In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU scores high in state, national 2021 Niche college rankings

California Baptist University has once again received high marks for campus life in national rankings, coming in at No. 5 for “Best College Campus,” No. 5 for “Best College Food” and No. 22 for “Best College Dorms,” according to a 2021 Niche Best Colleges list.

The Niche 2021 Best College rankings are based on numerous statistical analyses per category, according to the site. The Best College Campus category, for instance, uses key statistics and student reviews in addition to data from the U.S. Department of Education. The Niche Best College Campus standings also take into account the quality of housing, food services and students’ reviews of the campus.

“CBU is a fantastic school. Everything about it blows all others out of the water. Come here to further your faith, build godly friendships, have an insane amount of fun, get involved in … well, everything, watch excellent athletic or music performances, create lasting memories, learn about the subjects you love, hone your craft, get real-world experience, become well-rounded and prepared for your future, and connect with professors as mentors and friends. I couldn’t ask for a better school,” wrote a student reviewer on Niche.com’s profile page for CBU.

CBU placed No. 15 as “Best Online Colleges” and No. 24 for “Best Hispanic-Serving Institutions” in the national rankings. CBU also placed high among the Niche rankings for California colleges, including No. 1 for “Best Online Colleges,” No. 2 for both “Best College Campus” and “Best College Food.” CBU placed No. 3 in the state for “Best College Dorms,” No. 8 for “Best Christian Colleges,” and No. 11 for “Best College Athletics in California.”

 

Career Center prepares students for the virtual job interview

Sam Ganji (’20) became comfortable behind a webcam while spending years playing online video games.

However, he turned to the Career Center at California Baptist University for the finer points of conducting a virtual interview. Doing a mock interview, Ganji learned the importance of body language and eye contact and that the background should not be distracting.

“It helped me become more aware of my strong suits and also areas where I needed to improve. In short, it helped my confidence,” said Ganji, who graduated in April with a Master of Science in Software Engineering.

As job interviews went virtual because of COVID-19, the Career Center pivoted as well by providing virtual mock interviews for students and alumni.

“Virtual interviews have proven to be an exceptional experience for students in the COVID environment as this is the format most organizations are using initially to screen their job candidates,” said Mike Bishop, senior director of the Career Center.

Tips for preparing for a virtual interview include testing technology prior to the interview and creating a pleasant visual setting. Dress professionally as if for an in-person interview, and make sure the location chosen for the interview will be free from interruption and noise.

“Obviously no handshake will occur, so the first impression for an employer will come from the candidate’s professional dress, a warm smile and solid eye contact,” Bishop said. “These simple steps will exude confidence to the employer and help them to look forward to their screen time with you.”

In-person networking is limited right now and employers have scaled back on their in-house recruiters, so how you represent yourself on your resume and LinkedIn profile are more critical, Bishop said.

Bishop provided additional tips:

• Do your best to showcase skills that will set you apart, especially if those skills are needed for a specific job.
• In the current environment, don’t get too picky about working in a specific job for a particular organization. If a job is available in the organization but it is not what you had in mind, it still may be good to take it to become part of the organization.
• Make sure you have a full Handshake profile completed. Handshake, a career-services platform, offers more than 5,000 employment opportunities for CBU students.
• Use the Career Center for any professional development job advice you may be looking for.

The Career Center will host several virtual career fairs and other events this year. Check the Career Center website for information. 

 

CBU welcomes students from around the world virtually

More than 90 new international students from 33 countries are being welcomed at California Baptist University for the fall 2020 semester. Approximately half are on campus while the others are beginning classes online outside of the United States because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

International Student Services held its first-ever virtual orientation for new students on Aug. 20. The entire six-hour online orientation was live, although it was recorded for future reference. About half the new students in various locations around the world attended the live event.

Orientation covered the basics of what international students will need to find success as they acclimate both to CBU and the United States, said Courtney Watson, director of International Student Services.

Staff reviewed CBU policies and immigration regulations for students and covered topics such as navigating culture shock, logging into Blackboard, finding InsideCBU and “Lancing Up.” The new students also heard from a panel of current international students.

There was a lot to coordinate logistically, but more challenging was communicating how much the speakers care for students, Watson said.

“Trying to build in a personal touch, and that CBU-family-feel via a screen can be hard, but I think we communicated the heart of CBU to our students, even from far away,” Watson said.

“We hope that our international students felt cared for and connected despite the virtual nature of the event.”

This fall, approximately 325 international students from 52 countries will be logging into classes at almost any hour of their day or night in order to be a part of the Lancer Nation.

 

New students welcomed into Lancer Nation

It was more than just the summer heat that gave the newest Lancers a warm welcome as they moved onto campus at California Baptist University on Aug. 20-21.

Residential advisors and First Year Experience (FYE) interns welcomed the new students and helped move them into their residence housing. Move in was split over two days to allow for social distancing.

Although traditional welcoming activities were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the RAs and FYE interns were eager the new students felt at home on campus for the fall semester.

Mikayla Morehead, an RA for Tower Hall, said everyone was doing their best to make the students feel welcome and excited to be on campus.

“Having to stay safe and unable to hang out with the freshmen as much as we would in a normal year will be a challenge, but we are making the most of it to welcome them all, and it is really going well,” Morehead said. “We are looking forward to a good year with a good team.”

Daniel Garcia, assistant director of new student programs, emphasized that CBU staff wants to get to know and assist students.

“Although the circumstances around us have changed, who we are and why we do what we do have not. Students remain the focus of our efforts and we plan to enhance their experience in any capacity we can,” Garcia said.

Ivy Weekley, a health science freshman, found the appeal of meeting people in person and being immersed in a Christian environment reason enough to move onto campus.

“I really wanted to meet people, and everyone has been really sweet and friendly, it’s exciting

and encouraging to be around this atmosphere,” Weekley said.

Jennifer Blessing, an exercise science freshman and a member of the CBU volleyball team, said she is most excited about the college experience and taking her volleyball training to the college level.

“I’m looking forward to the whole college experience and getting to work with my teammates,” Blessing said. “We really get to take our training to that next level.”

This year the New Student Welcome was virtual. Videos provided information on topics such as academics, campus offices, Athletics, the Inland Empire region and local churches.

Classes for the fall 2020 semester, primarily being held via live/synchronous remote instruction, begin Aug. 24.

 

CBU earns consecutive tree conservation award

For the sixth consecutive year California Baptist University has earned recognition as a 2019 Tree Campus USA.

“We celebrate your diligence in improving the environment and quality of life at California Baptist University in 2019,” Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation, wrote to CBU. “We know that 2020 has brought unprecedented challenges—but you have shown that your commitment to trees is unwavering. Now more than ever, thank you for contributing to a healthier planet for all of us.”

To obtain this distinction, CBU met five core standards set by Tree Campus USA in order to maintain an effective campus forest management. The requirements consist of having a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and student service learning projects.

Tree Campus USA, a national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation, honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation.

 

Professors release book that looks at psychology and religion

Two psychology professors at California Baptist University recently released a book that argues psychological science is not able to properly understand religious groups due to its methodology.

Dr. Timothy Sisemore, director of Psychological Services of Riverside, and Dr. Joshua Knabb, director of CBU’s Doctor of Psychology program, co-edited “The Psychology of World Religions and Spiritualities.”

The goal of the book is for psychological science to respect religions more and to adapt its methods to understand faith better, Sisemore said. The world’s major religions are featured in separate chapters, each written by a psychologist who practices or is culturally connected with that religion.

Sisemore provides a closer look at the book.

Why do this book?
Western psychology has worked so hard to be seen as scientific that it tends to take science too far and assume it can understand religious faith from its agnostic worldview. In so doing, it compromises its ability to understand people of faith—or worse, distorts or colonizes those groups with its ideas. So all religions share a concern that science, denying anything transcendent, cannot truly understand them. This book intends to critique science and give major religions an opportunity to speak for themselves so psychology can better understand them and adapt its methods so as to produce more accurate knowledge of faith. Clinicians face the same dilemma: Often trained only in science, they do not know how to appreciate the role of faith in the lives of clients.

Who is it aimed at?
First, scholars from various disciplines who study people of faith can be informed about the limits of their measures and methods, leading to a more robust psychology of religion and spirituality. Second, clinicians are aided in work with religious clients by having a better understanding of their way of seeing the world. Finally, the book serves as a helpful introduction to world religions and the limitations and prospects for studying them scientifically.

Why was it important to include world religions?
The book rallies people of a variety of faiths to the ways we share being misunderstood and devalued by secular psychology. To that end, we all share the goal of being better understood by science.

How did you choose the contributors?
Through my work in psychology of religion and spirituality, I had a number of connections who were either willing to contribute or connect me to someone who was an expert in the areas needed. We are most honored to have such a renowned and diverse group of scholars involved with this project.

Anything else you would like to add?
The material is helpful for numerous classes on world religions, sociology, psychology and scientific method, and ultimately is a tome that challenges science’s assumptions rather than simply defending Christianity—and other faiths—against it.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Robert Shields, assistant professor of computer information technology, and Dr. Dirk Davis, associate vice president of academics, both for Online and Professional Studies, presented at the 2020 Distance Teaching and Learning Annual Conference held virtually on Aug. 4. Their presentation was titled Measuring the Effectiveness of Do-It-Yourself Course Design Training.

 

 

 

Dr. Raquel Ellis, assistant professor of social work, had a book review published in the Social Work & Christianity journal (Fall 2020). She reviewed Mystery and the Adopted Child.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Candace Vickers, professor of communication sciences and disorders, was an invited author for a special edition of the Philippine Journal of Allied Health Sciences. Her article was titled Speech Pathology Services in Time of Pandemic (August 2020).

 

 

 

The department of Modern Languages and Literature hosted a summer book club, facilitated on WebEx and Flipgrid by Dr. Berniece Alspach, associate professor of English. The group, which was open to faculty, staff, students and alumni, read three books: The Nickel Boys, Little Women and Gilead.

 

 

 

Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biological sciences, recently co-authored two papers. Agave: A natural renewable resource with multiple applications was published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (April 2020). A cellulolytic Streptomyces sp. isolated from a highly oligotrophic niche shows potential for hydrolyzing agricultural wastes was published in BioEnergy Research (July 2020).

 

 

 

Dr. Joshua Knabb, associate professor of psychology, co-edited a special issue of the Journal of Psychology and Christianity (Spring 2020) on Christian meditation, prayer and contemplation in clinical practice. In the issue, he also co-authored an article, titled “Holy Desire” within the “Cloud of Unknowing”: The Psychological Contributions of Medieval Apophatic Contemplation to Christian Mental Health in the 21^st Century. Additionally, Dr. Tim Sisemore, professor of psychology, co-authored an article, Experiencing God through Head and Heart: The Puritan Practices of Meditation and Contemplation and Their Relevance to Modern Psychology, and Dr. Veola Vazquez, professor of psychology, co-authored an article, Practicing the Jesus Prayer: Implications for Psychological and Spiritual Well-Being.

 

Dr. Krystal Hays, assistant professor of social work, conducted a webinar presentation on Race and Mental Health for Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Ontario (California) on Aug. 15.

 

 

 

 

The Doctor of Social Work program welcomed 45 new students with a virtual orientation on Aug. 13.

 

 

 

 

Robyn Glessner, adjunct professor of history, served as a scoring leader for the College Board’s AP United States History Reading Conference in June. Additionally, she helped make hospital gowns with The Grove Community Church during the months of May through July.

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology, was an invited speaker and science advisor for the virtual retreat hosted by Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion on Aug. 10-13. She spoke on Psychology and Neuroscience for Church Leaders.

 

 

 

Brian Bovee, assistant professor of computer information technology, and Thomas Jernejcic, associate professor of computer information technology, both for Online and Professional Studies, facilitated a group discussion on a paper they co-authored at the 2020 Annual Conference of the Association for Information Systems held virtually on Aug. 13. The paper was titled A Method for Gamifying Online Discussions.

 

 

Lisa Singer, associate director of employer relations in the Career Center, partnered with the City of Moreno Valley Workforce Development and Employment Resource Center to teach virtual workshops bimonthly. Since March, Singer has presented to military veterans, professional and vocational candidates on topics such as strategic job hunting, LinkedIn, networking, interviewing and first impressions. Additional workshops are scheduled until December.

 

 

 

Philip Breitenbucher, assistant professor of social work, facilitated a panel discussion on a national webinar hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families on Aug. 13. The session was titled Distance/Remote Training and Learning for Comprehensive Child Welfare Information Systems Roll-Out and Implementation. It provided an overview of key strategies for effective and engaging distance learning models for training and user support.

 

 

 

Mary Ann Stahovich, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, moderated an Ultrasound Seminar on Aug. 13. Catherine Letherer, associate professor of physician assistant studies, also assisted. Open to students from CBU and University of California, Riverside, the seminar covered emergency medicine techniques in ultrasound.

 

 

Psychological Services of Riverside —the CBU Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology Program’s community clinic—is offering teletherapy services to CBU faculty and staff (and dependents) at a discounted rate of $30 per psychotherapy session. Services are provided by second-year PsyD students, who are being supervised by licensed psychologists affiliated with the CBU PsyD Program. For an appointment, please call the office at (951) 552-8137.

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU professor taking photography to new heights

Dirk Dallas, program director of graphic design and visual experience at California Baptist University, wanted to take his photography to a higher level. So he turned to drones.

“I love being challenged, whether that’s with new technology or new ideas,” said Dallas, assistant professor of graphic design. “The drone was all of that in one. I had to learn how to fly and how to capture good images from the air.”

It also merged two loves into one. Dallas loves to fly. Although he cannot fly a plane, he has his Federal Aviation Administration drone license, allowing him to operate drones commercially.

When he first turned to drones in 2014, Dallas attached a GoPro camera. Now he flies a DJI Phantom drone, a sophisticated system with a built-in camera.

“What I love about it is I can create imagery that is very unique,” Dallas said. “It’s still new and fresh and different.”

On one of his first flights, Dallas flew the drone a couple hundred feet up and tilted the camera down.

“To see myself tiny was humbling and it reminded me that in the grand scheme of things, I am but a small speck. At the same time, it was amazing because I know that even though I can feel small and insignificant, God loves me,” Dallas said.

Dallas started Instagram accounts, @fromwhereidrone—which has more than 230,000 followers—and @dirka. He also created a website with the same name and hosts an AdoramaTV web series, “From Where I Drone with Dirk Dallas.” He also created online classes for CreativeLive.

Dallas said he created the online community to let others share ideas and advice and ask questions about the new medium. They also could share photos.

“I wanted to highlight people I was meeting because I thought their work was so interesting,” Dallas said.

He recently released a book, “Eyes Over the World: The Most Spectacular Drone Photography.” It features 180 photos that were taken on all seven continents by Dallas and more than 125 photographers.

“I’m sharing other people’s work to show God’s beauty in the world,” he said.

Dallas has taught at CBU 10 years. While he does not teach his students drone photography specifically, he shares his experience with students. He also brings his experience of working with such clients as Audi, Nike, Disney, Starbucks and Ford.

“What I bring to my students related to drones is thinking differently. We want to do things that are unique, new and challenging,” Dallas said.

 

CBU professor helps fathers prepare for their role

When couples come to Riverside Life Services, Dr. Jeffrey Gage, professor of nursing at California Baptist University, is there to offer support to the men.

Gage has volunteered for four years at the pregnancy clinic, which primarily serves lower-income clients with unintended pregnancies. He began co-teaching parenting classes to couples. During that time, he also conducted research there about the fathers’ experiences of first trimester ultrasound.

“I heard men’s personal stories about planned and unplanned pregnancy, relationships with their own fathers, spiritual beliefs, apprehensions and their goals and aspirations for the future,” Gage said. “The findings enabled me to consider how we could enhance practice to promote positive fatherhood during a vulnerable time.”

About 18 months ago, Gage started Dads4Life, a father support and mentor program. Male volunteers welcome men when they visit the clinic with their partners. Dads4Life offers support such as an online parenting course, one-to-one mentoring and monthly meetings where dads and mentors get together to discuss various topics related to fatherhood.

Pregnancy often prompts men to evaluate their readiness to become a father and their commitments to relationships, Gage said. They seek experienced fathers who are willing to invest in their lives and provide support.

“Many men have grown up without fathers or positive role models,” Gage said. “Dads4Life is designed to address these needs by giving men the opportunity to develop personal relationships with mentors who desire to earn the right to speak into their lives and share Christ’s hope and love through all circumstances. We’ve already seen some life-changing effects from men’s involvement in Dads4Life.”

This past spring Gage received the alumni Humanitarian Nursing Award from the University of Missouri, Sinclair School of Nursing. It was given for “outstanding contributions to vulnerable populations” in recognition of his community work with fathers and families in Riverside.

“It was an honor to receive the award, but also it’s recognition of the commitment of our mentors and staff at Riverside Life Services who practically and prayerfully support the program to dads as a complement to the service with women and children,” Gage said.

Gage teaches research courses in the master’s and doctoral nursing programs. He uses his research as an example to explain the process of developing research partnerships, writing research questions and choosing appropriate methodologies.

“This enables students to understand the practical considerations of research in addition to the theoretical,” Gage said.

 

Professor studies supplementation and cardiovascular system

For the past several years, Dr. Jong-Kyung Kim, associate professor of kinesiology at California Baptist University, has studied how diet supplementation can benefit the cardiovascular system.

In the past 18 months, Kim conducted two studies looking at the benefits of grape seed extract (GSE) supplementation. The first project looked at physiological responses, such as resting blood pressure in obese individuals. The second looked at the effects of the supplementation on blood pressure during exercise and resting blood vessel stiffness.

“Cardiac patients cannot perform daily activity for a long period of time because they do not have enough blood flow to the muscles,” Kim said.

“Everyone knows that exercise is good medicine,” Kim added. “But individuals with obesity or hypertension, when they exercise, have an exaggerated blood pressure response. It can cause cardiac events, like a stroke or a heart attack.”

“The main goal of this project is to determine that GSE treatment improves blood flow to exercise’s skeletal muscle and then, in turn, improves exercise tolerance,” Kim said.

“One of the obesity-associated health abnormalities involves high blood pressure developing into hypertension and high arterial stiffness,” Kim said. “Our studies suggest that the GSE supplement can act as a non-pharmacological treatment to reduce blood pressure and arterial stiffness at rest and during exercise.”

Kim intends to do further research on this subject and to collaborate with a cardiologist group in Riverside to collect more data.

Two graduate students in the Department of Kinesiology assisted Kim with the studies. Katherine Dillon (’20) recruited participants, collected data and wrote the first draft of the manuscript for both studies.

“With writing up the manuscript, the knowledge I obtained from numerous other research articles I read in order to make sense of our study and what we have found through our investigation definitely helped me expand my knowledge. I feel [this] prepared me further for [pursuing] my Ph.D.,” Dillon said.

Brian Shariffi (’20) also recruited participants and collected data.

“This allows future studies to advance our knowledge in how GSE can potentially help improve lives,” Shariffi said. “Dr. Kim gave a good balance of guidance as well as independence, which helped further advance my skills not only as a researcher but as a teacher. This experience kind of was the starting point to my interest into pursuing a Ph.D.”

 

Division of Arts and Letters established at CBU

A new division has been created within the College of Arts and Sciences at California Baptist University.

The Division of Arts and Letters will consist of three departments: communication arts, history and government, and modern languages and literature. Approximately 630 students are pursuing a bachelor’s or graduate degree in those departments.

The college already has the Division of Natural and Mathematical Sciences and the Department of Aviation Science.

“The College of Arts and Sciences is so big and so diverse,” said Dr. Lisa Hernández, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “I hope by creating the Division of Arts and Letters, this is something bigger that the students can identify with and get a bigger feel for the different disciplines within the new division.”

Hernández said she hopes the new division will lead to a cohesiveness and to collaboration among the faculty and students. One of the goals is to offer an Arts and Letters Symposium, similar to the annual Natural and Mathematical Sciences Research Symposium.

Dr. James Lu, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said the goal is to expand the talents of the students in the humanities and social sciences.

“Our diverse programs all contribute to the healthy development of our students’ critical thinking ability. The faculty in this division serve as professional mentors to students,” Lu said. “We hope that by exploring the dynamic human experiences in society and at cultural and cross-cultural levels, our students will strengthen their spirituality and deepen their understanding of the real world, so as to thrive in their future professions and community services.”

 

Family Updates

CBU Recreation was featured in an article by Campus Rec magazine. The article, Fresh Programming Trends, focused on CBU’s programming and highlighted Ladies’ Night and Men’s Health Event held at the Recreation Center.

 

 

 

Dr. Scott Dunbar, associate professor of human resource management, Dr. Thomas Frederick, professor of psychology, Dr. Yvonne Thai, associate professor of sociology, and Dr. John Gill, associate professor of Christian studies, all for Online and Professional Studies, published an article in Mental Health, Religion & Culture (Vol. 23, Issue 2). It was titled Calling, Caring, and Connecting: Burnout in Christian Ministry.

 

 

Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, associate professor of public administration for Online and Professional Studies, made a panel presentation at the virtual Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management Conference on July 23-24. Her research presentation was titled Impacts of Cultural Norms on the Success of Healthcare Public Policy: An International Comparative Study.

 

 

 

Philip Breitenbucher, assistant professor of social work, presented at a national webinar for Wellscreen.health on July 16. The webinar was titled Early Detection in Child Welfare: Connecting Families to Quality Treatment Services.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Virgo Handojo, professor of psychology, presented a workshop at the North American Association of Christians in Social Work – California Conference at CBU on Feb. 22. It was titled Love, Separation, and Violence: Implication for Clinical Social Work. Additionally, he presented a live webinar sponsored by Maranatha Christian University for Indonesian Psychological Association Continuing Education on July 23. It was titled Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Stress and Anxiety during Covid-19.

 

 

Graduate students in the physician assistant studies program participated in a virtual outreach with children from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians on July 15. The CBU students led the children through games and activities that taught proper hand washing, good exercise, sleeping and eating habits.

 

 

Dr. Kendra Flores-Carter, assistant professor of social work, Dr. Viola Lindsey, associate professor of social work, and Dr. Jennifer Costello, assistant professor of social work, held a webinar for Children First and Last Belize, a nonprofit organization, on July 25. The webinar, titled Helping Our Children Cope During Covid-19, provided parents, teachers, and child development professionals with information on the trauma of COVID-19 for children.

 

Dirk Dallas, associate professor of graphic design, gave a virtual presentation at the 2020 Capturing Wow Global Summit on July 7. The presentation was on drone photography and cinematography.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Andrew Harveson, associate professor of kinesiology, Dr. Levi Garrett, assistant professor of kinesiology, Dr. Dominick Sturz, professor of public health, all for Online and Professional Studies, and Yusuf Kaire, an OPS kinesiology graduate student, published an article in the International Journal of Sports Science (July 2020). It was titled Acute Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Vertical Jump Performance.

 

 

Dr. Anthony Chute, professor of church history, and Steve Dahlgren, assistant professor of music, were affirmed as lead pastor and director of worship at Northpoint Church in Corona on July 5.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Raquel Ellis, assistant professor of social work, was recently appointed by the Council on Social Work Education to serve on its Council on Leadership Development for a three-year term. The council develops strategies that ensure an adequate number of leaders for the profession represent the ethnic and programmatic diversity of social work education.

 

 

 

Dr. Deron Walker, professor of English, published two articles. Empowering care’s effectiveness from high school math to college English was published in the Language and Language Teaching Journal. Teaching old dogs “new” grammar tricks with content-based instruction was published in the Journal of Studies in Education (Vol. 10, No. 3).

 

 

 

Dr. Thomas Frederick, professor of psychology for Online and Professional Studies, had an article published in the Journal of Psychology and Christianity (Spring 2020). It was titled Ignatian Spirituality and Psychotherapy.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Emily Hollinghurst (’08), adjunct professor of pharmacology, and her husband, Christopher (’16) welcomed a son on July 4. Ethan James Elmer Hollinghurst weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces and measured 20 inches. He joins sister Eleanor, 3.

 

 

 

 

Katelyn DeFoe, adjunct professor of adult health, and her husband, Robbie, welcomed a daughter on June 27. Gemma DeFoe weighed 8 pounds, 13.3 ounces and measured 21 inches.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Chase Porter, assistant professor of political science, and his wife, Natalie, welcomed a son on June 25.  Charles Lawrence weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 20.5 inches. He joins brother Chase Jr., 3, and sister Mary Beth, 2.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Professor’s photos featured in exhibition on protests

For Adrian White, photography is about documenting life.

“I know the power of photography. I know it’s important to let the photograph tell the story,” said White, adjunct professor of photography at California Baptist University. “I’m following in the footsteps of [photographer] Gordon Parks, who said the camera is one of the most powerful tools that anybody could ever wield.”

White, for his Master of Fine Arts thesis in photography, brought the past and the present together in a project that featured relatives holding old family photographs. He also posed family members in various landscapes in North Carolina, where he grew up.

White also has documented historical events around the world, including the recent Black Lives Matter protests that took place in and around Los Angeles.

“It’s very important for a person with a specific experience to document the experience,” White said. “Because I’m Black and this

issue is so close to my heart, when I go to the protest, I see things in a different way. I’m going to approach the shoot from a different way.”

“It’s this moment in history,” White said of the recent protests. “It’s important, and I think everybody sees its importance. I’m amazed with the unity I see on the streets. I know that I have to be out there to document it because this moment is calling me to be there.”

His photos from the protests are featured as part of a current exhibition titled “Protest in Place” at SoLA Contemporary in Los Angeles. White also is scheduled to debut a solo show focusing on family and ancestry at SoLA in late August.

White has taught CBU classes such as history of photography, commercial photography and studio photography. He said he enjoys instructing his students on professionalism, from showing up on time to putting the necessary work into a project.

White also wants his students to know that photography can provide commentary.

“What’s going on in the world right now? What are the people doing? I think art is so important and I want all my students to understand the power of art,” White said. “You can easily get an idea to another person all the way on the other side of the world.”

 

Duo earn honors at regional, national advertising competitions

A California Baptist University student and an alumnus earned acclaim for their work at the American Advertising Federation (AAF) national awards, which was livestreamed on June 26.

Andres Alegria, a graphic design senior, won a silver for his entry titled “Duracell” in the consumer campaign category. Alegria, who will graduate in August, had won gold at the AAF-Inland Empire Awards and then in AAF District 15, which covers Southern California and Southern Nevada.

James Drew (’20) won a silver for his entry titled “Muntz” in the illustration category.

Drew, who uses the name James Earhart professionally, had won silver at the AAF-Inland Empire Awards and then gold in AAF District 15.

Drew, who is working as a freelancer designer, said he was overwhelmed when he first learned he won a national AAF award, also known as ADDYs.

“I didn’t understand the magnitude of it,” Drew said. “I sat there watching Coca-Cola, Netflix and Disney [win] and I was like, ‘this is a lot bigger than I thought.’ I think that’s when it hit me the most.”

Alegria, who is working at a marketing agency in Riverside, said his project was initially a class assignment and then the professor suggested he expand it for the ADDYs.

“These professors not only care about the work you do at school, your homework and your projects, but they care for you as a student and a person,” Alegria said. “They really want you to be successful in the industry, so they prepare you. I’m really grateful for the guidance.”

Mark Roberson, dean of the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design, said it is an amazing honor to get a national ADDY award.

“This competition is against the very best student work in the country,” Roberson said. “Our students are competing against the biggest and most prestigious design schools in the nation.”

 

 

School of Business announces interim dean 

Dr. Wayne Fletcher, associate provost for academic services, has been appointed as the interim dean for the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business at California Baptist University.

“Dr. Fletcher’s professional and academic background align extremely well with the role required to continue strong leadership in the business school,” said Dr. Chuck Sands, provost and vice president for academic affairs at CBU.  “With a doctoral degree in higher education leadership from UCLA as well as an MBA from the University of Denver, along with his time serving as a chief operating officer and also working extensively in healthcare administration, you can see that Dr. Fletcher is an extremely good fit for this interim role.”

Sands said that he will be appointing a search committee to secure a full-time dean for the School of Business.

 

Architecture program featured in virtual festival

Academic work by students in the architecture program at California Baptist University was showcased for the Dezeen Virtual Design Festival on June 29.  Ten designs by CBU students were featured in the online architecture and design magazine based in London.

“Being featured is a step toward getting more visibility in the broader design community of professionals and academics,” said Keelan Kaiser, program director of architecture in the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design.

The magazine invited academic architecture programs to participate in the festival. Kaiser asked CBU faculty to choose the most creative works from their design classes this past academic year. The final 10 designs represent the work of second- through fifth-year students in the program.

The designs included specialized housing for dementia patients, an elementary school, a performing arts center and a place of worship. The theme of CBU’s submission was “design for the public good,” which is one of the program’s strong emphases, Kaiser said.

“We were trying to distinguish ourselves from other schools,” Kaiser said. “All architecture schools are socially conscious and care about the broader public. At CBU, we also include a faith-based perspective.”

The architecture program at CBU started in 2012 and received initial accreditation in the spring 2019.

For more information on the program, click here.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, professor of communication, presented a webinar for the Inland Empire Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America on June 17. It was titled Podcasting on a Shoestring Budget.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Brandi Robinson, adjunct professor of Spanish for Online and Professional Studies, successfully defended her dissertation on June 24. She earned a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Liberty University. Her dissertation was on computer-based interventions in online learning.

 

 

 

Dr. Ed Garrett, associate professor of kinesiology, was featured in Blackboard’s higher education blog. The blog was titled #InItTogether During COVID-19 and Beyond: How Institutions Are Advancing Remote Learning Through Creativity (May 12, 2020).

 

 

 

Andrew Cress, director of special projects for Academic Affairs, moderated a webinar for the California Association for Institutional Research on May 29. It was titled Sanity in Statistics: Finding a Healthy Balance in a Stressful Field.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jennifer Costello, assistant professor of social work, Dr. Krystal Hays, assistant professor of social work, and Dr. Ana Gamez, associate professor of psychology, had an article published in the Journal of Spirituality and Mental Health (2020). It was titled Using mental health first aid to promote mental health in churches.

 

 

Dr. Shawn Wilhite, assistant professor of Christian studies for Online and Professional studies, had an article published in Credo Magazine (2020). It was titled Gregory of Nyssa: The Father of Fathers.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, associate professor of public administration for Online and Professional Studies, had an article published in PA Times (June 17, 2020). It was titled Government Operations Via Web Conferencing: Serving Citizens During COVID-19 and Beyond.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Rod Foist, professor of electrical and computer engineering, presented a paper at the annual American Society for Engineering Education conference held virtually on June 23. Dr. John Butler, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Gibson Fleming, an electrical and computer engineering student, were co-authors. The paper was titled An Electronics Lab Project—Tutorial and Design of Printed Circuit Board “big_blinky.”

 

 

Dr. Cammy Purper, associate professor of education, and Dr. Mary Crist, adjunct professor of education, both for Online and Professional Studies, gave a virtual presentation at the 2020 Annual Conference of the California Association for the Education of Young Children on June 29. It was titled Talking to Children in Difficult Times.

 

 

 

Ben Sanders, professor of computing, software and data sciences, published a book, Foundations of Videogame Programming: Code Repository (June 2020).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Amanie Abdelmessih, professor of mechanical engineering, recently joined the nominating committee for the Nancy Deloye Fitzroy and Roland V. Fitzroy Medal given by American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The award recognizes pioneering contributions to the frontiers of engineering that have led to a breakthrough in existing technology, or to new applications or new areas of engineering endeavor.

 

 

 

Erin Kirk, adjunct professor of piano, published an article in the journal Musicologist: International Journal of Music Studies (June 2020). The article is titled The Development of an American Sound: From the Perspective of Twentieth Century Masters, Aaron Copland & Leonard Bernstein.

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology, was selected to serve as a science advisor for Denver Seminary as part of the Science for Seminaries Project, funded through the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion program within the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She will serve as advisor until December 2021.

 

 

 

Dr. Bonjun Koo, professor of environmental science, was invited to be an academic editor for the journal, Applied and Environmental Soil Sciences. Academic editors assess the scope and quality of manuscripts, run the peer review process and make recommendations based on feedback from peer reviewers.

 

 

 

Philip Breitenbucher, assistant professor of social work, facilitated a national webinar for the Administration for Children and Families on June 24. The title of the webinar was An Overview of the 2020 Adoptions and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) Final Rule.

 

 

 

 

Julie Dobbins, director of compassion and women’s ministries, and her husband, Jared, welcomed a son on May 29. Rowen Allen Dobbins weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 21 inches in length. He joins brothers Parker, 5, and Everett, 3.

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Shortall, director of athletics communications, and Chelsea Shortall, assistant women’s water polo coach, welcomed a daughter on May 24. Mae Marin Shortall weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 20.5 inches.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Physician assistant students resume clinical rotations

Justin Kent, a physician assistant studies graduate student at California Baptist University, has a renewed sense of calling for a career in the medical field. Kent contracted COVID-19 when he returned to his home in Las Vegas after CBU switched to remote learning to complete the spring semester.

Kent said his case was a mild one. However, his experience motivated him more to serve others. When he and the other physician assistant students returned to complete their clinical rotations on May 18 after a nine-week hiatus, he was able to share his experience with his peers and patients.

“With so much trepidation striking society, my first-hand perspective of going back into clinical rotations has helped me better relate to patients with such fears,” Kent said. “I am able to relate with them and tone down unnecessary worry. Most people don’t know a COVID-19 survivor, so meeting me is their first real encounter with a positive side of overcoming this virus.

“My passion for medicine has certainly increased during this period and frankly, I love that this is the season and time God has called me into medicine,” Kent said.

Physician assistant studies students who are in their second year of the two-year program are required to conduct nine clinical rotations. Before returning to rotations in May, students had the option of withdrawing from the program and returning at a later date. However, all 28 second-year students decided to return.

By working and learning on the job, the students will learn skills they would not have had otherwise, said Dr. Heather Ontiveros, director of clinical education for physician assistant studies.

“We shouldn’t be running for the hills in situations like this. We should be learning how to best equip our students so that they can handle it and learn from this in a safe way,” Ontiveros said.

CBU students were given personal protective equipment (PPE) packet with the necessary items depending on what clinical site they were assigned, Ontiveros said. Students were also instructed not to see known COVID-19 patients due to the health risk, she added.

Ontiveros said the clinical team worked hard to get students back in rotations.

“We did it in a safe way,” Ontiveros said. “This is what we prepared them for. Though this is a new pandemic, infectious disease is not new.”

Alexa Hasen, a physician assistant studies student, said wearing the PPE has been an adjustment.

“The COVID pandemic has definitely changed the world of medicine as we know it. This experience has taught me about resilience,” Hasen said. “In my future career, I will remember to be grateful for the little things. And as always, I will remember why I got into medicine in the first place: to provide excellent care to the people who need us most.”

Samantha Baltazar, a physician assistant studies student, said the ER looked different when she returned in May, with areas for isolating COVID-19 patients. The pandemic brought continual changes to their clinicals, she added.

“It has required an immense amount of flexibility, perseverance, and faith,” Baltazar said. “This pandemic has instilled emotional resiliency that will be important to take with me into my future career.”

 

Aviation science back in the air after being grounded by COVID

When the COVID-19 pandemic closed the campus at California Baptist University, it also grounded flights in the aviation science program.

Most flight training stopped when CBU extended its spring break in March. Exceptions were granted to students who had scheduled a flight skills test with an FAA examiner to earn their pilot’s license. All flights were eventually grounded from April 8 through May 5.

“There were leadership meetings almost daily with flight operations, safety and maintenance as we continued to adapt to emerging and changing guidelines,” said Dr. John Marselus, department chair of aviation science.

Following those guidelines and collaborating with other university flight programs on how best to reopen while mitigating risk of COVID-19, a four-phase approach was developed, Marselus said.

Only students who were licensed pilots could fly solo in phase 1, which began May 6.

Phase 2 paired students and flight instructors for flight training. On June 5, the program moved to Phase 3, which allowed simulator training and two to three students per instructor. In each phase, students and instructors were assigned to specific aircraft to mitigate cross contamination, said Aaron Varela, chief of safety in the Department of Aviation Science.

Additionally, before flying, everyone completes a wellness questionnaire asking about COVID-19 symptoms and association with others who may be sick. In the aircraft, masks are not required but encouraged as long as they do not become a distraction, Varela added. After each flight, the student cleans the interior of the aircraft.

Phase 4 would allow a return to full normal operations, which hopefully will happen at the start of the fall 2020 semester, Varela said.

“When we fly, there is no difference except that the airspace is much less congested and it is quite a bit quieter on the radios,” Marselus said. “It is vital that all normal aviation safety precautions and discipline is still fully intact so once the student is starting up the aircraft to shutdown, it is all the same.”

John Mullins, assistant chief flight instructor, agreed that even with the safety precautions, the training environment has not changed much.

“Students are still eager and ready to learn, and the instructors are giving as much effort they can to ensure their students success,” Mullins said. “There are new physical challenges such as cleaning the aircraft and making sure social distancing procedures are being followed. Yet with all of that, the spirit of the instructors and students has not diminished.”

Patrick Shaneck, an aviation science sophomore, said flight training under COVID-19 conditions has been excellent.

“The restrictions implemented on flying delayed my training a little while, however, now that I am flying again, everything is expedited and I’m progressing very quickly,” Shaneck said. “CBU has done a great job at balancing safety and flight instruction.”

 

Musical passion brings CBU student back to the classroom

Robin Davis has more life experience than the typical undergraduate student at California Baptist University. At 39 years old, Davis, a music education senior, has spent time working in retail, theatre, music venues, entertainment and audiovisual production.

Now at CBU, Davis sings in the Lancer Chorus, the all-male singing group, and is the pianist for Chamber Orchestra. He also writes and produces his own music and is working on a gospel-rap album.

Davis was an operation manager when he lost his job in a company restructuring. The father of three considers it a blessing in disguise.

“Being in the workforce for 14-15 years, I understand a job can just be a job,” Davis said. “I really want to find a vocation that inspires me on a daily basis.”

Davis said music is his passion, which led him to enroll at the Shelby and Ferne Collingsworth School of Music at CBU. Davis had previously started working on a degree at a community college.

“I want to inspire children. Music has always been a part of my life. It’s always been something I love to do. It fills me up inside,” Davis said. “Music expresses things you can’t express with words. Music brings me closer to God.”

“I get most of my inspiration to write from living life,” Davis said. “I found it easier to express myself in written word. Whenever I’m going through something, I find it easier to write.”

Davis said his three biggest musical inspirations are Prince, Michael Jackson and James Brown. He also admires Frédéric Chopin.

“I was raised on hip-hop as a young kid,” Davis said. “But I actually enjoy all kinds of music. If it’s music and it moves you and it’s emotional, I think it’s great and it’s a wonderful thing.”

Davis said that getting back into schoolwork was not difficult, but the day-to-day schedule was a bit of a challenge. It was a balancing act with his classes and performances, his wife’s work schedule and taking care of the children, Davis said.

Davis has attended several different colleges over the years, but he said CBU is unique.

“I’ve never been at a school where the instructors care as much as they do. They are very invested in their students and that’s a very comforting thing to know,” Davis said. “I’m blessed and fortunate to have the opportunity to go to this school.”

 

Keeping the CBU community connected

While the CBU community is doing its part by working remotely, we want to make sure Lancers stay connected. Here is a glimpse of how staff and faculty members do this while working from home.

Alma Salazar, director of graduate admissions

Describe where you work at home.
I have a home office that was originally set up for my three daughters when they were in school. Fortunately, with the three work spaces, there is plenty of room for my adult daughter to share the office with me. Unfortunately, simultaneous meetings get a bit loud at times so headsets are a must.

How are you staying connected with your department and students?
Our students may not have felt a major difference in service level. All of our counselors have been available since day one of the remote work date. We have been able to move to virtual office hours, initially making and receiving student calls via cell phones and then transitioning to WebEx Team for phone calls; and, we have provided over 35 virtual information sessions over the last 12 weeks resulting in higher show rates than on-campus sessions. Additionally, we have had a significant increase in applications year over year which reflects our students’ ability to move forward in our admissions process without any difficulties.

What is one thing you miss from working on campus?
I certainly miss the camaraderie between colleagues and the interactions with our students at key events. Oh, and I miss Wanda’s coffee and the wonderful employees!

Do you have children at home? How are you balancing being a parent and working at home?
I have 1 of 3 adult daughters living at home. No balancing necessary. My daughter and I are bonding more than ever in this different stage of life. It has been wonderful.

What is your snack of choice at home and why?
I am afraid I too caught the sourdough bug! We have been baking waaaay too much while at home but it is just so yummy!

During a WebEx meeting or class, has a family member or pet stolen the show? If yes, how?
My 10-month-old granddaughter stopped by to visit one day, and well, of course she came in to say hello and, game over! The oohs and aahs began. Also, we have experienced some close calls with team members.

Dr. Joshua Rodriguez, assistant professor of music theory and composition

Describe where you work at home.
During quarantine, I moved my CBU office setup to my home office in downtown Riverside.

How are you staying connected with your department and students?
I have met online with CBU leadership in my department and have stayed in touch with colleagues and students through texts, emails, Marco Polo (a video messaging app) and FaceTime.

What is one thing you miss from working on campus?
I miss the in-person community. Nothing can replace this kind of tangible fellowship (especially over a meal at the ADC or Wanda’s)!

Do you have children at home? How are you balancing being a parent and working at home?
I have it easy because I do not have to juggle children and work. I sympathize with my colleagues who have done so during this time of remote instruction. Although working from home can be a total delight (and I love interacting with my spouse throughout the day), it can also be difficult to switch gears between work and family time. If I am not disciplined, work has a way of intruding into family time.

What is your snack of choice at home and why?
Takis (spicy rolled tortilla-chips) and homemade scones are the contrasting (but equally tasty snacks) that compete for my affection between meals.

During a WebEx meeting or class, has a family member or pet stolen the show? If yes, how?
Yes, at some point our miniature Schnauzer – Penny – will hop (or at try to hop) onto my lap during a video conference. She also howls when I or my wife (Dr. Mary Vanhoozer, adjunct professor of piano) play the piano.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Kristin Mauldin, assistant professor of psychology, conducted a webinar as a part of the Dr. Stone Memorial Webinar Series on May 27. It was called The Power of Reframing and Positive Self-Talk.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Laura Veltman, professor of English, had an article published on Intervarsity’s The Well (June 2). It was titled Listening for Breath: Some Thoughts on Reading the Diverse American Experience.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Linda-Marie Sundstrom, associate professor of public administration for Online and Professional Studies, had an article published in PA Times (June 3). It was titled Reimagining a Role for Highly Skilled Volunteer in Government Agencies.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, presented two webinars as part of the Preparing the Drone Workforce webinar series, hosted by the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship. He presented UAS Programs at Community Colleges on June 3 and Current Landscape of Unmanned Aircraft Systems at Airports on June 10.

 

 

 

Dr. Ashley Parks, assistant professor of public health science, and Matthew Lazari, adjunct professor of public health science, made presentations at the Association of University Programs in Health Administration’s annual meeting virtually on June 4. The research presentation was titled It’s All Fun and Games: Leveraging Gamification to Develop Decision Making Skills in Health Services Administration Students. Their poster presentation was titled Expanding Undergraduate Curriculum to Increase Preparedness for Work in Population Health.

 

 

Philip Breitenbucher, assistant professor of social work, facilitated a national webinar on behalf of the Children’s Bureau in the Administration for Children and Families on May 28. The title of the webinar was Court and Child Welfare Data Exchanges: Better Information for Improved Outcomes.

 

 

 

 

Mike Bishop, senior director of the Career Center, was a panelist on a webinar for the Western Riverside County Council of Government’s (WRCOG) Future Forward Series on June 25. The panel featured a discussion on the talent and systems-change necessary in the region to activate an innovation economy, while growing educational attainment and resilient skillsets for talent pipelines.

 

 

 

Dr. Jeffrey Gage, professor of nursing, was recently awarded the University of Missouri, Sinclair School of Nursing Alumni, Humanitarian of the Year award. The award was received for “outstanding contributions to vulnerable populations” in recognition of community work with fathers and families in Riverside.

 

 

 

 

The College of Health Science and the Department of Kinesiology hosted the 2020 Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sport Studies International Conference on June 9. Originally scheduled as a three-day conference in Nashville, CBU volunteered to host a virtual conference. Dr. Sean Sullivan, professor of kinesiology, and Dr. Monica O’Rourke, professor of kinesiology, developed and coordinated the virtual conference. O’Rourke organized the sessions of national speakers and led the technology during the conference. Dr. Amy Miller, associate professor of kinesiology, Lisa Friesen, assistant professor of kinesiology, and Dr. Torria Davis, director of technology training, assisted in moderating conference sessions.

 

Dirk Dallas, assistant professor of graphic design, released a book, Eyes Over the World; The Most Spectacular Drone Photography (Rizzoli New York, May 2020). The book features photos by Dallas and more than 125 0ther photographers that were taken on all seven continents.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jeff Cate, professor of New Testament, presented a paper for an online seminar of text critical scholars on June 18. The seminar replaced two conferences that were cancelled due to COVID-19: Society of Biblical Literature and Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas. The paper was titled A Forsaken Variant in Mark 15:34.

 

 

 

Jannet Reyes, one stop student service advisor for Online and Professional Studies, and her husband, Alex, welcomed a daughter on June 5. Natalia Reyes weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces and measured 19.5 inches.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU webinar explores living life after COVID-19 lockdown

Psychological Services of Riverside, a California Baptist University-run community clinic, hosted a webinar titled “Thriving in an Uncertain World” on June 4. The webinar focused on helping participants move forward in a post COVID-19 reality.

The webinar, hosted online through WebEx, featured Dr. Timothy Sisemore, CBU professor of psychology, director of Psychological Services of Riverside and an expert in anxiety disorders.

Stress, anxiety and fear can affect people as they begin to go out more after the pandemic shutdown, Sisemore, professor of psychology, told the listeners.

“If we wait until we’re 100 percent certain before we get back to our lives, there is a toll to be taken there. Our quality of life suffers,” Sisemore said.

There are still a lot of unknowns and questions with COVID-19, Sisemore acknowledge.

“It’s important to remember first that we’re not going to know the answers to most of these questions, “Sisemore said. “But secondly, we need to add this to the fact that we have in the past learned to cope with uncertainties every single day.”

Other uncertainties range from the flu and other contagious diseases to the risk when driving, Sisemore said.

Although every person has to determine what risks are reasonable to take, living in fear has its own detriment, he said.

“It can also affect mental health, when we live in so much fear we can’t get back to our lives,” Sisemore said. “The way we don’t let uncertainty overcome us is by pivoting toward the things that are uncertain, that you don’t run from it, you face it.”

There are ways to deal with uncertainty, Sisemore said. They include acknowledging that you can handle feeling anxious; embracing the present; focusing on the things that you are grateful for; and finding meaning in situations.

“The more we get afraid of doing things that we probably are safe doing, the more it deprives us of living the lives we want to live, to pursue the things that matter to us,” Sisemore said. “As you move toward things, you have to take some type of risk.”

 

Nursing faculty serve on the front lines of the pandemic

Andrea Abrams, a nurse at Riverside Community Hospital, has been on the front lines assisting COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit. Abrams is also an adjunct professor of nursing at California Baptist University and during the past spring semester, she remotely shared the lessons she learned while working in these unprecedented times.

“I am able to really help students understand the importance of hand hygiene, PPE [personal protective equipment] use and infection control,” Abrams said. “It’s the donning and doffing of PPE that has become a very important skill.”

Abrams (’13, ’17) is one of several CBU College of Nursing faculty who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There is so much to learn right now, for both the novice and experienced nurse,” Abrams said. “I can say that I will do my best to ensure that students look at the patient as a whole person, not just their diagnosis or disease.”

Abrams has family members on the front line, too. Her husband is a respiratory therapist and her oldest son is an emergency medical technician.

To prepare for work, Abrams prays and mediates. Her unit has initiated a time of prayer 10 minutes prior to the start of a shift.

“Initially treating COVID-19 patients was scary, more so because of the unknown,” Abrams said. “As nurse I try to remember that it is not a virus I am fighting, it is a patient I am treating.”

Grasiela Campbell (’13, 18), adjunct professor of nursing, works at Kaiser Medical Center in Ontario, California.

With COVID-19, there is an underlying anxiety because of the unknowns about the virus, Campbell said.

“To me, I always come to work and have the same mindset—I pray to the Lord that He will send me to where He wants me to be and meet the people that He wants me to meet and show them God’s love through my work,” Campbell said.

Campbell has shared stories with her students, on how she has been able to help COVID-19 patients.

“I like to spend time with my patients, getting to know them. I talk with them and offer to pray for them,” Campbell said. “What I emphasize with my students is that these patients do not need to be treated differently because they already feel isolated and alone.”

For the spring semester, Dinah Herrick, assistant professor of nursing, was the clinical instructor for 10 students. Midway through the semester, she discovered that half of the group had cared for COVID-19 patients.

“I asked how they felt about it and they said that ‘we care for them like the other patients.’ I thought maybe they would be scared of the whole situation,” said Herrick, who is a wound expert nurse for Emanate Health located in Los Angeles County. “But I saw courage in them which made me proud.”

Herrick also shared her own experiences with COVID-19 patients to her students. Herrick said that she finds purpose in caring especially for patients who come from nursing homes and are not allowed to have visitors.

“I treat COVID19 patients the way I treat the non-COVID patients, with dignity and respect,” she said.

Herrick comes from a nursing family. Her two sisters are nurses and her two sons are CBU graduates and are nurse practitioners.

“I am very proud of our younger generation of nurses who showed courage in caring for COVID-19 patients,” Herrick said. “They just performed well. They put on their PPE and went to the patient’s room and cared for them.”

 

CBU to offer a Doctor of Social Work degree starting in fall 2020

California Baptist University is set to offer a Doctor of Social Work program beginning in the fall 2020 semester.

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences has enjoyed enormous success in its Master of Social Work program, said Dr. Krystal Hays, director of the doctoral program. However, there continues to be a gap in educational opportunities for social workers and other human services professionals who want to take their careers to the next level and serve as leaders in the field, she added.

“The goals and values of the social work profession are very much in line with the mission and vision of the university. Social workers devote their careers to advocacy and service for the most vulnerable and oppressed among us,” Hays said.

The two-year Doctor of Social Work program is designed for working professionals who possess a master’s degree in a human services field. Ideal candidates will have several years of experience in the field of human services and a desire to move into executive, leadership, teaching or scholarship roles, Hays said.

Students can continue to work full time while pursing the degree. They will complete most of the coursework remotely in synchronous classes each week. Students will come to campus twice a year for in-person residency intensives, where they will spend four days with instructors, peers and nationally recognized guest speakers.

There are only 14 other DSW programs in the country, Hays said, and CBU’s program has several distinguishing features. The program is designed to support accessibility for those already serving as professionals in the field and can be completed via a distance format in as little as two years. Further, the program’s broad focus allows students to gain skills in direct practice, leadership, research and teaching.

“Also, our DSW program is one of the only positioned within an explicitly Christian context,” Hays said. “Students in the DSW program at CBU will learn about Christ-centered justice and church-based social movements that will provide models to help them effectively and justly address current social problems.”

 

Speech-language students assist through telepractice

Graduate students from California Baptist University’s Speech-Language Pathology program continued to serve their clients via telepractice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fifteen students are serving 36 clients, ranging in age from 2 years to 95, in the summer session.

Dr. Danette Bonillo, director of clinical education, has taught students how to use technology to conduct virtual speech therapy sessions known as telepractice.

“Everything we were doing at the clinic before COVID I had the students transform it into online,” Bonillo said. “They did a fantastic job. We’re taking everything we already do to another level.”

Students finished the spring semester providing two weeks of telepractice. For the summer session students will offer telepractice for another six weeks.

“Think about these people who were already feeling isolated, especially stroke survivors, and now they’re more isolated than ever,” Bonillo said. “We really have to provide that opportunity to engage.”

Graduate students in speech-language pathology are also providing telepractice speech therapy with private clinics, schools or earning hours with web-based simulated case studies.

“In telepractice speech therapy, the goals remain the same as if it were an in-person session. The delivery is just different,” Bonillo said.

Students learned effective use of technology such as adjusting lighting so one’s face is well lit. While in a session, the students need to alternate between showing their faces and materials they are reviewing.

Bonillo said students need to use short sentences, gestures and increase voice intonation to keep clients engaged.

The students also provide music videos, online activities and coaching for families of younger clients.

“It’s a dynamic session that includes a lot of different visuals and a lot of different forms of input. The key is to be connected,” Bonillo said. “We’re finding that the clients are responding very well.”

Megan Macias, a speech-language pathology student, said she was initially nervous about telepractice. She would practice what she was learning with her family and friends. In the end, her sessions with clients went well, she said.

“I was pleased that I was able to connect with them and wrap up our semester together. Dr. Bonillo prepared us well and helped us in accessing resources and becoming familiar with all aspects of teletherapy,” Macias said. “Learning these skills and creating a growing repertoire of teletherapy materials will greatly benefit me and the clients that I will serve in the years to come.”

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program is a two-year program, with second-year students due to graduate in August.

“The CBU students will leave stronger because they’re going to have a really strong foundation of what a professional telepractice session looks like,” Bonillo said.

 

Peggy Plavajka honored as 2020 CBU Employee of the Year

Peggy Plavajka, senior lead payroll technician in the accounting department at California Baptist University, has been named 2020 CBU Employee of the Year.

Plavajka was nominated by her supervisor and named CBU employee of the month for April 2020. She subsequently was chosen as Employee of the Year by CBU’s Executive Council, which selects the Employee of the Year recipient from among staff members chosen as employee of the month during the academic year.

The 2020 Employee of the Year honor recognizes the critical role Plavajka performed as part of a team effort to achieve a mandated transition to compensate adjunct faculty on an hourly basis instead of paying them per course. The change required a complex calculation of hourly rates differentiated by course type, program type, and educational background.

In less than three weeks, Plavajka and the team completely shifted the payroll process for adjuncts, who typically number some 400 per semester at CBU.

Plavajka, hired at CBU in October 2004, has served in a series of positions in the university’s Finance and Administration Division: student accounts counselor, senior student accounts counselor, payroll technician, and lead payroll technician. She was promoted to her current position in July 2017.

 

Dr. Seung-Jae Kim is named 2020 CBU distinguished scholar

California Baptist University has named Dr. Seung-Jae Kim, professor of bioengineering, as Distinguished Scholar for 2020.

Kim’s research proposal for “Artificial Intelligence in Human Movements” earned him the distinction awarded annually by the CBU Board of Trustees.

The aim of Kim’s research proposal is to discover machine learning techniques for biomechanical research and incorporate the results of the study into class projects. The research will explore the usage of machine learning methods in human movement biomechanics and develop a method to evaluate the human gait.

In his proposal, Kim said over the years he has investigated human locomotor adaptation using psychophysical experiments. He also has worked on developing rehabilitative strategies that accelerate and enhance the process of acquiring and retaining motor learning. Recently, Kim developed course material designed to help students learn and practice fundamental machine learning algorithms using Python programming language.

Artificial intelligence utilized by machine learning has many applications in numerous fields, including healthcare, education, finance and transportation, Kim said. Research of artificial intelligence and bioengineering offers great potential to improve clinical decision-making, accelerate rehabilitation programs for neurological disorders and educate students.

“It appears that we are on the cusp of artificial intelligence technologies that can identify subtle differences in tissues, cells or proteins between a healthy person and one with certain diseases,” Kim said. “Successful leaders of the future will be those benefiting from deep knowledge and intuition in both the artificial intelligence and engineering fields. Yet we face a serious shortage of such versatile individuals. I believe that we need to nurture students with the intellectual flexibility and passion to undergo lengthy training in engineering, computer programming, machine learning, biomedical science, mathematics and statistics.”

 

Dr. Bonjun Koo earns 2020 CBU distinguished professor award

California Baptist University has named Dr. Bonjun Koo, professor of environmental science, as the Distinguished Professor for 2020.

The CBU Board of Trustees each year selects a professor who has established an impressive record of service to receive the award.

“Dr. Koo is an amazing faculty member who strives for excellence in his teaching, scholarship and service,” said Dr. Lisa Hernández, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Hernández said Koo inspires the same level of rigor and excellence in his students as he would expect from himself. Koo also maintains an active research program for his students and himself, she added.

Koo serves on several university committees, including those dealing with CBU’s green initiatives. He is a faculty advisor for the Korean Associated Student Club and Environmental Science Club. Additionally, Koo works closely with both CBU’s Global Initiatives and University Advancement teams to recruit students and donors alike.

Koo also has spearheaded program review efforts for environmental science and organizes and leads an eco-tour to a different country each year. He serves as a member of 10 professional organizations and reviews manuscripts for professional journals. Additionally, he is a board member of the Inland Korean American Association and serves as an ordained deacon, Bible teacher, cell group leader and treasurer for the Riverside Korean Baptist Church.

“Dr. Bonjun Koo is a great champion for the programs within the biological sciences and the university as a whole. He serves as an ambassador for CBU on campus, within the community, and abroad,” Hernández said.

“His dedication and passion for teaching his content and developing research is inspiring to both his students and his colleagues. Dr. Koo is an exemplary faculty member and an excellent choice for Distinguished Professor of the Year,” Hernández said.

 

Keeping the CBU community connected

While the CBU community is doing its part by working remotely, we want to make sure Lancers stay connected. Here is a glimpse of how staff and faculty members do this while working from home.

Stefani Plummer, director of Recreation Center

Describe where you work at home.
I have “planted a flag” at the dining room table. It makes dinner time a little dynamic as my piles of paperwork get stacked and unstacked!

How are you staying connected with your department and students?
I miss our whole team! For our full-time staff, we could probably just do a conference call, but we opted to do almost all our meetings and calls via Google Duo so we can connect visually. We have done a couple WebEx hangouts for our student workers as a large group, and have texted and called them as well, just to connect on a more personal level. We participate in the our own recreation programming online, and have created online workouts, live classes, fun challenges, competitions and resources for current and incoming students, but we are also using all of this programming to stay connected and stay well.

What is one thing you miss from working on campus?
Besides the obvious—students—and being in the amazing facility, I am pretty simple. I realized pretty quickly that I am not set up at home with basic supplies for a long period of time. So the thing I missed most was a printer (and maybe a stapler). I may or may not have documents glued together with my son’s glue stick!

Do you have children at home? How are you balancing being a parent and working at home?
I have one ACTIVE 6-year-old son, Jacob. Being at home has been great for our family. We have instituted “family walks” almost every night and it is something we will work to sustain. I so appreciate the school my son attends and the assistance they provided with homeschooling for the end of the semester; those nine weeks wore me out! I would call myself a pretty routine person but this season has taught me a new level of flexibility in my “normal” schedule in managing both work and home.

What is your snack of choice at home and why?
Popcorn made on the stove with avocado oil. It’s my husband and my treat in the evening as we finally sit down and decompress from the day.

During a WebEx meeting or class, has a family member or pet stolen the show? If yes, how?
There were a lot of Lego creations that were showcased during online meetings. And I usually have my son sitting with me during roundtables. As difficult as it can be at times, it has been fun showing him what I do and what some of my job responsibilities are.

Dr. Marshare Penny, professor of public health

Describe where you work at home. 
I work in my home office most of the time; although sometimes I get kicked out and have to work at the dining table or in the family room. Our home office space is being shared by my two boys (8 and 10 year olds) my husband, and I. It can get a bit crowded at times.

How are you staying connected with your department and students? 
Before the spring term ended, we had department and program meetings using WebEx and WebEx teams. With my students, we are in the middle of summer courses, so I hold virtual sessions with them live each week. Additionally, I provide them with recorded lectures, offering built-in quiz questions for interaction and checking for understanding. I also use the RemindApp to text out quick messages to students.

What is one thing you miss from working on campus?
There are too many things to mention. As much as I appreciate quiet time to get things done, I rely on some background noise and conversation to get through my day. I miss seeing the smiling faces of our students and I missing seeing my colleagues/team every day.

Do you have children at home? How are you balancing being a parent and working at home?
Yes, two boys. It’s tough. There are early mornings and late nights and stuff in between. From my class sessions and meetings, to facilitating my sons’ homework, Google Meets class sessions, virtual band lessons and virtual soccer practices. I feel like a live version of “The Flash” (insert lightning bolt)! I think I have accepted a new job/position as my kids’ office assistant and chef.

What is your snack of choice at home and why?
Now that we are in the “summer” months, I love to snack on sliced strawberries. Every once in a while, I sneak in some chocolate covered pretzels too.  I love these two tastes combined.

During a WebEx meeting or class, has a family member or pet stolen the show? If yes, how?
Most definitely. My husband has walked in during a program meeting asking if I wanted lunch, while carrying in a plate full of food. The meeting participants thought it was nice. On another occasion, while I was teaching my class, my 95-pound dog decided to beg me to let her outside by putting her head on my desk in front of the camera while whimpering.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Joshua Knabb, associate professor of psychology, and Dr. Timothy Sisemore, professor of psychology, were interviewed by the Psychology Today website about a book they edited, The Psychology of World Religions and Spiritualities.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Torria Davis, director of technology training, has been appointed as an inaugural member of Blackboard’s EdTech Advisory Board. The client governance board is designed to empower influential members of the Blackboard user group to lead and influence Blackboard community initiatives in the EdTech space.

 

 

 

Dr. Ed Garrett, associate professor for kinesiology for Online and Professional Studies, spoke to the Bio Med Medical Academy sponsored by Pacific High School on May 28. His topic was Building a sport psychology community: cultivating cognitive application within the health profession.

 

 

 

Rick Croy, head men’s basketball coach, visited a Riverside Medical Clinic location and served lunch to employees on May 27. The food was donated by Chick-fil-A (Central Avenue and Riverside Plaza).

 

 

 

Dr. Amanie Abdelmessih, professor of aerospace, industrial and mechanical engineering, has been elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Abdelmessih is one of only 3,425 Fellows out of 83,034 ASME members. The Fellow status recognizes the contributions and achievements of its members and their commitment to ASME’s vision.

 

 

 

Dr. Jong-Kyung Kim, associate professor of kinesiology, has co-published three papers. They were: Effects of Combined Histamine H1 and H2 Receptor Blockade on Hemodynamic Responses to Dynamic Exercise in Males With High-Normal Blood Pressure in Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism (January 2020); Physiological and Biomechanical Differences Between Seated and Standing Uphill Cycling in International Journal of Exercise Science (April 2020); and Effects of Acute Grape Seed Extract Supplementation on Hemodynamics in Normal Body Weight and Obese Males in Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology (April 2020).

 

 

Kirk Bernal, associate director of Residence Life, and his wife, Joy, welcomed a daughter on May 1. Evelyn Josefina Bernal weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 21 inches.

 

 

 

 

 

Meghan Balling, daughter of Christine Balling, student accounts advisor, graduated from Yucaipa High School on May 21 with the highest honors and will be starting at CBU this fall.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU professor finds inspiration in learning to play a hurdy gurdy

When Dr. Mary Vanhoozer was in high school, she saw someone at a concert playing an unusual instrument that drew her curiosity.

“I heard the sound and I was like, ‘that’s what I want to do!’ I became obsessed,” said Vanhoozer, an adjunct professor of piano at California Baptist University.

The instrument was a hurdy gurdy, a stringed instrument that creates a tune by turning a wheel with one hand and operating a keyboard with the other to change pitch. It sounds like a bagpipe.

The hurdy gurdy is a traditional instrument in her mother’s native France. Vanhoozer herself grew up in Scotland, where bagpipes are popular, and she enjoys the sound that the hurdy gurdy evokes.

“I love the folk repertoire for the hurdy gurdy that is from many different European countries,” she explained.

Fond of world music such as European folk, Vanhoozer also writes music. She has released three albums; two are folk-inspired, original music and the third classical piano.

Vanhoozer was a teenager when she added the hurdy gurdy to her Christmas list, but it did not land under the tree until a couple years ago when her husband surprised her with it. After she received the hurdy gurdy, Vanhoozer found a musician in Redlands to teach her how to play.

“He was so excited that anyone under 60 was interested in it,” Vanhoozer said. “He knows all this stuff and wants to pass it on to the next generation of players.”

Together they have played once a month at a Riverside farmers market. She has also joined a group of hurdy gurdy players in the greater Los Angeles area.

“For me, it’s been the perfect combination of piano and violin,” said Vanhoozer, who plays those two instruments.

Vanhoozer has taught musicianship, recital and piano among other courses at CBU. She encouraged her students to take advantage of this time.

“For the music students out there, what an opportunity it is to explore creative ways to share your gift in this season,” Vanhoozer said. “There are so many musicians who have stepped up to the plate and shared in creative ways that’s inspired me and that’s been a real gift.”

When the coronavirus pandemic closed things down earlier this year, Vanhoozer decided to produce online performances. It reminded her of the musicians playing on the Titanic as it was sinking.

“There’s something about that. We need people to continue a routine and to help create a semblance of things being OK. And as Christians, we know things are OK at the end of the day,” Vanhoozer said. “I wanted to meet people in their grief and in their suffering and be there as a presence (to) minister light and hope and joy because I believe in those things.”

 

Director of Athletics steps down at CBU

Dr. Micah Parker, after 11 years at the helm, has stepped down as the director of Athletics at California Baptist University. Parker accepted a similar position at Northwestern College.

“Dr. Parker has been a perfect fit at CBU as a man of faith and incredible integrity,” said Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, President of CBU. “I want to thank him for all of the hard work he has put into leading our athletics department through two transitions, from NAIA to NCAA Division II and now Division I. We wish him nothing but the best in his next chapter.”

Parker arrived at CBU in 2009 and led the Lancers from NAIA to NCAA Division II and NCAA Division I. In CBU’s final year at DII, the Lancers won the Learfield Directors’ Cup, which is awarded annually to the nation’s best overall collegiate athletics program.

The Lancers are in the midst of a four-year transition to D-I primarily as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).

Read the full story here.

 

CBU Athletics sets new records in academics

California Baptist University Athletics announced they set new department records for grade-point averages for a semester and academic year twice in a row.

CBU updated its department record for a semester GPA with a 3.475 in the spring of 2020 to top the record of 3.415 in the fall of 2019. It gives the Lancers a new record 3.445 GPA for the 2019-20 academic year, which is up from their previous best of 3.355 in 2018-19.

The Lancers have now updated their record for a department GPA six times in the last seven seasons. All 18 CBU teams logged a GPA of at least 3.22 and 11 recorded GPAs above a 3.4.

“I am extremely proud the student-athletes at CBU that achieved this new academic level of a combined grade point average of above 3.4,” said Rachel Keys, assistant athletic director of academic and student support and the senior woman administrator. “I congratulate each on their academic success and also want to extend my appreciation to the coaches, academic counselors and faculty for their support and guidance of our student-athletes.”

Women’s golf posted the top GPA in the department with a 3.95, while women’s cross country/track followed with a 3.72 and volleyball rounded out the top three with a 3.56.

The men’s teams were led by water polo and swimming, with a 3.43 and 3.42, respectively. Soccer was top-three on the men’s side with a 3.36.

It came in the middle of a challenging seasons, as the university completed its second seasons in NCAA Division I and switched to remote learning in the middle of the spring semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

Lancer Nation supports Endurance Fund during COVID-19 crisis

In response to the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, University Advancement is encouraging Lancers to embrace the Endurance Fund challenge that includes a request to Pray, Promote, and Provide for CBU.

The campaign has a three-fold approach: seeking God through prayer, calling for Lancers to unify in their solidarity of the university, and for those who can, provide financial support.

CBU Endurance Fund Challenge:

PRAY for CBU students, faculty, staff, leadership, and the entire Lancer Family.

PROMOTE CBU through recommendations of prospective students and through the promotion of the CBU Endurance Fund.

PROVIDE for CBU by making a sacrificial gift to the newly established CBU Endurance Fund.

Paul J. Eldridge, vice president for University Advancement, is overseeing the CBU Endurance Fund. Eldridge said everyone is adjusting to the new normal this pandemic has created.

“My heart goes out to the families that have been affected by this situation,” Eldridge said. “I am especially burdened for our CBU students who needed to make significant changes on short notice.” This pandemic is a trial for many individuals and our society at large, Eldridge acknowledged, but, “the CBU community has an opportunity to unify under this campaign and come out resilient on the other side,” he said.

The endurance fund was launched the first week of April and has seen some incredible generosity and success.

“We have had such a wonderful and encouraging response to our CBU Endurance Fund campaign. Alumni, friends, parents, and grandparents are praying for CBU, promoting CBU, and providing for CBU by having already given over $430,000 to the Endurance Fund. What a great blessing to all of us here at CBU,” Eldridge said. “I love Lancer Nation, and I’m already seeing Lancers facing this challenge head-on. This campaign provides an opportunity for our alumni, parents and friends to help CBU continue to fulfill its mission as a University Committed to the Great Commission.”

 

Keeping the CBU community connected

While the CBU community is doing its part by working remotely, we want to make sure Lancers stay connected. Here is a glimpse of how staff and faculty members do this while working from home.

Heather Hubbert, associate dean of students

Describe where you work at home.
Currently, I am working from my dining room table. It’s big, and I can spread out while keeping track of my kids as they do their schoolwork.

How are you staying connected with your department and students?
My team has been meeting virtually every week, and I have been checking in on them daily. We also have an ongoing group chat that has really helped us stay connected. I have tried to take advantage of the many forms of communication (WebEx, phone, email, etc.) that we have available to us.

What is one thing you miss from working on campus?
I miss people and El Monte Grill! I absolutely love my staff and the wonderful people that I get to interact with daily when on campus. While I am so thankful for technology through this, I will be so excited to meet with people in person—hopefully while enjoying El Monte!

Do you have children at home? How are you balancing being a parent and working at home?
I have 9-year-old twins, Evan and Emma, at home with me who are working on completing third grade. As I have adjusted to balancing parenting with working from home, I have definitely had to shift my expectations for all of us. Thankfully, my kids have been flexible, and I have been able to structure our days around my meeting schedule. We have all learned new ways to show grace for each other through this experience.

What is your snack of choice at home?
Almonds and lots of coffee.

During a WebEx meeting or class, has a family member or pet stolen the show?
My kids are always curious to see who I am talking to, but thankfully, they would rather play while I am in meetings.

Dr. Jong-Wha Bai, professor of civil engineering and construction management

Describe where you work at home.
I work in the home office downstairs of my house. On the desk, there is a laptop computer with a microphone, a WACOM pen tablet for my lectures, and several stuffed animals that I need for eye contact when I record virtual lessons.

How are you staying connected with your department and students?
Our department has weekly department meetings via WebEx. During our meetings, we share not only challenges and technical difficulties to make sure that our classes are going smooth, but also personal experience and ideas to improve our teaching. We also have active communication with students and industry people via Blackboard pages, emails and WebEx sessions. Personally, I requested selfies of my students for maintaining weekly engagements and it worked well.

What is one thing you miss from working on campus?
I miss interaction with students during my lectures. I enjoy asking questions and building up discussions based on students’ answers. I also miss eye contact with them and that’s why I borrowed several stuffed animals from my kids and put them on my desk.

Do you have children at home? How are you balancing being a parent and working at home?
I have two boys (fourth- and sixth-graders). During the weekdays, they’re also busy with watching video lectures and doing their assignments. It has been great to have all family members spending time together, but sometimes it’s hard because there is no separation between work and family (school and others for kids, as well). So, we try to maintain daily routine almost every day: having breakfast together, reading Bible and praying, having individual morning session (for me, I have meetings and recording of my lectures), lunch time and afternoon sessions, and dinner time. Before and after afternoon sessions, we try to either walk around our neighbors or ride bicycles together.

What is your snack of choice at home?
My (and all of my family’s) favorite snack is the Kirkland’s chocolate covered almonds from Costco because they are delicious!

During a WebEx meeting or class, has a family member or pet stolen the show?
One day, my little one had his violin practice during my recording, and it became a wonderful background music for my lecture!

 

Family Updates

Dr. Ed Garrett, associate professor of kinesiology, spoke at the Inland Health Professions Coalition’s quarterly meeting May 19. His virtual presentation was titled Building Community Through Online Engagement: Connecting Health and Wellness From a Distance.

 

 

 

Dr. Ashley Parks, assistant professor of public health science, and Matthew Lazari, adjunct professor of public health science, presented research at the Society for Public Health Education’s annual conference virtually on March 27. It was titled Self-Reported Mentorship Needs and Preferences of Health Education and Promotion Students.

 

 

 

Robert Ball, adjunct professor of organizational leadership for Online and Professional Studies, published a book in December 2019. It was titled A Follower of Christ, Five Identifying Characteristics (WestBow Press).

 

 

 

Dr. Kendra Flores-Carter, assistant professor of social work, and Dr. Carla Thornton, assistant professor of social work, are teaching two courses virtually for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture in Belize. More than 3,000 teachers are taking the five-week courses, Thriving in Uncertain Times and Digital Learning.

 

 

 

Philip Breitenbucher, assistant professor of social work, presented to adoptive and pre-adoptive parents for Bethany Christian Services on May 3. The title of the presentation was Addressing the needs of children with prenatal substance exposure.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Joshua Rodriguez, assistant professor of music theory and composition, wrote an article for The Gospel Coalition Arts & Culture blog. It was titled 7 Living Christian Composers You Should Know.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mario Oyanader, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, received a GANAS Mini-Grant for $12,000 from the Hispanic-Serving Institutions STEM Hub for his proposal project, The “3 Pasos” (3 Steps) Program. The program is aimed at guiding and retaining Hispanic high school students in STEM through college.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dirk Davis, associate vice president of academics, and Dr. Kathryn Norwood, professor of education, both for Online and Professional Studies, participated as panelists in a virtual webinar hosted by Watermark on May 13. For every registrant who submitted a question during the webinar, Watermark made a donation to Together We Rise, a nonprofit helping foster youth during the COVID crisis. The panel was titled Tips from Online Learning Experts on Transitioning to Remote Learning.

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology, presented research as a science advisor for a curriculum meeting of American Association for the Advancement of Science’s program, Science for Seminaries, on April 29-May 1. She presented on Psychology and Neuroscience for Seminaries.

 

 

 

The NSSLHA (National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association) CBU Chapter, the student club of Communication Sciences and Disorders major,  earned Silver Chapter Honors by the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association. This is the first time the chapter earned the honor. To receive it, the chapter needs to meet requirements throughout the year including community outreach, participating for legislative advocacy, and fundraising for the NSSLHA Scholarship.

 

 

Dr. Natalie C. Winter, professor of marketing and management, made a virtual presentation for Navigating Motherhood, a ministry of Compass Bible Church in Aliso Viejo, California, on April 28. It was titled Time Management.

 

 

 

 

Samuel Limon (’20) married Gabriella Lewis (’18) on May 2 at the Lewis family home in Glendora, California. Limon is the son of Mario Limon, lead maintenance technician III.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beth-Jayne Carranza, graduate administrative assistant for the College of Nursing, and her husband, Joe, welcomed a son on April 10. John Alfred Carranza weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 20 inches.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

UCO’s “Sing the Story” creates virtual choir experience

Despite being quarantined, members of the University Choir and Orchestra (UCO) at California Baptist University remotely produced a virtual choir video experience for its latest release, “Sing the Story (Hallelujah Amen).” The video, released shortly before Easter, quickly became a source of encouragement throughout the CBU community and beyond.

With CBU switching to remote instruction for the remainder of the spring semester due to the coronavirus pandemic, most of the students participated in the project from home. CBU students were commissioned to produce individual recordings in 24 hours. In all, 58 students participated in the project.

Travis Maclay, assistant professor and director of operations at Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music, edited and completed the final product. In editing, he took all the individual video and audio recordings and synchronized them. He also designed an on-screen layout that would incorporate all the students in addition to John Bolin, who led the worship song. The video was released on YouTube on April 11.

“We were excited to have the unexpected opportunity to continue our collaboration with LifeWay Worship,” said Steven Dahlgren, the UCO conductor. “There’s a strong message in this song that the world needs to hear, especially during this pandemic.”

“Sing the Story (Hallelujah Amen)” was co-written by Hector Gabriel, assistant professor of music, and John Bolin, a member of the School of Music’s worship arts steering board. The song was arranged by Bolin and orchestrated by Bradley Knight.

Gabriel said he started to write the song four years ago; then Bolin, a year ago, helped him finish the song. The song had been recorded by the UCO in October 2019, for release in May 2020. However, because of its Easter theme and the emerging trend of virtual choirs, the team thought it would be a good opportunity to release the song this way, Gabriel said.

“The epic thought was that there is a host of angels and saints gathered around the throne of God, worshipping. We wanted to paint that picture and give the church an opportunity to be a part of it,” Gabriel said.

Allie Holliday, a public relations freshman and a soprano for UCO, said she viewed the project as a ministry opportunity.

“Many people have commented on how impactful it was for them while stuck in quarantine,” Holliday said. “The final project was awesome. I loved seeing so many of my choir friends and feeling like we had done something together again even though we are spread across the U.S.”

Delaney Young, a music education junior and one of UCO altos, admitted it was a bit awkward singing her part alone.

“I think it was a great opportunity for UCO to continue to be able to create music together while being separated from each other,” Young said. “I thought that the final project was great. It was fun to be able to see everyone come together to create this project.”

“Sing the Story (Hallelujah Amen)”
Words and Music by John Bolin and Hector Gabriel
Arranged by John Bolin
Orchestrated by Bradley Knight

We sing the story
Of one so holy
Who spun the stars into the night
He raised the mountains
And carved the valleys
He reigns in righteousness and light

We sing the story
Of one so lowly
A humble King in manger lay
He lived among us
And healed the broken
The Prince of peace who came to save

Chorus

Hallelujah, all heaven sing
Hallelujah, to Christ our King
Hallelujah, again and again
Hallelujah, amen

We sing the story
Of blood and mercy
The sacrifice for sinners slain
But on that morning
Just as he promised
The Lamb of God rose from the grave
The Lamb of God rose from the grave

We sing the story
Of when in glory
We’ll see our Savior face to face
We’ll bow before Him
And sing forever
The endless song of love and grace

To purchase, go to https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/sing-the-story-hallelujah-anthem-P005824660

 

Professor’s start-up company awarded research grant

Dr. Matthew Rickard, a professor at California Baptist University, believes he is on the verge of developing breakthrough technology in the area of blindness prevention.

Rickard, CEO for a start-up company, Globe Biomedical, recently received a boost to his research for a wearable eye health monitoring system. The company was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research Phase II grant for approximately $715,000. The funding includes a $40,000 subaward for CBU engineering students to help conduct testing of the technology.

The grant will allow Globe Biomedical to continue its research and development work that infuses eyeglass technology with built in monitors that track and report remotely on a person’s eye pressure readings. Rickard said his technology is designed to track a patient’s risk of glaucoma—the most common cause of irreversible blindness—that is associated with increase in pressure within the eye.

“We at Globe are very excited to have the opportunity to continue serving the medical community through the development our eye health monitoring system,” said Rickard, professor of bioengineering.

The wearable system is based on patent-pending technology developed at CBU in the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering.

While the actual product is two to three years away, Rickard said the goal is to have a version of the glasses ready for trial runs by the end of the year.

This is the second NSF grant awarded to Globe. Nearly a year ago the company received funding for $224,000.

Rickard said receiving the additional grant is exciting, especially for his start-up company located in Riverside.

“It’s critical for early stage technology development to have early-on investment,” Rickard said. “This NSF program is a perfect balance of government-funded research but directed toward commercialization. It creates jobs and spends it locally.”

 

CBU accommodates students during pandemic closure

While the campus at California Baptist University remains closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, some students are still living on campus due to their unique circumstances.

Kirk Bernal, associate director of Residence Life, said CBU accommodated some students’ requests to stay on campus. For instance, some international students wished to remain on campus since returning home might put them more at risk of contracting COVID-19. Other students whose parents who are missionaries or work overseas find themselves in similar circumstances as their international peers.

Luc Stringer, a journalism and new media sophomore, is one of the students still living on campus. His parents are missionaries with the International Mission Board.

“I keep expecting to walk outside and see the throngs of students rushing to class,” Stringer said. “Seeing people walk around in masks all the time is such a new experience.”

Stringer said he passes his leisure time through photography and connecting with his friends and family remotely.

“I have never spent so much time on my phone talking to people. I think I might even talk to people more now that everyone is trying to keep a semblance of community electronically,” Stringer said.

To better serve the students remaining on campus, most were moved to The Point or Lancer Arms, Bernal said.

Relocating the students has made the campus feel less empty, said Adeline Charley, a graphic design senior. Most of her time is spent doing schoolwork by remote instruction. In her free time, she watches TV or plays video games.

“I stay connected through phone calls and messaging or FaceTime,” Charley said.

Bethany Brodwolf, a graphic design sophomore, also is living on campus during the closure.

“Seeing campus almost empty is so strange. It’s so quiet and there are no skateboarders zooming by,” Brodwolf said.

Brodwolf said she is filling her days with prayer, art, Disney movies, exercise and Zoom meetings.

“I’ve been so grateful for technology, because that is how I’ve been keeping in touch with family and friends,” Brodwolf said.

Daron Hubbert, director of Residence Life and Housing Services, said his team is encouraging all students—those still on campus and off—to stay engaged and connected through social media with the communities that were formed in the living areas before the pandemic.

“We have been trying to just remain in contact with students. A personal phone call or email goes a long way,” Hubbert said.

 

Keeping CBU community connected

While the CBU community is doing its part by working remotely, we want to make sure Lancers stay connected. Here is a glimpse of how staff and faculty members do this while working from home.

Sandy Frazer, NCAA Financial Aid Coordinator in Financial Aid

Describe where you work at home.
I work in my living room on our dining room table. I have the pool to the back of me and beautiful trees to the front of me. It’s a very bright and happy room. Beside me on the floor sits a little dog bed for Abby, my miniature dachshund.

How are you staying connected with your department and students?
Our office remains in constant communication through our Webex teams. We are keeping up with awarding, adjusting and helping our families with all of their questions. We have live Webex meetings a couple times a week so we can see each other and how we are all making it through this time. It is good for encouragement and any prayer requests that are needed.

What is one thing you miss from working on campus?
I miss being able to go to the Rec Center at lunch for Group X classes, and I miss our Friday morning donuts in the office.

Do you have children at home? How do you balance being a parent and working at home?
I have twins who are attending medical schools who get to be home now and tackling their classes online. It’s good to have them home. On our down time we play games, do puzzles, swim, cook and watch movies together.

What is your snack of choice at home?
Usually cashews and paleo chocolate chip cookies we have been baking.

During a WebEx meeting or class, has a family member or pet stolen the show?
During some of our WebEx meetings, my husband will stand behind the monitor and try to make me laugh. And it seems my twins always need something while I am live on meetings. Age seems to never change that.

Dr. Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology 

Describe where you work at home.
I can be found in our home office, using multiple screens. I find that I also work from my phone in the kitchen, the hallway, the couch, etc.

How are you staying connected with your department and students?
Our department has a weekly devotion and daily coffee WebEx meeting. I, unfortunately, can’t attend these because of the time. To stay connected with students, I use email and Blackboard, primarily and have met with a few via WebEx. I have tried to over communicate without overwhelming. Overall, I’m really proud of my students’ resilience in this moment.

What is one thing you miss from working on campus?
On the small side, I miss my office. I have a set-up that plays to my style of work. On the other side of the spectrum, I miss the separation of work and home. Even more than that, I miss the relationships. I miss conversations in passing, seeing students’ eyes light up when they have that “a ha” moment in a class. I miss the opportunities to offer encouragement to my colleagues and students face-to-face.

Do you have children at home? How do you balance being a parent and working at home?
With three (ages 7, 4½, and 11 months), balance is hard under optimal circumstances. In moments like these it isn’t possible. At least not balance as in “equally balanced” time-wise. My husband isn’t working from home, so on a good day I have an hour when the kids’ naps or schoolwork all magically align, when I can work. I do most of my work on the evenings, weekends, or the few days that my husband has taken as vacation. In these past few weeks I have been living in the constant reality of Matthew 6:25-34 and Lamentations 3:22-24. When things don’t go as planned or I have been particularly consumed by anxiety or frustration, God’s mercies are new tomorrow. For that, I am so, so grateful.

What is your snack of choice at home?
Two answers: The snacks I eat in front of my kids—pita chips and hummus—and the snacks I smuggle when they aren’t looking. The latter are far more exciting. I’ve taken to making chocolates, recently, so I smuggle chocolate Bordeaux and strawberry buttercreams. Or homemade cookies I put in the freezer that my kids thought just disappeared.

During a WebEx meeting or class, has a family member or pet stolen the show?
Not really. The closest I have come was a child who didn’t even get in view (because she knew she should have been napping!). Also, the cats aren’t allowed in the office—they destroy our electronic cords.

 

Family Updates

The Architecture Gallery featured its first professional exhibit this spring. The exhibit had work by professional artist/architect David Baird, a professor of architecture and former program director at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Architecture. The exhibit, which opened Feb. 18 in the Gallery, located in the architecture building at 3739 Adams Ave., can be seen in this walk through.

 

 

Dr. Stephen Christie, associate professor of accounting and finance, had a book review published in Strategic Finance (April). The article, titled Transformation Tips, reviewed Leading Transformation by Nathan Furr, Kyle Nel and Thomas Zoëga Ramsøy.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Krystal Hays, assistant professor of social work, published an article in the Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling (March 2020). It was titled Lived Experience, Transparency, Help, and Humility: Four Characteristics of Clergy Responding to Mental and Emotional Problems.

 

 

 

 

The CBU chapter of Sigma Tau Delta (English National Honor Society), Alpha Tau Sigma, inducted eight new members in a virtual ceremony on April 16. The current officers organized and facilitated the ceremony. English faculty and family members joined too. The inductees were: Joanna Ingold, Jacob Haffner, Dakodah Boehnke, Elisheva Keener, Ashley Moore, Giselle Espinosa, Lauren Oliver and Jennifer Hatcher.

 

 

 

 

Russell Meek, adjunct professor of Christian studies for Online and Professional Studies, won the Evangelical Press Association’s first prize in biblical exposition for his article Break the Teeth in Their Mouths, O God in Fathom Magazine (Sept. 23, 2019).

 

 

 

The English department hosted an online BFA Senior Capstone Reading and Dazed Starling Journal release and open mic on April 28. The winners of the creative writing contest were also announced: Fiction Winner—The Untamed by Megan McGaughey; Fiction Honorable Mention—Promises by Mariah Mooring; Nonfiction Winner—Sing the the Sky by Hayley Angle; and Poetry Winner—Transcendental by Megan McGaughey.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Sandra Romo, associate professor of communication, and Dr. Shannon Leinen, adjunct professor of communication, both for Online and Professional Studies, presented their research at the virtual annual meeting for the National Social Science Association on April 6. Their research was titled The Silent Killer: A Media Analysis of Anti-Vaping Initiatives in Media.

 

 

 

Dr. Jennifer Costello, assistant professor of social work, successfully defended her dissertation on April 20. She earned a Doctorate of Behavioral Health from Arizona State University. Her dissertation was on Screening and Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Primary Care: Impact on Health Outcomes.

 

 

 

Michael Osadchuk, director of the University Tutoring Center, was a guest on a Student Success Heroes podcast by Engineerica Systems on May 1. He talked about the Tutoring Center’s pivot to virtual tutoring during the pandemic.

 

 

 

 

Capt. Rebekah Howe, daughter of Dr. John Marselus, professor of aviation science, is a nurse in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, stationed at Luke Air Force Base (Arizona). Last month, Howe was deployed to New York City to help in the fight against Covid-19. She is working at the Javits Convention Center that was transformed into a hospital.

 

 

 

 

Dylan VanBuskirk married Casey Moyer on March 7 at The Farm in Norco. He is the son of Patty VanBuskirk, department secretary in communication arts.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Admissions does a ‘virtual pivot’ to help prospective students  

Springtime is typically a busy time of the year for the Admissions office at California Baptist University, as it hosts prospective and new students. The office conducts multiple campus tours and events such as Lancer Day and New Student Orientation. But when the CBU campus closed in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the admissions team adapted swiftly to showcase the university in new ways.  

“We have worked extremely hard to perform a ‘virtual pivot,’” said Taylor Neece, dean of Admissions. “Our team takes great pride in the customer service we offer to prospective students and parents, and our goal has been to not just maintain but even double down on the accessibility and service of our team in this time of uncertainty.”  

The staff has employed new communication tools such as video conferencing and live chat on the CBU website to add to the variety of customer service channels the department uses, Neece said. Prospective students also can schedule a phone or video call with a faculty member from their intended area of study.  

Additionally, virtual admissions presentations are offered live or a recording can be requested. Lancer day was switched to Lancer Day Live, in which various academic areas provide video sessions that highlight their respective college or school. Lancer Day Live also held sessions about social and spiritual life on campus in addition to highlighting support offices such as the Career Center. And financial aid counselors now are available for appointments through a variety of communication channels.  

Neece said the Admissions team is available to help prospective students and their families through any part of the application process.  

“I even had a dad e-mail me last week and say, ‘If this is the kind of attention [my daughter] will get during her time at CBU, I know she will succeed. I couldn’t be more excited,’” Neece said. “That is exactly what we’re going for right now.”   

 

CBU planning to be open for fall 2020 classes

California Baptist University is “prepared and planning” to reopen for the fall 2020 semester, officials announced April 23.

The notice from the CBU Executive Council comes nearly one month after the university transitioned all academic programs to remote instruction. That unprecedented move followed an order by the Riverside County Public Health Officer to close all schools, colleges and universities in the county in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The closure order currently is set to expire June 19.

CBU is planning to reopen student housing at its Riverside campus and resume on ground classes for the fall semester. The notice comes one week after CBU announced creation of a task force to develop plans and recommendations to safely reopen the campus when closure orders are eased or expire.

“We are hearing from many students that they are eager to return to campus and we are eager to welcome them—returning students and new students alike,” said Kent Dacus, CBU vice president for enrollment and student services.

“CBU is prepared and planning to ensure a safe environment for students, employees and visitors once the campus reopens,” Dacus said.

 

Campus publications shine at Baptist national competition  

Pursuit magazine, a California Baptist University campus publication, won multiple first-place awards at the 56th Annual Wilmer C. Fields Awards competition.  

California Baptist University won multiple communication awards at the 56th Annual Wilmer L. Fields Awards competition. The final awards were released through the Baptist Communication Association (BCA) Facebook page on April 17.  

The prizes were scheduled to be presented at the BCA annual workshop in New Orleans earlier this month before the meeting was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

CBU campus publications—The Banner newspaper and Pursuit magazine—won more than 15 awards in the student and professional competitions combined. Pursuit magazine won the Best Overall Student Entry award in addition to a first-place award for the Best Overall Student Publication and Best Student Magazine.  

The Banner won first place the Best Student Newspaper award. 

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, interim director of journalism and public relations, said she watched the awards show online this year.  

“It is really exciting to see how well the Lancer Media Group publications are doing in the Wilmer C. Fields awards this year. The hard work of the diligent student team along with colleagues, Dr. Michael Chute, Professor Jim Veneman and Assistant Director Sonya Singh, is evident. We are so proud of them.”  

The Marketing and Communication division at CBU also claimed multiple awards in the professional competition including the Albert McClellan Award for Exceptional Achievement in Print Media and Design for the magazine that honored CBU President Ronald L. Ellis for his 25 years of leadership.   

The Wilmer C. Fields Awards competition receives hundreds of entries from Baptist ministries, agencies, colleges and newspapers across the country.  

To see a full list of the awards winners please visit here.    

 

CBU faculty creativity on display in switch to remote instruction  

Students in Dr. Glenn Pickett’s music composition class at California Baptist University normally present their work through an in-class presentation.  For the remainder of the spring semester, however, student presentations are being done online.   

CBU transitioned to remote instruction for the spring semester in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, faculty members are using a mixture of remote instruction technologies to turn student courses into collaborative online environments.  

Pickett, a professor of music, said he is using video conferencing tools such as WebEx for lectures and YouTube for presenting other information.  

“I do think the value is we’re going to be able to use this as another tool in our toolbox when the fall comes,” Pickett said. “I’m going to be able to have a library of these lectures that students will be able to access outside of classroom to help reinforce the live and in-person lecture. I think that’s going to be a great thing.”  

Additionally, in the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music, one-on-one lessons are being offered via WebEx or similar platforms. Ensembles are delivering material remotely through both synchronous and asynchronous means.  

Dr. Nicole MacDonald, program director of athletic training at CBU, said the athletic training program is also utilizing WebEx to provide remote learning environments where faculty members can interact with students in addition to observe students practicing skills.  

“Students have been anxious to get online and see their faculty, preceptors and fellow students and get back to the business of learning. They have been very responsive to meetings with our network of athletic trainers and talking through clinical scenarios,” MacDonald said.  

Some senior nursing students are finishing their clinical hours for direct patient care remotely. Faculty members have devised learning experiences for students that involve a form of remote contact with the patient population, said Dr. Juliann Perdue, department chair of the undergraduate program. Students are doing wellness checks, developing teaching plans, providing discharge plans and even attending AA meetings remotely, Perdue explained.  

For the remaining clinical hours, students will use remote simulation, case studies and virtual programs, Perdue added. 

Dr. Tom Ferko, associate dean for the division of natural and mathematical sciences, said the division is using a mixture of simulated and virtual labs in addition to recorded demonstrations. For instance, faculty members for General Chemistry II (CHE125) have videotaped lab experiments. Lab instructors, through WebEx, will watch these recorded labs with students and explain techniques and observations as they navigate the videos together.    

“We are committed to giving our students an experience that is educationally valuable and helps to prepare them for both additional courses that they will take but also their careers and wherever God is taking them beyond CBU,” Ferko said. 

 

CBU offers extra year to spring senior student-athletes 

California Baptist University has announced a plan to support the return of senior student-athletes who participate in a spring sport, providing them an option for another season of competition.  

The move comes after the NCAA approved a measure extending eligibility for spring-sport student-athletes.  

Read the full story here.  

 

 

 

 

 

ITS at CBU has tips to stay cyber secure when working remotely  

Cyber security has become increasingly important due to social distancing measures being implemented nationwide in response to the coronavirus pandemic. With the shift to remote instruction for students and most staff and faculty members working from home, the California Baptist University Information Technology Services is helping ensure that individuals are aware of helpful security measures to implement at home.   

Dr. Tran Hong, associate vice president of technology, said hackers are not taking any time off during this pandemic.  

“It is important to continue awareness of cyber security because bad actors will take advantage of this challenging time to exploit human and technology vulnerabilities,” Hong said. He listed several practical tips to observe while checking email remotely.   

• Continue to be vigilant and skeptical of any emails that ask the user to click on a link or any emails that ask for personal information such as user ID or password.
• Hover the mouse cursor over a URL/link to see where it really points to but do not click on it.
• Check/double check the email address of the originator as it may be meant to deceive.
• Outlook has the ability to preview a message/attachment instead of opening it.
• Never open an unexpected or seemingly suspicious attachment.
• Reach out to the originator to confirm/verify the email.
• Trust your intuition and suspicion.
• Avoid clicking on “Unsubscribe” – mark it as SPAM instead.

CBU will never ask students and employees for personal information via email. When in doubt, email helpdesk@calbaptist.edu, Hong added.  

When using a home computer to access campus resources, other tips include: 

• Ensure the computer is protected with antivirus/antimalware software.
• Ensure the Windows or Mac operating system has the latest security patches.
• Update the latest Firefox/Chrome browser.
• Practice good browsing habits and avoid clicking on strange links or browsing odd sites.
• Avoid downloading confidential data or personal identifiable information data to your home computer. If it is needed as a course of daily work, be sure to delete immediately after completion of task.

Virtual Private Network (VPN) is used to connect remote computers to the campus environment. At CBU, VPN is only issued to staff or faculty member users who have a campus-issued laptop and is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Caution must be taken while on VPN as it is an open door to the campus network. When accessing the CBU Virtual Private Network (VPN) remember that the university’s network appropriate use policy still applies.  

There are other safe and secure tools that can be used in place of VPN. If the purpose is to access, share and collaborate on documents, then Box.com can be used. For web collaboration and video/voice conferencing, use WebEx Meeting.   

Additionally, activating multifactor authentication (MFA or sometimes referred to as 2-factor authentication) for accessing private information is a recommended practice. MFA can apply to all personal emails such as Yahoo or Gmail. MFA is also being rolled out at CBU for email and related logins. MFA along with complex passwords can significantly help improve security.   

Other simple and effective tips for employees and students include: 

• Avoid using public wireless 
• Do not insert or use unknown USB drives in your computer
• Turn off Bluetooth in public settings
• Use HTTPS – looking for the lock  icon next to the URL address bar
• Backup your personal data in the cloud or flash-drive
• Use strong passwords (phrases) and MFA

Here is a CBU video related to safeguarding personal identifiable information.   

 

CBU support services continue to serve students remotely 

As students at California Baptist University transition to remote instruction this semester, offices on campus also are working to provide their services online.  

Below is a list of notable services that are currently available online for students:  

Office of Student Success  

• University Tutoring Center is offering one-on-one WebEx tutoring at https://calbaptist.edu/office-of-student-success/tutoring. 
• University Writing Center is helping through email. For more information visit https://calbaptist.edu/writing-center/. 
• Disability Services is still providing support through WebEx, email and telephone appointments. For more information visit https://calbaptist.edu/office-of-student-success/disability-services.  

Annie Gabriel Library  

Librarians remain available for research assistance through:  

• Chat: For immediate assistance, chat reference continues to be available 24/7. 
• WebEx: Live research help via WebEx is available by request Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-9 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 
• Text: Simple queries can also be submitted via text/SMS to 951-221-4228. 
• E-mail: Send an e-mail on research inquiries.

 Multiple research assets are still available remotely including:  

• Over 300,000 e-books through the OneSearch Catalog.  
• Millions of academic journal articles are located on OneSearch or through specific databases. If an article is not available from library’s collections it can still be requested via interlibrary loan. 
• Access to more than 30,000 streaming videos from databases like Films on Demand, NBC Learn and Digital Theatre+ are available.  

 Career Center  

Students can make appointments to have a Zoom session with a Career Center staff member. Appointments can be made for: 

• Mock interviews  
• Career or internship guidance 
• Resume reviews  
• LinkedIn and Handshake profile review
  

To make an appointment, visit https://calbaptist.joinhandshake.com/login. Additionally, the Career Center now features a Virtual Career Center site that offers many resources online.   

 

Family Updates

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, professor of communication, and Dr. Victoria Brodie, assistant professor of public relations, presented a webinar for California Public Information Officials on March 4. It was titled Ethics, Communication and Leadership. They also presented a workshop on behalf of the Kienel Leadership Institute at the city of Moreno Valley on March 5. It was titled on Communication for Impact. 

 

 

 

Dr. Robert Shields, director of curriculum development for Online and Professional Studies, presented at the 2020 Quality Matters Western Regional Conference held virtually on April 3. His presentation was titled Road Trip! Helping Students Reach Their Learning Destinations via Effective Course Design. He also participated in a panel, Leaning into Leadership – Making Your Own Adventure. 

 

 

 

Nathanael Hovda, a chemical engineering sophomore, was selected as a SCI (Society of Chemical Industry) Scholar. He is one of 18 chemistry and chemical engineering students from around the country chosen for this year’s internship program. Students are selected based on the strength of their application, statement of interest in an industrial internship and letters of recommendation. Hovda will be interning with Exxon Mobil. 

 

 

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, successfully defended his dissertation on April 9. He earned a Doctor of Business Administration degree from California Southern University The dissertation was titled Airport Operations Personnel at Primary Commercial-Service Airports in the United States: An Exploratory Study of the Current and Predicted Labor Shortage.  

 

 

 

Mary Ann Stahovich, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, and Stephanie Fluitt, graduate admissions counselor, represented CBU at a Virtual Physician Assistant Fair on April 7. The two shared about CBU’s program and answered questions during the event, which was livestreamed nationwide. 

 

 

 

Dr. Joshua Rodriguez, assistant professor of music theory, had a composition performed in a digital Vespers in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 10. The composition was titled Meditations on Psalm VIII.  

 

 

 

 

Dr. Joshua Knabb, associate professor of psychology, Dr. Veola Vazquez, professor of psychology, Dr. Robert Pate, associate professor of psychology, and DeAndra Edison-Riley, a clinical psychology graduate student, presented at the Christian Association for Psychological Studies annual conference in Atlanta on March 12-14. The title of the presentation was Christian Meditation for Trauma-Based Rumination: A Four-Week Program. Additionally, Knabb made two other presentations: Self-Compassion as an Intervention for Self-Criticism and Shame-Proneness: Theoretical Foundations, Empirical Support, and Christian-Sensitive Intervention Strategies and Christian Psychotherapy in Context: Theoretical and Empirical Explorations in Faith-Based Mental Health. 

 

Dr. Seth Jenny, adjunct professor of health science for Online and Professional Studies, was the lead author of a textbook published April 1. It was titled Technology for Physical Educators, Health Educators, and Coaches (Human Kinetics). 

 

 

 

 

The CBU Career Center recently began Coffee and Career Live Stream Chats through the @CBUcareercenter Instagram page. Each Tuesday at 3 p.m. members of the staff go live and answer questions while presenting relevant topics. Recent sessions have included Virtual Networking, Creating a Strong LinkedIn Profile and Ask a Recruiter. 

 

 

 

 

Philip Breitenbucher, assistant professor of social work, presented a session at the 2020 Rx Abuse and Heroin Summit livestreamed on April 14.The session was titled Closing the BOOK to Opioid Orphans: Lessons from Lafayette, Louisiana. 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Kendra Flores-Carter, assistant professor of social work, recently became the president of the new California State Chapter of the Postpartum Support International (PSI) organization. The vision of PSI is that every woman and family worldwide will have access to information, social support and informed professional care to deal with mental health issues related to childbearing. 

 

 

 

Hector Jimenez, assistant professor of music, released a new single titled Rock of Ages (Cover Me). It is the first single from a five track Hymns EP, which will be released later this year.   

 

 

 

Dr. Sean-David McGoran, adjunct professor of Christian studies for Online and Professional Studies, and his wife, Jenna, co-founded a nonprofit missional academy of music that was honored last month. The Tuned In Academy received a Best of South Sound award for music instruction from The Olympian (Washington) newspaper. 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Daniel Clark, associate professor of aerospace, industrial and mechanical engineering, and his wife, Nataliya, welcomed a daughter on March 24. Joanna Millicent Clark weighed 7 pounds and measured 20 inches in length. She joins siblings Caleb, 4, and Anita, 2.

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU community staying connected through social media

While the California Baptist University campus may be closed due to a coronavirus directive from the County of Riverside health officer, Lancers are turning to social media and online platforms to stay connected.

Community Life welcomed students back from spring break and asked them to post photos of their “first day from home outfits” on Instagram.

On April 2, Community Life held a virtual Open Mic Night.

“There is a campus-wide effort to ramp up social media content to engage our students and continue to create community while at home,” said Kristin Holderman, director of campus activities for Community Life. “That is our goal—to continue to provide purposeful programming that connects the students to each other and the University, even while we’re all at home.”

Stefani Plummer, director of the Recreation Center, said her office is providing exercise ideas using household items in addition to offering tips to stay active and healthy from home on its Instagram site.

“One of the purposes is to give students the ability to continue their community during this season,” Plummer said. “We really hope it provides a smooth transition back into the ‘normal’ once the school is open to activities.”

The Recreation Center is also providing virtual tours of national parks; and intramurals via a FIFA league on esports to offer fun activities online.

The Office of Spiritual Life at CBU hosted a Challenge virtual conference over spring break and will continue to hold virtual discipleship group meetings this semester.

Brian Zunigha, director of discipleship ministries in Spiritual Life, said the Challenge team had been in the process of creating videos and podcasts to encourage students in their faith journey. This content can now be listened to or watched through the Challenge App or through the Challenge channel on Spotify.

“In this unique time, we still have a call and command to make disciples, so we’re utilizing the different communication platforms we have available to do that,” Zunigha said. “As we’ve talked about how to continue to stay connected, we are amazed to see all the ways God has provided for us to continue investing in lives to develop followers of Jesus.”

The student response to online communities has been positive, Holderman said.

“We’ve had a good amount of student engagement and feedback that is encouraging as we continue. We’ve had a few students express appreciation for the efforts as well,” Holderman said.

CBU clubs are also connecting remotely. For instance, the United Club held a virtual pajama party last week. The Art Club live streamed a portraiture workshop on Instagram on April 3.

“When school moved online, I knew that we could still keep the Art Club going by providing virtual workshops,” said Emme Evans, an art therapy sophomore and the club’s president. “We aim to host workshops with materials that people may have at home. What is unique about the livestream is that viewers are able to communicate and ask questions.”

 

CBU returns from spring break, offering fully online courses

Remote instruction is the new normal for all California Baptist University students returning to spring semester studies following an extended break. Effective March 30, the university transitioned to remote instruction in response to coronavirus restrictions.

CBU officials announced plans to teach classes remotely for the remainder of the spring term after Riverside County Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser ordered all schools and universities in the county closed from March 16 through April 30.

In compliance with the county order, the CBU campus is closed to the public as classes switch to remote instruction for traditional undergraduate and graduate classes.

The university previously extended the spring semester a week through May 2 to make up for the one-week spring break extension. Operations for the CBU Division of Online and Professional Studies will continue according to the published OPS calendar.

“This unprecedented public health crisis clearly is impacting every member of the CBU campus community—students, parents, faculty and staff—and society at large,” CBU President Dr. Ronald L. Ellis said when the move to remote instruction was announced. “I want to thank the entire Lancer Nation for your understanding and patience as we make significant adjustments to address a difficult and dynamic situation.”

Students looking to find instructions on logging into your registered courses online should visit here.

 

CBU Dean of Spiritual Life encourages Lancer community to look to the attributes of God for comfort during COVID-19 crisis

As the COVID-19 pandemic keeps people at home and causes uncertainty, people should not get trapped in a cycle of “what if?” scenarios, said Dr. John Montgomery, dean of Spiritual Life at California Baptist University.

“Instead, we must first and immediately go to the truth of God’s word, the Bible and focus on who God is in his nature and character,” Montgomery said. “While God never promises that we will never experience trials, He does promise that He will never leave or forsake those who are his.”

CBU is transitioning all traditional undergraduate and graduate academic programs to remote instruction in response to guidelines from public health authorities. For those who are struggling during this time, Montgomery encourages them to remember that they are not alone.

“God has not left you,” he said. “Sometimes, God is near through his people who can offer assistance to meet your needs. Be bold and reach out for help.”

In spite of the many changes in people’s lives, Montgomery said people have the chance to grow personally and serve others in the current environment.

“We have an opportunity to rely on and trust God more deeply. It is difficult times like this that allow us to increase our faith and trust,” he said. “Second, opportunities are all around us to serve others.”

Lastly, Christians have the opportunity to exhibit Christ and the gospel in their speech, attitude and demeanor, he added.

“People are riddled with anxiety right now,” Montgomery said. “You have the opportunity to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16) so that Jesus will be seen as you walk among others. Show them the peace that transcends which guards your hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7) by smiling at them. And be ready to give an answer for your hope (1 Peter 3:15).”

 

CBU staff, faculty worked diligently to move programs online

Over spring break, as the coronavirus situation unfolded, the staff in Information Technology Services at California Baptist University spent many hours prepping the transition to remote instruction. The result: together with Online and Professional Studies, more than 2,000 courses are being offered online at CBU this spring.

CBU transitioned to remote instruction for all traditional undergraduate and graduate academic programs effective March 30 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic guidelines from public health authorities. The quick turnaround was possible due to the university’s foresight into online education.

Dr. Tran Hong, associate vice president of technology, said his department has been preparing for such an online transition for some time.

“Anticipation, forethought and business continuity planning has helped CBU prepare for this transition,” Hong said.

Hong said CBU had prepared for such a situation during previous projects. For instance, software licensing was purchased for the entire campus community to study online. Bandwidth and infrastructure improvements also were made for online growth along with adding new online teaching technologies.

“Faculty have several delivery options for their classes,” Hong said.

Available technologies for online classes include Blackboard Learn, WebEx Meeting, Box, and Office 365. Training is available via WebEx webinars and other online resources the Teaching and Learning Center and the ITS Training Center.

If a professor enjoys teaching through live lecture, then they can use a conference room with a telepresence video system using Webex or even a computer at home, Hong said. If a professor is more comfortable teaching asynchronously, then Blackboard is the tool to use. Both technologies can be used together to provide the best student experience, Hong added.

IT staff also worked with academic departments and the CBU Teaching and Learning Center in preparation for moving courses online.

“Have courage and take this opportunity to learn and explore new tools,” Hong said. “The IT team is here to provide support and to make this a fun learning experience. The CBU community is strong, innovative, adaptable and caring. This situation is a good test of how CBU is prepared for continuity of business.”

Students can access online resources on Blackboard and Blackboard basics.

For those with technology questions including faculty members, email helpdesk@calbaptist.edu. The message will be routed appropriately to address the need.

 

CBU students display their artwork at Honors Exhibit

California Baptist University hosted an opening reception for the 8th annual Honors Exhibit at the Rose Garden Chapel Art Gallery on March 10.

A variety of work produced by CBU students in fine art courses are on display at the exhibit. Fine art faculty selected the 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 she looks forward to the event each year.

“The students are so excited, proud and surprised at how much great work is made at CBU,” Lippire said. “The event is also a great chance for parents to see their student’s hard work and meet the faculty that make up part of their CBU family.”

The opening reception also included an awards ceremony that highlighted distinction within the Honors Exhibit.

CBU students were judged on five different platforms: drawing, design, mixed media, ceramics and painting.

Awards given:
Best Drawing: Desiree Fitch
Best Painting: Kate Perkins
Best Design Project: Caitlyn Deutsche
Best Sculpture: Christina Izaguirre
Best Mixed Media: Shannon Fitzgerald (self-portrait featured above)
People’s Choice: Amanda Williams
Best Overall: Lauren Gill

This year the exhibit also features a number of framed artworks that will be shown in the library at CBU starting in the fall.

 

Teacher Career Fair connects  students with job opportunities

Students interested in pursuing careers in K-12 education received the opportunity to meet recruiters from more than 55 schools, nonprofit organizations and school districts at the Teacher Career Fair at California Baptist University on March 11.

Schools were looking to fill a variety of positions such as teachers, speech language pathologists, school counselors and coaches.

“This event provides numerous opportunities to meet recruiters from all over Southern and Northern California,” said Lisa Singer, associate director of employer relations. “This is one of the unique fairs where many times candidates are interviewed and offered contracts during the fair.”

Paige Vaughan, an education graduate student, attended the event seeking a position as an elementary teacher.

“Having this event on campus is less nerve-racking and more comfortable,” Vaughan said. “With a wide-range of school districts and employers, I have access to more leads and opportunities.”

Kaden Specht, a liberal studies senior, prepared for the event by visiting the Career Center to revise his resume and LinkedIn profile.

“Through this event, I am able to network and get exposure and when talking to the different schools, I am able to have an idea of what they are looking for and what to expect as a future substitute teacher,” Specht said.

 

CBU students celebrate Indian culture with colorful event

More than 500 California Baptist University students attended the Festival of Color event on the Front Lawn on March 6. The event, hosted by the International Center, Community Life and the Associated Students of CBU, sought to celebrate Indian culture.

Kristin Holderman, director of campus activities, said the festivity is one of the many activities CBU hosts to celebrate different cultures on campus.

“The Festival of Color allows students to learn and experience the Indian culture through food, music and the color throw. It also gives them the opportunity to experience something different on campus,” Holderman said.

Students who attended the event were given free T-shirts to wear. Additionally, they were given Indian rupee (currency) that students used to purchase different Indian dishes and drinks.

Toward the conclusion of the event, students gathered around the main stage and counted down to throw bags filled with neon colored powder. The activity, celebrated in India to inaugurate the beginning of spring, has been a popular CBU tradition.

Taylor Duncan, a photography senior, said she enjoyed the culture aspect of the event and her favorite activity was throwing the colored powder with her friends.

“It was so much fun. We absolutely loved enjoying the culture aspect of the event,” Duncan said.

Jesus Rojas, a nursing senior, used his rupee to purchase naan (Indian flatbread).

“Besides all the powder, I really enjoyed the involvement of the CBU community and how lively it was. I really enjoyed learning about the Indian culture,” Rojas said.

Harshitha Nalla, a student from India, said she appreciated how the culture was represented.

“I think that it is great that there are students from every culture that could come and celebrate something I relate to and it just makes me feel more at home. The music was the best since they were playing music from different parts of India and it was wonderful,” said Nalla, a computer science sophomore.

 

Students present math and science research at symposium

More than 65 California Baptist University students presented their research projects at the 12th annual Natural and Mathematical Research Symposium on March 7.

Dr. Jacob Lanphere, associate professor of environmental science, said the purpose of the symposium is to give students opportunities to showcase their research projects.

“Students and faculty have been working together to accomplish unique goals in each major within the Division of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (NMS),” Lanphere said. “The NMS Research Symposium creates a special forum in which ideas and conversations can begin to help form the future of new research projects as well.”

Students in the Division of Natural and Mathematical Science at CBU presented their findings through an oral or poster presentation.

Anthony Cornwall, a sports analytics junior, presented a research project that aimed to predict an NBA player’s potential salary in free agency based off various factors such as the player’s statistics, a team’s market size, the NBA salary cap and even a team’s fan base.

Cornwall said he will continue his research next year with a goal to work for a NBA team after graduation.

“It’s my dream to work for the NBA and the project assisted me in my long-term goal of helping teams win free agency and get players for the best rate,” Cornwall said.

Rachel Moulton, an environmental science senior, presented her research on the air quality in the CBU parking structure. She sampled 14 sites in the garage once a week for seven weeks.

“My overall conclusion was that the parking structure had no effect on the air quality, which is good,” Moulton explained. “You can’t just look outside and assume the air will be good or bad. There was one day I monitored the air after a nearby fire in Jurupa Valley (California) and assumed the levels would be terrible. But they were some of the lowest readings I had. You really can’t make assumptions.”

Moulton said it was reassurance to know then air quality on campus is safe and she also enjoyed being able to see her research come to life.

 

Vietnam veteran shares his life story at lecture series

Lt. Col. Dave Merhar spoke about the importance of faith, family and service as he shared his life’s story for the Dr. Paul & Annie Kienel Leadership Institute’s Leadership Seminar Series at California Baptist University on March 5.

Merhar grew up in Minnesota and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy West Point. In May 1973, he enlisted in the Army during the Vietnam War. He stayed in the military for more than 14 years and worked for the U.S. Secretary of State.

Merhar said that 19 classmates from West Point died in the Vietnam conflict. He visits the Vietnam Veterans Memorial each year in Washington, D.C., to honor their lives.

“The men at the academy that I worked with, played with and went to war with, became my family,” he said.

Merhar said he is thankful for the “Vietnam generation” and he is grateful to be a part of an “incredible part of history.”

Merhar said when choosing a path in life, to think about the consequences your decision will have on your family.

“When you make a decision in favor of your family, you’re making the right decision. They are the people that at the end of your life you’re going to want to be there,” Merhar said.

Merhar also shared that a few years ago, he was hospitalized with an infection that spread to his spinal cord.

“No one ever told me I was going to be able to walk again, but every single day my wife prayed for me along with others, and that encouragement led me to walk again,” Merhar said. “I am alive because people cared enough about me and I knew at that point that I could and would not die.”

Merhar said that a person’s faith can carry one through all life’s circumstances.

“Prayer is the most powerful thing that you can do,” Merhar said.

Taylor Bruce, a psychology sophomore and member of CBU Cheer team, appreciated the faith aspect of Merhar’s lecture.

“It was nice to hear about how important his faith is and how it helped him get through a rough time in the hospital. It really reminded me to focus on my faith and have it be a part of my life and my part on the cheer team,” Bruce said.

Jose Munoz, a sociology senior, said that he enjoyed listening to Merhar’s life experiences in Vietnam.

“It is always interesting to hear the perspectives of someone who lived through that time in history,” Munoz said.

 

Students hike at Joshua Tree on Outdoor Adventures trip

Community Life at California Baptist University coordinated a day trip to Joshua Tree National Park on Feb. 29. Ten students and three recreation interns hiked 1.5 miles to the summit at Ryan Mountain.

Jakob Hartt, a psychology senior and a recreation intern, said the Outdoor Adventure trips are opportunities for students to enjoy God’s creation and make friends in the process.

“One of the goals of the Outdoor Recreation program is building a community of people from different backgrounds for the purpose of enjoying the outdoors together,” Hart said. “We try and get a diverse range of activities throughout the year with the intention of providing something for everyone.”

Students also walked along the Cholla Cactus Gardens and climbed boulders at Jumbo Rocks Campground. While hiking to the summit, they also stopped to have a picnic.

Carissa Rivette, a communication junior, said she signed up to meet new people and enjoy a hike.

“From great conversation on the car ride there to the friends I made to the amazing hike that I accomplished, I enjoyed the entire day there,” Rivette said.

Natalie Codding, a graphic design junior, loved jumping across the Jumbo Rocks.

“It was a great opportunity to enjoy nature alongside others within the CBU community,” Codding said.

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

 

Mohler delves into the supremacy of Jesus at lecture series

Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. expounded on the supremacy of Jesus Christ as part of the School of Christian Ministries Lecture Series on March 3.

Mohler is the president and professor of Christian theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He is also a columnist, commentator, blogger and author of several books.

Mohler used Colossians chapter 1 as the foundation of his lecture.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:15-17 NASB).

Christians understand Jesus as the one Savior and Mediator between God and humanity, Mohler said.

“Colossians 1 says that Jesus is the one who holds the universe together,” Mohler said. “He who created the world, through whom the Father to His glory created all things…He is holding the entire universe together, He is holding me together right now, and you—and the entire cosmos, and it is safe in His hands.”

Mohler said Colossians also addresses the preeminence of Christ.

“We must affirm the preeminence of Christ. This also implies that He must be first in the church and in the hearts of those who are His own,” Mohler said.

Mohler closed by advocating for a Christ-centered approach to understanding higher education and in developing Christian curriculum.

 

Family Updates

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, co-presented a webinar for the Transportation Research Board on March 2. It was titled Greener in Two Ways – Innovative Sustainability Solutions for Airports. His research report, Airport Sustainability Practices – Drivers and Outcomes for Small Commercial and GA Airports, was showcased.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Tae Sung, associate professor of English, delivered the keynote address for CBU’s Alpha Chi Honor Society induction ceremony on March 3. He adapted Ralph Waldo Emerson’s 1837 Phi Beta Kappa Address.

 

 

 

 

The College of Engineering and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student chapter hosted Dr. Jean-Louis Briaud, the 2020 president-elect of ASCE, on March 6. He talked about the benefits of the civil engineering profession and joining ASCE after graduation. The event was coordinated by ASCE student chapter officers and Dr. Michael Nalbandian, assistant professor of civil engineering and construction management and ASCE faculty advisor.

 

Dr. Hyun-Woo Park, professor of biology, co-wrote a paper published in Nature Communications (Volume 11). It was titled Serial femtosecond crystallography on in vivo-grown crystals drives elucidation of mosquitocidal Cyt1Aa bioactivation cascade.

 

 

 

Dr. Ted Murcray, assistant professor of education, presented at the California Association for the Gifted Conference in Palm Springs on Feb. 21-23. It was titled Asking Hard Questions: Critical Thinking Design with Paul’s Reasoning Model.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Angela Brand, professor of music, received a $5,000 grant from the Colburn Foundation to Fund classical music studies at the Collinsworth School of Music. Additionally, she conducted the Mount San Jacinto College Orchestra on March 8. It performed Angel Mestizo by composer Juan Pablo Contreras.

 

 

 

 

 

Students on CBU’s first CFA Investment Research Challenge team competed against six other area universities at Chapman University on Feb. 28. Students had to present a written and oral buy/hold/sell recommendation related to a publically traded company. Team members were Jackson Mackliff, Sienna Schroeder, Kyle Sklepko, and Michael Bailey. Dr. Adele Harrison, professor of finance, was faculty advisor and David Green, a partner with Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management, was the industry mentor.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Gene Moon, associate professor of music, served as orchestra clinician at the National Orchestra Festival in Orlando, Florida, on March 4-7. As clinician, he provided instruction to 20 orchestras.

 

 

 

 

Christopher Kern, assistant professor of photography, served as emcee and conference chair for the COEx | Photo Studio Ops, a photography industry conference, in New York on March 3-4. He also moderated a panel discussion, Supporting Your Most Valuable Asset—Human Capital. Additionally, he spoke at the Society for Photographic Education annual conference in Houston on March 5-8. He spoke on the Future of Photographic Education during an Industry & Education Forum. 

 

 

Dr. Natalie Winter, professor of marketing and management, taught a lesson to the Women Bible Study Groups at Compass Bible Church in Aliso Viejo, California, on March 10-11. The title of the message was Vengeance is Mine! The Necessity of Trusting God for Justice, looking at 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12.

 

 

 

Students in the journalism and new media program visited the Riverside Police Department’s station on Lincoln Avenue in Riverside on March 12 to learn about law enforcement and how the news media can cover it. The visit included a drone demonstration, meeting officers and hearing from trainers at the indoor shooting range.

 

 

 

 

 

The International Sociology Honor Society Chapter of AKD sponsored a 5K “Move for Malawi” at CBU on March 7. The event raised $1,200 for Benita Africa Mission, to help provide food relief.

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology, participated in a panel at South Hills Corona Community Church’s Parent Night on Feb. 28. It was titled Parenting in a Digital Age.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Thomas Frederick, professor of psychology, and Dr. Scott Dunbar, associate professor of business, both for Online and Professional Studies, presented at the Christian Association for Psychological Studies conference in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 13. The presentation was titled Calling, Caring, and Connecting: A Christian Approach to Burnout.

 

 

 

Personnel Updates

 

In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

Generations of Lancers attend 2020 Homecoming festivities

More than 5,000 spectators attended various activities for the 2020 Homecoming weekend at California Baptist University on Feb. 28-29.

On Friday evening, CBU hosted hot air balloon rides for the first time ever on the Front Lawn. Additionally, there was an Alumni Awards Dinner hosted in the Innovator’s Auditorium. Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, expressed gratitude at the dinner, for the large alumni crowds that come back each year for homecoming weekend. He also thanked them for all the support the university has received throughout the years.

CBU recognized several alumni at the dinner: Jacob Gonzalez (’17), recipient of the Young Alumni Achievement Award; Alexander Clifford, recipient of the Alumnus of the Year award; Mark Craig (’73), Distinguished Service in Christian Ministry Award recipient; Viola Estel (’64), Lifetime Achievement recipient and Alan (’69) and Sandy Young (’69) Alumni Philanthropy Award recipients. Also at the awards ceremony, four new inductees into the Lancer Hall of Fame were annoucned: Joseph Pacheco (’14) for men’s soccer; Taylor Siemens (’11) for baseball; Kendall Gorham (’12), for softball; and Mary Logan (’15) for women’s swim.

On Saturday, the festivities included 50-, 25- and 10-year class reunions.

For Sandra Heflin (’65), it has been years since she had visited the campus.

“I am just amazed on how it has grown,” Heflin said. “CBU has really changed my life. I met my husband here and the friends that I have today are from CBU. Being here has really reminded me that the longtime friends I have in my life originated here.”

Joanne Harper, who participated in the 50-year reunion, said the growth at CBU was remarkable.

“The campus is so big now. We only had the old James Building when I was here,” Harper recalled. “I am amazed with how the whole campus has grown.”

For the second straight year, there was a time to sing hymns led by Dr. Joseph Bolin, dean of the Shelby and Collinsworth School of Music. Bolin, at one point, asked the audience to call out their favorite hymn and he would proceed to play the requested song.

Viola Estel said she appreciated the worship at the event.

“The last song we sang, ‘When We Go To Heaven,’ I thought this is like a rehearsal for when we all get to heaven,” said Estel.  “It was nice to see how some people didn’t even use their [hymn] books and they just knew it by memory. The blessing of just singing the hymn was great.”

On Saturday evening the focus of festivities switched outdoors for a men’s basketball pregame party that featured games, activities and food for event-goers leading up to the game’s tip-off.

The CBU Lancers secured a thrilling overtime 88-87 victory over Seattle University in front of 5,000 plus fans. CBU improved to 21-8 overall in the season.

 

CBU students share their musical talents at Open Mic Night

Students at California Baptist University enjoyed music performed by their peers at Open Mic Night on Feb. 27. The event was hosted by Community Life and featured more than 10 musical performances.

Students have two opportunities, one each semester, to perform for Open Mic Night.

Kristin Holderman, director of campus activities, said Open Mic Night gives CBU students the ability to gain an appreciation for their peers, their talents and abilities in a more casual setting.

“This event is a great opportunity for students to enjoy music and various forms of creative expression from their peers,” Holderman said. “We think performers are glad to have the opportunity to perform and hope they gain more confidence to continue to share their gifts.”

Joy Ogbatue, a business junior, performed a ballad and enjoyed being able to sing on stage.

“I overcame a lot of fears tonight. I was afraid I wouldn’t hit my high notes, but I did,” Ogabatue said. “Even though I am majoring in business, singing has been a lifelong dream that I have always had.”

Mikayla Williams, a communications freshman, said that she is a musician in the choir and thought attending would be a great way to support other musicians on campus.

“Open Mic Night is great for students who aren’t in the music department to show the abilities they have. And it really gives us all a chance to support each other as a community,” Williams said.

 

Greg Laurie to students: Combat anxiety, stress with prayer

Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, encouraged a California Baptist University chapel audience to seek God’s will in the midst of life’s worries.

“We need to learn how to communicate and hear from God instead of focusing on worrying,” Laurie said. “We can take all our concerns and anxiety to God. Prayer is a conversation with God to help get my will aligned to His will.”

Laurie, a best-selling author and international evangelist, spoke in chapel on Feb. 25.

Laurie said students live in some of the most “stressful and anxiety-filled days.” He exhorted students not to stay stuck in a pattern of worrying but instead to trust in God’s sovereignty and promises revealed through His word.

“Worrying does not help make your life better in any way,” Laurie said. “Worrying is like a rocking chair;  you keep rocking but you go nowhere.”

Laurie quoted Jesus’ statement about worrying from Matthew 6:25-27:

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” (NASB)

Laurie joked that he has never seen a stressed-out bird. He also reminded the audience that God has a plan for their lives.

He quoted Jeremiah 29:11 to reinforce his claim: “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope” (NASB).

“When life is all going bad, it is good to know that God is still all good. In life we want to know what’s coming ahead. Only God can see what’s ahead and it is God who is in control,” Laurie said.

 

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences honors agencies

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at California Baptist University hosted a practicum luncheon to honor 40 agencies located in Southern California on Feb 21. CBU honored school districts, government programs and nonprofits for their collaboration and support of the Master of Science in Counseling Psychology program on Feb 21.

The event also gave counseling psychology students at CBU a chance to network with the agencies’ representatives. Counseling psychology students at CBU are required to obtain at least 400 practicum hours.

“The event is a way to thank our wonderful agencies and supervisors and to introduce our fabulous students to our community partners,” Dr. Mischa Routon, associate dean of graduate programs in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, told the audience in attendance. “It is a hurting world. I’m reminded daily of how much our service is needed. Thank you for helping train our students. Students, thank you for taking so seriously this next part of your journey.”

Barbara Windeknecht, a graduate student in the counseling psychology program, said the event was beneficial since it provided a group of agencies interested in having students work for them.

“I want to work with a broad spectrum instead of a specific population. That way once I’m done with practicum, I’ll really know where I want to go next,” Windeknecht said.

Kenesha Mitchell, a graduate student in the counseling psychology program, said she was interested in working with children.

“The practicum will help give me the tools because I am more of a hands-on learner,” Mitchell said. “Learning everything from behind the scenes in the books is helpful, but I can’t wait to get hands-on and actually do it and apply what we’ve been learning.”

Bonnie Monfils (’14), an education related mental health services therapist, attended the event for Perris Union High School District. She said after starting her career, she was told the quality of the education at CBU and internships showed in the workplace.

“When we were thinking of getting interns, I thought ‘We’re going back to CBU,’” Monfils said. “I know that they’re educated, I know that they’re supported, I know that they’ll be good with staff and parents.”

 

Cheer wins ninth straight USA Collegiate Championship

The cheer team at California Baptist University claimed the United Spirit Association Collegiate Championship for an unprecedented ninth consecutive year on Feb. 16.

The USA Collegiate Championships were held at the Anaheim Convention Center over the course of two days. The Lancers dominated both days of competition, finishing with a total of 94.71 points.

“I am incredibly proud of the team’s performance this weekend,” said Olivia Miller, head coach of CBU cheer. “Being able to execute two zero deduction routines this early in the year puts us in a great position to start our competition season.”

The Lancers will now turn their attention to the NCA Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida, where they will look to win their eighth straight national title. The NCA nationals will take place from April 7-11.

 

Family Updates

Mary Ann Stahovich, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, was the keynote speaker for the 3rd Citrus Health Conference at University of California, Riverside on Feb. 23. She spoke about becoming a pre-physician assistant and was recognized for her service and accomplishments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Cress, director of special projects in the Office of Educational Effectiveness, graduated from the WASC Senior College and University Commission’s Assessment Leadership Academy on Feb. 14. It is a one-year training for higher education assessment professionals.

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Kirk, adjunct professor of piano, performed an all-Aaron Copland lecture recital at CBU on Feb. 15. Kirk performed Copland’s Passacaglia, Danzón Cubano, Duo for Flute and Piano and four of his Old American Songs. She was accompanied by Dr. Mary Vanhoozer, adjunct professor of piano, Mary Oppermann, adjunct professor of instrumental instruction, and Eric Carampatan, adjunct professor of voice instruction.

 

 

 

Dr. Krystal Hays, assistant professor of social work, is the recipient of the 2020 Masters of Social Work Program Social Worker of the Year Award, given by the social work department at CBU. Criteria includes outstanding leadership within the department and in classrooms; exemplifying a positive image of the social work profession to colleagues and students; and taking risks to achieve outstanding results and positive outcomes for the social work department.

 

 

 

Dr. Torria Davis, director of technology training for Information Technology Services, published a blog article on Blackboard.com. It is titled Improving Outcomes for Learners Through the Use of Analytics (Jan. 24).

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jeff Cate, professor of New Testament, spoke at the Sacred Words: History of the Bible Conference in Tempe, Arizona, on Feb. 21-22. His presentation was titled The Stories They Tell: A Look at Interesting Variants in the Transmission of the New Testament.

 

 

 

Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biological sciences, co-authored a paper that was published in the Journal of Virology (February 2020). It was titled Mitochondrial and Innate Immunity Transcriptomes for Spodoptera frugiperda larvae infected with the Spodoptera frugiperda ascovirus.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Vance Nichols, adjunct professor of education, presented at the Association of Christian Schools International (ASCI) Professional Development Forum in Anaheim on Nov. 25-26. The title was The Innovative Teacher’s DNA. He also co-presented at the ACSI California-Hawaii Leadership Summit in Fish Camp, California, on Feb. 5-7. The title was Now is the Time to Thrive: How Christian Schools are Pivoting to Flourish.

 

 

 

Sandy Frazer, NCAA financial aid coordinator, was named employee of the month for March. Her nomination included the following statements: “Sandy has excelled in learning the NCAA awarding procedures, practices and components of compliance. She’s the face of customer service when it comes to representing the Financial Aid Office with the Athletics Department, coach and athletes. She is always diligent in ensuring her work is accurate, timely and consistently exceeds expectations. She views her work as tasks she GETS to do, and not HAS to do.”

 

 

 

Dr. Robert Pate, associate professor of psychology, gave two presentations at the North American Association of Christians in Social Work, California Chapter Annual Conference at CBU on Feb. 22. The presentations were titled Interpersonal Mindfulness in Psychotherapy with Christian Couples and Leveraging Technology to Grow Your Practice.

 

 

 

A team of CBU College of Engineering Construction Management students attended the Associated Schools of Construction Competition in Reno, Nevada, in February. They competed in the pre-construction category, which requires each team to compile a complete written bid proposal for a real project being built by the sponsoring firm.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Deron Walker, professor of English, presented a paper at the 16^th Annual Cambodia TESOL Conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Feb. 9. It was titled Harmonizing and synthesizing intercultural rhetoric in East-Asia with the Hegelian Dialectic. 

 

 

 

 

The College of Engineering hosted the Riverside-San Bernardino Professional Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers on Jan. 16. Dr. Anthony Donaldson, dean of the College of Engineering, and Rhonda Clement, industry liaison for the college of engineering, presented an overview of the engineering program and opportunities for collaboration. Dr. John-Wha Bai, professor of civil engineering and construction management, presented highlights of the civil engineering and construction management department.

 

More than 30 athletic training students and three faculty attended the annual California Athletic Trainers’ Association Symposium on Feb. 22-23 and Hit the Hill event on Feb. 24 in Sacramento. Students presented research at the symposium and lobbied at the hill event for a new bill for licensure for athletic trainers in California.

 

 

Ruth Noemy Wheeler, lecturer for the School of Music, was named assistant conductor of the Corona Symphony Orchestra.

 

 

 

 

The College of Engineering hosted the local Advanced Manufacturing meeting on Feb. 10. Dr. Anthony Donaldson, dean of the College of Engineering, and Rhonda Clement, industry liaison for the college of engineering, presented on the engineering program. Dr. Jun Zhang, professor of aerospace, industrial and mechanical engineering, presented on Deming’s 14 principles for Total Quality Management. Dr. April Si, professor of aerospace, industrial and mechanical engineering, and Dr. Daniel Clark, associate professor of aerospace, industrial and mechanical engineering, and students Joyelle Lee, Caleb Bradley, James Suzuki and Patrick Huele also assisted in the event.

 

Upcoming Chapel Services, 9 and 10:45 a.m.:
March 10: Darren Whitehead, senior pastor of Church of the City in Nashville, Tennessee
March 12: Dr. David Platt, lead pastor of McLean Bible Church in the Washington, D.C, metro area

 

Personnel Updates