided outreach concerts in churches across Quito.  The group also hosted a band camp and a musical VBS for a local school.

 

 

 

 

 

A delegation of 12 Taiwanese professors from Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) visited CBU July 6-26. Dr. Larry Linamen, vice president for Global Initiatives, has a long-standing relationship with the president of CYCU, a private university in Taiwan. The purpose of the visit was for CYCU to gain insight about the American education system and course design. CBU will be sending four Teach Abroad Program teachers and two faculty to CYCU this summer to teach for 2 1/2 weeks.  Carla Liu, assistant professor of English and TESOL, provided sessions on course and syllabus design.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, visiting professor of kinesiology for Online and Professional Studies, volunteered at the Pro Watercross National Racing Series held in Atlantic City, N.J., on July 23-24. Partnering with Team Faith racing ministry, she helped design a cart that provided free Bibles and free healthy fruit smoothies to the professional watercraft racers, mechanics and fans.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Thomas Ferko, professor of chemistry, Marilyn Panaro, lecturer in biology, Dr. Patrick Schacht, assistant professor of biochemistry, Dr. Alex Chediak, professor of engineering and physics, and Dr. Jim Buchholz, professor of mathematics and physics, led a science workshop for high school science teachers in the Chaffey Joint Union High School District. The workshop, held July 11-15, was part of a California Mathematics & Science Partnership Grant. CBU is the lead institute of higher education on the grant and Buchholz is the principle investigator.

 

 

Dr. Thomas Ferko, professor of chemistry, and Dr. Jim Buchholz, professor of mathematics and physics,  moderated the Teaching Science and Faith Sessions at the annual American Scientific Affiliation Meeting held July 21-25 at Azusa Pacific University. Buchholz and conference chair Michael Everest of Westmont chose which teaching papers to admit to the conference from the abstracts submitted. Dr. Melissa Antonio, assistant professor of biology, participated in a panel and helped plan and organize three panel discussions. She participated in the panel Christian Women in Science, which discussed experiences as a woman working in the science and how to encourage future female students to pursue careers in the science. Dr. Alan Fossett, professor of chemistry, also attended the event.

 

Vicki Cleveland, director of institutional research, was one of two invited speakers from the U.S. at the Center for Institutional Research Conference at LungHwa University of Science and Technology in Taoyuan City, Taiwan, on June 27-30.  Information from her presentation, Building a Culture of Evidence: The Development of Institutional Research at a Growing Private University, was included in a report to the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China for distribution to universities throughout Taiwan.

 

 

 

 

 

The California Baptist University Cross Country and Track program will host the Fifth Annual Lancer 5000 sponsored by Lexus to be held at CBU on Aug. 20. Teams made up of 5-7 runners from the same CBU campus department are encouraged to sign up and compete for prizes. For more information, go to www.cbulancers.com/lancer5000.

 

 

Benjamin Gall, head men’s and women’s cross country/track coach, and his wife, Rachel, welcomed their third son on July 11. Silas Patrick Gall weighed 9 pounds, 8 ounces and measured 21.25 inches. His older brothers are Judah, 5, and Ezekiel, 2.

 

 

 

 

 

Amy Ramirez (’08, ’13), assistant softball coach, and her husband, Art, welcomed their first child Oct 17. Autumn Mae Ramirez weighed 6 pounds and 13 ounces and measured 22 inches long.

 

 

 

 

 

Bryna Nasenbeny, assistant director of marketing in Athletics, and Seth Taylor, assistant women’s soccer coach, were married at LaSalle Street Church in Chicago on July 23.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Sports analytics major set to launch at CBU in the fall

California Baptist University is offering a new major that promises to be a game changer. This fall CBU will offer a Bachelor of Science in Sports Analytics, the first-of-its-kind offered west of the Mississippi.

Dr. Lisa Hernandez, chair of the department of natural and mathematical sciences, said the new major will be geared toward those who want to make a career in professional sports.

“Sports, like any other major industry, is looking to gain an advantage through analytics,” Hernandez said. “We live in a data-driven era where every click on any site can be potentially used to your advantage. It’s no different on the playing field.”

Hernandez said that throughout mathematic departments in academia, students have been told that majoring in statistics could help land a sports analytics job. However, at CBU there is now an effort to focus on courses and experiences that will better equip a person for this specific field.

Part of the upper division coursework will include a partnership with Lancers Athletics, where students will work closely with coaches and staff to determine statistics that need to be analyzed for various teams. Additionally, an internship will be required pushing students out into the community to gain hands-on experiences.

Hernandez said CBU faculty was a prominent factor in the ability to launch this program.

Dr. Linn Carothers, professor of mathematics and one of the faculty for the new major, has a reputation for using supercomputing to analyze statistics at a high level.

Carothers led the effort to secure two grants at CBU that provide access for faculty and staff to supercomputers located all over the country. CBU faculty can now model, simulate and predict using big sample data that is bootstrapped, or resampled thousands of times from these supercomputers.

“For CBU students, it means that we can train them at the bleeding edge of technology. They can use the most advanced software [available],” Carothers said.

 

Director aims to create the go-to-place for research at CBU

Faculty, staff and students will have a more comfortable place on campus come fall to explore and conduct research at California Baptist University.

Erin Smith, assistant professor of psychology and director of research at the School of Behavioral Sciences, said she envisions the Center for the Study of Human Behavior (CSHB) as the “water-cooler” spot to develop the culture of research at CBU.

Smith said that while CSHB is not new to CBU, it is receiving a makeover this summer.

“We are working to create a more warm psychical space where research can be conducted,” Smith said.

The center will have spaces designated to utilize research methods such as interviews or focus groups. The center will also have computers, cameras and microphones to assist in the research processes.

While the center is housed within the School of Behavioral Sciences, the CSHB is an interdisciplinary facility, and faculty, students, and researchers from across disciplines are encouraged to utilize the center, Smith said.

Smith also envisions the center as a place to host workshops where instructors can share their research findings with other faculty. She wants the place to be a melting pot and birthing place of ideas.

“Sometimes we can be consumed with teaching,” Smith said. “We want the center to be a place to take a break and learn about other projects that are going on at CBU and work on building interdisciplinary collaborations.”

Smith said she also wants graduate programs to know that undergraduates are looking for opportunities to gain experience with conducting research. The center will aim to connect students with research opportunities.

“Undergraduate students can be effective resources for our graduate programs,” Smith said. “They need to pad their resume with research experience, and we can use their help…it can become a mutually beneficial relationship.”

 

CBU students land fellowships with city, government agencies

Six students from California Baptist University were selected to participate in the inaugural Western Regional Council of Governments (WRCOG) Fellowship Program.

WRCOG focuses on solving issues pertinent to the 17 cities and various agencies it represents throughout the Inland Empire region.

The six students represent a variety of programs at CBU including the master’s in public and business administration and the sociology and environment science majors.

The students selected were Tammi Philips (Banning’s city manager office), Bobby Frisch (Hemet’s city manager office), Nelly Telleria (Lake Elsinore’s city manager office), Eduardo Sida (Perris’ city manager office), Megan Elder (Riverside Museum cultural affairs) and Melissa Varela (Western Municipal Water District public information office).

Frisch said his first task will be incorporating infographics and other communication designs into the state of the mayor’s address.

“I’m going into this opportunity thinking how beneficial this could be for me professionally, by learning how to work next to high-ranking government officials,” Frisch said.

The fellowship is in its inaugural year, and CBU was one of two universities selected to recommend students to help fill open positions. Each student will work for a nine-month period, 32-40 hours a week, at a rate of $15-$17 per hour.

Students were selected to various positions based on a combination of factors including their resume, work experience, skill set and performance during an interview.

Laura Acosta, associate director for CBU’s Career Center, said this opportunity allows students unique access to top city and agency officials.

“These fellowships will not only allow students an inside look into specific government and agency roles, but it will also allow them to develop professional connections,” Acosta said.

 

Students get opportunity to practice health care overseas

Two teams from the College of Health Science at California Baptist University spent three weeks serving communities in China and the Philippines in various healthcare roles.

The trips were part of the Global Health Engagement (GHE) program, which provides students an opportunity to serve in a global healthcare setting while gaining course credit.

“The purpose is to teach the students how their personal and spiritual gifts line up so that they can live their purpose in the world and in the kingdom of God,” said Erik Salley, assistant professor of exercise science and coordinator of GHE.

A team of 12, including nine students, went to the Philippines (June 3 – 24). The team broke up into three groups and each rotated among various health centers, including the Philippine Heart Center, a remote health clinic and a community-based rehab clinic for children with disabilities. The students observed medical professionals and helped staff with physical therapy, speech and language pathology, occupational therapy and athletic training.

Another team of two faculty and five students went to China (May 26 – June 15). This team worked with children with autism and trained teachers, parents and college students how to respond to their specific needs. The team also attended to children who were cancer survivors.

“God opened up so many opportunities for the students to work with children with autism, to use the skills and abilities I don’t even think they knew they had,” said Maggie Appenzeller, visiting professor of communication disorder and a member of the China team. “[The team taught] the kids to play again and to have joy (in the process).”

 

Family Updates

Elizabeth Olson, program advisor/clinical coordinator for the School of Education, is CBU’s Employee of the Month for July. The nomination form included the following statements: Elizabeth treats each student that she meets like they are unique and important. She approaches each conversation with enthusiasm. Liz is creative and innovative in bringing new initiatives that benefit the School of Education. She set a goal of increasing outreach and marketing for the credential program.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, assistant professor of psychology, led a workshop on July 5 titled Lessons learned from a year with the science and religion club at the Bridging the Two Cultures of Science and the Humanities project in Oxford, England. The seminar, hosted by Scholarship on Christianity in Oxford and funded by the Templeton Religion Trust, is aimed at developing interdisciplinary skills in science and religion.

 

 

 

Dr. Tom Schneider, assistant professor of English for Online and Professional Studies, and his wife, Rita, welcomed Ethan Jack Schneider on June 27. He weighed 8 pounds 1 ounce and measured 20.5 inches.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU leads Academic All-PacWest Selections

California Baptist University placed a conference-high 167 student-athletes on the 2015-16 Academic All-PacWest teams. This is the third year in a row that the Lancers have grabbed the most distinctions, with 11 more student-athletes earning the honor from last year’s results.

To earn the Academic All-PacWest recognition, athletes must have achieved at least a cumulative 3.0 grade-point average and be eligible for participation or practice in their sport.

“I’m so proud of our student-athlete success in the classroom,” said Dr. Micah Parker, director of athletics. “Our student-athletes are competing in all aspects of their opportunities at CBU.”

CBU’s women’s cross country and track team garnered the most Academic All-PacWest honors, placing 18 student-athletes on the list. Both Lancer baseball and softball teams were close behind with 17 each, while women’s soccer had 15 Lancers on the list.

SEE FULL LIST OF PACWEST ACADEMIC HONOREES

This past year, CBU also boasted its highest Academic Success Rate at 92-percent and highest department grade point average at 3.241. Lancers women’s volleyball team boasted the highest team GPA with a 3.809 over the year (3.864 in the spring). The Lancers men’s golf had the highest men’s GPA with a 3.276, while men’s basketball won the spring with a 3.261.

 

MBA students gain global business experience on trip to Asia

Twenty-two MBA students from California Baptist University embarked on a trip to Asia in order to gain global business experience by spending time with corporate executives. The students traveled to Hong Kong and Taiwan as part of their Global Business Management course from June 3-12.

Dr. Steve Strombeck, interim dean of the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business, accompanied the students on their trip.

“We want to give them a taste of what business is like overseas, how companies are operating, how they’re competing,” Strombeck said. “It’s one thing to read about these experiences in a textbook, it’s another thing to see it and to hear it.”

The CBU class visited corporations such as FedEx, Nestle, Acer Corp. (computer hardware manufacturer) and Giant Corp. (bicycle manufacturer) and heard executives speak on a variety of topics related to day-to-day operations.

Student Robert Sekula said his experience went beyond anything he could gain from a textbook.

“Meeting with all of the executives on the trip was very interesting, and not something you could ever get from a case study or textbook,” Sekula said. “Everyone we met reinforced one of the key leadership concepts we have learned about throughout the MBA program: that people are your most valuable resource.”

Student Nicole DeFranco said the trip opened her eyes to working internationally.

“The idea of working abroad sounds great, but without actually going to the cities and visiting corporations, you’ll never have any idea of [what it’s like],” DeFranco said. “CBU offered a first-hand experience for me.”

 

Ceremony marks a milestone for CBU Events Center project

Site found for a 153,000-square-feet building at California Baptist University—check. Foundation dug out and cement poured for CBU’s new Events Center that will seat 5,050 people and can expand to more than 6,000 seats—double-check. All steel beams set in place, including the framework for the 100-foot tower that will adorn the building’s north side—triple check, exclamation point.

California Baptist University along with Sundt Construction hosted a Topping Out Ceremony on June 22, celebrating placement of the symbolic last steel beam for the Events Center.

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis addressed a crowd of university dignitaries and other CBU staff along with the construction team from Sundt.

Ellis thanked the Sundt crew and other contractors for their work on the project. He also noted anticipation for future athletic events to be hosted in the arena, the applause of friends and family for future graduates and the weekly chapel services that will fill the arena with worship.

Dr. Micah Parker, athletic director at CBU, found himself in awe standing in the middle of the construction site.

“It is humbling to stand in the middle of the Events Center and think about all the great things that are going to happen there,” Parker said. “So many people are working to make this a special place that will serve our students well and allow us to showcase great student-athletes to the Inland Empire community.”

The Events Center is being built adjacent to the CBU Recreation Center. The north-facing front entrance will be located on Lancer Lane. The design of the two-level building complements the Mission Revival architecture style that is a hallmark of the CBU campus. The arena is scheduled to open in April 2017, in time for spring commencement activities.

 

Graduate student’s passion leads him to low-income students

Michael Deatherage, a California Baptist University education graduate student, wants to make a difference in the lives of students living in poverty. He recently took his first step in fulfilling this passion by joining Teach For America (TFA), a nonprofit organization that recruits individuals to become teachers in low-income communities.

Deatherage will depart for Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, next month to teach fifth-grade students. He will complete his graduate degree through the Online and Professional Studies program at CBU.

Deatherage realized that many people might think he will be living in paradise, but he said it is not all palm trees and surfing. The cost of living is high and there are pockets of poverty in Hawaii.

Deatherage believes he has a specific message for these students: “Don’t give up on your dreams…be that person that you have always dreamed about being.”

Deatherage can relate to living in poverty. When he was a child in Texas, his family lost everything when a tornado destroyed his home.

“I know that there are these kids who (are in situations) like I was, who probably have no clue that they can [succeed in] school,” he said.

Deatherage’s own road to success in academics was a journey. He dropped out of high school at 17 to work. Then he joined the Marines in hopes of building a military career. While serving in Iraq, however, he suffered injuries from a rocket attack that hit his Humvee. The injuries resulted in a medical discharge.

After his injury, a new passion was sparked in his life—a desire to teach.

Deatherage earned his undergraduate degree in English at CBU. He is set to earn his master’s degree in the fall.

“I think CBU helped stoke the fire, that passion, of being able to be who you are,” he said.

Along with his message of hope, his inspirational life story will be a source of motivation for his students.

“I want to reach students who may not have ever been reached or have listened to too many wrong people. What I want my students to know is [they should] never stop trying,” he said.

 

CBU sends out season’s final wave of service project teams

California Baptist University sent out the final wave of International Service Projects, United States Projects and Summer of Service teams from June 12 – June 20.

Seven teams departed from CBU to serve in Southeast Asia, Kosovo, Japan, Russia, South Africa and Spain. The teams joined 12 others serving in Central Asia, Thailand, Japan, Germany, Spain and Canada. This summer marks the 20th year of CBU’s flagship mobilization efforts, with more than 300 volunteers comprising 37 teams serving in 17 countries.

Jeff Lewis, interim director of the Office of Mobilization, reminded friends and families of the teams leaving on June 20, of the importance of the Great Commission at CBU.

“It’s part of who we are as a university. It’s infused and integrated into everything that we are and everything that we do,” he said. “Our prayer is that [this experience for the students] will help them develop a vision for the rest of their lives.”

Lewis sees these service opportunities as one part of the students’ overall development at CBU.

“Hopefully, within their academic journey here at CBU they’re not just learning about their discipline, but they’re learning about how their discipline can be used around the world,” Lewis said.

Teams served in a variety of roles such as conducting sports camps, teaching English, interacting with students from elementary to college, building latrines, and assisting in medical clinics as well as helping and encouraging fieldworkers in locations around the world.

 

CBU wrestler honored as area’s male athlete of the year

Joesph Fagiano, a California Baptist University heavyweight wrestler, was named The Press-Enterprise Area College Men’s Athlete of the Year.

Fagiano’s awards have piled up after a successful year (29-6 overall record), which included the program’s first D-II heavyweight championship. He was also named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and West Region Wrestler of the Year. Additionally, he went on to be voted the CBU Senior Male Athlete of the Year.

Read the Press-Enterprise article on Fagiano’s award here.

 

 

Machado named new head coach for CBU women’s golf

Marc Machado has been named the women’s head golf coach and interim men’s golf coach at California Baptist University. Machado had spent the previous five seasons at CBU as the men’s and women’s golf assistant coach.

“I’m excited to announce that Coach Machado will be leading our women’s golf program,” said Dr. Micah Parker, director of athletics at CBU. “We decided to split the golf program and have one women’s coach and one men’s coach. Marc has proven himself to be a talented coach who has a passion for the mission of our university and athletic department.”

This past year, the Lancer women won their second straight PacWest Championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II Regional playoffs. Erica Wang won the individual championship on a playoff hole and went on to represent CBU at the NCAA Division II Championship.

“I would like to thank Dr. Parker, Kent Dacus and Dr. Ronald L. Ellis for this tremendous opportunity and for believing in me,” Machado said. “I am very excited to continue my work with such high-level student-athletes in a Christian environment.”

A national search is still underway for the Lancers men’s head golf coach.

 

CBU to offer unlimited number of Yellow Ribbon scholarships

California Baptist University will offer an unlimited number of Yellow Ribbon scholarships for veterans pursuing their undergraduate or graduate degrees for the 2016-2017 academic year. Previously, the veteran’s program offered a limited amount.

Josh Morey, director of financial aid, said the Yellow Ribbon scholarships are available to CBU veteran students that also meet the scholarship requirements.

“This is a great opportunity that we have to serve our growing veteran population in Riverside,” Morey said.

Edward Figueroa (’16) will start working on his MBA program at CBU this fall.

“The Yellow Ribbon Program has been essential to my educational goals. Because of this program, I was able to go to the first school of my choice, CBU,” said Figueroa, who served eight years in the U.S. Air Force. “I was able to find a great home at CBU, and pursue all my educational goals and dreams in a veteran-friendly environment.”

CBU currently has the sixth largest population of veterans among private colleges in California with more than 400 using their GI Bill benefits during the past 2015-2016 academic year.

CBU accepts several federal GI bills, with the majority of veterans or their beneficiaries attending on the post 9/11 GI bill. In conjunction with that bill, CBU participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which provides additional assistance to veterans who qualify.

For more information about veteran educational benefits at CBU, please visit www.calbaptist.edu/veterans.

 

School of Education at CBU hires new faculty

The Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education at California Baptist University announced the hiring of three new faculty members for the fall 2016 semester. The School of Education will now have 18 faculty positions within the college.

“The hires will accommodate the school’s growth in enrollment,” said Dr. John Shoup, dean of the School of Education. “The new faculty members come with strong academic pedigrees and relevant experiences that will serve our students well.”

The new faculty members are Dr. Theodore Murcay, associate dean; Dr. Denise L. McLurkin, assistant professor; and Dr. Jin-Sil Mock, assistant professor. The new facility will transition to CBU from across the U.S.

Murcay comes from Nashville, Tenn., where he completed a doctorate in education from Vanderbilt University and most recently served as the principal at Creswell Middle School. He was also an adjunct professor at CBU (’05-’08). Murcay will oversee the development of student teachers in the teaching credentials program.

“CBU’s School of Education has a reputation for preparing the best teacher candidates,” Murcay said. “I am humbled and excited to join that excellent work.”

McLurkin comes from New York where she was a tenured professor at the City College of New York. She also was also an undergraduate coordinator in the childhood education department. McLurkin, a native Southern Californian, most recently received her doctorate in educational studies in literacy language and cultures program from the University of Michigan. McLurkin will teach various courses for students seeking their teaching credentials.

Mock was an instructor at Vanderbilt University in the department of teaching and learning. She is a doctoral candidate at Vanderbilt University. She will be teaching in the credentials program at CBU.

Shoup said the School of Education goal is to equip twenty-first-century educators who can create lifelong learners in schools, government, workplaces and nonprofit organizations.

The School of Education offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs in education and leadership studies, including various credential programs, master’s programs in education, leadership, organizational studies and higher education leadership and student development.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, received his MBA from the University of North Alabama in May. He also recently completed a national research project for the Transportation Research Board, Airport Sustainability Practices – Drivers and Outcomes for Small Commercial and General Aviation Airports.

 

 

 

 

Dr. David Pearson, dean of Health Science and Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR), participated in a presentation at the 2016 NCAA Regional Rules conference in Dallas, Texas, on June 15.  The presentation was titled When things go wrong, and Pearson addressed the working relationship between the campus FARs and athletics compliance staff members with the goal of modeling and establishing best practice guidelines.

 

 

 

Daniel St. Marseille, adjunct professor of music, has released a new jazz CD, Invitation, by The Daniel St. Marseille quintet. St. Marseille plays tenor saxophone and clarinet on the CD.

 

 

 

Shawn Wilhite, assistant professor of Christian Studies for Online and Professional Studies, presented a paper, Bless those who Curse You: Persecution and Martyrdom as it Shapes Christian Identity in the Didache at the North American Patristics Society meeting in Chicago on May 26-28. He also had three book reviews published in Trinty Journal (Spring 2016): review of The Genre and Development of the Didache by Nancy Pardee; review of Augustine’s Theology of Preaching by Peter T. Sanlon; and review of Ancient Christian Worship: Early Church Practices in Social, Historical, and Theological Perspective by Andrew B. McGowan.

 

 

Dr. Elaine Ahumada, associate professor of public administration for Online and Professional Studies, co-presented at the Midwest Public Affairs Conference in Columbus, Ohio, on June 3. The presentation was The Dissertation and Beyond: Developing Outcomes for the Public Affairs Practitioner.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biology, coauthored a paper, MALDI-TOF portrait of emetic and non-emetic Bacillus cereus group members, that was published in the journal Electrophoresis (May 2016).

 

 

 

 

Dr. William Flores, associate professor of Spanish, authored a book review in the June 2016 edition of Hispania. The review is titled Pérez, Alberto Julián. Literatura, peronismo y liberación nacional.

 

 

 

 

Russell L. Meek, adjunct professor of Christian Studies for Online and Professional Studies, had an article, Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Readings of Hebel in Ecclesiastes, published in Currents in Biblical Research, June 2016.

 

Dr. Juliann Perdue, professor of nursing, and her therapy dog, Rugar, are part of the volunteer services at Kaiser Permanente-Riverside Medical Center.  Rugar and his friends visit patients and staff at the hospital on a weekly basis to provide comfort to those in the hospital.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jeff Gage, professor of nursing, has co-authored two articles. Both were published in the April 2016 edition of the Scholars Journal of Dental Sciences. The articles were Oral health literacy of adolescents of Tamil Nadu, India and A cross-sectional study examining the association between dental caries and oral health literacy among adolescents in Tamil Nadu, India.

 

 

 

 

Tad Hove (’12), an adjunct professor of management, was recently recognized by the California Assembly and U.S. Congress for his involvement with a vocational program designed for at-risk students within the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD). Also, as a member of the Gaining Purpose and Stability Committee for Foster Youth within RUSD, he recently hosted and moderated its first conference for foster youth, which focused on presenting pathways for success to foster students.

 

 

 

Dr. Debra Coleman, assistant professor of nursing, successfully defended her dissertation at Azusa Pacific University. It was titled The Lived Experience of Nurses Transitioning from Personal Bereavement to Providers of Compassionate Nursing Care.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Teresa Hamilton, assistant professor of nursing, successfully defended her dissertation at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. It was titled The Influence of Transcultural Humility Simulation Development Activities on the Cultural Competence of Baccalaureate Nursing Students.

 

 

 

 

Twelve faculty members attended the Institute of Humanbecoming in Pittsburgh, Penn., May 31-June 4 to study with nurse theorist Dr. Rosemarie Rizzo Parse and participate in panel discussions. Those attending were:  Dr. Gayne Anacker, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Cynthia Anderson, assistant professor of nursing; Dr. Deborah Bobst, assistant professor of nursing; Dr. Karen Bradley, associate professor of nursing; Christy Cotner, assistant professor of nursing; Dr. Susan Drummond, associate professor of nursing; Dr. Jeffrey Gage, professor of nursing; Nia Martin, assistant professor of nursing; Dr. Geneva Oaks, dean of the School of Nursing; Anthony Phillips, assistant professor of nursing; Jasmine Schmidt, assistant professor of nursing; and Dr. Lorraine Shields, assistant professor of nursing.

 

 

Judy Quinn, public safety dispatcher, was one of 27 women from The Grove Community Church in Riverside who went to Thailand June 10-19. The group spent time with Remember Nhu, an organization dedicated to preventing children from being sold into sex slavery.  The group included several CBU alumni: Jennifer Price (’08), Becky Lance (’00), Robin Sarabia (’09), Natalie Bishop (’09), Kinsley Kuhn (’07), Jodie Beuch (’17) and also Janice Bishop, wife of Mike Bishop, who is CBU’s senior director of Career Services.

 

 

Kimberly Holcomb, accounts payable, and her husband, James, welcomed their first child on March 7. Hudson James Holcomb weighed 7.5 pounds and measured 20 inches long.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU flight student qualifies to teach others how to fly

Hannah Maria Guajardo, an aviation flight student at California Baptist University, holds a unique role for her senior year—she will be a flight instructor. Guajardo recently became the flight school’s first student to earn a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate, which will allow her to teach at the Department of Aviation Science at CBU.

Dr. Daniel Prather, chair of the aviation science department, said flight training traditionally requires individuals to pay for their required flight training hours. However, once a CFI is obtained, an individual can be paid to accumulate flight hours through teaching. Guajardo will teach courses for students pursuing their private pilot certificate.

“The (CFI) certificate is a significant accomplishment,” said Prather. “Hannah has excelled as an aviation flight major and is paving the way for many students to come after her in this exciting major.”

Guajardo’s latest accomplishment comes on the heels of receiving a conditional job offer, along with three classmates, from ExpressJet airlines.

“I’ve been blessed by my experience at CBU,” said Guajardo, who expects to graduate in the spring of 2017. “The aviation community has been extremely supportive of achieving my dreams.”

Prather reflected on the historic achievements of Guajardo.

“She is a history maker at CBU, as she was the first student to be admitted as an aviation flight major and the first student in the history of CBU to earn her CFI before graduation.  She is also one of the founding members of our Women in Aviation Blue Yonder chapter,” Prather said.

 

CBU dynamic duo wins historic national ADDY awards

Two California Baptist University students’ teamwork and creativity resulted in the first national American Advertising Awards (AAF) won by an Inland Empire college student. The awards were given at the AAF ceremony, also known as ADDYs, held in Anaheim, Calif., on June 7.

Jacob Gonzalez, a photography senior, received gold for his entry in the “Elements of Advertising—Still Photography, Campaign” category. Brittany Hatch, a graphic design and digital media senior, received silver for her entry in the “Out-of-Home—Poster” category.

The two students agreed to collaborate last fall on a project for their Intermediate Image course. Since Gonzalez has experience as a sports photographer, they focused in that field. Gonzalez took photos of athletes, and Hatch used her graphic design talents to create fictional Nike advertisement posters.

The students submitted three posters in separate categories for the AAF-Inland Empire Awards in March. Both won gold. Then they won silver in AAF District 15, which covers Southern California and Southern Nevada, and advanced to the nationals. Nationwide, the local student competitions drew more than 6,000 entries.

“Getting recognized nationally is something I am extremely grateful for,” Gonzalez said. “I am thankful for the talent God gave me. It was such an honor to represent CBU and all the dedication of the photography and design professors for teaching us every year.”

Michael Berger, program director for the photography and graphic design and digital media majors, said the students’ awards are evidence of their hard work and the success of CBU’s College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design.

“Jacob and Brittany’s work stood up against work done at the nation’s best art schools. For them, it is a great honor and evidence of the quality of work they are doing,” Berger said.

 

Journalism students spend time in prison—to tell stories

Equipped with cameras, pens, notepads and willing hearts, 10 California Baptist University students entered the confines of two Louisiana state prisons to capture the stories of inmates for Awana Lifeline ministries. The students created content through articles, photographs and video to help promote the organization’s various prison ministries.

Dr. Michael Chute, CBU professor of journalism, said the trip to the prisons were equal parts service and field training for the students: they work on deadline to create stories, and in the process they also learn a different perspective on life inside a prison.

“Just because [the prisoners are] behind bars and razor wire, doesn’t mean that God’s not there,” Chute said.

This was the second consecutive year students, along with faculty and staff, worked with Awana Lifeline. The group visited the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women and the Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola) in mid-May.

CBU students captured stories for the women’s ministry called Hannah’s Gift and the men’s ministry, Malachi Dads. Both programs teach biblical parenting concepts to the inmates.

Additionally, the students chronicled the Returning Hearts Celebration event at the Angola prison, which featured inmates reuniting with their children for a day of activities and fun.

Randy Plavajka, a journalism and new media junior, was a videographer for the group.

“As a journalist, it’s an opportunity to expand my horizons and [in the process] recognize the needs of a group of people that are so often marginalized in society,” he said.

Raine Paul, graduate assistant for journalism, said she was grateful for the chance to visit the prisons.

“The experience gave me a whole new perspective on incarceration and reminded me of how blessed I am to have a father who I am able to talk to every day,” she said.

 

Lancers claim top 5 ranking among NCAA D-II athletic programs

In just its third year as a fully-fledged NCAA Division II member, CBU grabbed its highest finish in the Learfield Directors’ Cup at fourth overall.

“What a tremendous accomplishment for our student-athletes, coaches and staff,” said Dr. Micah Parker, athletic director at CBU. “Finishing as one of the top-five athletic programs in all of NCAA DII is something to be proud of.”

Read the full article here.

 

 

CBU to offer three new marketing concentrations

Students at California Baptist University will have more of an opportunity to distinguish themselves in the diverse marketing field starting this fall. CBU will offer three new concentrations for the bachelor’s of science in marketing (BSM) degree: sport marketing, international marketing and sales management.

“The goal of the new concentrations is to prepare students for a very specific career field,” said Dr. Natalie Winter, interim associate dean and associate professor at the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business. “These options give students the opportunity to make a decision about their career path sooner than later.”

Winter said the marketing faculty had been collecting feedback for several years from alumni and students on its BSM program. The responses indicated a demand for more concentrated marketing programs.

The department responded by conducting research on the local job market trends to find appropriate concentrations to offer, she said.

Each concentration consists of 12 units of coursework related specifically to a field of study. Declaring a concentration allows students to focus on courses that are relevant to a desired career path. Additionally, the concentrations add an internship component that propels students to gain hands-on learning experiences.

“Internships are great opportunities for students to position themselves as experienced graduates and help them stand out for future employers,” Winter said. “One of the nice things about being located in the Inland Empire is that students can choose from a broad range of industries to gain this professional experience.”

Winter said students can still graduate in four years with a declared concentration, and they will also receive a general marketing background.

“I believe it will be a win-win situation for students and CBU,” she said.

Read more about courses for each concentration here.

 

CBU announces new dean for College of Health Science

Dr. David J. Pearson, a California Baptist University veteran, has been announced as the new dean of the College of Health Science (CHS).

Pearson will officially begin his new role on July 1. He has held several roles at CBU since he started 15 years ago, including professor, associate provost for administration and Department of Kinesiology chair.

“CBU has been a significant blessing in my life, and I am excited to take on yet another role in my service to this amazing university,” Pearson said.

Pearson will oversee a broad range of programs including an associate degree program, 15 undergraduate and five graduate programs at CHS. During the 2015-16 academic year some 1,000 students were enrolled in CHS. Pearson expects that number to increase about 10 percent this fall. The top three programs by enrollment numbers are health science, kinesiology and communication disorders.

Pearson said the college is growing and the atmosphere is vibrant at the relatively new CHS campus (the former Riverside Christian School facilities), which began hosting classes in the fall 2015.

Pearson earned his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education and a master’s degree in sport management from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. He also earned his doctorate in institutional leadership and policy studies from University of California, Riverside.

Founded in 1950, California Baptist University is a private comprehensive institution located in Riverside, Calif. CBU offers more than 150 majors, minors and concentrations, as well as more than 40 graduate programs and two doctoral programs. Affiliated with California Southern Baptist Convention, CBU is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities.

 

CBU sends year’s third wave of service project volunteers

California Baptist University this week sent out its third wave of volunteer teams to serve for the 2016 International Service Projects, United States Projects and Summer of Service programs. Eight teams departed from CBU June 1-2 en route to service projects in Spain, Germany, Canada, Japan, Central Asia and Thailand.

Aura Opris, mobilization coordinator in the Office of Spiritual Life, said these service projects are among many CBU activities designed to help students form a global mindset for service.

Before departing, teams gathered with their families and friends to pray at the Kugel, a granite globe that rotates on a base inscribed with the scripture from Matthew 28:19-20, symbolizing CBU’s commitment to the Great Commission.

The team leaders prayed that God would bless their service, help participants work well together, build relationships with those they serve and be a support to the workers they will be helping.

The teams departing this week join nine others already serving in East Asia, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Austria, Spain, Canada and the United Kingdom. This summer, more than 300 volunteers comprising 37 teams will serve in 17 countries. 2016 marks the 20th year for CBU’s mobilization efforts.

 

Family Updates

The School of Nursing (SON) created a simulation to train a nursing team and a community health team going to Thailand for their International Service Projects. This simulation took place in the Simulation Studio, a room that creates an immersive and interactive simulation environment. The room was complete with humidity, smells of fish and dirt, and housed a traditional hut, a cooking area, washing area, spirit house, and actors from the International Center who portrayed villagers from Thailand, so the ISP students could practice the skills they had been learning during training. The event was created by Sarah E. Pearce, assistant director of the SON’s Learning Resource Center, and Dr. Lisa Bursch, assistant professor of nursing.

 

 

Ryan Falsetti, undergraduate admissions counselor, and Dr. Natalie Winter, associate professor of marketing, presented how to create an advertising campaign to six classes at Norte Vista High School on May 25. Winter also led them in an activity on what it was like to develop an advertising campaign for a brand.

 

 

 

 

Four CBU students, Ashley Lopez, Nicole Klopfer,  Amanda Gomez and Jacob Garst, presented a branding strategy to Wild Goose Coffee Roasters on April 22.  The students conducted marketing analysis of behalf of the company. The team then developed a strategy for the Wild Goose to better reach its target market. The strategy consisted of an Instagram campaign, a time-lapse training video, and the development of a communications strategy and collateral.  Wild Goose plans to use the materials that the students developed to increase its brand awareness.

 

Dr. Bob Namvar, professor of economics, had a paper, A Sluggish US economy is no surprise, published in the International Journal of Business and Economics Development, March 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

CBU President Dr. Ronald L. Ellis was elected to a four-year term as a member of the board of directors of the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities (IABCU) during the organization’s annual meeting June 5-7 in Asheville, N.C.  The IABCU consists of 45 member schools located in 16 states and one foreign country, including 41 colleges and universities, three Bible schools and one theological seminary.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Elaine Ahumada, associate professor of public administration, and Dr. Mark Kling, assistant professor of criminal justice, both for Online and Professional Studies, presented at the Teaching Public Administration Conference on May 24 at Rutgers University in Newark, N.J. The title of the presentation was The use of “Critical Incident Reflection Frameworks” Through Inquiry Based Learning in Online Courses to Professionally Develop Public Sector Practitioners.

 

 

 

The Department of Natural and Mathematical Sciences held its annual Forensic Science Day for students from the Law Enforcement and Protective Services Academy at John W. North High School on May 27. The event was coordinated by Dr. Patrick Schacht, assistant professor of biochemistry, and 37 students attended. Dr. John Higley, associate professor of criminal justice, helped the students process the “crime scene” and collect evidence. The students analyzed their evidence in the chemistry lab with Schacht.

 

 

 

Dr. H. Bruce Stokes, professor of anthropology and behavioral sciences, presented a paper and participated in a plenary panel discussion titled  Messianic Jewish Ethics Concerning Intimacy and Sexuality at the 2016 Hashivenu Forum in Enfield, Connecticut, May 17-19. Hashivenu is an international Messianic Jewish community of scholars who address the Messianic Movement in relationship to traditional Judaism and Historic Christianity.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, taught a four-day Airport Operations course on June 6-9 in New York City. He taught employees of Newark, LaGuardia and JFK airports for the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey.

 

 

 

 

 

Krista Wagner, English lecturer, spoke at the Celebrate Books and Libraries @ Norco College! event on May 12. She talked about her writing process, her experiences with the professional publishing industry and self-publishing.  Wagner recently had her third novel, The Gold, a middle-grade fantasy, published (Clean Reads).

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Zamora, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, and her free medical clinic, Inland Vineyard Medical Mission, joined forces with the mobile Health to Hope Clinic on May 28. The arrangement allowed the Vineyard clinic to have access to an equipped mobile unit and an electronic medical record system. Health fairs and clinics are offered every fourth Saturday of the month at Inland Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Corona.

 

 

Dr. Robert Crosby III, assistant professor of psychology for Online and Professional Studies, and Dr. Erin Smith, assistant professor of psychology, published an article, Measuring children’s church-based social support: Development and initial validation of the Kids’ Church Survey, in the journal Social Development.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mark A. Wyatt, vice president for marketing and communication, and his wife, Jean, welcomed their ninth grandchild, Levi Jude Roddy, on June 6. He weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 19.5 inches. Levi is the son of Mackenzie (nee Wyatt, ’04) and Michael Roddy (’03) of Long Beach. He joins his brother, Graham, 2, and sister, Piper, 5.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU to host first-ever Courtyard Shakespeare Festival

You can expect plenty of drama in the Smith Courtyard for the next couple of weeks at California Baptist University. The theatre department at CBU will create an outdoor theater to stage two plays during the program’s inaugural Courtyard Shakespeare Festival starting this weekend.

CBU students, alumni and actors from the community will comprise the casts that will perform in repertory productions of “Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Romeo and Juliet.”

Garret Replogle (’11), theatre shop foreman, is directing “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” He said that having actors from the community will help students gain valuable experience working alongside professionals.

Frank Mihelich, assistant professor of theatre, is directing “Romeo and Juliet” and will also portray Lord Capulet in the play. He said an outdoor theater is the venue that Shakespeare intended for his plays.

“In [indoor theater], we do everything for you. Out here, you have to bring your imagination to it. But there is something that’s really wonderful about doing outdoor theater because it’s such an event,” Mihelich said.

Both productions feature different settings than the original plays: “Romeo and Juliet” is set during the Italian Renaissance, whereas “Midsummer Night’s Dream” takes place in the ’30s at an abandoned carnival in the South.

“Midsummer Night’s Dream”
When: 8 p.m. June 3, 5, 9 and 11

“Romeo and Juliet”
When: 8 p.m. June 4, 8, 10 and 12
Where: Smith Courtyard, California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA, 92504
Tickets: $10

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

 

CBU campus community holds Memorial Day observance

California Baptist University faculty, staff and students gathered for a Memorial Day tribute on May 25 to remember American servicemen and women who lost their lives in service to their country.

The ceremony, held at the Addink Flag Plaza, included the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” laying of a wreath and a rifle salute. CBU’s Student Veterans Association (SVA) hosted the event.

Daniel Fragoso, a psychology major and vice president of SVA, spoke about what Memorial Day means to him.

“To me, it seems that too many people have forgotten that true meaning of Memorial Day,” said Fragoso, who served in the Army for five years. “Memorial Day is a day in which we honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend this beautiful and free country of ours. To me, it is much a day like Thanksgiving where we give our thanks, appreciation and prayers to the men and women who saw our country was in need of brave people to defend her and chose to answer that call and give their lives for [their country].”

Oscar Valdez, a counseling psychology graduate student and SVA president, said the event is an important reminder never to forget the sacrifices made for the U.S.

“It is important to observe Memorial Day as a tribute to those lost,” said Valdez, who served in the Marines for five years.  “On Memorial Day, we stand as a nation and say to those that they left behind, ‘you lost a loved one, and on this day we stand beside you to mourn those who were lost but not forgotten.’”

The event concluded with members of the American Legion Post 79 of Riverside playing Taps and conducting a rifle salute.

 

CBU to offer first-of-its-kind Comedic Arts Program

Starting in the fall, California Baptist University is set to offer students the opportunity for four years of continuous laughs. The College of Arts and Science will offer the first Christian-based Bachelor of Arts in Comedic Arts program in the U.S.

Students will be trained to produce family friendly entertainment to land careers in comedy, film, TV or as live performers.

John Pate, communication department chair and assistant professor of communication, said that several factors led to the program’s development. First, current trends indicate that TV production is going away from reality-based scripts and more toward family programming. Additionally, individuals that seek a career in Hollywood have an opportunity to gain training and develop a career plan near the “entertainment capital of the world.”

Pate noted that CBU’s theatre arts major already has produced successful careers in the entertainment field, stemming from successful internships, which the comedic arts program will seek to replicate.

“CBU’s program will be the closest university to Hollywood for students to be able to earn [a comedic arts] degree,” Pate said. “Our program will create an educational experience that incorporates a ministry component and will help students develop family entertainment.”

The program is a 36-unit major. Courses range from Pantomime, Commedia and Physical Comedy to Comedy Sketch Writing for Entertainment. The program also includes a course on ‘Comedy in Christian Ministries’ that instructs students on the use of comic techniques to encourage individuals to progress toward “Christ-likeness.”

Pate, who has more than 30 years of performing experience in the entertainment industry, including opening up for stand-up comedy acts such as Red Skelton and Jay Leno, will also be an instructor in the program.

“I tell students that if you produce clean work, you can work forever,” he said. “Because I did clean work, I got a lot of work. Comics want to perform after clean routines.”

To learn more about the program click here.

 

Mission Inn Foundation honors CBU President and First Lady

Riverside’s Mission Inn Foundation honored California Baptist University President Dr. Ronald L. Ellis and First Lady Jane D. Ellis with the 2016 Frank Miller Civic Achievement Award at the organization’s annual banquet May 19.

The award is presented each year by the Mission Inn Foundation to an individual or group that has provided outstanding civic leadership, service, and support to the community in the tradition of Frank Miller, founder of the Mission Inn.

Dr. and Mrs. Ellis were recognized for “remarkable achievements realized during more than 20 years as the President and First Lady of California Baptist University” including civic leadership and service on the boards of numerous community organizations in the greater Riverside area. Tributes included a video presentation from Dr. Rick Warren, CBU alumnus, best-selling author and founder of Saddleback Church.

 

 

Second wave of teams sent for Great Commission global service

California Baptist University sent out its second wave of volunteer teams to serve for the International Service Projects and Summer of Service programs. Seven teams departed from CBU May 14-May 28 to volunteer for various service opportunities in East Asia, Austria, Spain, United Kingdom, Thailand and Canada.

Lisa Hernandez, associate professor of mathematics and a team leader, addressed families and friends who were seeing the teams depart.

“Please pray that we’ll be bold in our faith, that we’ll be strong in the knowledge of the gospel and that we’ll be able to listen to the Spirit giving us those opportunities to share,” Hernandez said.

Before departing, teams gather to pray at the Kugel, a granite globe that rotates on a base inscribed with the scripture from Matthew 28:19-20, symbolizing CBU’s commitment to the Great Commission.

The teams joined 14 others already serving in South Africa, East Asia, South Asia, Germany, Poland, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom. This summer, more than 300 volunteers comprising 37 teams will serve in 17 countries. 2016 marks the 20th year for CBU’s mobilization efforts.

 

Family Updates

Grace Conaway, One-Stop Student Service Advisor for Online and Professional Studies, is CBU’s Employee of the Month for June. The nomination Form included the following statements: Grace is a superb CBU employee … She is able to accomplish a significant amount of work in a short amount of time without sacrificing precision in her work.  Grace provides excellent customer service to our students by always being available to them, being eager to answer their questions and provide assistance, and by letting each student feel s/he is the most important person to her at that moment in time.

 

 

 

Dr. Jeff Gage, professor of nursing, co-authored an article, Epidemiology of dental caries among adolescents in Tamil Nadu, India, that was published in the International Dental Journal (June 2016).

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biology, coauthored papers, The endochitinase ChiA Btt of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis DSM-2803 and its potential use to control the phytopathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Bacteriocinogenic bacteria isolated from raw goat milk and goat cheese produced in the center of Mexico, that were recently published in Microbiology Open and Indian Journal of Microbiology, respectively.

 

 

 

Dr. Joshua Knabb, assistant professor of psychology for Online and Professional studies, and Dr. Thomas Frederick, associated professor psychology for OPS, co-authored an article, Surrendering to God’s Providence: A Three-Part Study on Providence-Focused Therapy for Recurrent Worry, published in Psychology of Religion and Spirituality.

 

 

 

Dr. Dawn Gilmore, assistant professor of music, led a workshop at the National Worship Leaders Conference in Centerville, Va., on May 17-18. It was titled The Art of Public Prayer.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Keanon Alderson, associate professor of business, spoke to four classes of juniors and seniors of the Business Academy at Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley. The topic was Marketing a Successful Product or Service. Alderson was accompanied by Jared Prins, undergraduate admissions counselor, and Michaela Meeter, undergraduate admissions counselor/recruiter. The Business Academy is a three-year program where students focus on entrepreneurship.

 

 

 

Dr. Matthew Rickard, associated professor of bioengineering, Dr. Creed Jones, professor of software engineering, and Chardythe Gipson-Bean, a biomedical engineering student, presented a paper on April 30 at the 2016 ARVO (The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) Imaging Conference in Seattle. The paper was titled Image processing to measure scleral strain near the limbus using digital microscopy in porcine eyes.

 

 

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, trained 40 airport personnel from the FAA Western Pacific region in Honolulu, Hawaii, on May 23-26.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, assistant professor of psychology, was a panelist at the Graduate Division’s Teaching Development Day at the University of California, Riverside on May 13.  The panel was titled Getting Hired at a Teaching Institution. The event was attended by current graduate students at UCR in the humanities and social sciences.

 

 

 

 

Terri Thompson, assistant professor of nursing, and Dr. Susan Jetton, assistant professor of nursing, coordinated the Oregon PPE Collaborative: Student Training for Preconception Peer Educators at Linn Benton Community College in Albany, Ore., on May 1-2. Both professors spoke at the event along with Nneka Omoefe and Shannon Vicuna, CBU students from the PPE club. Jetton also presented Why Nursing? at the Health Care CareerCon, held at Norco College on May 20.  Two nursing students, Micheline Helou and Michelle Quon, also participated in the presentation.

 

 

 

CBU’s Modern Languages and Literature department hosted the west region’s Conference on Christianity and Literature on May 12-14. The event was organized by Dr. Laura Veltman, associate professor of American literature, and Dr. Toni Dingman, associate professor of English, with the support of MLL faculty and CBU staff. More than 65 professors, graduate students and undergraduates from Christian colleges attended. The conference included academic presentations, workshops, and poetry/fiction readings. CBU faculty presenters included:

• Berniece Bruinius Alspach, assistant professor of English, Understanding the Language and Ethics of Modernism in Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day and Margaret Atwood’s Cat’s Eye
• James Lu, professor of English, Lyrical Stirrings of the Soul: The Power of Poetic Prose in Fiction
• Tom Schneider, assistant professor of English for Online and Professional Studies, and Dr. Gretchen Bartels, assistant professor of English for OPS, workshop, Online English Instruction: Theory and Praxis
• Tae Sung, assistant professor of English for OPS, On Gadamer’s Truth and Method: Recovering Philosophical and Rhetorical Hermeneutics for Today
• Erika Travis, assistant professor of English and behavioral sciences, What shall I do for God?: Catechism in Puritan Joyful Death Narratives
• Jennifer Tronti, assistant professor of English, Ritual Poetry in Tolkien’s The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings and  poetry reading
• Derek Updegraff, assistant professor of English and creative writing, The Butcher’s Tale
• Veltman, associate professor of American literature, Towards a Christ-Haunted Classroom: Reading Flannery O’Connor Pedagogically

 

Dr. Jong-Wha Bai, associated professor of civil engineering, co-authored an article titled Seismic Fragility Estimates of Moment-Resisting Frame Building Controlled by MR Dampers using Performance-Based Design, which was published in the journal Engineering Structures (June).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, visiting professor of kinesiology for Online and Professional Studies, co-presented at the Eastern District Society for Health and Physical Educators conference in Atlantic City, N.J., on May 23.  The presentation was titled Understanding the Importance of Female Specific Wellness Programs.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Anthony Chute, professor of church history, contributed a chapter, Jesse Mercer, to the book A Noble Company: Biographical Essays on Notable Particular-Regular Baptists in America, edited by Terry Wolever and published by Particular Baptist Press.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Lancers baseball hosts its first-ever D-II Regional as No. 1 seed

The California Baptist University Lancers baseball team was awarded the No. 1 seed and is hosting the West Regional NCAA Division II Tournament. This marks the first time a CBU athletic program will host a regional tournament in NCAA D-II.

CBU opens the double-elimination tournament on campus at the James W. Totman Baseball Stadium against No. 6 seed California State University, East Bay on May 19 at 3 p.m.

Read full story here.

 

 

 

Art students show their colors at CBU Gallery

California Baptist University students tackled color and its aesthetic, symbolic and psychological dimensions, for “The Spectrum of Color” exhibit.

The exhibit features 14 unique mixed media pieces, which were created by students in their Color Theory course. The exhibit also includes a section on how colors have been used throughout history.

Kristi Lippire, assistant professor of visual art, said the students were tasked with expressing what a set of colors can represent.

“As art students this is their future—coming up with their own ideas, executing them in a creative and professional way and then presenting them to the public,” Lippire said. “The purpose is to get a fuller taste of being a professional artist.”

Tawni Franzen, a visual arts and graphics design senior, chose the colors black and red.  For black, her artwork features birds.

“I wanted to see if I could make something slightly creepy, slightly mysterious,” she said. “I wanted to try it because I’ve never done anything that was on the eerie end.”

Brooke Villegas, a visual arts junior, picked violet and yellow. Her yellow pieces feature a light bulb and an eye. Instead of going with the idea that yellow means happiness, she connected it with intellect.

“As an artist, it’s a big deal to be seen and to be known. I think there’s an exciting feeling of potential … to think about what else I could do in the future,” she said in response to her artwork being featured at the gallery.

The exhibit runs through June 25 at CBU’s Gallery located at 3737 Main St., Suite 101 in downtown Riverside. There will be an opening reception May 19, 6-9 p.m. The gallery is open Tuesday – Saturday from 12:30–8 p.m.

 

CBU student’s creativity lands interview, gains attention

Graham Allgood, a marketing junior at California Baptist University, appeared on Fox Business’ “Mornings with Maria” to retell the creative way he landed a job interview at Horizon Media on May 17.

Allgood described how he used Snapchat, an image messaging and multimedia mobile application, to design and implement a Geofilter advertising campaign to land his “dream job” interview.

“Why not market to a marketing agency by running my own ad campaign,” Allgood asked during his interview with Fox host Maria Bartiromo. “I’ve used Snapchat in the past to build Geofilters with my university before… so I developed a design set and got it approved by Snapchat.”

Geofilters help users advertise to a specific targeted area through Snapchat. When a Snapchat user takes a photo, they can swipe left or right on their smartphone to display other user photos that had been taken in the vicinity. Geofilters allows approved images to display amidst the array of photos.

Allgood created a photo advertisement to promote Horizon Media with a small caveat— a special message at the top of the screen that read “Hey Hire Me.”

His well thought-out plan grabbed attention immediately.

“I had more than 1,000 engagements, received a tweet that day (from Horizon), and an email for an interview the next day,” Allgood said.

Horizon’s social media tweet read, “Best thing we’ve seen in months! You rock man! Love the design.”

Although Allgood was not offered a job because summer internship positions were already filled, he said the company has mentioned the possibility of offering him a job after graduation.

 

Two CBU engineering students off to the races at the Indy 500

Two engineering students from California Baptist University are spending three weeks with KVSH Racing getting ready for the “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” – the Indianapolis 500.

Craig Easton and John Free joined KVSH Racing team at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 10 as the team prepares for the competition.

“What a great experience for California Baptist [Gordon and Jill Bourns] College of Engineering students to not only be integrated into our organization, but to experience the engineering marvel that is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” said James “Sulli” Sullivan, KVSH co-owner. “We’re blessed to have CBU College of Engineering as a partner and these students as part of our team for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500.”

Easton and Free, both mechanical engineering seniors, are tasked with studying and cataloging aerodynamic differences between the KVSH Racing #11 car’s performance and IndyCars from other competing teams.

Easton and Free will be at the speedway during practice runs and for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500.

“I am looking forward to having close contact with these excellent engineers,” Free said. “It will give me a perspective on life after graduation and it will allow me to see experienced engineers in action.”

CBU is an associate partner for the KVSH No. 11 team. The partnership allowed 19 students up-close access to the car, driver and crew at the 2016 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in April. It also will allow CBU students continued access to the KVSH engineering team throughout the 2016 season including internship opportunities.

 

Lancers win PacWest Commissioner’s Cup for 3rd-straight year

For the third-straight year and the fourth in the program’s 5-year history, California Baptist University Athletics have been declared the best in the PacWest by winning the Commissioner’s Cup. Since joining the PacWest in 2011, CBU has won four of five Commissioner’s Cups — becoming the first school to accomplish this feat.

The Lancers clinched the Commissioner Cup when CBU’s baseball team claimed the PacWest title on the last day of competition. In total, the Lancers have captured nine conference crowns this academic year – men’s and women’s basketball, women’s golf, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, wrestling, baseball and men’s and women’s cross country.

“I’m proud of our student-athletes, coaches and staff for winning the cup three years in a row,” said Dr. Micah Parker, CBU director of athletics. “Particularly, this group of senior athletes has been consistently outstanding in PacWest competition. The PacWest Conference continues to get better each year, so we’ve had to keep improving also. This accomplishment is a true blessing.”

The PacWest Commissioner’s Cup was established in 2007-08 to honor the athletic program with the best overall performance in that academic year. The competition is based upon average finishes. Each school’s conference finishes are totaled and then divided by the number of PacWest athletic programs it offers, giving an overall average finish for the school.

 

Fall orientation arrives early on campus at CBU

Months before the fall semester starts, incoming freshmen were already strolling on campus at California Baptist University, registering for classes, learning about the university and getting to know each other.

More than 220 students, along with their parents, registered to attend the New Student Orientation on May 9.

Heather Hubbert, assistant dean of students-assessment and student conduct, said that offering orientation in spring helps both the student and their parents adjust to college life sooner.

“We’re trying to create the best experience for students and their families. By giving them some of the orientation information earlier, they are better prepared,” she said. “We want them to feel welcomed and a part of the community from the moment they get here.”

Throughout the day, students and parents heard information about housing, meal plans, financial aid and CBU’s purpose. The students also registered for classes and received their ID card.

Allen Johnson, dean of admissions, said another advantage to early orientation is the connections that are made.

Makenna Young, of Valencia, Calif., agreed.

“[Meeting fellow students] makes me more excited about coming here and it gives me something to really look forward to,” said Makenna, who will be a liberal studies major.

“I’m looking forward to getting her all set up,” said her dad, Will. “This is our oldest, so it’s our first experience at this.”

Orientation will be offered six times for first-time students and four for transfer and non-recent graduates before the fall semester. A final orientation is also held before classes start for international students and other students who could not attend during the summer. CBU also offers Welcome Weekend, a weekend filled with activities to help freshmen and transfer students become familiar with CBU.

 

New graduate school grant rewards Lancer loyalty

Graduates of California Baptist University now have an extra incentive to go back to school in the fall – free money. Applications are being received for the Lancer Loyalty Graduate School Grant (LLGSG) offered exclusively to CBU bachelor degree graduates who want to advance their education and remain a Lancer.

Grants range from $500 – $3,000 and are awarded based on enrollment in select graduate program, academic merit and financial need.

Taylor Neece, director of graduate admissions, said the grant is a way to encourage past and future graduates to stay with their “CBU Family.”

“If our students are going to graduate school, let’s motivate them to stick around here and create a deeper tie to the Lancer Family and the Lancer legacy,” he said. “[The grants are] a way of saying thank you for staying loyal and sticking around.”

To be eligible, students must have a bachelor’s degree from CBU and be accepted to an eligible on-campus graduate program by July 1 for the fall semester (Nov. 1 for spring 2017 semester; March 1 for summer 2017 semester). Not all graduate programs qualify. The grant is a one-time award that will be split between the student’s first two semesters.

Apply or read more about the grant here.

 

Men’s golf qualifies for first trip to D-II Championships

The men’s golf team at California Baptist University advanced to its first-ever Division II Championship by landing a fourth place finish at the NCAA Division II West Regional.

The Lancers rallied in the final round of the regional, moving up five spots by shooting a combined two-under-par on the day, which is the fourth-lowest round in program history, for an 869 score over three rounds (297-290-282).

The Lancers head to Denver, Colo., for the championships, which will be held May 17-21.

Read more about the regional results here.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Veola Vazquez, undergraduate associate dean in the School of Behavioral Sciences, released her new children’s novel in May. The Penny Predicament is the second in The Coin Chronicles series, which is aimed at children ages 8-12 years old. Vazquez also recently launched a Child/Family Psychology blog where she reviews current research. The blog can be found at www.veolavazquez.com.

 

 

Dr. Melissa Wigginton, associate professor of health science, had an article published in the International Journal of Health, Wellness, and Society (Volume 6, Issue 2). The article was titled Modifying the Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict Children’s Exercise Behaviors.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Michael Chute, professor of journalism, made a presentation, Staff Mentoring: They’ll Brave the Challenges If You Inspire Them, at the Evangelical Press Association’s annual Christian media convention in Lancaster, Pa., April 6-8. He also moderated a student panel, Millennials Talk Back: How to Reach Twenty-Something Readers. He also made four presentations at the Association of State Baptist Publications annual meeting in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Feb. 15-18. Titles of his presentations were Publication Trends; Best Practices in Newspapers; Impact of Printing Schedules on Purpose and Content, and Multimedia Journalism in the “Mobile” Age.

 

 

Shawn Wilhite, assistant professor of Christian Studies for Online and Professional Studies, reviewed You Are My Son: The Family of God in the Epistle to the Hebrews by Amy L. B. Peeler. It was published in the online publication of Reviews of Biblical and Early Christian Studies (May 2016).

 

 

 

 

Darla Donaldson, assistant professor of finance and social entrepreneurship, received a $3,000 academic research grant from SawTooth Software. This grant will aid Donaldson’s research concerning nonprofit organization donors and the way in which donors choose from similar donation options.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Kenneth Minesinger, associate professor of law for Online and Professional Studies, and Kenneth George, assistant professor of finance for Online and Professional Studies, made a presentation at the Pacific Conference on the Science and Art of Business on May 8 in Palm Springs. The presentation was titled Healthcare Sector Stock Performance after the Adoption of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

 

 

 

Jennifer Zamora, didactic coordinator for physician assistant studies, spoke at the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) conference held at California Baptist University on April 9. The theme was Women in Medicine. Zamora spoke about her professional journey and was part of a panel answering questions about the field. Zamora also was a speaker at the Journey to Becoming a Physician Assistant event at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona on April 16.  She spoke on volunteering, community service, hands-on patient care experience and global health medicine for physician assistants.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Tae Sung, assistant professor of English for Online and Professional Studies, interviewed the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and MacArthur “Genius” Fellow Jack Miles and had it published in the May/June issue of Books and Culture. Sung also spoke with Miles at a panel presentation for the Western Division of the Conference on Christianity and Literature hosted by California Baptist University on May 12-14. Sung also presented a paper at the event, On Gadamer’s Truth and Method: Recovering Philosophical and Rhetorical Hermeneutics for Today.

 

 

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, visiting professor of kinesiology for Online and Professional Studies, presented Kinesiology as a Career to classes at Poly High School in Riverside on April 29.  The presentation included speaking to at-risk youth about overcoming hardships and importance of education.  O’Rourke also partnered with Team Faith Racing Ministry to provide prayer and give away smoothies to professional athletes at the first round of the Pro Watercross National Racing Series held in Panama Beach, Fla., on May 7. While there, Joseph Lemond, OPS kinesiology student and Navy dive medic, provided O’Rourke with a tour of the Panama City Naval Support Activity Center’s Exercise Physiology Dive Research Lab, hyperbaric chambers and dive facilities.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Heather Hamilton-Stilwell, assistant professor of journalism, made two presentations at the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) convention in Las Vegas on April 17-19. The titles were Mining for Morning Meetings: Tools for coming up with story ideas for the morning news meeting and Hanging Tough: Life as the new kid in college radio. She also was elected as chair for the BEA’s Media and Religion Division Steering Committee. She also graduated May 7 from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., with her doctorate in communication. She received the Outstanding Graduate for Doctor of Philosophy in Communication award for being the top Ph.D. graduate and was one of six graduates invited to speak at the chancellor’s luncheon following commencement.

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU ROTC cadets honored at Inland Empire award ceremony

Cadets from the California Baptist University ROTC received recognition at the Golden Lions Battalion (GLB) awards on April 26, including two honored with the Superior Cadet Award (SCA).

Military Science students Michael Doss (’17) and Sheraya Bentick (’18) were awarded the military science II and III SCA awards, respectively. The awards were given on behalf of GLB, which is comprised of 15 universities and colleges in the Inland Empire that can have up to 280 students participating in ROTC during the year. The awards reflect the top cadets in their respective ROTC units.

Additional CBU awards included Shannon Garcia, winning The Daughters of the American Revolution award and Caleb Fink, landing the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the Unites States award. Both of these awards are given to a recipient in the respective category that demonstrates a record of military and scholastic achievement.

“I’m proud of the quality of cadets we have at CBU,” said Capt. William Brookshire, assistant professor of military science. “We have a bunch of great kids doing awesome things.”

Dr. Charles Sands, provost and vice president for academic affairs, was present at the ROTC awards to hand out CBU’s President Awards that went to military science students that demonstrated excellence in the classroom and in ROTC activities. The winners were cadets Suthisak Vejsawan, Bryanna Mora, Kendall Morris and Kevin Grebbien. A total of $1,000 in scholarship funds was distributed to the winners.

“Overall our students are doing well academically and physically and are demonstrating the quality of traits needed to become future Army leaders,” Brookshire said.

 

CBU honors top Professor, Scholar and Employee of the Year

California Baptist University awarded top honors to two faculty and a staff member during its annual faculty and staff awards banquet on April 28.

Each year, CBU’s board of trustees selects the Distinguished Professor and Distinguished Scholar award recipients.

Dr. Daniel Prather, founding chair and professor of aviation science, was named Distinguished Professor, a faculty member who has established a record of distinguished service to CBU.

Prather came to CBU in 2012 to launch the university’s flight school.

“Being recognized shows great appreciation on the part of students and university leadership. I am exactly where Christ intends for me to be,” he said. “I desire for our programs in aviation science to prepare students to impact the aviation industry for Christ.”

Dr. Kathryn Short, professor of education, was named Distinguished Scholar. Her proposal is to conduct research on the use of NAO, a humanoid robot, as a communication tool for 4-year-old children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Short, who has taught at CBU for 10 years, will collaborate with the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering, which has several NAO humanoid robots.

Short has a heart for children, as a professor, one of her goals is teach students how to serve families.

“I have always hoped that my students serve children and their families with love, knowledge and passion,” she said. “I want my students to remember that every encounter they have with young ones is an opportunity to model what a man or woman of God looks like.”

Daron Hubbert, director of residence life, was named Employee of the Year. CBU’s Executive Council selects the Employee of the Year recipient from those staff members who have been named employees of the month during the year.

Hubbert’s job duties include overseeing the staff of residence life and the various living areas on campus. His department strives to provide quality living environments for the students.

“I am humbled and honored to be recognized with the award,” Hubbert said. “For me, it is a reflection of how hard my entire staff works to create a great environment for the students who are living on campus at CBU.”

 

Kugel tradition kicks off 2016 mobilization effort

California Baptist University’s first wave of volunteers for the 2016 International Service Projects (ISP), United States Projects (USP) and Summer of Service (SOS) are being sent out to their fields of service this week.

This summer, more than 300 volunteers comprising 37 teams will serve in 17 countries. 2016 marks the 20th year of CBU’s of mobilization efforts. Fifteen teams are scheduled to depart from CBU May 1- May 4 en route to service projects in the United Kingdom, Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Africa, Thailand, Poland and Germany.

“Prayer is the preparation for great work,” Jeff Lewis, interim director of the Office of Mobilization, told one group departing on May 2.

In accordance with CBU tradition, before their departure, teams gather to pray at the Kugel, a granite globe on a base inscribed with the scripture from Matthew 28:19-20, symbolizing CBU’s commitment to the Great Commission.

“The Kugel represents the heart of the university, the DNA of this institution,” Lewis said. “It’s exciting to see what God is doing here at CBU.”

Each service project volunteer completed more than 75 hours of training, including the annual Intensive Training Weekend that simulates overseas situations.

 

Lancer Athletic Hall of Fame inducts four new members

The Lancers recently inducted four alumni into the California Baptist University Athletic Hall of Fame. The newest recipients bring the Hall of Fame count to 65 legendary Lancers.

The latest Hall of Famers includes men’s volleyball standouts Ben Wahlman and Shaun Dyk, along with women’s basketball star Nicole Adams and softball ace Amy Ramirez.

Read more about their awards here.

 

 

 

 

CBU graduates more than 1,400 during  dual commencements

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of California Baptist University, commended 1,414 graduating students during two commencement ceremonies held at the Citizens Business Bank Arena on April 30. The afternoon exercise included 685 traditional undergraduate degree candidates, while the evening ceremony honored 729 students, including all master’s degree candidates, and Online and Professional Studies programs.

Ellis noted that the class was part of a record number of graduation applications for the 2015-2016 academic year.

“[You have] contributed to the continuing growth of CBU’s campus culture as ‘a University Committed to the Great Commission’ during an exciting time of ongoing growth and improvement,” Ellis said. “Each [student] has overcome obstacles to achieve this goal. Graduates, you have faced many difficulties and yet you persevered. We congratulate each one of you.”

Amy Johnson, CBU alumna and news anchor and reporter for KCBS and KCAL9 television, was commencement speaker. Johnson told students that graduation is just the “starting blocks.”

“I know you’ve worked hard—some of you harder than others—and I’m not saying you shouldn’t celebrate this huge accomplishment, because what you’ve done is outstanding,” she said. “I’m just saying this isn’t the end. This is really the beginning for you.”

Johnson (’90) elaborated on her journey to find her purpose.

“I wasn’t praying about it; I wasn’t trusting in the Lord. I was sticking with the safe route,” she said.

Johnson said it was during her last year at CBU that she identified her passion—to become a news anchor and reporter—and this propelled her back to school to continue to receive the training she needed to pursue her dreams.

“What I’m really telling you is to follow your dreams—live your purpose—do what it is that you really want to do. It may seem a little scary…but this is where you rely on your faith and you pray, not just for money but for God’s guidance to help lead you to do what you really want to do, and most importantly to follow God’s will,” Johnson said.

Awards for student achievement were presented at both ceremonies. Khai Ho, an accounting major from Vietnam, received the Min Sung Kim International Student Award, and Moriah Langley, a mechanical engineering major from Roseville, Calif., received CBU’s Outstanding Senior Award. Gustavo Trujillo, from Baldwin Park, Calif., was honored with the Outstanding Online and Professional Studies Student Award. Trujillo received a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

In total, 1,797 students applied to graduate this April and August. When combined with the students who graduated last December (521), the total number for the graduating Class of 2016 is 2,218 applications, the largest number in the history of CBU.

 

CBU students get up-close access to KVSH Racing’s team

Nineteen engineering students got VIP access to the latest member of the California Baptist University engineering team – KVSH Racing – at the 2016 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 16.

CBU is an associate partner for the KVSH No. 11 team, which allowed students the up-close access to the car, driver and crew.

“My favorite part of the day was getting the opportunity to talk to the driver and the engineering team about the technology incorporated throughout the IndyCar,” said Jonathan Osborne, a senior mechanical engineering major.  “It was exciting to see the practical application of what I had been learning in my ‘signal and system’ lab just a few weeks before the event.”

Dr. Anthony Donaldson, dean of the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering, said access to KVSH engineers provided a great learning opportunity for students.

Diana Ortega, a mechanical engineering junior, agreed.

“We got to talk to and learn from all of the engineers that work on all of the different parts of the car,” she said. “We were treated as actual engineers, and it gave us insight to what it’s like to work on a team of actual professional engineers.”

For William Rosentrater, a mechanical engineering senior, the experience left an impression on his future career pursuits.

“This experience definitely had an impact on what I want to do later on in my life,” Rosentrater said. “Every person we met was no doubt a master of their specific trade. I would be very excited to be a part of a team like KVSH.”

The partnership will allow CBU students continued access to the KVSH engineering team throughout the 2016 season. There will also be opportunities for students to apply for engineering internships as they become available. Additionally, a select group of students will be placed among the KVSH team for the 100^th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 29, assisting the team’s engineering staff with problem solving.

 

CBU senior wins President’s Award for Excellence in Writing

Melissa Chesney, a senior English major at California Baptist University, has been selected as the winner of the 2016 President’s Award for Excellence in Writing. Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, presented the award at a luncheon April 21.

Chesney wrote her paper, Keats, Greeks, and Beliefs: A Mythical Quest for Human Truth, for her senior capstone project. She explored the implications of English Romantic poet John Keats’ presentations on human suffering and mortality, and attempted to tackle the question of Keats’ understanding of spirituality.

“The compassion and nuanced vision Melissa brings to her topic allow her to accurately and robustly describe Keats’ struggle with … suffering without losing the tension and complexity of his philosophy and his art,” wrote Dr. Gretchen Bartels, assistant professor of English for Online and Professional Studies, who was Chesney’s instructor.

Chesney’s award included a plaque, a certificate and a check for $500.

Two other students received runner-up honors.

Yvette Quintana, a graduate student in English, was awarded first runner-up for her paper, The Crux of the Matter in ‘The Lord of the Rings’: On the Absence of an Incarnation in Middle-Earth. The paper examined theological principles that paralleled the incarnation of Jesus in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Quintana received a certificate and a check for $300.

Sarah N. Rodriguez, a sophomore English major, was recognized as second runner-up for her paper, Following Jesus: Flannery O’Connor’s Inspiration for ‘Wise Blood.’ The paper provided a detailed examination of how the novel Wise Blood reflects Jesus’ challenges against the religious notions of first-century Judaism through parables. Rodriguez was awarded a certificate and a check for $200.

A six-member faculty selection committee using a formal voting process chose all winning entries.

 

CBU students affirmed for professionalism as interns

Three behavioral science students at California Baptist University received commendation for their “professional dependability,” during their internships at the Riverside County Department of Veterans Services (RCDVS).

Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, dean of the School of Behavioral Sciences, recently received an appreciative letter from retired Col. Mark Earley, who is now the director of the RCDVS, for students Priscilla Contreras, Emily Erickson and Nick Slayman.

“All three are experts at task management, setting priorities and getting complex tasks done effectively in a limited period of time,” wrote Earley. “They are all solutions oriented employees and any one of them individually is capable to serve within a business organization.”

During their internships, the students worked in the outreach department at RCDVS to create awareness for the agency by networking, developing business presentations and creating a social media presence.

“Through their efforts, the outreach program has grown from just a handful of organizations to more than 150 area businesses,” Earley wrote.

To read the rest of the story, go here.

 

Engineering club places third at its first regional competition

Chemical engineering students from California Baptist University participated in the regional Chem-E-Car competition for the first time and came away with an impressive third place finish.

The annual competition pitted universities’ American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) clubs against each other to construct a fuel-powered miniature car that could travel a given distance. Fourteen cars competed in the final contest which was held at University of California, Riverside, on April 15-16.

“This was the exposure we needed as a smaller, relatively new club. We showed up with a very simple, large car that many people were surprised it even worked,” said Evan Schneider, a chemical engineering junior. “I’m really excited because I could never have expected our first try, knowing so little to turn out so well. It’s a confidence booster.”

The AIChE team at CBU consisted of seven chemical engineering students that garnered help from CBU faculty and mechanical engineering students, to design and build their shoebox-size car. With a short time frame and no prototype to work from, the team’s aim was to get into the competition with a functioning car, said Stephen Dueck, a chemical engineering junior.

To keep on schedule and costs low, students often designed parts themselves by recycling materials from the engineering shop. The students also found an efficient way to produce fuel by using a combination of sodium bicarbonate and hydrochloric acid for fuel.

“We turned what was essentially baking soda into fuel,” said Schneider, of the team’s fuel choice. “We didn’t overcomplicate things at all. It was probably the simplest car we could have built.”

Simplicity worked to the team’s favor, as they were able to build a car on time and for approximately $100.

The third place finish qualifies the team to participate in the national competition in November.

“A good performance shows… that we have students who are hard-working, enthusiastic and technically competent,” said Dr. Mark Anklam, professor of chemical engineering and chair of the program.

 

Family Updates

Brenda Flores, assistant director-business administration for Facilities and Planning Services, Margaret Marquez, accounting clerk for Facilities and Planning Services, and nine CBU students volunteered for a beautification project in Riverside on April 16. They, along with other volunteers for Keep Riverside Clean & Beautiful, collected more than 2,580 pounds of litter, green waste and bulky items in the Arlington and Ramona neighborhoods.

 

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, taught a two-day airport operations course at the International Aviation Snow Symposium in Buffalo, N.Y., on April 23-24. He also a two-day airport operations course at JFK International Airport on April 27-28. He also completed an Airport Cooperative Research Program project through the Transportation Research Board titled Airport Sustainability Practices— Drivers and Outcomes for Small Commercial and General Aviation Airports.

 

 

 

Michael Jewell, director of guest services and marketing at the Tahquitz Pines Conference Center, received his master’s degree in leadership and organizational studies from California Baptist University on April 30.

 

Shawn Wilhite, assistant professor of Christian Students for Online and Professional Studies, presented There are two ways of life: The Didache and Apocalyptic Alteration in Early Christianity at the Society of Biblical Literature Pacific Coast regional meeting in Claremont on March 13-14. He also presented Is the Didache an Apocalyptic Anomaly? How the Didache’s Two-Way Tradition Alters Early Christian Tradition at the Evangelical Theological Society Far West Region meeting on April 15 in San Diego. He also has published several articles. He co-authored An ‘Unspeakably Narrow Discipline’: Martin Hengel and the Need for Interdisciplinary Scholarship,” and a review of Rediscovering the Apocryphal Continent: New Perspectives on Early Christian and Late Antique Apocryphal Texts and Traditions, both published in Fides et Humilitas: The Journal for Ancient Christian Studies Issue 3 (Winter 2016); and 7 Ways to Care for your Pastor in the online The Gospel Coalition (Feb 11, 2016).

 

Dr. Dan Wilson, professor of Biblical studies, was re-elected for a second term as chairman of the board of trustees of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary at the board meeting April 12-13. Wilson has been on the board for nine years.

 

 

 

 

Gary Steward, history adjunct for Online and Professional Studies, recently co-authored a book, God’s Design, published by P & R Publishing. The book is for children ages 4-8 on biblical manhood and womanhood.

 

 

 

The Office of Alumni & Parent Relations invites alumni, students, family, friends, faculty and staff to participate in these summer activities.  Sign up now!

• LA Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals: 7:10 p.m. May 13, at Dodgers Stadium. $40 ticket includes CBU baseball hat and Friday Night Fireworks. Seats – Right Field, Loge Deck. Register online
• Bible Journaling Class: 9:30 a.m. June 18, 2016 at CBU. $10 includes refreshments and supplies. For ages 12 and up. Sometimes called Bible Journaling, and sometimes Illustrated Faith, this new trend is a great way to ignite your passion for exploring God’s Word, whether you are a new Christian or have been a believer for a long time. Journaling Bibles feature wide-margins for writing observations, reflections, prayers and praises. While it is recommended that you bring your own journaling Bible to this class, it is not required. Register online
• Anaheim Angels vs Chicago White Sox: 7:05 p.m. July 15 at Angel’s Stadium. $35 ticket includes baseball hat and Angels’ promotional give-away – ’70s Groovy Rally Monkey (sponsored by Jack in The Box). Register online
• San Diego Padres vs. Colorado Rockies: 5:40 p.m. Sept. 10 at Skyline Patio @ Petco Park. $55 ticket includes CBU baseball hat, dinner and Padres’ promotional give-away – USB Charger. Register online

 

Robert (Bory) Molina, plumber/pipefitter I in the Facilities and Planning Services Department, was named CBU’s Employee of the Month for May. The nomination form included the following statements: “Bory has received notes of commendation from Provider and other departments on campus.  He has great attention to detail and the pride that he shows in completing his work correctly is appreciated by others.  Bory’s attention to the little things often makes his work stand out from others.”

 

 

 

 

The California Baptist University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program received its accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) on March 31. All new programs receive an initial “Accreditation-Provisional.” Of note, the program received a perfect score on its accreditation site visit in October 2015. The program is interviewing and selecting its inaugural class, which matriculates in September 2016. For more information, visit the program’s website at: www.calbaptist.edu/mspas

 

 

 

 

Dr. Anthony Chute, professor of church history, delivered the presidential address at the Evangelical Theological Society/Far West Region meeting at San Diego Christian College on April 15. His address was titled Jesse Mercer: A Ministerial Profile. In addition, Chute’s book review of Baptists in America was published in the journal Themelios.

 

 

 

 

Doug Barnett, business adjunct for Online and Professional Studies, and his family were invited to create and staff a booth at the Columbia International Festival (CIF) in South Carolina on April 16-17. The event showcases the music, culture, food and performing arts of various cultures, nationalities, races and language groups. Barnett and his wife  lived for more than 25 years in Africa and their booth featured information about an American family’s life overseas. About 10,000 people attend the festival annually.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Beverly Howard, professor of music, wrote a chapter appearing in the book Introducing Glory to God. The chapter, Musical Genres in Glory to God, explores distinct styles of music used for congregational songs. Howard also performed with Larry Johansen, a retired CBU music professor, in concerts in Whittier and Riverside. Howard, playing the organ, and Johansen, on the trumpet, performed two major works, Psalms and The Other Voices of the Trumpet, by American composer Daniel Pinkham.

 

 

 

Dr. DawnEllen Jacobs, vice provost, and Kristen White, former CBU director of mobilization, presented a session, Equipping the Equippers, at the University Educators for Global Engagement (UEGE) annual conference in Richmond, Va., on April 14-17. This year’s theme was Equip: Giving Students the Resources They Need for Effective Cross-Cultural Witness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. H. Bruce Stokes, professor of anthropology and behavioral sciences, was elected to the executive board of the Southwestern Anthropological Association (SWAA) at its meeting in San Diego on April 21-24. Julie Goodman, assistant professor of anthropology, serves on the board as secretary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Kenneth Minesinger, associate professor of law for Online and Professional Studies, made a presentation at American Society for Public Administration meeting on April 28 in Riverside. The presentation was titled Slander and Libel in the Age of Social Media.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Bonjun Koo, professor of environmental science, organized a trip with environmental science majors and the Environmental Science Club to Cabrillo Beach and Cabrillo Marine Aquarium on April 16. About 40 students and family members participated in a beach clean-up and Earth Day activity.

 

 

 

Dr. Torria Davis, instructional designer for Online and Professional Studies, recently had a blog, http://blog.blackboard.com/tips-avoid-a-mess-in-online-course-design/, distributed by Blackboard Inc. to other Instructional Design MVP award recipients as a must read.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Won-Pyo Park, visiting scholar in the natural and mathematical department, Dr. Bon-Jun Koo, professor of environmental science, Andrew Chang, Dr. Thomas Ferko, professor of chemistry, Dr. Jonathan Parker, professor of education and history,  Dr. Tracy Ward, associate provost for administration,  Stephanie Lara, environmental science major, and Chau Nguyen, biology major,  co-authored the paper Dissolution of Metals from Biosolid-Treated Soils by Organic Acid Mixtures that was recently published in Applied and Environmental Soil Science (vol. 2016).

 

Dr. David Poole, vice president for Online and Professional Studies (OPS), Dr. Dirk Davis, associate vice president for academics for OPS, Dr. Tran Hong, associate vice president of technology for OPS, and Dr. Elizabeth Morris, associate provost for accreditation, assessment and curriculum, presented at the WASC Senior College and University Commission Academic Resource Conference on April 7 in Garden Grove, Calif.  Their presentation was Contributing to the Purpose of Higher Education: A Comprehensive Student-Centered Design for Online Programs.

 

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, visiting professor of kinesiology for Online and Professional Studies, Michelle Moore, exercise science graduate student, and Mary Carlan (’07) presented a session at the state conference for California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in Santa Clara, Calif., March 10-12. The session was titled Skill-related Fitness and History: Olympics and Roman Empire Activities. O’Rourke and Moore also presented the session Promoting Personal Fitness and Conditioning using Social Media. Also, O’Rourke co-presented a health educator workshop students at the National Society for Health and Physical Educators Annual Convention in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 5-9.  The workshop was titled Out of Control Health: Strategies to Bridge Disconnected Health Values. O’Rourke also presented Teaching leadership and advocacy in health/physical education teacher education using technology-based strategies.

 

Online and Professional Studies celebrated National Public Health Week (April 4-10) by organizing a faculty, staff, and student walk at the Galleria at Tyler in Riverside. The purpose of week is to help communities connect, highlight public health issues, and acknowledge public heath contributions to communities across the country. Dr. Dominick Sturz, associate professor of public health, organized the event as a way to celebrate the week, and to promote health through intentional movement. The group participated in a one-mile walk inside the mall. CBU Online students were encouraged to organize their own walks and to share the experience using various media channels to spread the word about National Public Health Week.

 

 

 

Shawna Rainwater, daughter of Darrell Rainwater, director of advancement services, graduated from the Army’s 15W Advanced Leaders Course on April 29. The course is for leader development as a non-commissioned officer. She is a staff sergeant with HHC 3^rd Combat Aviation Brigade out of Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia.

 

 

 

 

 

Joel Brown (’11, ’12), financial aid loan counselor, and his wife, Carrissa (’15) welcomed their first child on April 26. Courtland Noah Brown weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and measured 20 inches long.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates