In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Family Updates

Dr. Jennifer Costello, assistant professor of social work, Dr. Krystal Hays, assistant professor of social work, Dr. Ted Murcray, associate professor of education, and Liza Arellano, assistant professor in social work, presented at the virtual National Conference on DSW Education on April 29. The title of the presentation Answering The Call To Teach: Preparing Doctoral Students for the Classroom.

 

Dr. Shari Farris, associate professor of education, and Dr. Cammy Purper, professor of education, published an article in the International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal (May 1). It was titled Partnering with a Purpose: Developing Teachers and Leaders through a Faith-Based and Public Partnership.

 

 

 

Andrew Cress, director of special projects for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Carolyn Heine, instructional services librarian, presented at the WSCUC Accreditation Resource Conference on April 20-22. The presentation was titled Assessment for Equity: Toward an Asset-focused Approach to University-wide, Interdisciplinary ILO Assessment with Rubrics. Cress also chaired the Special Interest Group for the California Association for Institutional Research and moderated a session titled Accreditation: Institution and Profession.

 

 

Kinesiology students took part in the student research colloquium held at the College of Health Science campus on April 21. Students from both the undergraduate and graduate programs presented to their peers.

 

 

Dr. Alex Chediak, professor of engineering and physics, presented at the 2022 Society for Biomaterials Annual Meeting in Baltimore on April 27-30. The presentation was titled Mechanisms underlying bacterial interactions with textured silicone surfaces.

 

 

 

Dr. Nathan Iverson, associate professor of psychology, presented at the annual conference for the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology in Seattle on April 30. He presented with other graduate program directors from around the country in a session titled If the shoe fits – Empowering I-O students to strategically select a graduate program.

 

 

 

Dr. Robert Shields, director of curriculum development, co-presented virtually at the 2022 Quality Matters Higher Education Quality in Action Conference on April 29. The presentation was titled Cultivating a Cross-Country Mentee-Mentor Partnership through Quality Matters Opportunities.

 

 

 

Dr. Gaynell Vanderslice, assistant professor of business management, and Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, professor of communication, presented research at the Public Relations Society of America Western District Conference in Waikiki, Hawaii, on April 28. It was titled Rethinking Strategies that Increase Leadership Capacity and Communication and presented research completed by Vanderslice, Pearson and Dr. Monica O’Rourke, professor of kinesiology.

 

 

 

Dr. Cammy Purper, professor of education, co-authored an article in Pediatric Nursing (March/April 2022). It was titled Types of Reviews-Part 3: Literature Review, Integrative Review, Scoping Review.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Yvonne Thai, associate professor of sociology, Dr. Scott Dunbar, associate professor of human resource management, and Dr. Thomas Frederick, professor of psychology, presented to the Tryon Evergreen Baptist Association on May 9. The title was Understanding Pastoral Burnout.

 

 

 

Dr. Keanon Alderson, professor of management, spoke at the Fort Worth Business Summit held on May 3. He talked on Family Business Succession. Alderson also co-published the results of a research study titled How Faith Affects the Leadership pf US Family Firms. It was published in the Journal of Management, Spirituality and Religion (Vol. 19, No. 4).

 

 

 

Kristin Beinschroth, visiting professor of radiologic sciences, gave a lecture to the California Society of Radiologic Technologists-Student Committee Meeting on Forensic Radiology on March 28. She also spoke at the California Society of Radiologic Technologists Spring Summit on April 30. It was titled Health Behavior Theory for Radiology Students. Both events were virtual.

 

 

 

Dr. Cammy Purper, professor of education, and Dr. Yvonne Thai, associate professor of sociology, presented at the 2022 California Association for the Education of Young Children conference in Pasadena on May 1. It was titled Promoting Early Childhood Teachers’ Resilience with Mindfulness Strategies.

 

 

 

 

Philip Breitenbucher, assistant professor of social work, presented at the Child Welfare League of America Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., on April 28. His session was titled Keeping Kids Safely At Home: Blending Science and Technology For Better Outcomes.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mark Kling, professor of criminal justice, Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, professor of public administration, and Dr. James Curtis, adjunct professor of public administration, had an article published in the PA Times on May 13. It was titled Incarceration Policies Related to Transgender, Non-Binary & Intersex Inmates.

 

 

Jenn Carson, adjunct professor of behavioral science, presented at the 55^th Annual American Association of Suicidology Conference in Chicago on April 29. Her presentation was titled on Stories of Recovery and Renewal. Carson is an elected board member at AAS and chair of the Attempt Survivor/Lived Experience Division.

 

 

 

Pi Sigma Alpha, which is the National Political Science Honor Society, inducted three new members on April 22. In order to be eligible for membership, students must meet high academic standards, such as a 3.5 overall GPA. The students inducted were Kimberly Rico, Marlene Brutron and Christian Lopez. While they were unable to attend the ceremony, Jared Aquino, Lauren Valdes, Vianey Gonzalez-Perez, Montana Ashley Kienzle, and Alondra Michelle Sosa were also inducted. Additionally, students inducted virtually in 2020 and 2021 were recognized and honored: Keoni Fernandez, Mollie Kortsen, Grayson Logan, Rebeca Oviedo, Elaina Prewitt, David Salas and Kyle Jackson. Dr. Chris McHorney, professor of political science, and Dr. Chase Porter, assistant professor of political science, are the faculty advisors.

 

 

Dr. Nathanael Heyman, professor of biological sciences, ran the Wild Wild West 50K ultramarathon in Lone Pine, California, on May 7. He finished first out of 84 runners. He ran the 31 miles with nearly 5,000 elevation gain in 4 hours 36 minutes.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Effat Zeidan Hatoum, assistant professor of general education, had an article published in the Association of Interdisciplinary Studies Newsletter (April 30). It was titled Interdisciplinarity: A Meaningful Approach in Preparing for Future Careers.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Ed Garrett, professor of sport and performance psychology, participated in a mental wellness panel with USA Cheer, which serves as a governing body for cheer and stunt, on May 31. The theme of panel was Understand Before Trying to be Understood.

 

 

 

Marc Machado II, head women’s golf coach, and his wife, Reba, adjunct professor of psychology, welcomed a son on April 16. Marc Irving Machado III weighed 6 pounds and measured 19.5 inches. He joins sisters Melody, 6, and Magnolia, 3.

 

 

 

 

Beth-Jayne Carranza, assistant director of graduate clinical placement, and her husband, Joe, welcomed a daughter on Dec. 30. Kalea Moriah Carranza weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 19.75 inches. She joins brother John, 2.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU concludes 2022 spring commencement ceremonies

California Baptist University wrapped up three days of celebration this week for the spring commencement ceremonies held at the CBU Events Center. Students received cheers and praise in front of thousands of friends and family members during five ceremonies on May 2-4.

Combined applications for graduation for spring 2022 commencement ceremonies consisted of nine candidates for doctoral degrees, 661 for master’s degrees and 1,217 for undergraduate degrees for a total of 1,887 applicants.

In the commencement address, Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of California Baptist University, congratulated the graduates.

“Commencement is the occasion when we celebrate academic achievements,” Ellis said. “Even more, you weathered continual changes, interruptions and unknowns caused by a global pandemic. You adapted to these unprecedented circumstances and finished strong. … And through the sacrifices you made, your true character was exemplified, and the relentless pursuit of your educational goals was steadfast.”

Ellis told the graduates he hoped their CBU experience will continue to inspire and influence them as they live their lives and serve others.

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

Walter Price, a CBU Board of Trustees member who gave the invocation, read from Psalm 46:1-3. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling” (ESV).

“Graduates as you entered today, I noticed that almost every one of you was looking up as you came into the room,” Price said. “I want to encourage you on the basis of this scripture to keep looking up, but look farther up, to the God who is your refuge and your strength. Whatever comes, good or bad, He is your refuge and strength.”

During the ceremonies, CBU recognized the efforts of two students who achieved excellence in their academic accomplishments. David Torres Salas, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a concentration in pre-law and a minor in music, received the 2022 Outstanding Senior Award. Shalomita Sumito, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, received the Min Sung Kim International Student Award.

For Jonathon Vancil, who earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, commencement was extra special. He is the first in his family to graduate from college.

“I am first generation from Cuba, and I am the first of my family to finish college,” Vancil said. “There was a lot of stuff that was on my shoulders, and I took the next step to finish my degree. I’m excited to finish and now I can pass this onto my children.”

Marcelo Blanco, police captain of the Upland Police Department, earned his Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership to fulfill his goal of becoming a leader in his organization.

“Most of the things I’ve learned in the master’s program are things that we are doing, so it made sense to me. It’s where the rubber meets the road,” Blanco said. “You take the academic side of things and apply it to the real world.”

 

CBU receives multiple awards in Baptist media competition

California Baptist University won numerous communication awards at the 58th annual Wilmer C. Fields Awards competition. The awards were presented during the annual Baptist Communicators Association workshop, held April 25-28.

The Lancer Media Group and the Marketing and Communication division won a combined 26 awards in the student and professional competitions, including one of the eight grand prizes awarded.

The Angelos 2021 yearbook—Adapt—won the grand prize for Best Overall Student Entry in addition to first place in several categories, including Best Yearbook Whole Issue and Best Yearbook Cover.

In other student awards, CBU TV’s Wyatt Mitchison won first place for his video “CBU Sports Minute” in the Video Storytelling category. Philip Elijah won first place for Single Photograph. Marharyta Smirnova and Claire Grimes earned first place in Series Photography for Midnight Madness, and Luc Stringer won first place for Best Portrait for “Endless Spinning” in Angelos Yearbook.

Camille Grochowski won first place in design for her magazine article spread in Pursuit magazine. Grochowski, Stringer and Caleb Chong also won first place for Best Magazine Cover and first place for Best Magazine Whole Issue Design for the fall 2021 issue of Pursuit. 

Ignacio Dominguez and Lauren Brooks won first place for Mixed Media Coverage. The Banner took home first place for Best Newspaper.

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, interim director of student publications, said her and Sonya Singh, assistant director of student publications, were thrilled for the students.

“We are so very proud of Lancer Media Group and the dedication and tenacity they continue to demonstrate,” Pearson said.

Additionally, the Marketing and Communication division at CBU won three awards in the professional competition. The Roundtable, the alumni magazine, earned first place in the Overall Print Publication Magazine category. CBU’s State of the University and Breaking the Silence also received awards.

To see a full list of the awards, please visit the BCA website here.

 

Student filmmakers showcase work at CBU film festival 

California Baptist University’s film department hosted its annual Student Film Festival at The Box theatre in downtown Riverside on April 24. The event, which is part of the Riverside International Film Festival, featured the screening of a series of films, created and submitted by CBU film students, as well as an awards ceremony.

Dr. Melissa Croteau, professor of film studies, has been involved in the planning process for the annual event for years. The film festival is open to all CBU students.

“The students have an opportunity to share what they have been doing in classes and out of classes in the last year creatively,” Croteau said. “There are people from all over campus who come to the festival, but also the friends, the church communities, the co-workers and the families of these filmmakers come and cheer on the work. There is no substitute to seeing one’s work with a group of people and having your work appreciated. I really think that is invaluable.”

The festival offered a vast array of short films from multiple genres, including narrative, horror and a music video. Croteau views the variety as a strength of the festival.

“We didn’t put a particular topic only because we didn’t want to limit anyone,” Croteau said.

Michael Metzler Jr., junior film major, submitted two films for the festival, including “What Is Real” and the film that won best picture, “Simon Says.”

“What I enjoyed about sharing my films was being able to see them on a real big screen and being able to experience the audience’s reactions to the stories,” Metzler said. “I learned that spontaneity often gives rise to the best ideas, and you can’t get better at something unless you actually take initiative and dive straight in.”

Josiah Murphy, film senior, worked on several films—“One Night Only” and “Saudade,” which won best actress, and “What Is Real.” Murphy enjoyed collaborating with other film students throughout the filmmaking process and then attending the festival.

“It’s always fun to come together as students and watch others’ work in support,” Murphy said. “It also makes it even better when there’s a big turnout so others can see the varied work that the film program is doing.”

This film festival is the first one to take place indoors and in-person since the start of the pandemic. The 2020 festival was cancelled and the 2021 event took place on the Mission Hall Lawn.

Croteau said that the film festival offers students valuable experience and opportunities as they can go on to submit their films to other festivals. She also said the film festival allows others to see the potential of future filmmakers on campus.

“These are people who are going to go on and impact the world,” Croteau said. “You can see a piece of their future and certainly the promise in the creative minds and careers of these filmmakers.”

Student Film Festival Awards

Best film: “Simon Says”
Best Actress: Jolene Automo, “Saudade”
Best actor: Michael Metzler Jr., “Simon Says”
Best cinematography: Viviana Delgado, “Whiplash Reprised”
Best music and soundtrack: “broken promises”
Best screenplay: Michael Metzler Jr., “Simon Says”
Best special visual effects: Benjamin Morey, “Shoot … to Kill!”
Best editing: Michael Metzler Jr., “Simon Says”
Best production design: “Simon Says”

 

Outstanding students ring bell in commencement ceremonies

More than 1,880 students at California Baptist University were eligible to participate in five commencement ceremonies held in the Events Center from May 2-4.

Five distinguished students were selected to begin each ceremony with a traditional ringing of the CBU bell. Each toll of the bell represents one decade of the university’s existence. At the spring ceremonies, the bell will ring seven times to honor the seven decades of academic excellence since CBU’s inception in 1950.

On May 2, Nathan Moretti, a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics candidate, rang the bell at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony, and Aimee Yeager, a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Studies candidate did so at the 2 p.m. ceremony. On May 3, Skye Morikawa, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology candidate, rang the bell at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony, and Ashley Cote, a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science candidate, did at the 2 p.m. ceremony. Brendan Kane, a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering candidate, rang the bell at the May 4 ceremony.

Morikawa, who has a 4.0 GPA, said her biggest success is related to her biggest challenge in college.

“Finding balance was one of the most difficult things I had to do,” Morikawa said. “I have been able to grow in my relationship with God, develop lasting relationships, provide for myself and remain successful in my academic endeavors. I would not have been able to get through these last few years without my community of people supporting me.”

After commencement, Morikawa will celebrate her wedding this summer and transition to a full-time entry-level social worker.

Moretti, a 4.0 GPA student and intern for the office of Community Life, hopes to work in higher education through one-on-one interaction with students. He said he is not the same person graduating from CBU as when he first entered as a freshman.

“I thank God for showing me His goodness throughout my time here,” Moretti said. “My professors at CBU have shown me how math can glorify God and that God must be central to all aspects of life.”

Yeager, a 3.99 GPA student, said God guided her as she moved from Thailand to the United States to begin her academic journey.

“I had never been to California before coming to college,” Yeager said. “God has humbled me a lot. Teaching me to trust Him, not just with the big things but also with the smallest things. I am developing the habit of bringing it all to the feet of Jesus.”

Kane, a 4.0 GPA student, will join SpaceX as a structural engineer on the Falcon program. He said his time at CBU has allowed him to grow in many ways.

“I have been able to really push the limits of what I thought was possible and have grown to view and appreciate new challenges as opportunities for growth,” Kane said. “It has also been meaningful to me to be able to meet so many hard-working and compassionate people throughout my time at CBU.”

Cote, a 4.0 GPA student, said that her support system helped her overcome chronic pain she experienced while earning her degree and was able to maintain her grades through grit, determination and hard work.

“Every hour spent studying was worth it,” Cote said. “CBU has shaped me in more ways than I can describe. I am forever grateful for the experiences that CBU has given me, and I will use all the lessons that I have learned to glorify God in my future career.”

 

Hooding ceremonies honor graduates’ academic achievements

Hundreds of graduate degree candidates at California Baptist University celebrated their academic achievements with hooding ceremonies leading up to commencement May 2-4.

More than 650 master’s degree candidates and nine doctoral candidates were eligible to participate in the spring commencements. Colleges and schools at CBU host program-specific hooding ceremonies to recognize their candidates. Students are given distinctive colored hoods that represent their major to wear at their commencement ceremony.

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences had the largest group of master’s candidates with 266. The Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education had the second largest group with 135 candidates.

During the master’s of English hooding ceremony on April 25, Dr. Erika Travis, director of the graduate English program at CBU, said words are powerful.

“As you go from here, may your words always be seasoned with grace, bring peace and life, enrich your relationships with understanding of others, impart knowledge and wisdom and ultimately bring glory to God who has brought you to this moment,” Travis said.

Nicole Terada, who earned a Master of Arts in English, works in marketing and communications at Harvest Christian Fellowship. Her goal is to become a college professor, but she has applied her degree to her current career.

“My main goal is still to teach, but I’m using my degree in a way that I didn’t think that I would,” Terada said.

Alison Bravenec, who earned a Master of Arts in English, said her professors worked with her as a busy mom of five.

“I took a lot of time off while having my kids,” Bravenec said. “So, when I finally wanted to come back, they were on board, supportive, very encouraging and helped me build my confidence.”

David Little, who earned a Master of Arts in English, works for Graduate Admissions at CBU and hopes to become a teacher. He began the program 10 years ago and attributes his success to his professors.

“My professors were always encouraging me to come back, and I never took them up on their advice,” Little said. “But religiously they kept coming back, and ultimately, I finished here and I can further my passion for teaching.”

 

Engineering Design Showcase features students’ projects 

Students, families and faculty gathered in the Dennis and Carol Troesh Engineering Building at California Baptist University on April 22 to celebrate another year of innovation.

Students in the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering presented their projects from the year as part of the Engineering Design Showcase. The event featured senior capstone projects, junior design projects and a robotics competition consisting of teams comprised of first-year engineering students.

Dr. Mark Gordon, associate professor of mechanical engineering, said this event is important because it allows students to share their work with others.

“We feel it is important for students to be able to show what they have done,” Gordon said. “It is one thing to get to the end of a course and hand something in but to be able to show it to other people is a valuable thing for them. It gives them extra motivation and also provides a more satisfying experience.”

Gordon also emphasized that the design showcase presents first-year students with the opportunity to interact with juniors and seniors to gain a better understanding of what field of engineering they might want to pursue.

“We find it to be valuable for our first-year students because we have a lot of types of engineering, so one of the things we want them to do is find which type of engineering is right for them,” Gordon said. “This is an opportunity to go around and see what the juniors and seniors are doing and see which type of engineering they might want to go into.”

Celise Vaughan, a mechanical engineering junior, shared about her team’s junior design project, which was a solar windmill design. The goal of the design was to create a product that could produce both solar and wind energy since neither form of energy is consistent. She enjoyed sharing her work at the showcase, especially after facing several obstacles with parts failing during the design process.

“It’s nice having a finished product,” Vaughan said. “It really is a struggle, especially near the end rushing to get everything done, especially when you hit bumps in the road. It’s nice to be proud of something.”

Jonathan Samonte, a mechanical engineering senior, and his team showcased their capstone project—a miniature, wearable heating and cooling device, which uses ceramic tiles to either heat or cool the user. He said he appreciated the opportunity to share the project he and his teammates had worked on all year.

“There is a sense of finality about it,” Samonte said. “You get to the end of the project and think ‘Wow, that’s a whole year’s worth of effort put into a project.’ Now, we actually get to show people what we were doing for an entire year.”

First-year engineering teams participated in a competition in which robots they designed collected data remotely via sensors. The robots used the information to collect orbs based on amount and color. The robots were judged based on accuracy, the energy spent, the cost and the time taken to complete the task.

Members of the winning team, 8-Bit Butler, said they spent weeks perfecting the design and drawings and building their robots for the competition.

“A lot of it was testing and trying to see if our designs were reliable and if they could withstand running for repetitive times and putting stress on them,” said Joshua Miller, an electrical and computer engineering freshman.

The team encountered some major obstacles, including the challenge of having to redesign and rebuild one of their robots five hours before the competition began. However, the team enjoyed the collaboration throughout the process.

“My personal favorite thing is the team collaboration,” said Bryan Mayen, a mechanical engineering freshman. “Since the beginning, we were all so determined to get that main master plan going. We just let our hearts go toward building these things. That’s what matters—being a team and having good team collaboration.”

 

Student literary journal releases 2022 issue

The Dazed Starling, a literary journal that features fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry submitted by California Baptist University students and recent graduates, recently released its annual issue.

The journal, started in 2014, is edited by undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Literary Journal Editing and Publishing (ENG 431 and ENG 531). It is published in the spring of each year, and students from all majors are encouraged to submit their stories to have their voices heard.

Dr. Erika Travis, faculty advisor and managing editor of the journal, said she hopes the audience sees something of themselves reflected in the journal.

“There are others out there with the same hopes, dreams, trials and frustrations,” said Travis, who is also the director of the English graduate program. “We hope that in the sense of community and in the acts of creative expression and revision, writers, editors and the audience all find a glimpse of the creative nature of God and the beauty of participating in that creative experience.”

The name of the journal was inspired by Richard Wilbur’s poem “The Writer” that tells the story of a man observing his daughter as she struggles through the creative process of writing. The dazed starling is a bird referenced in the poem that has difficulties learning to take flight. The bird is used as a symbol in the poem to signify the daughter’s challenges with writing before she can flourish.

For many students this is their first publication, which Travis said is exciting.

“They have created something powerful, and they were brave enough to share it,” Travis said.

Ben Lang, an English graduate student and editor of the journal, said it is often difficult for writers to get their foot in the door in the publishing industry.

“This journal gives students a place to express themselves creatively by giving them an outlet to publish their pieces,” Lang said.

Trinton Spencer, an English graduate student and editor, said this is a great opportunity for students to share a piece of their life in various creative forms with others.

“Some pieces evoke old emotions, inspire the reader to become better or give a sense of relief and peace,” Spencer said.

 

Recognized water polo player reflects on final season with CBU

Kira O’Donell, a social work graduate student at California Baptist University, is filled with mixed emotions as she finishes up her fifth and final season on the CBU women’s water polo team.

“The reality is barely hitting me, and frankly I am filled with heightened and mixed emotions,” O’Donell said. “I think the biggest part of me preparing for my final round of conference play with this team is just my commitment to focus and energy during each practice.”

O’Donell made history for CBU women’s water polo when she became the first player in program history to earn four All-Golden Coast Conference awards on April 19. O’Donell earned All-GCC Second Team recognition. The attacker is also a three-time All-American. In the GCC, O’Donell leads all players with 70 goals this year and has had at least one goal in the last 26 games.

“Complacency does not create champions,” O’Donell said.

“I know that through this team I have been blessed to be surrounded by a large group of girls that will support me unconditionally, work alongside me to achieve a common goal and genuinely desire me to succeed in all aspects of my life,” O’Donell said.

When practices and games came to a halt in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, O’Donell took this time of uncertainty to reflect.

“I had to come to terms with the fact that I had placed my identity as a water polo player higher than most other aspects of myself,” O’Donell said. “COVID forced me to consider the fragileness of my identity as a water polo player as it can be easily taken away, via graduation, injury or even a pandemic. I committed to prioritize my status as a Christian before any fleeting identity or activity because that is the one thing that could not be taken from me.”

O’Donell became more intentional about her thoughts, actions and the people she surrounded herself with to help her reflect on her faith. By modifying her training and routines, she was able to see herself emerge from a water polo player to an athlete.

“I learned that I love to exercise and challenge myself to move and build muscle without the external pressure of daily practice,” O’Donell said. “My self-perceived identity shifted, and I noticed that exercise truly increases my daily productivity and improves my mental health.”

O’Donell discussed that the primary lessons she learned from the pandemic are that nothing in life is guaranteed and that her relationship with God is unchanging.

“I am applying this lesson to my life today by doing all things to the best of my ability to glorify Him,” O’Donell said. “It is my goal for people to see a light in me that can only be from the Lord as I strive to follow His will, utilizing the talents I’ve been given and encouraging others to also join me in this race.”

 

Students win President’s Award for Excellence in Writing

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, presents Morgan Vandiver a certificate for winning the 2022 President’s Award for Excellence in Writing.

Morgan Vandiver, a graduate student in English at California Baptist University, was unanimously named the winner of the 2022 President’s Award for Excellence in Writing.

Vandiver’s research paper, titled “The ‘Madwoman’ is Not Your Metaphor: A Feminist Disability Studies Perspective on Wide Sargasso Sea,” explores mental illness and disability through the lens of feminism.

“This is a clear and persuasive literary criticism paper that intervenes across several important topics from mental health and disability studies to feminism and ethnic studies,” Dr. Tae Sung, dean of student success and member of the selection committee, wrote of the paper. “By acknowledging the attempt by feminist scholars to treat madness as a form of agency, the paper carefully pushes back against reductive attempts to interpret mental illness and disability metaphorically in a way that substitutes and erases the lived experience of people with such conditions.”

Vandiver said she was amazed to win the award and drew her inspiration from her interest in disability studies.

“I have friends who have disabilities, and it is a crucial, underrepresented field,” Vandiver said. “We were learning about a character in a book with a mental disability, and I approached it from a feminist perspective.”

Vandiver received a certificate and a check for $600.

Michael Dome, an aviation management junior, received first runner-up for his paper, “The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Southern California Flight Schools.” The paper explores the timely topic of experiences with COVID-19 and provides those who are unfamiliar with aviation education a better understanding through research conducted in the paper.

“This paper is a surprisingly engaging presentation of original research on what initially seemed an esoteric topic,” Dr. Amy Stumpf, professor of society and religion and a member of the selection committee, said of the paper. “The entire project demonstrates a maturity of thought and skill, and the written presentation of the project is technically outstanding.”

Dome received a certificate and a check for $360.

Bethany Bruce, an English senior, received second runner-up for her paper, “Not Just a Piece in Their Games.” Her paper observes an analysis of the novel “The Hunger Games” and argues that the book is a critique of the mass media and its destructive influence on personal identity.

“It highlights the unique power of stories to inspire us to examine our own lives in this case, primarily our engagement with social media,” Dr. Thomas Schneider, associate professor of English, wrote of the paper.

Bruce received a certificate and a check for $240.

A six-member faculty selection committee used a formal voting process to choose the winning entries.

 

Family Updates

Alpha Tau Sigma, CBU’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society, inducted 10 new members on April 7. To be eligible for membership, students must exhibit high academic achievement in English language and literature courses and gain the recommendation of the English faculty. Students inducted are: Alec Arbizo, Grace Crandall, Hannah Gregson, Adrian King, Abigail Lopez. Hope Ocegueda, Isabelle Ray, Connor Ryan, Jasmine Severi and Emma Totaro. Current officers are Angelina Hope, Haley McPherson and Kristen Dunskey. David Isaacs, visiting professor of English, is the faculty advisor.

 

The Modern Languages and Literature department hosted a Novel Tea for students and faculty on March 17. Dr. Jennifer Newton, professor of English, presented Tea in the Works of Victorian Women Novelists, and Dr. Gretchen Bartels-Ray, associate professor of English, presented a paper titled They have Been Eating Muffins,That Looks Like Repentance: Social (Dis)Connection and Tea Time in The Importance of Being Earnest.

 

 

 

 

The Department of Biological Sciences held a Bio Sci Wellness Fair on April 8, and more than 200 students attended. The Counseling and Recreation centers handed out information, and the Pre-Dental Club gave away dental kits from ASCBU. The Environmental Science and Botany clubs helped students pot flowers. Additionally, trainers from Inland Empire Therapy Dogs organization participated along with their therapy dogs.

 

 

Dr. Virginia Cadenhead, assistant professor of nursing, received the Health Literacy Award for Research from the Institute for Health Advancement. She received the award for her research titled Focused Ethnography: Storytelling for Diabetes with Low Health Literacy and Diabetes.

 

 

 

 

Lancer Media Group received eight awards from the Evangelical Press Association. The wins include first place for Samantha Rojo for Best Cartoon and for her illustration The Night Season; Kia Harlan won first place for her article Hi, My Name is… Luc Stringer won second place for his photo Our 9/11 and third place in the student writer of the year category. Pursuit magazine won the award of excellence for campus print magazine, and The Banner newspaper won an award of merit for both its print and digital publications.

 

 

 

Dr. Cammy Purper, professor of education, Dr. Yvonne Thai, associate professor of sociology, Dr. Thomas Frederick, professor of psychology, and Dr. Shari Farris, associate professor of education, published an article in the Early Childhood Education Journal (April). The article was titled Exploring the Challenge of Teachers’ Emotional Labor in Early Childhood Settings.

 

Dr. Russell Schmidt, adjunct professor of behavioral sciences, successfully defended his doctoral research on April 18. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in pastoral counseling from Liberty University. The title was The pastoral counselor’s use of holistic health practices as part of a comprehensive treatment modality.

 

 

 

The 14^th Annual Natural and Mathematical Sciences Research Symposium was held at CBU March 26. About 100 students from the Division of Natural and Mathematical Sciences presented research as they showcased their projects. The keynote speaker was Dr. Derek C. Schuurman, professor of computer science from Calvin University, who presented on Connecting Bytes and Beliefs.

 

 

Russell Meek, adjunct professor of Christian Studies, had a book published. It is titled Ecclesiastes and the Search for Meaning in an Upside-Down World (Hendrickson Publishers, April 19, 2022).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mark Kling, associate professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, professor of public administration, had an article published in the PA Times on April 8. It was titled Ukraine: Winning the Peace.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Tae Sung, dean of Student Success, published a chapter in the book Literature and Religious Experience: Beyond Belief and Unbelief (Bloomsbury Academic, Feb. 10, 2022). The chapter is titled Gift: The (Im)possible Conditions of Grace in Melville’s Fiction.

 

 

 

Dr. Berniece Alspach, associate professor of English, presented at the Western Regional Conference on Christianity and Literature at Biola University on April 8. The paper was titled We are More than a Pile of Bones: The Value of the Body in Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go.

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Tronti, assistant professor of English, presented at the Western Regional Conference on Christianity and Literature at Biola University on April 8. The title of her paper was ‘No Semicolons in the Apocalypse’: Indigenous Futurism’s Reclamation of the Anthropocene. She also did a panel presentation, titled Importance of Audio-visual Literacy in the Digital Age.

 

 

Rida Leonard, adjunct professor of English, presented at the Western Regional Conference on Christianity and Literature at Biola University on April 8. The title of the paper was Home and Displacement: An Analysis of Dorothy West’s The Living is Easy (1948) and Nella Larsen’s Quicksand (1928).

 

 

 

Dr. Guy Holliday, assistant professor of music, was the guest conductor for the Whittier Union High School District Honor Band. He led 10 hours of rehearsal and the performance on April 5, 7 and 8. The honor band consisted of 73 students, the best woodwind, brass, and percussion students from five Whittier area high schools.

 

 

 

Dr. Robert Crosby, associate professor of psychology, published a book, Trauma-Informed Children’s Ministry: A Practical Guide to Reaching Hurting Kids (Cascade Books, April 13, 2022). The book is the product of research conducted with Dr. Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology. The book is targeted to children’s ministry leaders and volunteers, as well as Christian ministry students.

 

 

CBU kinesiology students helped at the Captain’s Challenge Fit Finals hosted by the Anaheim Ducks on April 8. Students recorded fitness assessments for 1,000 fifth-grade students.

 

 

 

Dr. Chris Morgan, dean of the School of Christian Ministries, had a book published. He co-wrote The Glory of God and Paul (IVP Academic, Feb. 22), which is part of the New Studies in Biblical Theology series.

 

 

 

Dr. Dominick Sturz, professor of public health, hosted live and virtual events on April 4-5 in celebration of National Public Health Week. Participants could join live with the Southern California Public Health Association or join from their own locations and participate in moving for health.

 

 

 

Dr. Riste Simnjanovski, associate professor of public administration, published a book, The Bitcoin Heir Next Door: Happiness Beyond Generational Wealth (April 13).

 

 

 

Dr. Ogbochi McKinney, associate professor of public health, was interviewed for an article in the hearhere Journal of Christian Thought by The Claremont Colleges (March 31). The title of the article is Role of the Black Church in Promoting Public Health.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Effat Zeidan Hatoum, assistant professor of general education, presented virtually at the Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education conference on April 13. The title was An Interdisciplinary Approach to Assessing Student Learning in an Inclusive Online Classroom.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Thomas Frederick, professor of psychology, Dr. Scott Dunbar, associate professor of human resource management, Dr. Yvonne Thai, associate professor of sociology, Dr. Richard Ardito, associate professor of accounting, Julianna Carrera, CBU alumna and academic support coordinator, and Kristen Kidd and Mimi Almero, CBU students, published a research abstract in the Review of Religious Research. The title is The Effects of Role Differentiation Among Clergy: Impact on Pastoral Burnout and Job Satisfaction.

 

Dr. Ed Garrett, associate professor of sport and performance psychology, presented research at the Los Angeles County Psychological Association’s meeting for Sport and Performance Psychology on April 23. His research is titled Expanding the novel application of sport and performance psychology in other career fields: A pilot study on behavioral understanding and its effects on stress in the medical community.

 

 

 

Dr. Joshua Rodriguez, assistant professor of music theory and composition, received first place in the Springfield Chamber Chorus Composition contest. The Springfield Chamber Chorus (Missouri) premiered his work, Dos Palabras (Two Words), in a concert on April 3.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Gabriel Estrada, visiting professor of Old Testament, presented at the Far West Region Evangelical Theological Society meeting at Gateway Seminary on April 1. The presentation was titled Israel’s Story in the Songs of Ascents: Toward a Missional Hermeneutic.

 

 

 

Dr. Tim Gramling, dean of the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business, was a judge for the Greater Corona Regional Fast Pitch Competition on April 5. Entrepreneurs presented products or services. Joshua Newton, a CBU aviation student, received third place with his business, Newton’s Drone Service.

 

 

 

Dr. Jeff Cate, professor of New Testament, participated in an academic panel at Lanier Theological Library in Houston on April 22. The panel discussed the text of the New Testament.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Angela Coaston, associate professor of nursing, co-authored an article in Population Health Management (April). It was titled Mobile Medical Clinics in the United States Post-Affordable Care Act: An Integrative Review.

 

 

 

 

Randall Stamen, presiding judge of the Riverside County Veterans Court, visited CBU on April 21 to meet student veterans who are interested in practicing law. The Veterans Court is designed to supervise felony and misdemeanor veterans through a comprehensive judicially monitored program of treatment and rehabilitation services.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Grandparents Day celebrated again at CBU 

Over 250 grandparents of students visited California Baptist University for Grandparents Day on April 7.

Josh Moss, senior director of alumni, parent and donor engagement, said it was a joy to see the love poured out during the event.

“The event is designed to provide an opportunity for grandparents to see into the life of their grandchildren and experience college life with them,” Moss said. “Students love to see the grandparents around campus and interact with them.”

The event began with a welcome session that highlighted the various factors that make CBU unique. Grandparents then had an array of options to enjoy, including chapel, watercolor workshops, music performances, leadership and Bible classes and a performance of “The Wizard of Oz,” CBU theatre’s latest production.

Additionally, grandparents were invited to tour CBU’s campus and enjoy lunch and dinner with their student.

Dr. Paul Eldridge, vice president for University Advancement, said it was a privilege to welcome grandparents to campus after a two-year hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Grandparents Day was one of the first major events we had to cancel, and we made that decision because we wanted to be really sensitive to our grandparents,” Eldridge told the visitors. “We are so glad to have you here again.”

Gabrielle Burrow, an intercultural studies junior, spoke during the welcome session. She said she can go overseas and spread the word of God through an International Service Project with CBU because of the support of her grandparents.

“Through their finances, prayer and encouragement, my grandparents were overwhelmingly generous,” Burrow said. “This made a huge impact on me because they expressed support for me and my calling. This showed me the value of family and building relationships between generations.”

Mary Lopez flew out from Missouri to spend the day with her grandson, John Lopez II, an architecture sophomore.

Coming from a Catholic background, Lopez said she felt very welcomed on CBU’s campus and was moved by the chapel service.

“This is God at work,” Lopez said. “So long as you have trust, faith and believe, that’s really all you need.”

 

CBU diver credits success to extra training during pandemic

Evan Honer, a business administration junior at California Baptist University, was the first male diver to sweep the competition when he did so at the 2021 Western Athletic Conference Championships. He won the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform competitions and was named WAC Men’s Diver of the Year.

CBU diver credits success to extra training during pandemic Last month Honer secured his second-straight WAC Diver of the Year award after defending his titles in the 1-meter and platform events. He broke his own record from last season with a platform score of 392.85, setting a new program and WAC Championship meet record.

He credits his success to his competitive drive and to the training he put in during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During his freshman year at CBU, the season came to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic. With the future of practices and competitions unknown, Honer decided to use this time of uncertainty to his advantage and trained harder than ever before.

“We would have meets coming up all the time during the season and I think we all took it for granted,” Honer said.

While unable to practice with his team, Honer spent hours sharpening his skills. During the school year, he could still practice at the CBU pool. In the summer, he practiced with his club team in Arizona.

“During the year it didn’t really feel like it but looking back now it was a blessing in disguise,” Honer said. “We didn’t know if we were going to be able to compete and that made me want it even more.”

Diving is a technical sport that requires focus, concentration and attention to detail. There is little room for error, so athletes must use their time in practice wisely to clean up their dives to ensure a good score during competitions, Honer said. Athletes meet three times a week for practice and work on flexibility, weight training and plyometrics.

Honer said that hard work at practice and a positive headspace is essential for competing.

“I try not to overthink it too much because if I do, I will psych myself out,” Honer said. “I will remember the corrections I made in practice and do exactly what I know how to do, and just dive.”

Honer said the most challenging part of diving is getting past an “off” day. Instead of dwelling on mistakes made, he tries to think of what his competitors would be doing.

“I can’t slack off because that puts me back a day from the competition,” Honer said. “If you can push through those hard days, I feel like that’s where you see the most growth.”

 

CBU students display talents at WooFest

California Baptist University students, dressed in semi-formal attire, attended WooFest in the Events Center on April 6.

The New Orleans-themed event featured performances by male students, including singing, dancing, spoken word and magic. To close the evening, the male resident advisors (RAs) came together to do a final dance performance.

“WooFest is an event that CBU has put on for many years,” said Brianna Collingwood, residence director (RD) of the Cottages. “Essentially it’s a variety show where guys come to ‘woo’ the ladies. Really it is just a fun night to have students dress up and come enjoy.”

WooFest began in 2009 on campus. In 2017, it moved to the Fox Theater in downtown Riverside. This year, the event occurred in the Events Center to accommodate a larger audience and make it more accessible.

“It is super exciting to utilize the Events Center to serve our students on campus,” Collingwood said. “In past years, we’ve done it at the Fox Theater, which we’ve outgrown, and we are really passionate about including all students.”

Additionally, the event was open to all traditional undergraduate students this year rather than only residential students.

“Coming off of a year where there has been a lot of isolation and no events, I think getting the opportunity to build community among all students is something that sets this year apart,” Collingwood said.

Collingwood said CBU Resident Directors and RAs helped in the preparation, and Residence Life partnered with multiple departments across campus including ASCBU, Community Life, and Conferences and Events to bring the event to life.

“It was cool to see the RAs put in a lot of effort to make this an amazing show,” said Steve Jussenhoven, RD of University Place Men. “They put a lot of work into the decorations and the little details we hope residents appreciate.”

Amanda Salas, graphic design and visual experience sophomore, attended WooFest for the first time this year. She said she enjoyed the community-building aspect of the event, especially for students who feel less connected to the school because of COVID.

“I think it is fun,” Salas said. “It definitely makes me feel a little more involved on campus. It’s just great to be a part of it.”

Collingwood said she has enjoyed reintroducing a CBU tradition to a new wave of students.

“It has been cool to bring back the excitement and what WooFest is,” Collingwood said.

Jussenhoven said he hopes students enjoyed the event and the aspects that made this year’s WooFest unique.

“It really is just a special event for people to come, dress up to the nines, having a great time with their friends,” Jussenhoven said. “Everyone gets to watch some really cool shows and really cool acts and a lot of great talent. Hopefully it is a night that everyone is going to remember.”

 

CBU architecture student recognized by Metropolis magazine

An architecture student from California Baptist University was named one of the top graduating architecture students in North America by Metropolis magazine.

Titled Metropolis Future 100, the magazine list selects the top 50 interior design and 50 architecture students from the graduating class of 2022. This year, it received over 300 submissions.

Andriani Sugianto, an architecture graduate student at CBU, was recognized as one of the top 50 architecture students.

Students were nominated by their professors and mentors. Keelan Kaiser, program director of architecture at CBU and professor to Sugianto, said her recognition opens up networking opportunities and establishes connections with the design industry. Sugianto’s passion is present in all of her work, Kaiser said.

“Andriani is one of our top graduates in the history of our program, and it came as no surprise to us that she placed in the national competition,” Kaiser said. “She loves the Lord and that is evident in any conversation and interaction you have with her. She is creative, has a wonderful imagination, is modest and humble.”

Sugianto said the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design (CAVAD) at CBU is the reason she feels prepared for a career in architecture. The professors have intentionally mentored, encouraged and inspired her through her studies, she said.

“I have gathered an immense wealth of knowledge and wisdom from the professors in the program,” Sugianto said. “This program is truly unique and highly favored to receive such wonderful leaders that care about your work and skills but even more about your character.”

Sugianto said her ideas for projects begin with a concept and that acts as a guide for the entire process to refine, remove and add ideas.

“I seek inspiration from other architects, artists, my peers, my professors, nature and Jesus,” Sugianto said. “I often ask Him for ideas because He did happen to create the most beautiful things we have.”

Her creative process includes lots of sketching, 3D modeling, constructive criticism and prayer.

“Sounds funny, but when I hit a rut or get really frustrated in my process, Jesus always gives me peace, asks me if I trust Him and gives me an idea,” Sugianto said.

 

Family Updates

CBU’s flight team competed at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association Regional Safety and Flight Competition in Bakersfield, California, on Feb. 26-March 5. The Flying Lancers won several awards, including first place in the message drop competition and the overall safety award. The safety award is based on the teams’ safety performance throughout the week of competition along with a business presentation on the safety protocols of the school.

 

 

Christopher Kern, assistant professor of photography, was interviewed for an E-Commerce Content Creation podcast on March 22. It was titled A Degree in Photography.

 

 

 

 

Dr. John Park, assistant professor of psychology, co-authored a paper published in Behavior Therapy (March 2022). It was titled Accept Yourself! A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Self-Acceptance-Based Treatment for Large Bodied, Depressed Women. He also co-authored a paper published in the Journal of Behavioral and Social Sciences (Fall 2021). It was titled The Provision of Mental Health Services by Religious/Spiritual Leaders of Hidalgo County, Texas.

 

 

 

CBU competed in the California Speech and Hearing Association (CSHA) College Bowl for the first time on March 26. CBU came out on top of five other graduate teams. The CBU team was made up of Ann Blackwood, Sarah Bustos, Emily Done and Paige Worthington, students in Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology.

 

 

 

 

Maigen Turner, administrative secretary for the School of Christian Ministries, was named employee of the month for April. Her nomination included the following statements: “Maigen has earned the respect of faculty, student, and administrators alike with consistency in her job performance.  She works in a busy office with constant needs from faculty and students, but she does not view such needs as interruptions to her work. She is intentional about staying on task but flexible in adapting to needs as they arise.”

 

 

 

Dr. Victoria Brodie, assistant professor of public relations, and Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, professor of communication, presented at the Riverside County quarterly leadership meeting on March 31. They spoke on Developing A Leadership Quotient. The presentation was done on behalf of the Paul and Annie Kienel Leadership Institute.

 

 

 

CBU photography students were selected for the Communication Arts Photography Competition short list. The competition entries are judged by an internationally jury of distinguished creative directors and photographers. Of 2,241 submissions, 438 entries were short listed from which the winners were chosen. On the short list, 38 works of students were selected, 14 being by 10 CBU students. Three of those CBU students then were selected to appear in the 2022 Communication Arts Photography Annual 63.

 

 

CBU photography student David Ardill was selected to be included in the print edition of American Photography 38 winning collection. From over 7,000 entries, the jury selected 405 images to appear in the book. Additionally, images by CBU students Raymond Alva, Alicia Berardelli, Caleb Ericksen and David Fouts were among the 348 images chosen to eligible to appear online in The ARCHIVE—the exclusive online juried collection by American Illustration and American Photography.

 

 

Dr. Wayne Fletcher, associate professor of health science, presented a seminar to the San Bernardino County Probation Department leadership team on March 24. It was titled Leadership, Management, and Administration: Nuancing the Differences. The seminar was part of a series given by the Paul and Annie Kienel Leadership Institute.

 

 

 

Dr. Veola Vazquez, professor of psychology, presented research at the Christian Association for Psychological Studies virtual conference on March 18-19. The presentation was titled Multiracial Discrimination, Religious/Spiritual Struggles, and Race-Based Stress Among Biracial Black-White and Asian-White Christians During 2020-2021. She presented with students in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program: Jaylene Arnett, Francisco Jimenez, Wendy Ponce, John Tenorio and Alexis Vazquez.

 

 

Dr. Shawn Wilhite, associate professor of Christian studies, published a blog on The Center for Baptist Renewal (March 17, 2022). It was titled Saint Patrick’s Trinitarian Theology.

 

 

 

 

Jessica Alzen, adjunct professor of English, presented a paper at the annual meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching in Vancouver, British Columbia, on March 26. The paper was titled Variations in the Co-Occurrence of Epistemic Agency and Collective Enterprise.

 

 

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, taught a professional development course at the National Business Aviation Association Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference in San Diego on April 3. It was titled Safety Management Systems (SMS) for Business Aviation.

 

 

 

Dr. Riste Simnjanovski, associate professor of public administration, had an article published in Bitcoin Magazine (March 18). It was titled Barbra Streisand And Bitcoin: How Political Missteps, Censorship And War Are An Opportunity For The U.S.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robert LaChausse, professor of public health, and CBU students Arlene Herrera, Alexis Marron, Genesis Ordonez published a paper in the Health Education Monograph. It is titled News Source, Political Party Affiliation, Perceived Risk, and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy.

 

 

 

 

Engineering students competed at the American Society of Civil Engineer Pacific Southwest Symposium in San Diego on March 31-April 2. In the concrete canoe competition, CBU placed third in coed and fifth in the men’s race. Fifteen schools took part in the competition.

 

 

Dr. Owen Staley, lecturer in Modern Languages and Literature, presented research at the 68^th meeting of the Renaissance Society of America in Dublin, Ireland, on April 2. The title of the paper was Translation and Translatio in Lodowick Bryskett’s ‘Discourse of Civill Life.’

 

 

 

Dr. Brian Bovee, assistant professor of computer information technology, presented at the Western Conference of Decision Sciences International on April 6. The paper was titled Leaderboard Design Principles Influencing Engagement in an Online Discussion.

 

 

 

Alma Salazar, director of graduate admission, lectured at the Leadership Development for Enrollment Professionals program through NACCAP (North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals) on March 28. The title of the lecture The Graduate and Adult Student Landscape: Things I Wish I Would Have Known.

 

 

 

Philip Breitenbucher, assistant professor of social work, presented a webinar for the Institute for Intergovernmental Research, with support from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention on March 24. It was titled Key Strategies: Ensuring Successful Planning and Implementation for Opioid Affected Youth Grantees.

 

 

 

 

Michael Osadchuk, director of the University Tutoring Center, presented at the Association of Coaching and Tutoring Professionals Conference in Tampa, Florida, on March 20-22. The title of the presentation was Formulas or Formation?: How the Mall, the Ballpark, and the Cathedral can Guide Tutor and Coach Development.

 

 

 

Dr. Mark Kling, associate professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, professor of public administration, presented at the Public Administration Research Conference virtually on March 25. The paper was titled Criminal Justice Reforms: The Consequence of No Consequences. Additionally they had an article published in the PA Times (Feb. 10). It was titled Thou Shalt Not Prosecute Crime (Part II):  Alternatives to District Attorney Prosecutions.

 

 

Dawn Carter, industry liaison for the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business, was the keynote speaker for the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce’s Business in Action meeting in Riverside on April 6. She spoke on The Benefits of Hiring Interns. Additionally, she was part of a Women in Marketing panel discussion for the CBU campus chapter of the American Marketing Association on March 24.

 

 

Dr. Jennifer Cruz, assistant professor of music, and Ruth Noemy Wheeler, lecturer of music, performed Jules Massenet’s Méditation from Thäis for solo violin and piano at the “Life is Beautiful” Banquet and Telethon sponsored by Riverside Life Services on March 18. The event was held in Riverside and also livestreamed on YouTube.

 

 

 

 

The Master of Science in Sport and Performance Psychology program hosted the 2022 AASP (Associate for Applied Sport Psychology) West Regional Conference on March 18-19. The conference included presentations given by students and professionals on current applied and empirical research being conducted in the field of sport and performance psychology. Keynote speakers included Tyler Mariucci, CBU’s athletic director, and Dr. Traci Statler, past president of the AASP. Lauren Hess, adjunct professor of psychology, and Dr. Ed Garrett, associate professor of sport and performance psychology, took part in the career panel. Dr. John Park, assistant professor of psychology, and Mario Soto, adjunct professor of sport and performance psychology, spoke on the diversity panel.

Alison Twitty (’16), adjunct professor of psychology, and her husband, Brad (’07), welcomed a son on March 6. August Andrew Twitty weighed 6.5 pounds and measured 20.25 inches in length.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

 

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU theatre program is off to see the ‘Wizard’

The theatre program at California Baptist University is taking the yellow brick road to “The Wizard of Oz” for its upcoming production.

“I hope the nostalgia of the movie comes through,” said Stacee Willis, adjunct professor of theatre and the musical’s director. “I didn’t know until I got into this script what a beautiful story it really is.”

Willis said she made the Wicked Witch more like Elphaba from “Wicked,” ugly on the inside but not on the outside. Additionally, the four actors who play Tin Man, the Scarecrow, the Lion and Dorothy worked to create a camaraderie the audience would care about, Willis said.  Children from the Inland Empire Musical Arts play the Munchkins, Winkies and monkeys.

“If you’ve seen the movie, don’t think you don’t need to see the stage version,” Willis said. “It stands alone as a musical and brings different elements that aren’t in the movie that will make you fall in love with the story more than you knew you could have.”

The theatre department hired a special crew to set up a fly system in Wallace Theatre and taught the actors how to fly. The actors wear harnesses and are clipped into wires and lifted into the air.

“Learning to fly has been the coolest part of the process,” said Sophia Oliveri, a theatre senior. “Also, playing the Wicked Witch, it is fun having permission to be extravagant—and evil.”

Isaiah Torres, a film senior, plays Scarecrow.

“Being that this is my final show at CBU, playing the role of Scarecrow as well as being in this production I have learned to embrace every moment, make the best of each day, and reminded of the importance of friendship,” Torres said.

Jolene Automo, a theatre senior, plays Dorothy.

“It has been a really fun time getting to know her on a closer level now. She truly sees the best in everyone and is a prime example of having the childlike faith we are all called to encompass,” Automo said. “Her story has taught me is to truly live in the present moment.”

Automo said she wants the audience to enjoy the show.

“I hope the audience is able to learn something new from the same show and story they’ve seen before,” Automo said. “I also think that this show is just really fun and sweet. To be able to put on a production for an audience and let them just rest in nostalgia for two hours before getting back to the busyness life has for them, that would be wonderful.”

When: 7:30 p.m. on April 1-2 and April 7-9; 2 p.m. on April 2 and 9
Where: Wallace Theatre, California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA, 92504
For more information, please visit https://calbaptist.edu/theater/current-production

 

Professor explores gifts from African American Christians

Dr. Walter R. Strickland II shared the importance of the African American Christian tradition with an audience at California Baptist University.

“Every Christian has a unique gift they offer to the body of Christ,” Strickland said. “Cultivating us into the likeness of Jesus and exploring aspects of the African American Christian story is a worthy task.”

Strickland is an assistant professor of systematic and contextual theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He also serves as the teaching pastor at Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has contributed to, edited, and authored several books on theological studies. He spoke as part of the School of Christian Ministries Lecture Series at CBU on March 29.

He discussed the gifts, challenges, trials and victories that mark the African American Christian experience.

“I think oftentimes we read about other people, but we don’t read about them for the sake of sharpening us,” he said. “The idea of sharpening across the lines of difference explains the reality of church history and learning from the past for the sake of the present.”

Christ’s resurrection offered a foretaste of victory over personal sin and all oppression, Strickland discussed. This helped African American believers as they faced hardships.

“They were looking to Jesus, and He was victorious over death,” Strickland said. “Many have died, but only one has risen.”

Seeing Christ strung up on a tree and being disregarded is a characteristic of Christ’s humble descent into the depths of humanity and that also encouraged Black believers, he said.

“It encouraged them to carry on because Jesus walked through sufferings yet emerged victoriously for the purpose of making that victory available to them,” he said.

Strickland emphasized that having faith and trusting that God is going to show up in the midst of a trial is at the core of the African American Christian experience.

“The faith of a mustard seed can move mountains,” Strickland said. “The gift to the African American tradition is that reality, the faith of a mustard seed.”

 

Students pitch ideas at business plan competition

Nine teams of students from California Baptist University pitched ideas for innovative products and services at the annual Bob Goodrich Business Plan Competition on March 28.

During the event, hosted by the Robert K. Jabs School of Business, the teams presented a five-minute pitch to a panel of judges and an audience of over 150 students.

“We style it as a ‘Dolphin Tank’ style event,” Dr. Gramling, dean of the School of Business, said, making a reference to the TV show “Shark Tank.” “It is not intended to harm or to be mean-spirited, but to give students feedback and to nudge them in the right direction, like a dolphin would.”

The competition resulted in the top three teams each receiving scholarship money intended to fund the start of the business proposed by each team. The prize money given to the first-, second- and third-placed teams was $7,500, $5,000 and $2,500 respectively. The judges’ opinions as well as a survey of the audience members’ opinions determined the winners.

The winning team, WaiSmart, pitched a mechanical-electrical engineering mechanism that controls shower temperature and water flow. GeoChat received second place for a geo-smart app that would allow for communication in a college community within a geographic area. SafeSuds, which offered a sustainable and clean approach to washing cars, earned third place.

Carson Merrill, Jared Prewett, Jack Lee, Josh Bromby and Austin Esquerra, all mechanical engineering juniors, made up WaiSmart. They originally began to develop their idea in an engineering design class. Then, they decided to submit it to the Business Plan Competition.

Throughout the process, the team received advice from professors such as Dr. Phil van Haaster, dean of the Gordan and Jill Bourns College of Engineering.

“I (learned through) going to other sources and other people to get help on the stuff,” Lee said. “We are engineers. We do the math, we do the science. We don’t know the business. It showed to me that you don’t just do it by yourself.”

The team enjoyed participating in the fast-pitch event and seeing their hard work pay off.

“Even if we didn’t win, I had total calm over me,” Merrill said. “[The judges] thought it was such an incredible idea, but it was so challenging and complicated that they acknowledged all the work we put into it. I think that was the highlight for me.”

In the weeks prior to the event, School of Business faculty met with the groups to discuss their business plans and products and share real-world knowledge. Then, nine finalists were chosen to present.

Dr. Marina Girju, associate dean of the School of Business, said that the format of the Business Plan Competition allows for students to gain valuable insight from the experience, regardless of whether they win or lose.

“There was a lot that the students and the groups overall actually learned, so if you are thinking about the benefit of the competition, it is not only winning, but it is the learning that they actually went through in the entire process,” Girju said.

During the event, the teams give a five-minute pitch for their product or service, and then the judges asked questions.

Nolan Gouveia, the department lead for entrepreneurship, said he enjoyed seeing the increased involvement of students from across CBU this year and witnessing the development of interdisciplinary teams.

“This year more than any other year, it was cool to see how many other majors were represented,” Gouveia said. “In years past, it was very heavily business students, but my goal has always been to get it across the whole campus. We saw students from engineering, CAVAD, health sciences, kinesiology, the life sciences and a lot from business. That’s what makes it robust.”

Gramling said he was impressed by the innovation and diversity of the products presented at this year’s competition.

“The main thing for us is to inspire entrepreneurship among our student body and have those ideas turn into actual businesses,” Gramling said. “We have had that happen where students come through the competition, they win prize money, and then several of them take that money and turn it into businesses. That really was the goal from the beginning, and we saw some great opportunities for the students in this year’s competition.”

 

CBU students celebrate Indian culture with colorful event

California Baptist University hosted the Festival of Color on March 25 to celebrate Indian culture. During the event, students received free T-shirts and visited booths featuring different aspects of Indian culture, including henna and food. The event also featured dance performances by Indian students as well as the traditional tossing of color.

The event is a collaboration between Community Life and the International Center.

Mia Tamayo, a biomedical sciences sophomore, is one of the Community Life interns who began planning the event at the beginning of the semester.

“When we started planning the event, we started with our why. It’s to intentionally create a space for our Indian students to showcase their culture and also for all students on CBU campus to just learn and grow and celebrate cultural diversity,” Tamayo said.

Reuella Jacob, a software engineering senior from India and International Center intern, worked with Community Life to plan the event. They incorporated day-to-day things from life in India such as the booths and the bartering, she said.

“All of that mimics going to a market in India and trying to get snacks or something. Henna is super popular for (events) like weddings, so we try to incorporate a lot of those things,” Jacob said.

Festival of Color has not taken place since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Maxine Auer, a Christian behavioral science senior and Community Life intern, said she has witnessed more participation and eagerness from the student body at events this year. She said she was excited to watch students experience Festival of Color, especially those who were doing so for the first time.

“I think it has been really special to have the privilege of planning the event that was kind of the last event before COVID hit and we lost a lot of our community,” Auer said. “It has been really cool getting to relive the memories of that year and we just (wanted) to replicate the excitement of that Festival of Color and just try to make it even bigger.”

Auer said this year, they focused on creating an event that would be both fun and educational for students.

“I think it is really rare that students get to encounter and experience other cultures,” Auer said. “I just hope the students are able to appreciate all of the work that goes on to plan events like this, and just be able to take away something they learned about Indian culture they probably otherwise wouldn’t have.”

Jacob said that through this event, she and the International Center aimed to create more community and facilitate connections among those from different backgrounds and cultures.

“For us as the International Center, our why was to help the international students integrate, and the hope around that is that it opens conversations up for our students to ask domestic students where they’re coming from and the domestic students to do the same for international students,” Jacob said. “It builds community. That can be a bonding moment for them, to help communities integrate better with each other.”

 

Leadership series shares career advice for emerging leaders

A panel of diverse men and women with years of experience in the private and public sectors shared their career advice for emerging leaders at California Baptist University on March 22.

The event, titled “What I Wish I Knew in My Career,” was part of the Dr. Paul and Annie Kienel Leadership Institute’s Leadership Seminar Series, co-hosted by the CBU Leadership Society. The panel consisted of Dr. Heather Williams, executive director of personnel services at the Riverside County Office of Education; Brent Corbett (‘20), mental health practitioner at UCLA Health; Dex Alexander (’21), founder of Black Roses, a brand strategy firm; and Dr. Amy Stumpf, professor of society and religion at CBU. The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Gaynell Vanderslice, assistant professor of business management.

The seminar explored perspectives on the power of resilience, the value of networks, vision casting, leaning in with confidence and more.

When someone is a leader, all eyes are on them, and it is important to have qualities that others can look up to, Williams said.

“You have to be resourceful, have grit, be resilient and calm,” Williams said. “But if you have a spirit of power, love, self-control and serving others—that makes a great leader.”

Alexander discussed the importance of vision casting in leadership, and that it really means to establish the vision of one’s values. He used Patagonia, an outdoor clothing company, as an example of a brand that promotes their values rather than just advertising products.

“If you’ve ever received a mailer from Patagonia, there’s really nothing in there about the products,” Alexander said. “Instead, they are reinforcing their values over and over again. Vision is very important when it is influenced, informed and inspired by values.”

Corbett said that networking is a key element in being a successful leader and leaning on others is essential for success.

“When I look at an individual, I look at what they’ve been through first,” Corbett said. “I’m not too big on the trophies, but I am looking to see what they went through as a person. I don’t want the spotlight on me, I want it to be on my team and the ones who have helped me get to this position in my life.”

When asked about leading with confidence, Stumpf said that she wished she was not asked that question because she has struggled with her own confidence over the years.

“I might look confident, but it’s a fight for me every day to say, ‘I can do this,’” Stumpf said. “I find that I need a reality checker. I have people in my life who I can call and ask if my insecurities and lack of confidence is clouding how I’m perceiving something. They can double check me and let me know if I’m way off base.”

To be an effective leader, panel members said failure is part of success, and that students should not be afraid to take risks.

“Don’t be afraid to fail in your endeavors,” Corbett said. “Failure creates successes. People might look at me and say, ‘You’re doing great in your life,’ but I want people to look at my failures and the things that challenged me first. That’s where I get my success from.”

 

Lancer Media Group earns multiple national awards

Students from the Lancer Media Group at California Baptist University took home top honors from two organizations in college media in a span of a couple weeks.

Students in the journalism and new media program received nine awards from the California College Media Association at a conference in Long Beach on March 3-5. The Banner Newspaper’s Claire Grimes and Marharyta Smirnova took home first place for Best Photo Series for their photography coverage of Midnight Madness. The Banner also won third place in Best Overall Newspaper Design. Lauren Brooks and Ignacio Dominguez were awarded third place in the Best Multimedia Package category for their multimedia news coverage of an incident at John W. North High School in Riverside.

Students Lauren Sawdey, Kelsie Stevens and Camille Grochowski of Pursuit Magazine won three first-place awards for Best Inside Page/Spread Design, Best Magazine Cover Design and Best Magazine Photo. Pursuit Magazine’s Zachary Cleek and Grochowski took home second place for Best Magazine Photo Series.

CBU TV’s Ivania Montes was awarded first place for Best News Video for “The Academy Award Museum Opening” and Wyatt Mitchison took third for Best Non-News Video “A Practice with CBU Stunt.”

At the College Media Association’s convention on March 9-12 in New York City, the Lancer Media Group was awarded two prestigious Apple Awards. One first-place award for Best Yearbook Cover for Angelos: Adapt: 2020-2021 and an honorable mention for Pursuit Magazine in the NYC22 Design Contest.

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, interim director of Lancer Media Group, said she and Sonya Singh, assistant director of student publications, were delighted with the work students produced.

“We are so proud of Lancer Media Group. Their commitment to excellence is incredible. They are diligent and consistent,” Pearson said.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, professor of communication, and Dr. Victoria Brodie, assistant professor of public relations presented a seminar on the Leadership Quotient at the County of San Bernardino probation training session on March 3. The seminar was part of a series given by the Paul and Annie Kienel Leadership Institute.

 

 

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, taught an eight-hour course at the Heli-Expo in Dallas on March 7. The event is the annual convention of the Helicopter Association International. The title was Effective Leadership in Business Aviation.

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology, co-authored sections in a new publication, TheoPsych: A Psychological Science Primer for Theologians, written by Justin Barrett (Blueprint 1543). She co-authored the sections on social psychology and critical periods in developmental psychology.

 

 

 

Dr. Mark Kling, associate professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, professor of public administration, had an article published in the PA Times on March 11. It was titled Ukraine: Russian Invasion or Liberation?

 

 

 

Dr. Riste Simnjanovski, associate professor of public administration, had an article published in Bitcoin Magazine (March 5). It was titled Big Bank Musical Chairs: Examining Bitcoin Through A Lens of Price Manipulation.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Sangmin Kim, professor of public health sciences, co-authored an article published in the International Journal of Public Health Science (March 5). It was titled Healthcare Workers’ Stress and Health Behaviors: Utilization of the Stages of Change Model.

 

 

 

Dr. Keanon Alderson, professor of management, presented at the Kingdom Advisors 2022 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 23-25. It was titled Understanding the Decision-Making Process of the Family Business Owner.”

 

 

 

 

Stefani Plummer, director of academic operations for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, was awarded the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Juliette Moore Distinguished Leadership Award by the Founders People of Color Planning Committee on Feb. 3. The award strives to honor those who have helped further the goal of building a diverse and inclusive culture in the NIRSA.

 

 

 

Michael Berger, professor of graphic design and visual experience, received four Gold Addys and a Special Judges Award from the American Advertising Awards Inland Empire competition on March 11. His work for LIFT Coffee Roasters—branding elements including logo, website and video—and his design and production for Mt. San Jacinto College’s Annual Report earned the awards.

 

 

 

CBU students Gordon Cooper, Mason Steele, Sophia Walski, Ashley Morales attended Kingdom Advisors conference in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 22-25. They participated in a round-table discussion regarding peer-to-peer financial coaching.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Tim Gramling, dean of the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business, was the keynote speaker for the Society of Extraordinary Women’s annual awards ceremony in Riverside on March 6. He spoke on Choices, Courage, and Community. Additionally, he taught a seminar at Catholic Charities of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties on March 2. It was titled Planning for Small Businesses.

 

 

 

Dr. Mike Patterson, adjunct professor of organizational leadership, launched a new podcast on March 10. On the podcast—Mission First People Always: Great Leaders Great Teams—he interviews scholars and leaders to discover what it takes to be a great leader and builder of a great team. Dr. Jeannette Guignard, associate professor of organizational leadership, was a guest, speaking on Mindful Leadership.

 

 

Dr. Sophia S. Mun, assistant professor of behavioral science, and Russ Bermejo, lecturer of social work, presented at the Christian Association for Psychological Studies Virtual Conference on March 19. The presentation was titled Faith Integration in Classrooms: Why Effectiveness and Faithfulness Matter.

 

 

 

Dr. Melissa Croteau, professor of film studies, presented a paper at the Asian Studies Development Program’s National Conference in San Diego on March 3. The title was Makoto Shinkai’s your name: Celestial Destiny and Transcendent Love in the Space-Time of Disaster. Additionally, her scholarly review of Cowboy Hamlets and Zombie Romeos: Shakespeare in Genre Film by Kinga Földváry (2020) was published last month in the Oxford University Press journal Adaptation (vol. 15, no. 1).

 

 

Dr. Ogbochi McKinney, associate professor of public health, Dr. Dominick Sturz, professor of public health, Dr. Janet Bonome, associate professor of public health, and Victoria Joubi (CBU alumna) published an article in the Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology (March 2022). The article was titled Assessment of factors contributing to Californians’ perceptions of COVID-19 information dissemination.

 

 

Dr. John Park, assistant professor of psychology, co-authored a paper published in the Journal of Behavioral and Social Sciences (Fall 2021). It was titled Provision of mental health services of faith based organizations in Hidalgo County, Texas.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Scott Dunbar, associate professor of human resource management, co-authored an article published in the 2021 ATMAE (Association of Technology, Management and Applied Engineering) conference proceedings. It is titled Employee burnout and worklife in the concrete industry: Maslach Burnout Inventory and Areas of Worklife Survey.

 

 

 

Rhonda Clement, industry liaison for the College of Engineering, and Larry Clement, assistant professor of computing, software and data sciences, participated in a site visit to Valencia, Spain, in February, visiting Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) alongside faculty from George Fox University and Veritas Christian Study Abroad. The group met with UPV engineering staff and faculty, observed classes and evaluated UPV programs with the goal of setting up a faith-based, international study abroad program for engineering students to take courses in their field and pursue internships with local Spanish companies.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Soung Hwa Walker, adjunct professor of psychology, and Dr. Deron Walker, professor of English, published an article in the Asian Journal of Contemporary Education (Vol. 6, No. 1). It is titled Perceived academic social influence from parents, peers, and teachers across gender groups: Scale development.

 

 

 

Gabriel Estrada, visiting professor of Old Testament, presented a paper at the Society of Biblical Literature Pacific Coast conference in Brea, California, on Feb.27. The paper was titled Shepherding Students through Assessments for Transformation: Using Pre-post Assessments and Effect Size to Determine Learning and Intervention. He also presented virtually at the Society of Biblical Literature Eastern Great Lakes Biblical Society Annual Meeting on March 18. The presentation was titled Israel’s Story in the Songs of Ascents: Toward a Missional Hermeneutic.

 

 

Dr. Jennifer Cruz, assistant professor of piano, and Dr. Angela Deulen, associate professor of psychology, presented at the annual Empowering Young Women Conference in Riverside on March 12. The title was Music: Empowering the Soul of a Woman. They also participated in the conference’s career panel discussion.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Noemi Hernandez Alexander, assistant professor of political science and public administration, presented research at Western Political Science Association in Portland, Oregon, on March 10. It was titled Fear and Suspicion: Pervasive Anti-Asian Rhetoric and Its Consequences on Society and Policy.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Austin Braunwalder (a CBU Doctor of Business Administration alumus) and Dr. Henry Petersen, associate professor of management, presented at the Western Academy of Management Annual Meeting on March 19. The title of the paper was To Diversify or Not to Diversify: Fundraising for the Non-Profit.

 

 

 

The CBU Speech and Debate team competed in the National Christian College Forensics Invitational in Lynchburg, Virginia, on March 18-20. CBU won the Division 2 Debate Team national championship. Dylan Jacobs, an applied theology sophomore, won national championships in Homiletics (biblical public speaking) and with his debate partner Talia Marreiros, a public relations junior, won the national championship in Parliamentary Debate. Marreiros also won the national championship for junior division Lincoln/Douglas debate. Ryza Corcino, a public health senior, and debate partner Marlene Buitron, a political science junior, won second place in novice division Parliamentary Debate. Jacobs also won third in varsity Extemporaneous Speaking, and Marreiros won third in novice Extemporaneous Speaking. Taalyn Kanaan, an accounting junior, won third place in Homiletics and fourth in Interpretation of Literature.

 

Elizabeth Brandt Flater, collection development librarian, and her husband, Drew Flater, welcomed a son on Dec. 6. Harry Brandt Flater weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 20.5 inches. He is welcomed by siblings Louise, 4, and Elliot, 2.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

 

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Honors Exhibit displays creative artwork from CBU students

The ninth annual Honors Exhibit is being held at the Rose Garden Chapel Art Gallery at California Baptist University through March 11.

A variety of works produced by CBU students in fine art courses are on display. Fine art faculty selected more than 70 works, which feature painting, drawing, mixed media and sculpture. Though the works come from fine art classes, the students featured in the exhibition come from a variety of majors.

Kristi Lippire, associate professor of visual art, said faculty look for the best examples of work in terms of craftsmanship, concept and execution created in their classes.

“This exhibition is a way to encourage and support our students on campus that make really good artwork in our classes,” Lippire said. “Students love seeing their work in the context of a gallery space and that keeps the bar high in terms of what can be done.”

During the opening reception on Feb. 22, three People’s Choice Awards were handed out, after the public voted on their top choice. For the People’s Choice, Addie Panasiuk received first place, Brenna Buell received second and Steven Martinez received third.

Additionally, fine art faculty presented a Best Overall Award. It is usually a fine art major who has shown excellence in a number of art classes and who had several media entered into the show, Lippire said.

Emma Limtiaco, a fine art senior, was named Best Overall. She has six pieces in the exhibit, using media such as acrylics, oil paint, watercolor and marker. She was happy to have pieces chosen for the exhibit and to be chosen as the Best Overall.

“It’s always exciting to have opportunities to show my work in a formal setting. It’s exciting to be acknowledged for artwork that represents my personal style,” Limtiaco said. “I love the faculty, so it means a lot that they’d select me.”

The Honors Exhibit is open through March 11. Gallery hours are noon-3:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 2-6 p.m. Tuesday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday.

 

CBU recognized as Military Friendly School for 2022-2023

California Baptist University seeks to support military veterans and dependents in their academic journey and is recognized as a Yellow Ribbon institution.

Recently, CBU was honored as a Military Friendly School for 2022-2023. The list is created each year based on research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the Military Friendly Schools survey from participating institutions.Jay Villasenor, director of the Veterans Resource Center at CBU, said that giving veterans the support they need to succeed is a priority.

“Being inclusive means that we have successfully opened the door for veterans to integrate into the CBU community,” Villasenor said. “We have shown that veterans are well equipped and capable of taking on the challenge of returning to school.”

The Veterans Resource Center provides a communal space on campus where students are always welcome. The center offers support to students, in addition to a lounge, kitchen amenities and computers.

“Being a Military Friendly School is more than just accepting educational benefits,” Villasenor said. “It’s ensuring that veterans have the proper resources and support on campus.”

Lazarus Florence, a psychology senior, said the center helps veterans further their education while keeping military tradition alive.

“I was asked if I wanted to be part of a cake-cutting ceremony for the Marine Corps birthday celebration,” Florence said. “They help us to keep up with our military traditions and that shows their appreciation for the sacrifices we have made.”

The Veterans Resource Center takes time to recognize veterans and their service. At graduation, all veterans receive a red, white and blue cord and are honored at every home basketball game. The center hosts an annual Veterans Day event, in addition to celebrating military branch birthdays. Lastly, all undergraduate traditional military students and dependents receive priority registration each semester.

 

The mission field needs healthcare workers, speaker says

The world and the mission field need healthcare professionals, the Rev. Doug Christgau told California Baptist University students on Feb. 28.

“Health is the most basic human need. By 2030, we will need 12 million healthcare workers worldwide,” Christgau said.

Christgau, a global ambassador for MedSend, spoke at the lecture hosted by the College of Health Science. MedSend works with mission agencies to send out healthcare professionals by providing grants to cover student debt for certified healthcare professionals. Over the past 30 years since its beginning, MedSend has covered $25 million in student debt, Christgau said.

“I think it is important because you are going to end with so much debt, and it can be a really hard barrier … if you want to go overseas,” said Jade Adams, a biomedical sciences junior. “They take care of that stuff for you to go serve, especially in underserved communities.”

Christgau said MedSend derives its mission from the Great Commission. He also emphasized the need for more trained healthcare professionals in other nations, especially in Africa. Currently, the world would need 7 million more healthcare professionals to have one for every 500 people globally. The organization also supports the training of indigenous doctors in Africa and Asia.

While most missionaries sponsored by MedSend travel internationally, some serve at clinics in the U.S. In 2021, MedSend funded 160 grants whose recipients went into the field in 60 different nations.

Marina Emhoff, an athletic training graduate student, said providing medicine for those who do not have access to it can show them both a healthy lifestyle and Christ.

“He talked about providing healthcare to those who don’t have it readily available, and he talked about taking that as an opportunity to show them Christ and to lead them in faith,” Emhoff said. “I feel like being able to send certified healthcare providers into those areas will give them an opportunity to see Christ in a different light.”

Christgau emphasized the importance of spreading the gospel to others through healthcare.

Daisy Martinez, an athletic training graduate student, said healthcare allows her to use the knowledge and experience God has given her to help others.

“I think it brings awareness to all of us healthcare providers about what is going on outside our country and how we can make a difference or impact,” Martinez said. “Having this lecture makes me look more into this.”

 

Speaker encourages students to pair their gifts and values

Finding your purpose takes putting your gifts and values together in the service of others, Keri-Lyn Coleman told a California Baptist University audience on Feb. 24.

Coleman is the president and CEO of both Collaborative Planning Group and WellScreen Inc. The companies provide services to nonprofits and agencies to support the work of substance abuse prevention programs and behavioral health initiatives. Additionally, Coleman has served as the White House drug policy advisor and national substance abuse expert. She spoke to CBU students as part of the Culture and Justice Lecture Series hosted by the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Coleman talked about her journey to discover her purpose and find happiness.

“I found that I was following this formula: hard work would lead to success, which leads to happiness,” she said.

But Coleman discovered this did not result in happiness. She described research on happiness that found that 50% of happiness is genetic, 10% is circumstantial and 40% is up to the individual.

“Intentional activities can increase our happiness, so taking that 40% and doing some intentional activities on a daily basis can increase that happiness,” Coleman said.

She described various activities that can increase happiness, such as practicing gratitude, meditation and mindfulness; building strong relationships; and doing acts of kindness.

“What we want to do is build that happiness first, which will lead to hard work and ultimately success,” she said.

Aside from happiness, Coleman encouraged her audience to pursue the search for their purpose.

“It’s taking your gifts and recognizing the things that you’re good at, aligning them with your values, and finding a way to fuse both of those to serve others,” said Coleman. “I do think that’s the way a person can find their purpose.”

She described her shifting career goals as she went through college. Coleman began as a criminal justice major, intending to become an attorney to fight for abused and neglected youth. She shifted to social work upon realizing that law school would not be a good environment for her. In the process of getting her Master of Social Work, she discovered that working with children directly was not her strong suit, but managing, writing, community outreach and communication were. In pursuing a career in these areas, she found her purpose. Others can do the same, she said.

“Think about, what are your values? And is the organization you’re working for, the city you’re living in, the people you’re surrounded with—do they share your values? And if not, do you have the courage to find somewhere that does?” Coleman asked.

 

Lancer Day helps prospective students choose CBU

Melissa Sanchez, resident of Grand Terrace, and her friend Kimorha Harrison, of Moreno Valley, made the decision to attend California Baptist University together on Feb. 18 at Lancer Day. Both are excited to become part of the CBU community.

“Everyone was very welcoming,” Sanchez said. “Admissions was really helpful in the way they set everything up for us.”

“I really like the community aspect of the school,” Harrison said. “I also enjoy how they implement Christianity into your studies.”

Taylor Neece, assistant vice president for admissions, kicked off the event as he welcomed attendees in the Van Dyne Gymnasium. He told the audience that Lancer Day was designed to help students decide if CBU is a good fit.

“If you think you are going to purchase a car, you are going to test drive,” Neece said. “That’s what you are doing here today … test driving the CBU experience.”

Neece discussed how the average person makes 35,000 decisions per day and how choosing a school is important.

“Where you decide to attend college will play a major factor in how you are going to live your God-given purpose during and after college,” Neece said.

Lancer Day is one of many events that CBU hosts during the year to connect prospective and accepted students to campus. Over 300 potential Lancers came to campus with friends and family. Attendees were given the chance to tour the campus, attend academic and campus life sessions and learn more about the amenities and programs CBU offers.

Kylie Garcia, a resident of Riverside, was set on coming to CBU. Growing up in the area, Garcia visited campus for sports clinics. She said she loved seeing how much fun the students had on campus.

“The community and social life CBU offers is really fun,” Garcia said. “There’s never going to be any boredom here.”

Those who officially committed to attending CBU were given the red-carpet treatment, complete with signing their name on “CBU” letters and ringing a bell to symbolize the start of their journey as a Lancer.

Cole Schulenberg, resident of Apple Valley, wanted to follow in his sister’s footsteps and attend CBU.

“I love the energy here,” Schulenberg said. “The campus and the students are so lively.”

 

CBU practicum luncheon connects students with local agencies

More than 30 Southern California based agencies—ranging from school districts to nonprofits organizations—gathered on Feb. 17 for a practicum luncheon hosted by the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at California Baptist University.

Graduate counseling psychology students were eager to connect with agency representatives to find their fit in the field. CBU requires counseling psychology students to complete 400 practicum hours.

“Amongst the busyness of life, you chose to give your time today to students who are preparing to live their purpose in the service of others,” Dr. Antonio Mejico, interim program director for the Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, told the representatives. “The success of our program is contingent upon the collaboration between our esteemed community providers and our institution.”

Michelle Guerrero, a counseling psychology graduate student, wants to work with people who have eating disorders. Guerrero said she was excited to connect with potential job sites.

“It’s a great networking opportunity,” Guerrero said. “I am so thankful CBU provides it.”

Britney Callins, a graduate student in the counseling psychology program, said attending the luncheon was an important step in continuing her career.

“I just love helping people and listening to people’s stories and seeing people grow and develop,” Callins said. “I think this is the perfect opportunity to do that.”

Diana Negrete (‘21), associate marriage and family therapist, attended the event for Mighty Oak Community Counseling Center in Riverside. She said that being open-minded is a must for students entering the field.

“Being able to be coordinated and open to learning new skills and techniques is key,” Negrete said.

The counseling psychology program is in its 40th year.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Katherine Papineau, associate professor of architecture and art history, and Rylee Woodcock (‘21) wrote a chapter for The Routledge Companion to Women in Architecture (Routledge, 2021). The chapter was titled Lois Davidson Gottlieb: A Woman Fellow.

 

 

Andriani Sugianto and Sam Soine, both in the Master of Architecture program, placed in the Los Angeles AIA 2×8 competition held for regional schools of architecture. Sugianto placed second and Soine received recognition.

 

Dr. Elisa Shepard, associate professor of psychology, Dr. Robert Shields, associate professor of computer information technology, and Dr. Dirk Davis, associate vice president of academics, co-presented virtually at the 14^th Annual Transforming the Teaching and Learning Environment Conference on Feb. 14. The presentation was titled Examining a Teaching Assistant Model for Online Courses.

 

Keelan Kaiser, program director and professor of architecture, was named to The College of Fellows of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) in February for contributions made to the profession and the academy. The contributions include serving as president of the National Architectural Accrediting Board, two terms as president of the local AIA Inland Empire chapter, and advising and guiding multiple new schools of architecture through specialized accreditation.

 

 

 

Dr. Jong-Wha Bai, professor of civil engineering and construction management, presented a paper at the virtual ASCE San Fernando Earthquake Conference on Jan. 31-Feb. 11. The title was Probabilistic Modeling and inference for Building Structures under Earthquake Sequences Using Matrix-based Bayesian Network. Its co-authors included Changuk Mun, visiting scholar in Global Initiatives.

 

 

 

Dr. Ana Gamez, associate professor of psychology, serves as an advisory Board member for Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD). On Feb. 5, she presented 36 MADD awards to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department traffic officers for their ​commitment to keeping the streets safe and for excellence in DUI enforcement and arrests in 2020 and 2021.

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology, presented at Portland Seminary on Feb. 21. The title of the presentation was Science and Formation. She also participated in a panel discussion at the seminary on psychology and theology on Feb. 23. Smith is a science advisor for the seminary, as part of the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Science for Seminaries project.

 

 

 

CBU and the Christian Medical and Dental Associations sponsored the conference on Global Medical Missions, Remedy 2022, on campus Feb. 26-27. Speakers included those working in the mission field and CBU faculty. The conference brought together health care professionals and students to give them advice on how to better serve Christ in the mission field.

 

 

Dr. Jong-Kyung Kim, professor of kinesiology, co-authored a paper in Frontiers in Physiology-Integrative Physiology. It was titled Arterial Baroreflex Inhibits Muscle Metaboreflex Induced Increases in Effective Arterial Elastance: Implications for Ventricular-Vascular Coupling.

 

 

 

In Summer 2021, CBU was recognized as an official Amazon Web Services Academy Membership Institution offering students introductory and intermediate cloud computing instruction. Dr. Mark Kim, assistant professor of computing, software and data sciences, has been holding a weekly Cloud computing lab with engineering students. Dr. Anthony Corso, associate professor of computing, software and data sciences, assists in the training. Students gain hands-on experience working with the AWS platform and prepare for AWS certifications.

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, professor of kinesiology, Lisa Friesen, assistant professor of allied health, Coe Michaelson, head men’s soccer coach, Keith Coury (’18), Michelle Pinkney and Brian Hempel doctoral students in leadership studies, presented a webinar for the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sport Studies on Feb.17. The webinar was titled Transforming Christian Leadership in a Secular World: Challenges and Opportunities for Mentoring Future Leaders in Sport and Fitness Industries.

 

Christine Smith, adjunct professor of photography, curated an art show at Duke Gallery at Azusa Pacific University. Additionally, the exhibit featured some of her photographs.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Deena Graves, adjunct professor of communication, co-wrote a book. It is titled Mind Games: Understanding Trafficker Psychological Warfare (M3 Transformations Publishing, March 1, 2022).

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Neil Simon’s ‘Fools’ brings laughs to Wallace Theatre

California Baptist University’s theatre program is bringing comedy and laughs to audiences with Neil Simon’s “Fools.”

The production was pushed back a week due to the delayed start of the spring semester caused by a spike in COVID-19 cases.

“I am incredibly proud of the work the students are doing on the production,” said Ethan Park, director of “Fools” and adjunct professor of theatre. “Their commitment to not only putting on a performance full of heart, joy and laughter but continually practicing safe COVID protocols to protect themselves and others has me leaving each night with a full heart.”

Neil Simon’s “Fools” is a lighthearted comedic fable set in a small Ukrainian village of people who have all been cursed with unintelligence for 200 years. Leon Tolchinsky, an out-of-town schoolteacher arrives to educate Sophia, the daughter of Dr. Zubristsky. Leon soon discovers the curse and is tasked with breaking it before falling victim himself.

Nathan Sporcich, a marketing junior, plays Leon Tolchinsky. His favorite thing about the character is his frantic, hyperactive behavior, Sporcich said.

“(Leon) is high strung in a very humorous and entertaining way,” said Sporcich. “The audience can see his brain running at 110 percent at all times, laughing all the while as the village can never keep up with him.”

Elizabeth Wright, a theatre freshman who plays Sophia Zubritsky, said she enjoys playing a character with an optimistic look on life.

“Even when faced with arduous tasks, she still manages to find the bright side to it all,” Wright said.

With the play taking place in Kulyenchikov, Ukraine, the students had to master an accent. Shane Moser, a theatre junior, plays Dr. Zubristsky. He said the accent has been a challenging part of preparing for his role.

“The accent has not been the easiest thing to figure out,” Moser said. “But I hope everyone coming to see it will appreciate the work that not only I but the whole cast has put into our voices and characters.”

When: Feb. 18-19, Feb. 24-26 at 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 19, 26 at 2 p.m.
Where: Wallace Theatre, California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA, 92504
For more information, please visit https://calbaptist.edu/theater/current-production

 

Spring Career Expo gives students employment options 

Over 70 local and national businesses gathered at the Van Dyne Gymnasium at California Baptist University on Feb. 16 for the Career Center’s Spring Career Expo.

Jaiden Arechiga, a construction management junior, noticed three companies he was interested in interning with this summer. Ahead of the expo, he went to the Career Center to tweak his resume and prepare to ask the right questions.

“The Career Center researches companies to see what needs to be added (to your resume) regarding your industry,” Arechiga said.

Amanda McInnis, recruiter for Enterprise Holdings, the car rental operator, said that the possibilities at the Career Expo are endless.

“Recruiting events are a great way for a student to get real-world information about potential industries they are interested in,” McInnis said. “All with many employers under one roof.”

Lisa Singer, director of the Career Center, said employers attending are eager to hire, and that students and alumni should take advantage of opportunities to network.

“Career fairs such as the Spring Expo offer a platform to gain industry knowledge, practice networking skills and, in many cases, students leave with a job offer,” Singer said.

Melanie Frank, human resources manager for Olive Crest, a local social services nonprofit whose goal is to stop child abuse, said that CBU students align with the nonprofit’s mission.

“Olive Crest was founded on Christian values,” Frank said. “We try to exhibit all of that with our families, and CBU really aligns with the vision of what we do.”

McKenzie Murray, a psychology senior, wants to spend time ahead of graduate school getting more knowledge about her field. She came to the expo looking to meet with Olive Crest and learn more about what they do. She said the Career Center helped connect her and gave her tips for the event.

“They have a lot of resources that I feel are really good,” Murray said. “They helped me a lot on my resume because I was a little clueless.”

 

Generations of Lancers attend 2022 Homecoming festivities 

Homecoming weekend at California Baptist University drew thousands of alumni and friends to campus on Feb. 11-12.

The weekend featured various events for attendees to enjoy, beginning with a reception on Feb. 11 to welcome alumni back to campus. In the evening, the Alumni Awards Dinner was held. Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, thanked the alumni audience for returning to campus and for all the support the university has received from them throughout the years.

CBU recognized several alumni at the dinner: Ross Stout (’07), recipient of the Young Alumni Achievement Award; Jessie Bekkedahl (’02, ’04), recipient of the Alumni Service Award; Will Taylor (’94), recipient of the Alumnus of the Year; Dr. John Chestnut (’88), recipient of the Distinguished Service in Christian Ministries Award; Frank Ciprian (’84), recipient of the Lancer Lifetime Achievement Award; and Lisa Collinsworth (’83), recipient of the Alumni Philanthropy Award.

Also on Friday evening, students and alumni enjoyed the Homecoming kickoff event on the Front Lawn, which featured carnival rides, food, and hot air balloons.

Bob and Jana Tingle, graduates of 1976, attended several events and said they were most looking forward to seeing how much the campus had changed since they were students.

“I’m excited about everything and just to see the campus,” Tingle said. “We are doing the tour because everything is so new to us now.”

The events on Feb. 12 included a 50-year reunion breakfast, a hymn sing, a paint party, campus tours, and 10- and 25-year reunions.

Sandy and Alan Young, graduates of 1969, attended many of the events, including the 50-year reunion breakfast, the hymn sing, and the basketball game. They have attended Homecoming in previous years and their granddaughter attends CBU.

Sandy said her favorite part of Homecoming is the chance to see people they used to know.

“At the dinners and the breakfasts, they always set out the old yearbooks that were our years, so we go through those and talk about the people. That part is really fun,” Sandy said.

Sandy said her dorm was in the James Building, proving that CBU has changed a lot over the years.

“The facilities are just amazing,” Sandy said. “We have friends who have not been here since graduation who came back in the last couple years and they didn’t even know where they were. And then the programs and the outreach. There are so many more majors and things than what we ever had. We just had a few hundred kids.”

Alan was excited to attend the basketball game while at Homecoming and enjoyed hearing Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, speak during the weekend’s events.

“Every time I hear him, I’m inspired, and it reminds me of the vision that he had when he came,” Alan said. “He uses the phrase ‘Roll up the sleeves.’ Obviously, a lot of people rolled up their sleeves here to make all this happen.”

Homecoming weekend came to an end Saturday with a pregame party and a men’s basketball game against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The pregame party featured games, activities and food for eventgoers leading up to the game’s tip-off.

During the game, seven new inductees into the CBU Athletics Hall of Fame were announced: Ashley Boyd and Emma Holden, both for softball; Kamille Diaz and Cassidy Mihalko, both for women’s basketball; Brian Sharp, for baseball; Michael Smith, for men’s basketball; and Jacob Waste, for wrestling.

The CBU Lancers secured a victory over UTRGV with a final score of 80-72 in front of more than 4,600 fans. The Lancers are now 14-11 on the season and 4-8 in the Western Athletic Conference.

 

Lecture looks at wisdom and leadership 

Dr. Doug Wallace discussed the role of wisdom in leadership on Feb. 8 as part of the Dr. Paul and Annie Kienel Leadership Institute’s Leadership Seminar Series at California Baptist University.

“Who doesn’t want to be the wisest one in the room?” said Wallace, associate dean for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at CBU.

He gave a glimpse into the origins of wisdom with quotes from philosophers such as Plato, Socrates and Aristotle. He also mentioned the Bible story in 1 Kings 3:1-15 where God offered King Solomon anything his heart desired and he asked for wisdom.

“With wisdom comes great responsibility,” Wallace said.

Wallace elaborated on the insights into social psychology and how to understand why people behave the way they do. Wisdom is effective decision making, and a wise leader assembles as much knowledge as possible to empower them to make the right decision, he said.

“Wise leaders surround themselves with the best people,” Wallace said.

Grasping the concept of emotional and social intelligence is key in effective leadership, he said.

“Emotional and social intelligence are more important than IQ in being a leader who connects well with people,” Wallace said. “The higher emotional intelligence you have, the better leader you can be and [the] more successful at motivating and influencing others.”

Wallace emphasized the ability to be authentic with people and with ourselves in any given situation.

“Hard to do but extremely important,” he said. “Don’t try to be somebody else. People pick up on that.”

While it is important to be able to “read the room” and connect with people, it is of equal value to understand where your individual wisdom and emotional intelligence comes from, Wallace advised.

“The wisest people I know say, ‘I blew it’ and they have a strong sense of their own emotional intelligence,” he said. “To be wise, you have to know about yourself.”

 

CBU celebrates Black History Month with artistic event

Community Life partnered with the Black Student Union (BSU) to host a Black History Month event on Feb. 8.

The evening was hosted in Lancer Plaza at California Baptist University and featured an art gallery, Southern food and a talent showcase. BSU members presented poetry, performed spoken word and sang. Attendees also had an opportunity to paint their own art pieces.

“Our goal was to provide an atmosphere for students to learn about Black culture and about Black history and to provide a safe space for our Black students on campus to showcase their talents,” said Mia Tamayo, a biomedical sciences sophomore and Community Life intern.

Jordan Hill, a political science senior and BSU president, said the event allowed students to learn from each other in a community-oriented setting.

“One of the main purposes of this event is one of [CBU’s] Core 4—Globally Minded,” Hill said. “It is also to help us demonstrate spiritual literacy and expand upon things we might not understand and learn from one another.”

Community Life and BSU wanted to create a fun environment while showcasing BSU and their members, said Jessenya Scherler, a public health sophomore and Community Life intern.

“I’m really excited for people who have never learned about Black history to come and get a little bit of a taste of it and just enjoy it with their friends,” Scherler said.

Michaila Harrington, a health science junior, performed her poem titled “I Am Black and Beautiful.”

“I wanted to perform to celebrate and give some recognition to Black History Month, and to inspire other Black CBU students with my poem,” Harrington said. “I think events like this are important to recognize Black History Month and just show the beauty and the talent and the creativity that us African American people have.”

Hill said his favorite part of the event was seeing friends share their talents.

“It is really cool to be able to give people a platform to be able to share their experiences whether it is a song, step [dance] or a poem,” Hill said. “It is really cool to work with the campus of CBU and to bring everyone together for an event like this.”

BSU has several more events planned throughout Black History Month, including a CBU basketball game on Feb. 24 and a movie night on the Recreation Center roof on Feb. 25.

 

Family Updates

Stefani Plummer, director of academic operations for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, was featured in NIRSA News (Feb. 2). The article series features select individuals who have significantly contributed to the recreation profession. The profile was titled Campus Recreation All Star: Stefani Plummer.

 

 

 

Dr. A. Greg Bowden, professor of organizational leadership, co-authored an article for the Pediatric Nursing journal (February). The article, titled Types of reviews – Part 2: Meta-analysis and meta-synthesis, was part of a series on demystifying research.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Amy Dennis, assistant professor of social work, had her dissertation published on ProQuest. It is titled Cultivating resilience in student and novice social workers through a near-peer led contextual learning group.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mark Kling, associate professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, professor of public administration, had an article published in the PA Times on Jan. 11. It was titled Thou Shalt Not Prosecute Crime: The Role of an Elected District Attorney.

 

 

 

 

Aaron Greene, assistant professor of architecture, was awarded the Educator of Year award from the Southern California Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chrystian Combs, in the Master of Architecture program, was awarded a national research fellowship working for the American Collegiate Schools of Architecture Student Research Fellow, 2021-22.

 

 

 

 

Keiren Wright, in the Master of Architecture program, won the annual Sean F. Mellon Memorial Architectural Scholarship. She receives $10,000.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology, received second place in Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s paper competition, Exploring Personhood: What Is a Human Being? Her paper was titled The Brain’s Default, Selves, and Telos.

 

 

 

Dr. Riste Simnjanovski, associate professor of public administration, had an article published in Bitcoin Magazine (Feb. 1). It was titled Debt of Nations: Bitcoin is an Alternative to the Physical Hand of Keynesian Economics.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Laura Veltman, professor of English, was re-elected as treasurer for the Conference on Christianity and Literature, a national organization that publishes the journal Christianity & Literature, hosts regional conferences, gives faculty research grants and awards prizes to undergraduate who present at regional conferences. She will serve a two-year term.

 

 

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, professor of kinesiology, presented at the 2022 Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) International Forum in Dallas on Feb. 12. Her session presentation was titled Sexual Health Behaviors: A Closer Look at Hook-up Culture and Sexual Integrity.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Virgo Handojo, professor of psychology, presented a plenary session during a webinar at the 15^th Conference of the Indonesian Family Counselor on Feb. 15. It was titled Developing Resilient self, Family, and Community.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Allan Bedashi, adjunct professor of physician assistant studies, retired from full-time academia in December. Bedashi came to CBU in 2014 as the founding chair and program director of the PA program. Previously he served 21 years in the United States Navy, then joined the Loma Linda University PA program and then the West Liberty University (West Virginia) PA program.

 

 

 

Gabriel Estrada, visiting professor of Old Testament, and his wife, Natalee, welcomed a son on Nov. 23. Andrew Zechariah Estrada weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 20 inches. He joins siblings Amariah 13, Sophia 12, Hazel 10, Joy 8, Gabriel 6, Zoë 4, and Simon 2.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU honors renowned bassist with honorary doctorate degree

Music ensembles from California Baptist University filled a Corona church’s sanctuary on Feb. 5 with jazz music in celebration of Black History Month—and in honor of renowned bassist Marshall Hawkins.

During his career, Hawkins played with jazz performers such as Betty Gray, Shirley Horn and the Miles Davis Quartet. After years of touring, Hawkins focused his efforts on education. In 1988, Hawkins founded the jazz program at the Idyllwild Arts Academy. Currently, Hawkins teaches master classes for the CBU jazz program.

Midway through the concert at Northpoint Church, Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of CBU, awarded Hawkins with an honorary Doctor of Music Performance degree. Ellis spoke of Hawkins’ lifetime musical and educational achievements.

“The life and career of Marshall Hawkins reflects a strong work ethic and positive commitment to faith and serves as consistent with the values promoted by California Baptist University,” Ellis said.

“God is good all the time,” Hawkins said after receiving the honor.

The evening included Traivon Williams, adjunct professor of music, reading a poem by American author, poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. The Marshall Hawkins Seahawk Modern Jazz Orchestra took center stage as it entertained with songs such as “When Sunny Gets Blue” by Marvin Fisher, and the black national anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The CBU Jazz Ensemble and Strings showcased their talent by performing songs such as “Jeeps Blues” by Duke Ellington, and “‘Round About Midnight” by Thelonious Monk.

Dan St. Marseille, associate director of bands for Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music, spoke of how jazz compelled him at a young age and spoke to his soul.

“I know that jazz was the reason I am standing here today on this stage,” St. Marseille said. “The African American way of playing music infuses sounds of nature and personal experience into what you are doing, and hearing that through jazz music motivated me to become a musician.”

 

CBU students celebrate the Lunar New Year

Students at California Baptist University welcomed the Lunar New Year with martial arts demonstrations, music, a dragon and lion dance, and a variety of Asian foods on Feb. 3.

Lunar New Year is an event celebrated in many Asian cultures, said Courtney Watson, director of International Student Services.

“It’s an opportunity for us to showcase a culture that is widely represented here on campus,” Watson said.

The Lunar New Year began on Feb. 1 and the celebration of it continues into February.

Willow Beach, a psychology and music freshman, enjoyed the dragon and lion dance as well as the variety of snacks and boba tea offered.

“I was really interested in seeing CBU bring different cultures in and getting to experience cultures I haven’t really had experience with first-person,” Beach said.

Koichi Furusawa, a business administration junior from Japan, sang the Japanese song “Kanden,” which translates to “Electric Shock.” Japan does not celebrate Lunar New Year.

“It was a really good cultural exchange for me as an international student,” he said.

The event brings Asian and American students together, Watson said.

“Seeing our students who volunteer here and the ones that are performing … light up with excitement watching their American friends get excited about their culture is really heartwarming. That’s why we do what we do at the International Center,” Watson said.

 

Students moved as cleanup of downed tree begins

Aubree Bellanca, a liberal studies junior, was at her campus job on Feb. 2 when her roommates texted that a tree had fallen on their Lancer Arms apartment at California Baptist University.

“My roommates said it felt like a huge earthquake,” Bellanca said. “They heard the thundering snap, and they were scared for their lives from all of the shaking.”

High winds caused the 92-foot tree to snap and fall on the two-story building. Fifteen students, including Bellanca and her roommates, from six apartments were moved to other campus housing.

“Residence Life has been super helpful with moving us and getting the stuff we need because we can’t go in,” Bellanca said. “[They] said whatever we need, email them a list and they will get us our stuff as soon as they can.”

Cierra Sao, residence director of Lancer Arms, was in her office when she heard a loud crack, like thunder. A couple seconds later the building shook. She ran around the building and saw the tree had snapped and fallen.

“I ran upstairs, made sure those apartments that I could get to were clear, trying to get a head count of where everybody was and tried to make sure everyone was safe,” Sao said.

Only a few students were in their apartments that late morning and none were on the top floor, Sao said.

The following day she was busy gathering the students’ belongings for their move.

“We care deeply about them and will do our best to make sure their needs are taken care of,” Sao said.

Kent Dacus, vice president for Enrollment and Student Services, said staff is providing the students assistance where needed, whether contacting faculty about missing or late academic work because of the incident or replacing personal items that cannot currently be retrieved from the apartments.

“We are committed to helping each affected student work through this,” Dacus said. “All in all, we were very fortunate in the outcome we had. It could have easily been different with injuries or death. I really think we have built a culture of caring and taking care of our students. I think our staff and community is doing that.”

Facilities and Planning Services were still waiting to be able to enter all the units, said Brenda Flores, associate director of business administration for Facilities and Planning Services.

“It does look like it’s exterior damage only, that nothing actually went inside any of the units. It’s miraculous, but no windows were broken,” Flores said.

The tree also damaged the roof, but it only went into the attic not any units, Flores said.

BrightView, which CBU contracts for landscaping, is doing the tree removal.

To read a local news story about the incident, click here.

 

Ministry job fair provides students summer options

More than 30 employers filled the Stamps Courtyard at California Baptist University, eager to meet students and help them make plans for the upcoming summer.

The Summer Ministry and Job Fair presented on Feb. 2 by the CBU Career Center gave students opportunities to connect with employers to land internships and jobs in ministry.

Valerie Newbold, a nursing senior, wants to gain more experience in the nursing field over the summer to help her prepare for a career in the pediatric nursing field.

“The camp jobs are my favorite, and this fair is a great way to get information from all the camps at once,” Newbold said. “When I am a nurse, I want to go into pediatrics and this will give me great experience working with the kids.”

Megan Fryling of Frontier Ranch Youth Camp in Scotts Valley, California, discussed how students can take their skills and passions and put them into action through eight weeks at camp.

“I think the most beautiful part about working in a camping ministry is that no matter where people are gifted or passionate, it’s kind of this beautiful picture of the body of Christ and it all works and comes together,” Fryling said. “We are looking for a wide array of skills, and wherever people are passionate and gifted, we can find a job for them.”

Lisa Singer, director of the Career Center, encourages students to take every opportunity possible to network with employers.

“Employers attend for one reason, to hire CBU candidates,” Singer said. “In addition, these events serve [students] to network, gain industry experience, practice speaking with employers, and possibly gain an internship or career position.”

 

Aviation science enters agreement with Horizon Air

The Department of Aviation Science at California Baptist University recently signed an agreement with Horizon Air for a pilot development program.

CBU students accepted into the program will receive conditional offers of employment, funding for part of their flight training, and the opportunity to transition from a minor to major airline—in this case Horizon Air to Alaska Airlines.

“This is a whole new era for the aviation department at CBU,” said Dr. John Marselus, chair of the Department of Aviation Science.

The agreement came about after CBU earned its Air Agency Certificate as a Part 141 school last year. To achieve this, CBU was required to have dedicated training facilities, flight instructor oversight, and FAA-approved course curriculum. With the certification, CBU applied and received restricted ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) approval, which allows college graduates to be employed by the airlines with 1,000 flight hours instead of 1,500 hours.

CBU has similar agreements with regional airlines, but the certificate and ATP approval allows CBU to talk to “the big boys,” Marselus said.

“These two areas opened us up to an entirely new future of airline agreements,” Marselus said. “Others look at us and realize ‘These guys are serious. They have a professional flight training program and it’s been recognized by the FAA.’”

Students must complete their private pilot license flight training before applying for the program. Once accepted, students receive $5,000 after earning their instrument rating and $7,500 after earning their multi-commercial airplane license. Horizon will also provide mentors to help students prepare to be airline pilots.

CBU and Horizon Air are a natural fit, said Deja Hubbard, strategic sourcing and outreach manager for Alaska Airlines.

“CBU impressed us with their focus of owning safety, strong technical curriculum, dedication to students’ success, and commitment to a diverse flight deck,” Hubbard said. “Your aircraft fleet is immaculately maintained by high quality technicians. The leadership at the school is spectacular as well.  All of these reasons contribute to the selection of CBU.”

Nine students have already interviewed with Horizon to get into the program. Luke Ferrene, an aviation flight junior, said his goal is to become a commercial airline pilot.

“This program is the gateway to my dream job at Alaska Airlines because it allows me to train alongside pilots and mentors with Horizon and Alaska Airlines as well as get the support and help I need to become one of their first officers,” Ferrene said. “This program is hugely beneficial to aviation flight majors wanting to pursue a commercial career. It allows you early access to a future aviation career that many students don’t get to see.”

Lillian Turrill, an aviation flight junior, said her goal is to become a missionary pilot. Horizon would let her gain experience in the real world of aviation and build a financial foundation.

“The pilot development program is helpful to students in that it guarantees a job in the airlines as soon as we are qualified to enter,” Turrill said. “It also provides us with financial support during our training at CBU as well as additional training and experiences outside of CBU.”

 

CBU Online places high in U.S. News & World Report rankings

CBU Online, the Division of Online and Professional Studies at California Baptist University, placed high in multiple categories in the latest national rankings released by U.S. News & World Report (USN&WR).

CBU Online earned the No. 55 spot among online bachelor’s programs in the 2022 rankings.

CBU Online also ranked high in the USN&WR rankings for “Best Online Master’s in Computer Information Technology Programs” and “Best Online Master’s in Education Programs” as these programs earned a No. 41 and No. 80 spot respectively. “Best Online Master’s in Business Programs (Non-MBA)” landed at No. 82.

“Once again, the online programs at CBU have been recognized as an outstanding choice for students who want and need an excellent, yet flexible, educational opportunity,” said Dr. Charles Sands, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

Sands said that CBU Online faculty are behind this national recognition.

“Our faculty serve our students in very positive and unique ways in an ever-changing online market,” he said.

CBU Online currently serves approximately 2,632 students online through 26 undergraduate majors and concentrations, 18 graduate programs and concentrations, and three doctoral programs.

For more information on the USN&WR rankings, please click here.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Riste Simnjanovski, associate professor of public administration, had an article published on Nasdaq.com and Bitcoin Magazine (Jan. 19). It was titled Bitcoin is a Black Hole for Theoretical Models.

 

 

 

 

Sherle Rubin, assistant professor of nursing, was interviewed on the radio show Soulful Sounds of Afternoon Delight on Dec. 18. She talked about her life and faith. She also was featured in The Prestige Woman (December/January).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, conducted two virtual sessions of self-inspector and ramp-inspector training for the 15 state of Hawaii-owned airports on Jan. 18. The training sessions were designed to assist personnel at these airports in maintaining safe airfields that meet state and federal standards.

 

 

 

Dr. Mark Kling, associate professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, professor of public administration, had an article published in the PA Times on Dec. 14. It was titled Preventing Shoplifting Without Police: Lessons Learned from Drug Dealers.

 

 

 

Dr. Julie Goodman-Bowling, associate professor of anthropology, completed Cultural Anthropology: A Restorative Study of our Humanity (Kendall-Hunt Publishing, 2022), a textbook and e-course. The course takes a perspective of the study of anthropology that is rooted in the belief that all humans are created, creative and emotive beings.

 

 

 

 

Brian Shariffi (’20), Katherine Dillon (’20), Dr. Trevor Gillum, professor kinesiology, Dr. William Boyer, assistant professor of kinesiology, Dr. Sean Sullivan, professor of kinesiology, Dr. Esther Lee, associate professor of statistics, and Dr. Kim Jong-Kyung Kim, professor of exercise science, published an article in the Journal of Dietary Supplements (Jan. 4, 2022). The title is Effect of Combined Grape Seed Extract and L-citrulline Supplementation on Hemodynamic Responses to Exercise in Young Males.

 

Dr. Effat Zeidan Hatoum, assistant professor of general education, had an article published in Advances in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Vol. 5, Issue 1). It was titled Nanoscience in the k-12 classroom: More Needed than Ever.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Tim Gramling, dean of the Robert K. Jabs School of Business, had an article published in the magazine IE Business Edge (January). It was titled What Your Business Really Is.

 

 

 

 

Shanna James, assistant professor of nursing, passed her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification exam on Jan. 18.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dayna Herrera, professor of nursing, and Sarah Pearce, director of simulation and standardized patient program, presented at the 22nd International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare Conference in Los Angeles on Jan. 18. The presentation was titled Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Repeat Simulation Based Learning During a Global Pandemic.

 

 

 

Stefani Plummer, director of academic operations for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, served on a virtual panel for the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association on Jan. 25. It was titled Navigating NIRSA. Panelists spoke to graduate students and young professionals within the field of recreation from a perspective of someone who worked in recreation, left the profession but remains working in higher education.

 

 

 

Dr. Emily Hollinghurst, adjunct professor of nursing, obtained certification as a certified specialty pharmacist on Nov. 15. Additionally, she presented at the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists annual seminar in Anaheim on Nov. 4. Her presentation was titled Rashes, Diarrhea, and Hyperglycemia, Oh My! Supportive Care and Toxicity Management for New Oral Oncolytics.

 

 

 

Dr. Lisa Hernández, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, had an article published in the MAA Focus magazine (December 2021/January 2022). It was titled Mathematical Cookie Days.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Krystal Hays, assistant professor of social work, Dr. Kendra Flores-Carter, assistant professor of social work, and Dr. Jennifer Costello, assistant professor of social work, presented at the Northern Association Christian Social Workers annual conference in Glendale, California, on Nov. 19-21. It was titled Training Church Volunteers to Engage in Trauma-Informed Mentorship.

 

 

Damon Horton, assistant professor of intercultural studies, preached at the California Southern Baptist Convention’s annual State Youth Conference at Magnolia Church in Riverside on Jan. 21–22.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Juliann Perdue, professor of nursing, received a grant from the 2021 Song Brown Program of the California Department of Health Care Access and Information for Registered Nursing. The $384,000 grant will enable the College of Nursing to expand programs for underrepresented students admitted into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

 

 

 

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

 

 

Dr. Robert G. Crosby, associate professor of psychology, and Dr. Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology, received a grant from the Louisville Institute. They earned the $30,000 grant for their project The Evaluation of a Brief Trauma-Informed (TIC) Training Program for Church Children’s Ministry Workers: Comparing the Effectiveness of Face-to-Face and Online Delivery Modalities.

If you have an idea for a grant and want to seek external funds (research/sponsored project) but you are not sure where to begin, please contact the Office of Research Initiatives at ori@calbaptist.edu.

 

Patty VanBuskirk, department secretary for communication arts, and her husband, Scott, welcomed their first grandchild on Dec. 10. Leighton Jan VanBuskirk weighed 9 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 22 inches. His parents are Dylan and Casey VanBuskirk.

 

 

 

 

Michael Knight, systems administrator for Information Technology Services, and his wife, Alicia, welcomed a son on Jan. 10. Ian Curtis Knight weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 20 inches. He joins sisters Riley, 7, and Alana, 3.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Spring 2022 semester begins at CBU after brief delay 

California Baptist University welcomed traditional undergraduate students back to classes for the first day of the spring 2022 semester on Jan. 18. The return followed a Spring Welcome event that introduced new freshmen and transfer students to CBU on Jan. 14.

CBU delayed the start of the spring semester by eight days due to a surge of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the southern California region. As classes resume, the campus community continues to follow health and safety protocols designed to help reduce the spread and impact of the virus.

New students moved into residential living areas on Jan. 14. The day included a welcome session that covered CBU’s vision, student services, and how to become involved on campus.

The students also participated in First-Year Experience (FYE) groups, which aims to help new students transition to university life and the CBU community. Gavin Andrew, director of First-Year Experience, said FYE helps students make connections and learn about the various resources available for Lancers to succeed.

Entering CBU during the spring semester, new students may believe that everyone already has an established friend group and feels connected, Andrew said.

“FYE leaders can play a pivotal role for these students and combat these false narratives. They can be that critical connection for a student to help make CBU feel like home,” Andrew said. “Our FYE leaders genuinely go above and beyond to help students feel a part of this campus because they were once new students themselves.”

Jensen Ventura, an aviation flight freshman and transfer student, chose CBU to be closer to friends and family and to grow in areas outside of his major.

“I’m looking forward to the community, to interact with a lot of people from different backgrounds, different goals, different study courses,” Ventura said.

Braelyn Prosser, a graphic design and visual experience freshman transferring to CBU, chose CBU after learning about the program and the community from a faculty member.

“I’m looking forward to pretty much everything,” Prosser said. “I’m excited for the community in the dorms. My previous school didn’t really have a lot of community there, so I’m excited for that. I’ve heard that my floor is really good.”

 

Endowed scholarship honors Dr. E.W. McCall Sr.

California Baptist University announces the Dr. E.W. McCall Sr. God’s Servant Endowed Scholarship. Established by St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church (La Puente, Calif.), this scholarship fund honors McCall, a longtime trustee at CBU.

The donation of $125,000 was matched by an anonymous donor. In turn, both gifts were matched by institutional funds from the CBU endowment match program, making the scholarship fund total $500,000. The new scholarship will help reach more students on campus. To receive this scholarship, students must be a double major, with one of the majors in the School of Christian Ministries.

McCall, who passed away in April 2019, served as a CBU trustee 1993-2019, including two years as chair of the Board of Trustees. He pastored St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church for 37 years beginning in 1970. During that time the congregation grew from fewer than 40 members to more than 4,000 members. Dr. Anthony Dockery is the church’s current pastor and chair of the CBU Board of Trustees.

 

 

Endowed scholarship honors Dr. Steve and Shirley Davidson

California Baptist University announces the Dr. Steve and Shirley Davidson Applied Theology Endowed Scholarship. Established by the Clovis Hills Community Church (Clovis, Calif.), this scholarship fund honors CBU’s friends Steve and Shirley Davidson.

The new endowment fund—$200,000 – which includes the gift from Clovis Hills Community Church, a match from a generous donor and an institutional match from CBU—will help support students enrolled in the Bachelor of Applied Theology (BAT) program in CBU’s School of Christian Ministries. The BAT program is primarily designed for those called to pastoral ministry or church planting.

For 50 years, the Davidsons have served in vocational and bi-vocational ministry, pioneering both parachurch and local church ministries. The Davidsons planted Clovis Hills Community Church in 1991.

In addition to being the founding pastor of Clovis Hills Community Church, Steve is a past chair of CBU’s Board of Trustees. He has been involved in the California Southern Baptist Convention as executive board chair and president. Shirley, a lifelong educator, has served the Clovis Hills School of Ministry as an adjunct professor and instructional advisor.

 

CBU graduate covering news in Washington, D.C.

Only a few short months after graduating from California Baptist University last May, Misty Severi (’21) landed a job as a reporter in Washington, D.C.

“Normally, what I do would take about two more years,” Severi said. “But because of connections and because of a love of journalism and going above and beyond what people expected of me, I got it before then.”

Her journey started at Bakersfield College, when her dad suggested taking a journalism class because she loved writing and talking with people. Severi ended up loving the profession. She continued her pursuit of journalism at Riverside City College before transferring to CBU.

At CBU, Severi was a reporter with the campus newspaper, The Banner, and held various editor positions.

“CBU Banner helps you learn how to do news reporting and how to write a story. It teaches you all the fundamentals,” she said.

Through CBU’s journalism program, which emphasizes multimedia reporting, Severi learned how to edit videos and record stand-ups. In one class, a guest speaker from The Press-Enterprise came and, after making a connection with her, Severi became a freelance reporter for the newspaper.

“My biggest takeaway is to take advantage of every opportunity CBU is introducing you to,” Severi said.

Severi was also a freelancer for The College Fix, a journalism website with college-age writers and podcasters. After graduation, she served as an intern at a news media outlet in Washington, D.C. Her connections at Fix then led to the Washington Examiner, where she now works as a breaking news reporter.

“My job is to literally follow the news. I think my favorite part of all of this is how much you learn. It’s never the same day twice,” Severi said.

Severi initially thought she would be an arts and entertainment reporter, but then the 2016 election happened. She was the news editor for the RCC student paper at the time.

“We are facing a really tough time in our country, with rapid changes. But the idea of democracy is more important than ever, and it can only succeed if the country is well-informed,” Severi said. “I decided to be a reporter because a reporter’s job is just that. We inform the electorate so they can make educated decisions that they view are important in how our country is run.”

Severi, who doubled majored in history along with journalism and new media, also enjoys the historical aspect of the D.C. area and even has a membership to George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

Severi learned perseverance as a teenager working to help support her family, and by dealing with health problems in recent years. From those experiences, her advice to students is to make the effort to go for what they want.

“You can find excuses to not do things,” Severi said. “I could have quit because of health stuff. I could have quit because of finances. I could have quit because of a million different things, but I wanted to be a reporter.” 

 

Nursing professor learns about digital innovation

Last month Dr. Dayna Herrera, professor of nursing at California Baptist University, spent several days in Dallas at the 2021 Digital Academy: Building the Essentials Tool Kit with Digital Innovation.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) selected her and 29 other nursing faculty from 150 applicants from across the nation to participate. The event brought together faculty with Apple experts to develop digital projects around curriculum for nursing programs.

Herrera’s project focused on interprofessional partnerships, which bring students from various healthcare disciplines together to learn from, with and about each other in order to improve healthcare outcomes.

Every year since 2017, CBU has held an interprofessional education disaster simulation for its graduate students in health care programs. The event is the culmination of the interprofessional instruction students receive throughout the year. The past two years, the activity was virtual due to the pandemic.

The virtual event led Herrera to discover a gap when teams worked together online, she said. A software online program they used was not interactive and only one person could input information at a time. Searching for a solution, Herrera found an Apple program—Numbers—that allows for synchronous activity in collaborative groups.

“It will enhance a team’s ability to collaborate together so that everybody has access and everybody has buy-in,” Herrera said. “It’s more versatile.”

The program would help meet the needs of interprofessional education and bring in more community partners, such as other universities and public agencies, Herrera said.

“We have a lot of community partners that may not be able to be present, but they can come in synchronously, in a virtual activity,” she said.

Leading up to the digital academy and at the event, Herrera worked with Apple experts to learn more about the software program and other digital apps and tools to use in the classroom and the disaster simulation. She also learned about letting students be more responsible for their own learning by using creativity and tapping into the digital world more, she said.

“We’re going to be giving them digital tools to be able to make decisions together,” Herrera said.

Herrera said although she considers herself digitally minded, she sometimes feels she is slipping behind. The digital conference sparked excitement. Now she hopes to inspire students and fellow faculty members.

“The minute we stop changing the learning environment we become old school. We have to change with the culture, and while it’s really difficult to do that, it’s critical,” Herrera said. “I can walk through here and look at glazed over students in a lecture format with a PowerPoint on the screen and trust me, they are not engaged. They are used to highly interactive things, and we have to continue to meet that need.”

 

 

Family Updates

The Department of Aviation Science provided training for scouts in BSA (Boy Scouts of America) to meet the requirements for the Aviation Merit Badge on Dec. 11. Areas covered included aerodynamics, aviation careers, aircraft instrumentation and dispatch. The day included flight simulators, preflight walk around the CBU fleet and tours of airport control tower and fire and rescue area.

 

 

Dr. Virgo Handojo, professor of psychology, presented at the international webinar on Modern Assessment and Intervention Psychology for Human Well-being on Dec. 3. His presentation was titled Psychotherapy and Virtual Reality: Stress Disorders.

 

 

 

Dr. Shawn Wilhite, assistant professor of Christian studies for Online and Professional Studies, published an article in the journal Studia Patristica (2021). It was titled “Was It Not the Only Begotten That Was Speaking Long Ago”: Cyril of Alexandria’s Christological Exegesis in His Commentary on Hebrews (Heb. 1:1–2).

 

 

 

Andrew Cress, director of special projects for Academic Affairs, became board president for the California Association for Institutional Research on Jan. 1. It is a one-year term.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mark Kling, associate professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, professor of public administration, both for Online and Professional Studies, presented at the virtual Northeast Conference on Public Administration on Nov. 5. The title of the presentation was Bringing Diverse Voices Together to Address Rising Crime: Or Are We Becoming Ungovernable?

 

 

 

Dr. Victoria Brodie, assistant professor of public relations, presented to the Western Region of Council of Governments’ Fellows on Dec. 10. The presentation was titled Communicating for Impact.

 

 

 

 

Dr. John King, director of Mobilization, earned his Doctor of Philosophy from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on Dec. 3. The title of his dissertation was Partnering Together in the Harvest: Evaluating the Shift from Short-Term Missions to Missions Partnership.

 

 

 

Carly Lynn Wolfe, adjunct professor of English, was interviewed by Authority Magazine for an article titled How Journaling Can Help You Be More Calm, Mindful, and Resilient (Dec. 6).

 

 

 

 

Jessika Shields, adjunct professor of health sciences for Online and Professional Studies, has created the Parent Them Successful podcast, which provides parents with tips to help children succeed academically, socially and emotionally. The podcast includes interviews and parent testimonials.

 

 

 

Lisa Friesen, assistant professor of allied health; Coe Michaelson, men’s head soccer coach; Dr. Monica O’Rourke, professor of kinesiology; Keith Coury (’18); and Michelle Pinkney, a doctoral student in leadership studies, presented at the International Leadership Association Conference on Oct. 25. The presentation was titled Transformational Leadership: Challenges and Opportunities for Young Adults in Sport-Fitness Industries.

 

 

The Bachelor of Fine Arts Creative Writing program published an advent edition of The Dazed Starling: Unbound (December). It was edited by Dr. Erika J. Travis, associate professor of English and behavioral sciences, and included submissions from students, alumni and faculty. Faculty members included: Dr. Allan Bedashi, Dr. Noel Cooper, Dr. Gretchen Bartels-Ray, Jennifer Tronti, Dominick Dicus and Lynn Wolfe.

 

 

David Little, assistant director of graduate admissions, and his wife, Jolene, welcomed a daughter on Dec. 21. Laila Elise Little weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 20 inches. She joins sister Arayah 4 and brother Wesley, 1.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU celebrates graduates at fall commencement ceremonies

Fall commencement at California Baptist University provided two days of celebration as graduates participated in ceremonies at the Events Center. Students received recognition in front of cheering friends and family members on Dec. 15-16.

A total of 920 students were eligible to participate in the ceremonies. Combined applications for graduation included 15 candidates for doctoral degrees, 277 for master’s degrees and 628 candidates for undergraduate degrees.

In his commencement address, Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, congratulated the graduates for reaching their goal.

“Today, all the demanding work and sacrifice poured into your college years finally pays off,” Ellis said. “Even more, you weathered continual changes, interruptions and unknowns caused by a global pandemic. You adapted to these unprecedented circumstances and finished strong.”

Through their pursuit of their educational goal, the graduates showed what it means to Live Your Purpose,® Ellis said.

“At CBU we believe each person is created for a purpose. Graduates of this institution are challenged to become individuals whose skills, integrity and sense of purpose glorify God and distinguish them in the workplace and in the world,” Ellis said.

As the graduates prepare for their next endeavor, Ellis encouraged them to remember the experiences they had in college.

“May you also take with you a continuing passion for learning, the friendships made and the life lessons gained during your college years,” Ellis said. “My earnest hope and prayer is that each of you will embrace this new beginning with Lancer enthusiasm. May your CBU experience and your CBU degree serve as solid building blocks in a sturdy foundation for all your ambitions and dreams.”

Maddie Garrett, who earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, will be student teaching in the spring and plans to be an elementary school teacher. She was thankful to have classes back in-person this fall in order to connect with other future teachers.

“CBU shaped me a lot,” Garrett said. “I was blessed to have a good spiritual community. I was able to find good friends and a good teacher community. I think a lot of those fellow students who are teachers will be friends forever. So without them, I don’t know where I would be.”

Kathryn McBride, who also earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, plans to be an elementary school teacher as well. She grew up attending public schools.

“This community has been so sweet and so special, and I feel like it has shaped me and shown me that in an educational and then hopefully in a professional setting that I’ll be able to find fellow believers,” McBride said. “It’s been just very comforting to be able to see people in the same stage of life and wanting the same things. I think that shaped me the most, and I realized that there are a lot of us who want to serve the Lord and can do that in whatever major we’re in.”

Chris Brown, who received a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Flight, said his biggest success was getting his private pilot’s license. He has since earned his commercial certificate. Brown started at a public university before transferring to CBU.

“I like CBU because you’re not just another number,” Brown said. “They shaped me to care about people more and pay more attention to people.”

Michael Odgers earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Statistical Analysis. He did two years at a junior college and played baseball before transferring to CBU.

“Once I decided to come here, it helped me realize what was important, and that school was important,” Odgers said. “Switching from that athlete mindset to more of a student mindset is what really helped me develop at CBU, and my professors helped with that.”

 

Graduate students participate in hooding ceremonies 

Hundreds of master’s degree candidates at California Baptist University are celebrating their academic achievements at hooding ceremonies, leading up to commencement ceremonies Dec. 15-16.

More than 275 master’s degree candidates and 15 doctoral candidates are eligible to participate in the fall commencements. At CBU, colleges and schools hold individual hooding ceremonies to recognize their candidates and also give students their distinctive colored hoods to wear at their commencement ceremony.

The Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business has the largest group of master’s candidates with 44. The Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education has the second largest group with 37 candidates. Additionally, the Online and Professional Studies division has more than 140 candidates throughout its various programs.

At the School of Business hooding ceremony, held Dec. 13 at CBU, Dr. Tim Gramling, dean of the school, told the graduates that, equipped with their degree, their work is just beginning.

“Change is needed. There is a need for biblical principles; there is a need for alternative ways of doing business which honor and don’t displease the Creator,” Gramling said. “The result: All of you play a role in every area where you will go into the world.”

Gramling also reminded them that God will work through them.

“It’s not required for you to work miracles, it’s just required of you to believe in the miracle worker,” Gramling said. “As you apply your belief and you bring that energy to your area, you will find that energy infectious and people will believe because they see the belief in you. And as a result, great things will be accomplished.”

Rachel Prudil, who earned a Master of Science in Information Technology Management, said the biggest challenge was doing most of the program through remote instruction due to the pandemic and then making the transition to in-person this fall.

“My biggest success I think was getting through it with my cohort. I think that was really great—building relationships and communicating and having that family,” Prudil said.

She said the program made her more open minded.

“I met so many different people. Where I grew up, it’s more like a bubble and coming here, there’s so many people coming from everywhere, so that’s really nice,” Prudil said.

Fernando Quiroz-Raya, who earned a Master of Science in Information Technology Management, said his biggest challenge was balancing school and family. He will work as an IT director for a police department.

“CBU helped me put a spiritual vision on what I was studying,” Quiroz-Raya said. “Before, I was finding it a struggle, how can I use technology in a spiritual way? My professors helped me visualize that, blending technology with Christ, with my colleagues.”

 

Distinguished students ring in commencement ceremonies 

More than 910 students at California Baptist University were eligible to participate in three fall commencement ceremonies on Dec. 15-16. In keeping with a CBU tradition, each ceremony began with the ringing of a bell.

Each toll of the bell represents one decade of the university’s existence. The bell rang seven times at each of the ceremonies to commemorate more than seven decades of academic excellence. CBU was established in 1950.

In keeping with another aspect of the tradition, graduates from among the highest-ranking students were chosen to ring the bell.

Johnathan Toews, who received a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, rang the bell for the 9:30 a.m. ceremony on Dec. 15. Rebecca Giovannini, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, rang the bell at the 2 p.m. ceremony on Dec. 15. David Stahr, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in English, did so at the 9:30 a.m. Dec. 16 ceremony.

Giovannini said she was surprised when she learned she had been chosen as a bell ringer. She said her biggest challenge in college was overcoming the fears and anxieties that come with college life and being away from home.

“I am so thankful for my family and my professors for supporting me,” Giovannini said. “How much I’ve learned personally and academically was my biggest success. I have matured a lot during college and everything I learned has helped me become the person I am today and has prepared me for the future.”

She plans on earning her teaching credential and Master of Science in Education on her way to becoming a high school teacher.

“As I began my first classes and met my professors, I started to figure out God’s purpose for me. I have been able to develop an understanding of what I am meant to do in the future and my professors have helped me grow to be able to be successful,” Giovannini said.

Stahr, who is an aircraft electrician in the U.S. Navy, said his biggest challenge was balancing his academic and military responsibilities.

“Many long nights were spent focusing on my schoolwork,” Stahr said. “Without the help of my professors and my loving wife, I would not have been able to achieve this level of success.”

He plans to leave the Navy in 2023 and become an English high school teacher.

“CBU shaped me by showing me how to write and to express myself in creative ways that I was unable to see otherwise. This has also directly impacted my spiritual life and has made me feel a closer and more real connection to God,” Stahr said. “My academic accomplishments and my spiritual progression have made me realize that I should strive to help others learn as I have learned, and that has led me to decide to pursue a career in education.”

Toews said his biggest challenge was achieving his goal of earning a 4.0 GPA. He will work for a construction management company.

“I chose CBU because I was looking for a place where I could be challenged academically and be nurtured in my faith at the same time,” Toews said. “I have had many influential professors both in my major specific courses but also my general education. Dr. Jay Lee, the director for construction management, has been the most influential on my future. He has worked hard to walk with me through this program and provide support for extra opportunities to advance my career.”

 

Leadership seminar focuses on understanding wisdom 

Speakers discussed the pursuit of wisdom at a California Baptist University seminar Dec. 7.

The event was part of the Leadership Seminar Series, a community service event designed to enhance the effectiveness of leaders. The Dr. Paul & Annie Kienel Leadership Institute at CBU hosted the seminar.

Philosophy, theology and science agree certain perpetual truths govern the universe, said Dr. John Shoup, the executive director of the leadership institute. Wisdom leads to people flourishing through their better decisions.

“Once wisdom is better understood, the easier it will be to acquire it, to practice it and even to teach it,” Shoup said during the seminar.

Shoup; Dr. Troy Hinrichs, professor of criminal justice; and Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, spoke at the seminar. They co-wrote the book “Pursuing Wisdom: A Primer for Leaders and Learners.”

“In this construct of wisdom, there is this concept of telos. What is the endgame?” Shoup said. “Wisdom is the pursuit of fulfilling a particular telos, a particular end.”

To find the common denominators among philosophy, theology and science, he and his colleagues researched and compared numerous sources.

Hinrichs listed Aristotle, Plato, Confucius and a number of Islamic philosophers as sources of philosophical wisdom. He also described wisdom from the point of view of several theological texts, including the Bible and the Quran.

“Wisdom is the metanarrative that makes sense of life on both sides of the grave,” Hinrichs said. “The dominant motif across the wisdom literature is the law of harvest. People reap what they sow.”

Gustafson described the approaches of contemporary psychologists and sociologists.

“The empirical tradition treats wisdom as having expert levels of understanding of the pragmatics of life and successfully navigating competing values and priorities to live ethically,” Gustafson said.

Understanding what makes wisdom is key to learning, applying and teaching wisdom to others, Shoup said.

“It is both an intellectual and a moral virtue. If you have some understanding and fail to act on it, it stops short of being wisdom,” Shoup said. “It’s not about us, it’s not about me, it’s about the bigger picture.”

 

Engineering students display their robots’ talent 

The Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering at California Baptist University held its annual Robots Got Talent event on Dec. 6. During the event, engineering students shared their robotic designs and skills.

The event is the finale of a five-week project for freshmen and transfer students enrolled in Engineering from a Christian Worldview (EGR 101 or EGR 301). At the beginning of the project, 48 teams of about five students received a design kit, which included remote controls, motors, sensors and Lego pieces. The teams used the kit to create a create a robot that would solve a problem.

Each team consisted of students pursuing different specialties within engineering, making it a multidisciplinary experience, said Dr. Matthew Rickard, professor of bioengineering.

“It is really a taste of what it is to be on an engineering team. They are working on a team with multiple disciplines,” Rickard said. “These engineers are forced to come up with something creatively out of nothing and create a problem to solve, and then go forward and follow a design procedure where they are arranging things to solve it rather than just studying the physical world.”

The teams first competed in their class, during which the professor chose a winner. The nine finalists showcased their creation at the Robots Got Talent event, where the audience voted on its favorite robot.

This year’s winner was the Lancer Eats robot, which navigated a board modeled after the CBU campus. Using color sensors and colored tiles, the robot carried a Coca-Cola can from one side of the board to a model of the engineering building on the other side, dodging other buildings along the way.

The winning team consisted of Jonah Brawley, a computer science sophomore; Zoe Barbee, an electrical and computer engineering freshman; Riley Spence, a software engineering freshman; Jose Cortez, a construction management freshman; and Carlos Moran, a construction management junior. The team received 3D-printed trophies.

“We wanted to do something with a maze of some sort and color reading, so that is where we got the idea to use the color sensor at the bottom to determine whether it turns right or left,” Spence said.

The team said the process included plenty of testing to ensure the sensors worked correctly. Overall, the team most enjoyed programming and working together throughout the project.

“Programming was a lot of fun,” Spence said. “We all got together and worked on it for a good three hours straight and it was a lot of fun. We were testing and there was a lot of communication.”

Last year, the event consisted of recordings due to the pandemic. Rickard said he was excited to be back to an in-person setting for the event and to watch the participants launch themselves down the path of engineering.

“Because these are finalists, [the robots] are always good,” Rickard said. “They are always entertaining. It is fun to see what was in the [students’] minds. This is the finale of 101, and now they got a taste of engineering. For the ones at the event, I think they are probably confirming their academic and life career choice.”

 

Musicians bring the sounds and spirit of Christmas to CBU

Thousands enjoyed the joyous sounds and spirit of Christmas at California Baptist University as the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music celebrated its third annual Christmas celebration on Dec. 5 and 6.

More than 400 students and faculty participated in the two “Joy” concerts held in the Events Center.

While the musicians brought the sounds of joy alive, Dr. Joseph Bolin, dean of the School of Music, talked about the true joy of Christmas, saying the holiday event was held “to celebrate the central event in history: God sending His son to the world.”

The School of Music showcased groups including the University Choir and Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Wind and Jazz Ensembles, and Camerata.

Renowned artist faculty—Sheila E., Nia Allen, Bruce Sledge, Paul Jackson Jr., Vinnie Colaiuta, and Nathan East—also took the stage, performing songs such as “Feliz Navidad,” “Joy to the World” and “Holy Night of Angels.”

Other highlights included a rendition of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas classic, “Carol of the Bells (Christmas Eve/Sarajevo),” as well as “Sing We Now of Christmas,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “Christmas Joy.” The Wind Ensemble performed “The Night Before Christmas” while Bolin read the famous poem by Clement Clark Moore.

The show “was so good, everything I expected and more,” said John Walsh, an audience member.

Jordyn Tilley, a film freshman, came to support her roommate who was performing with the Festival Choir.

“This concert put me right into the holiday spirit. It’s exactly what I needed before finals,” Tilley said.

Siera Morales, a music education freshman, sang in the performance.

“This show is made up of such beautiful compositions, beautiful music and makes for an overall beautiful night,” Morales said.

 

CBU volunteers to serve in 14 countries on 16 teams in 2022

Excitement was in the air at California Baptist University as Spiritual Life’s Mobilization hosted Team Reveal on Dec. 1. The event reveals which service team the students are assigned to next year.

In 2022, the International Service Project (ISP) program will send out 14 encounter teams, which serve for two to three weeks, and two immersion teams, which serve for eight weeks. Overall, approximately 150 participants will go to 14 countries.

2022 marks the 24th year of CBU’s signature global mobilization program. Teams have not been sent out the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event featured an information session followed by the team reveal during which students discovered where they would serve. Following the reveal, students met with their respective teams, and parents and families who attended the event received more information about the program.

“Team Reveal was super exciting,” said Elise Winward, a biomedical sciences and forensic chemistry junior. Her team is going to Southern Europe.

“The Mobilization team did an awesome job,” Winward said. “Breaking off to have our first meeting with our team was great and we really got to see the hearts of our leaders for the unreached and for these trips.”

Kris Smith, assistant director of Mobilization, views Team Reveal as a rewarding event for students who have prepped for ISP throughout the semester, which includes completing applications, interviewing and participating in a support-raising workshop.

“For the students, meeting their leader and team members and finding out their placement is a much-anticipated event,” Smith said. “It is also important that students understand security before they share their exciting news with family and friends and begin the support-raising process.”

Kristie Wiseman, a biomedical sciences junior, is part of an encounter team for 2022. She said she is excited to go on an ISP trip to East Africa, especially after her ISP trip was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

“I appreciate that I have another opportunity to go, and I am grateful that they are still trying to do all they can,” Wiseman said. “I like that they make it a whole event to find out where you are going on your ISP trip. It helps you get to know your team fast because you are all excited to get started.”

Josiah Norrie, a mechanical engineering junior, is part of an immersion team going to South Asia. He enjoyed seeing the teams form connections during the event.

“There seemed to be even more excitement than the last Team Reveal two years ago,” Norrie said. “I enjoyed getting to meet several new people and shared fun stories with them.”

Smith said the event is important because students can now form bonds with team members and begin preparing and raising support for their trips.

“The reveal is exciting, but I love walking around and seeing the teams meeting for the first time,” Smith said. “There is an incredible amount of work and prayer that goes into putting teams together, so to see them connecting is very exciting, knowing they are beginning an incredible journey of training and discovery that will culminate in serving cross-culturally next summer.”

 

CBU celebrates Christmas season traditions with tree lighting

The California Baptist University community celebrated the Christmas season at a Merry & Bright event on Nov. 30. The evening featured the tree lighting, a Bible reading by CBU president Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, and live Christmas music.

Before the countdown to the tree lighting, attendees lit candles, passing along the flame to others, as a part of the usual CBU tradition.

The event, organized by Community Life and Spiritual Life, also featured hot chocolate and Christmas treats as well as activities such as photo booths, a snow patch, and an opportunity for students to participate in filling boxes for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child.

Noelle Avera, an exercise science freshman, said her favorite part of the event was lighting candles with her friends during the ceremony.

“It is a great way to have everyone come together and be able to see a tree be lit and celebrate this new holiday season,” Avera said.

Bailey Berzansky, an accounting freshman, said she enjoyed connecting with others at the event.

“I really liked it because it brought the whole community of CBU together to celebrate Christmas before everyone goes home,” Berzansky said.

This year’s event gave the school an opportunity to come together again to celebrate the holiday season. The event did not take place in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think these events are important to have and to keep having because it does bring everyone together,” Avera said. “With the pandemic, we lost all those moments with our friends, family and community, so we didn’t have as close of relationships, so this is important to have.”

Melanie Murillo, a biomedical sciences freshman, participated in Operation Christmas Child by filling a shoebox. More than 660 boxes were filled. She appreciated having the opportunity to create something that can positively impact a child.

“I love kids, and that is what I want to do with my future career—be a doctor for kids,” Murillo said. “Looking out for children is something I have always aspired to do and being able to do this little gesture is something that means a lot to me.”

 

Family Updates

Dr. Virgo Handojo, professor of psychology, presented a research webinar on Nov. 19. Titled Love God, Love Others as Yourself and Happiness, the webinar was sponsored by Maranatha Christian University, Bandung, Indonesia.

 

 

 

 

Christopher Kern, assistant professor of photography, was on the organizing committee for the 2021 SPE West x Southwest Virtual Film Showcase, which took place Nov. 20.

 

 

 

 

Andrew Cress, director of special projects in Academic Affairs, served as a peer evaluator on a WASC Senior College and University Commission Special Visit review team. The virtual site visit took place Nov. 16-19.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Gretchen Bartels-Ray, associate professor of English for Online and Professional Studies, presented and published poems through the Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association’s conference on Nov. 13-14. The poems were titled Naked Athena and You Can’t Shout the Walls Down. She also presented a paper Gave it Christian burial: Dorothy Sayers on Gender, Horror, and Humanity at the conference.

 

 

 

Dr. Dominick Sturz, professor of public health for Online and Professional Studies, led a national roundtable for the American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting and Expo on Oct. 26. The roundtable topic was titled COVID-19 Pandemic Fatigue.

 

 

 

Dr. Mark Kling, associate professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, associate professor of public administration, both for Online and Professional Studies, had an article published in the PA Times on Nov. 16. It was titled Tolerating Rising Crime: Is Cooperate & Comply the New Norm?

 

 

 

Dr. Riste Simnjanovski, associate professor of public administration for Online and Professional Studies, had an article published with Bitcoin Magazine (Nov. 27). It was titled The U.S. Dollar Implosion: Questions to Consider for Non-Bitcoiners. The article was picked up on Nasdaq’s website and other outlets.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology, presented at an American Scientific Affiliation event on Nov. 18. It was titled Data don’t speak, people do: How to have better conversations about science and faith.

 

 

 

Dr. Victoria Brodie, assistant professor of public relations, presented research at the International Leadership Association’s 23^rd Global Conference on Oct. 25. The presentation was titled Leading Systems Change in a VUCA World. In addition, Brodie presented at the 2021 Clute International Academic Conference on Oct. 12. The presentation was titled Leading in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

 

 

 

Brittany Davies, director of academic operations for the College of Health Science, was named employee of the month for December. Her nomination included the following statements: “Brittany has a lot of interaction with students, student workers, staff she supervises, staff she does not supervise, faculty, and administration and I have never heard a negative or concerning word about her service. She is a conscientious worker who wants to get things done with very high quality. She communicates very clearly and is willing to assist with any task at any time.”

 

 

Dr. Mary Vanhoozer, adjunct professor of music, had a debut performance on a hurdy gurdy in Los Angeles on Nov. 7. She played with Ciaramella, an early music ensemble.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Joel Bigley, associate professor of business, and Dr. Keith Walters, professor of education, published an article in the Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (Vol. 4, Issue 2). It was titled Agile Scrum Pedagogy: Leveraging Collaborative Corporate Practices to Enhance Engagement.

 

 

 

Dr. Effat Zeidan Hatoum, assistant professor of general education for Online and Professional Studies, was a keynote speaker for the United Conference of AI Role in Pharma Industry and Digital Future on Nov. 16. The title of her talk was Artificial Intelligence: Optimizing Student Engagement in Online Education.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Shawn Wilhite, assistant professor of Christian studies for Online and Professional Studies, presented at the Society of Biblical Literature in San Antonio, Texas, on Nov. 21-24. He also had a review published in the Evangelical Quarterly. It was a review of Origen: On First Principles, edited and translated by John Behr.

 

 

Dr. Tom Schneider, associate professor of English for Online and Professional Studies, and his wife, Rita, welcomed a daughter on Nov. 3. Chloe Lucille Schneider weighed 8 pounds, 8 ounces and measured 20.5 inches. She joins brothers Ethan, 5, and Simon, 2.

 

 

 

 

Michelle Quinones, accountant 1-student finance, and her husband, Tyson, welcome a son on Nov. 18. Landon Lee Quinones weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces and measured 20 inches. He joins sister Savanna, 3.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

 

 

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

‘Beauty and the Beast’ finally hits the stage at CBU

In March 2020, the theatre program at California Baptist University was making final preparations for its production of “Beauty and the Beast.” Then the pandemic brought down the curtain on theatres and other venues.

More than 18 months later, CBU students will finally perform the production in the Wallace Theatre. About one-third of the cast is the same.

Sophia Oliveri, a theatre senior, remains in the Mrs. Potts role.

“This has been in the making since spring of 2020,” Oliveri said. “I just don’t think I’ll believe it’s happening until I’m singing onstage in front of a live audience.”

Scott Rydelski, a theatre performance and comedic arts senior, moved from a smaller role to now play Gaston. He said there is more excitement preparing for the production.

“Actors are not taking this opportunity for granted anymore. Everybody shows up every day ready to work and create a great show,” Rydelski said.

Lisa Lyons, adjunct professor of theatre and the director of the play, said it is wonderful to be working with the students on the performance again.

“There’s nothing like live theater. It’s a unique medium,” she said.

Lyons hopes the audience gets joy from the show.

“Every production number has a big finish. When the students do that final pose, you can feel their energy. It’s so fun to see,” Lyons said. “It’s a great show for any age. It has adult humor as well as kid humor. I think it’s just a big crowd pleaser.”

Nathan Sporcich, a marketing junior, plays the Beast. He has learned how much effort and enthusiasm is needed from every member in the cast.

“I hope the audience gets an immersive and magical experience from finally seeing live theatre return again,” Sporcich said. “I know many people have been anticipating this show and I am so glad we were able to bring it together once again.”

Rydelski said he hopes the audience will realize that the arts are essential.

“The part that’s been the most enjoyable of this whole experience must be preparing a show to return live to CBU again,” he said. “It’s been such a long time since we had that opportunity. I am excited to see the Wallace Theatre be filled with people again.”

Oliveri said she hoped the audience will see that love always leads to transformation.

“It’s a crucial theme in ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ The audience will witness a story of love changing someone from the inside out. My hope is they take that into the world and love people for who they are just like Christ,” she said. 

When: Nov. 19-20, Dec. 2-4 at 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 20 and Dec. 4 at 2 p.m.
Where: Wallace Theatre, California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA, 92504
For more information, please visit https://calbaptist.edu/theater/current-production

 

Thousands attend CBU Parent and Family Weekend

Thousands came to California Baptist University for Parent and Family Weekend on Nov. 12-13, bringing families together to participate in activities.

On Nov. 12, families had the opportunity to tour academic colleges and schools at CBU to meet deans and faculty members.

Later in the afternoon, families visited the Block Party on the Front Lawn, which featured food trucks, a photo booth, games and inflatable slides.

The day concluded with the Fortuna Bowl, the annual intramural flag football championship and one of the largest sporting events at the school. The event drew an estimated 6,200 spectators. The Twinkle Toesies beat Bombshell 6-0 in the women’s championship game and the Baptist Baddies beat J.A.C.K. 14-7 in the men’s game.

Shan Balingit has a daughter and a nephew who attend CBU. The nephew was playing in the Fortuna Bowl. The weekend was a good time to connect with family, Balingit said.

After the final game, a fireworks show ended the night.

The following morning, families had the option of participating in a hike up Mt. Rubidoux, which included a parent prayer during the hike.

In the evening, there was a pregame party before the men’s basketball game that featured live music, food trucks, a climbing wall and a performance by the Lancer Pep Band.

Nearly 5,000 fans watched as the men’s basketball team won against Mississippi Valley State, 95-66.

Bethany Dirkin, a health science freshman, attended the game with her father and siblings.

“The crowd involvement was great,” Dirkin said.

David Dirkin, Bethany’s father, loved coming out to Parent and Family Weekend.

“I enjoy sports, I wanted to see Bethany, what a perfect combination! To have sports, to see my daughter on her campus, in her environment,” Dirkin said. “All the community was great.”

 

Couple’s $250,000 gift becomes $1M scholarship endowment

Wayne and Bertie Paul, longtime supporters of California Baptist University, have given $250,000 to the School of Christian Ministries for a double major endowed scholarship.

Their donation was matched by an anonymous donor. In turn, both gifts were matched by institutional funds from the CBU endowment match program, making The Wayne and Bertie Paul Double Major Endowed Scholarship total $1 million.

“I believe this endowment reflects the legacy of who Wayne and Bertie Paul are and what they have committed their lives to in serving Christ and all of those that He came to save,” said Curt Jarboe, director of development in University of Advancement. He spoke during the presentation of the scholarship on Nov. 9. Jarboe has known the Pauls for more than 40 years.

After careers in education and respiratory therapy, the Pauls went overseas and served more than 20 years, the latter years seeking to reach an unreached people group.

“Wayne and Bertie have created a double major endowed scholarship to help students who are wanting to attend CBU and prepare to do what they have done, and that is to serve in the development of churches among the world’s least reached peoples,” Jarboe said.

Dr. Chris Morgan, dean of the School of Christian Ministries, said the double major scholarship, which is now at $5.6 million, will help reach more students on campus. With this scholarship, one of the majors must be in the School of Christian Ministries. Currently 90 double major students study in the School of Christian Ministries.

“Double majors have existed for a number of years, but with the changing culture and with people needing to be versatile and nimble, we want to help people grow in their understanding of the Bible, their understanding of theology, their understanding the Christian mission, their understanding of how to serve the church and have various marketable skills,” Morgan said.

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of CBU, told how the Pauls started giving $1 a month to CBU—then California Baptist College—in the 1960s when Wayne’s brother was a student. They have been supporting CBU ever since, Ellis said.

“We’re grateful to the Pauls. I want to say personally thank you, Wayne and Bertie, for what you’re doing and what you have done and what this gift will continue to do until Christ returns,” Ellis said. “The Wayne and Bertie Paul endowment will surely have significant and long-term gospel impact at CBU and throughout the world.”

 

Veterans remembered, honored at CBU for Veterans Day 

The Veterans Resource Center celebrated the nation’s veterans at California Baptist University on Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

Honoring the veterans began with a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 246th birthday. The Veterans Day Ceremony also included a reading of the Presidential Proclamation; recognition of veteran faculty, staff and students; and a speech from Dr. John Marselus, chair of the Department of Aviation Science.

Marselus served in the U.S. Air Force as a fighter pilot. He said he was trying to figure out the essence of what it means to be a veteran and decided it came down to one word: commitment.

“We live in a time and an age where people… start something and they won’t finish it,” he said.

Marselus said that there are three ways members of the Armed Forces demonstrate commitment: to their nation, to their service, and to each other.

The nation could not be what it is today without the Armed Forces and their willingness to give up their lives for their country, Marselus said.

“When we give our oath of office, we are promising to give our lives in defense of what that means,” Marselus said.

He also talked about the loyalty the Armed Forces as a whole have for each other and the individual bonds between members of the same branch.

“In the Army, they call them battle brothers. In the Air Force, we call them wingmen. I wouldn’t be standing before you now if it wasn’t for my wingmen,” he said.

Marselus challenged the audience to emulate the commitment demonstrated by the Armed Forces, encouraging them to consider their devotion to God, church, friends, and families.

“You don’t have to wear a uniform to be committed,” he said.

 

Theologian delves into the gift of the Holy Spirit 

Dr. Gregg Allison had one important message for audience members at California Baptist University on Nov. 9.

“The greatest gift that the Father gives to those who follow his Son Is the Holy Spirit,” Allison said. “Notice how I phrased the idea. The greatest gift the Father gives to those who follow the Son who have discovered that great gift of salvation in Jesus Christ, the greatest gift is the Holy Spirit.”

Allison is a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He has written several books, including “Historical Theology,” “Sojourners and Strangers” and “The Holy Spirit,” from the Theology for the People of God series. He spoke as part of the School of Christian Ministries Lecture Series.

The Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son in terms of his power and glory, yet He is distinct on the basis of his roles, Allison said.

“When we share the good news, we ask the Holy Spirit to speak in and through us, help us with our words, to listen well and respond rightly, to communicate comfort or rebuke, whatever the case may be,” Allison said.

According to Genesis 1-2, the Holy Spirit was active in the creation of the world, he said. Now, in the fallen world, the Spirit is part of re-creation or salvation.

“Even before we embrace the gospel, the Holy Spirit is at work to convict the world, that’s you and me, people who are hostile toward God. The Spirit is at work convicting the world of sin and righteousness and judgment,” Allison said.

The Spirit also works on re-creating believers corporately, he said.

“The default mode of the church is unity. We break that unity by our political agendas, our personal agendas,” Allison said. “The Spirit grants us unity and we work to maintain that. The church also pursues greater purity through the Holy Spirit.”

The Spirit empowers the church to engage nonbelievers with the gospel, Allison said.

“When those nonbelievers cross the line of faith and they embrace the good news, the church baptizes these new converts in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” he said.

To be filled with the Spirit is an ongoing command that demands a response according to Ephesians 5:18-21, Allison said.

“It calls for a posture of yielded-ness, of submission. It’s not an active command, it’s a passive command,” he said. “Put yourself in a posture, in a position where you’re fully yielded or submitted to the Spirit.”

Finally, the Spirit will prompt believers to do the will of God, Allison said.

“When our church members are filled with the Spirit, our church will be characterized by gratitude, especially in the tough times,” Allison said. “When our church members are filled with the Spirit, our church will be a church in which love reigns. We will honor one another, defer to one another, consider one another more highly than ourselves. It will be a loving community.

“And these results of being filled with the Spirit also push the church to engage in genuine worship and authentic fellowship and be a community of thanksgiving and work on loving one another.”

 

Volunteers work to keep CBU green on Fall Arbor Day 

More than 300 students, faculty, staff, and other volunteers participated in the 2021 Fall Arbor Day by planting 16 trees, caring for vegetation and helping with campus cleanup at California Baptist University on Nov. 6.

The Facilities and Planning Services at CBU and the Environmental Science Club organized the event. Volunteers worked in teams, planting trees and other vegetation, applying fertilizer and soil, and beautifying the campus. CBU participates in Arbor Day as a part of Tree Campus USA, a program sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation.

Dr. Bonjun Koo, professor of environmental science and advisor of the Environmental Science Club, said he hopes Arbor Day shifts students’ perspectives to a more environment-focused approach and allows students to better understand how they are intertwined with the environment.

“As Christians and stewards, we need to take care of God’s creatures,” Koo said. “Because of anthropogenic activities, we keep disrupting natural ecosystems and we keep losing biodiversity. By planting trees and flowers and cleaning up our environment, students can learn how important it is to get along with other organisms.”

Emmanuelle Evans, an art therapy senior, said she enjoyed attending the event because it allowed her to connect with other people through the process of planting.

“I think [my favorite part] is actually just touching the soil and being in contact with growing things,” Evans said. “The process of growing is a very laborious process and it isn’t instant. I think everything nowadays is so instant, so to be part of a slow-growth process and a journey [is great].”

This was the first Arbor Day event Brittany Livingstone, a health science sophomore, attended. She said planting trees allows students to take part in activities that can lessen the impact of humans on the environment.

“My favorite part would be showing people how just doing little things can change a big part of the ecosystem,” Livingstone said. “Just changing the soil can make a huge difference in what products come up.”

This semester’s Arbor Day was the first in-person Arbor Day since 2019. During the pandemic, students had the opportunity to participate in a virtual Arbor Day, during which they could plant a tree at home and upload photos or videos of their trees. Now that Arbor Day is back in person, Koo said he enjoys the community aspect of the event.

“All volunteers gather together, and we start with a prayer, and we explain how important it is to plant trees. That is my favorite part,” Koo said.

 

Center for Business Excellence opens to serve business owners

The Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business at California Baptist University hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new Center for Business Excellence on Nov. 4. The center is aimed at helping small and medium-sized business owners in the community.

The center will offer various services to those business owners, including one-on-one coaching with a faculty member with entrepreneur experience. The center is an official Certiport testing center where employees and employers can obtain certificates in a variety of technologies. It also will hold seminars in conjunction with the Dr. Paul and Annie Kienel Leadership Institute.

“Some years ago, the brainchild of the faculty of the Jabs School was to engage with our community directly,” said Dr. Tim Gramling, dean of the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business. “We are excited by the presence of this Center for Business Excellence, which will provide seminars and training and certifications to make a difference in the lives of small to medium sized business owners, leaders and staff.”

Dr. Marina Girju, associate dean for undergraduate programs, said the Center for Business Excellence is the only university sponsored and Certiport authorized center in the Inland Empire area.

“We are looking forward to working with individuals who want to upgrade their skills or simply obtain a certificate to clearly, unequivocally demonstrate the skills they have,” Girju said. “As you see, my sleeves are all up. We are so ready to start the work here.” 

Dr. Charles Sands, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, encouraged the attendees to spread the news about the center and to participate themselves.

“I love this community. I love the fact that you’re here to support another initiative tied to excellence and tied to influence in the region. We all know that leadership is about influence,” Sands said.

CBU faculty members and staff in addition to business owners and Riverside city and community officials were on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony and open house. Dr. Robert K. Jabs, former dean and professor for whom the School of Business is named, also attended.

Jim Perry, Riverside city councilmember in Ward 6, said he was glad to see CBU continue to expand.

“This is an opportunity to form our business leaders, to get our business leaders out there with even more expertise, and to make a difference not only in this city but in this region and hopefully in this state,” Perry said.

For more information on the Center for Business Excellence, please contact Delores Washington, 951-343-4329 or dwashington@calbaptist.edu.

 

Aviation event aims to inspire girls in the community

Dozens of school-age girls and their parents streamed through the Flight Operations Center on Nov. 1, participating in various activities, from virtually flying in a flight simulator to sitting inside a Piper airplane.

The Girls in Aviation event was hosted by the California Baptist University chapter of Women in Aviation International.

“Girls in Aviation is a great event to show young girls that they can accomplish anything, that they can do aviation,” said Aubri Guerrero, an aviation flight junior and a volunteer at the event. “This is to show them that it’s an option, that it’s a field open to everybody and that it’s just a lot of fun.”

Several CBU students and faculty volunteered their time to show the attendees around, answer questions about the aviation industry and demonstrate the activities.

Ariana Chavez, a CBU flight instructor, volunteered at the event, guiding attendees in the flight simulator. She said she tried to simplify the experience so the girls would not get overwhelmed by all of the buttons in the cockpit. Still, the girls were excited, she said, to be in control of the aircraft, virtually flying over their favorite places, like Disneyland.

“Most of them actually landed the simulator pretty well, I was surprised,” Chavez said. “I think they got a lot out of the experience.”

Chavez has volunteered at the annual Girls in Aviation event for several years, since she was a CBU student herself. The event first started in 2016, and Chavez says she has seen girls come through the event who eventually enroll in the aviation program at CBU.

“I’m hoping that, even if it’s not aviation, that the girls got an idea that they are capable of doing things that are more hands-on, science-y and mechanical. When I was younger, nobody ever represented that to me,” Chavez said. “The Girls in Aviation day is one of the most inspiring things of the year. I hope we can get the word out, to help grow the number of girls interested in science and interested in aviation.”

Tiana Stroncone, a senior and president of the Women in Aviation CBU chapter, was the main organizer of the event.

“This is a career path that we all take seriously, but it is also our passion,” Stroncone said. “And to share our passion with others creates a special bond that runs deep throughout our community.”

The event was skipped last year due to COVID-19, but Stroncone said she hopes it will continue annually in the future.

“We are thankful to all our students in Women in Aviation who volunteered many hours to ensure its success,” said Dr. John Marselus, chair of the Department of Aviation Science. “We are also thankful for all the support CBU leadership supplies in events such as this.”

 

CBU’s men cross country win back-to-back WAC Championships

California Baptist University cross country ended its season with a historic performance at the Western Athletic Conference Championships on Oct. 30.

The Lancer men won their second-straight WAC team title with a perfect score, led by Florian Le Pallec. CBU’s women secured a runner-up finish as a team and individually from Greta Karinauskaite. CBU hosted the WAC meet for the first time at the UC Riverside Agricultural Operations Course.

Le Pallec and Karinauskaite also set new CBU records. Le Pallec won the 8000-meter race with a time of 23:18.5. Karinauskaite placed second in the 6000-meter race with a time of 19:50.9.

Coach Adam Tribble was named the WAC Men’s Coach of the Year, and Karinauskaite the Freshman of the Year. Thirteen Lancers—eight men, five women—earned All-WAC honors with top-20 finishes.

Read the full story here. 

 

Family Updates

Dr. Thomas Frederick, professor of psychology for Online and Professional Studies, co-wrote a book titled The Family: A Christian Perspective on the Contemporary Home (Fifth Edition, Baker Academic, November 2021).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, facilitated a strategic planning session with the Virginia Department of Aviation Small Airport Transportation Systems Lab in Richmond, Virginia, on Oct. 29. The plan he developed will guide the adoption of innovative technologies, such as eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing), and remote air traffic control towers throughout the state.

 

 

 

Andrew Cress, director of special projects in Academic Affairs, facilitated a keynote panel at the 2021 California Association at the Institutional Research (CAIR) conference on Oct. 29. The panel was called Using Data for Advocacy: A Conversation with the Advocates. He also participated on a panel for the New England Educational Assessment Network held virtually on Nov. 5. The panel was titled Making Technology Work for You: Key Considerations.

 

 

 

Jessica Ducsay, research associate in the College of Health Science, and Dr. Robert LaChausse, professor of public health sciences, presented at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting in Denver on Oct. 26. The presentation was titled Successes of a Comprehensive Smoke Free Policy to Reduce Secondhand Smoke Exposure.

 

 

 

Christopher Kern, assistant professor of photography, was a panelist for the Society of Photographic Education, South Central Conference via Zoom on Oct. 29. The panel was titled Where Does Photography Curricula Go From Here? Exploring Current Changes and Demands in Higher Education.

 

 

 

Amanda Madrid, professor of nursing, had an op-ed published in the Journal of Christian Nursing. It is titled The Joy Pathway.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Keith Hekman, professor of aerospace, industrial and mechanical engineering, presented a conference paper at the ASME 2021 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition held virtually on Nov. 1. It was titled Using Wireless Pasco Smart Carts to Demonstrate Vibration Principals.

 

 

 

Dr. Robert Crosby, associate professor of psychology for Online and Professional Studies, and Dr. Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology, presented virtually at the Toronto Children’s Ministry Conference on Nov. 6. The presentation was titled Ministry to Hurting Kids: How Trauma Impacts the Kids We Love and What to Do about It.

 

 

 

Dr. Jong-Kyung Kim, associate professor of exercise science, presented two studies at the Southwest ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) annual meeting in Costa Mesa, California, on Oct. 29-30. They were titled Cardiorespiratory Fitness Level Alters Blood Pressure Responses Induced by Histamine H₁– and H₂-receptor Blockade During Dynamic Exercise and Acute Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Grape Seed Extract Attenuates Blood Pressure increase during Cold Pressor Test in Prehypertensive Men.

 

 

Dr. Mark Kling, associate professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, associate professor of public administration, both for Online and Professional Studies, presented research at the virtual NASPAA (Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration) Conference on Oct. 27. It was titled Defund the Police or Comprehensive Compassion: Trends to Create Safety in the Civic Square.

 

 

Dr. Dominick Sturz, professor of public health for Online and Professional Studies, co-moderated a national webinar for the Southern California Public Health Association on Sept. 29. The topic was titled Social Justice: The Intersection of Covid-19, Mental Health & Nature.

 

 

 

Dr. Juliann Perdue, professor of nursing, was a presenter and Andrew Cress, director of special projects in Academic Affairs, was a moderator at the virtual 2021 Assessment Institute on Oct. 25. Perdue’s presentation was titled How to Develop a Systematic Quality Improvement Plan (SQIP).

 

 

 

Carolyn Heine, associate librarian, served as a peer evaluator on a WASC Senior College and University Commission Special Visit review team. The site visit took place Oct. 27-29.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Adele Harrison, professor of finance, presented a poster she co-authored at the Christian Business Faculty Associate (CBFA) annual conference in Nashville on Oct. 2. The title of the poster was Perceptions of Faith and Work by Christian Undergraduate Business Majors. She also presented co-authored research study at the virtual Society for Scientific Study of Religion annual conference on Oct. 16. The title of the presentation was Faith in Business: Christian Undergraduates’ Perception of Business as a College Major.

 

 

Christine Lee Smith, adjunct professor of photography, presented a paper at the CIVA (Christians in the Visual Arts) Transcend Conference in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 6. The paper was titled Looking at Death: Following Christ in Embodied Life.

 

 

 

The Doctor of Psychology program had its first Research Showcase in Innovators Auditorium on Nov. 1. Faculty and students presented original research in the form of poster and oral presentations.

 

 

 

Dr. Virgo Handojo, professor of psychology, presented a webinar hosted by the Sekolah Kristen Tunas Bangsa (The Seed of the Nation Christian Schools) in Bali, Indonesia, on Oct. 9. It was titled Pandemic Parenting.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Melissa Wiggington, associate professor of health science, was awarded the Outstanding Leadership Award in the Area of Physical Activity from the American Public Health Association on Oct. 25. She also co-authored a policy statement titled Supporting Physical Education in Schools for All Youth, which was approved by the Joint Policy Commission of the American Public Health Association.

 

 

 

Dr. Joel Bigley, associate professor of business, and Nolan Gouveia, assistant professor of business, co-authored a book titled Goodwill-based Motivation (OmniScriptum Publishing, 2021).

 

 

 

 

David Fouts, senior, and alumna Marina Griffin were selected as two of 21 photographers for the APA (American Photographic Artists) Untitled Show.

 

 

 

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, professor of communication, virtually presented research at the International Leadership Association conference on Oct. 24. The topic of her presentation was Adversity Quotient and Mentoring while Leading Student Teams.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Amanie Abdelmessih, professor of mechanical engineering, served as track co-chair at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 2021 InterPACK virtual conference on Oct. 26-28. The track was titled Heterogenous Integration. She also served as a judge for the technical poster competition.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Joshua Knabb, professor of psychology, published book. It is titled Christian Meditation in Clinical Practice: A Four-Step Model and Workbook for Therapists and Clients (InterVarsity Press, November 2021).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Troy Hinrichs, professor of criminal justice, Dr. Mark Blincoe, associate professor of history, and Mark Roberson, dean of the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design, made presentations at the International Leadership Association Annual Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on Oct. 20-24. Hinrichs co-presented If Walls Could Talk: Leadership Philosophy and Theology in Art. Roberson co-presented If Buildings Could Talk: Architecture and Leadership. Blincoe presented Leaders as Historian: Leveraging the Past.

 

Bryce Burditt, director of visits and events for Admissions, and his wife, Shelbie, welcomed a son on Aug. 15. Miles Bryce Burditt weighed 10 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 21 inches. He joins brother Levi, 4, and sister Scotland, 2.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates