Meet the Faculty and Staff

Casey Maldonado, MPA
Interim Director of Student Publications

Casey Maldonado is a skilled public relations professional with a strong affinity for spreadsheets and serving students. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Journalism from California Baptist University in 2021 and subsequently completed a master’s degree in Public Administration in 2022. Currently, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies at CBU. Maldonado has been actively involved with the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), initially as a member of the CBU PRSSA student chapter and currently as a board member for PRSA-IE, serving as the Director of Polaris. Additionally, she has contributed to Baptist Press at the SBC Annual Meeting for a couple of years.

 

Dr. Victoria Brodie, MBA
Associate Professor of Public Relations, Chair

Dr. Brodie has extensive experience in leadership, communications, public relations, and organizational strategies. Dr. Brodie has researched and regularly speaks on leadership strategies in a VUCA world and holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University. Dr. Brodie serves on the steering committee for the Leadership Riverside program through the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce and as the program Chair for the 2022 Leadership Riverside class. Dr. Brodie is a Past President of the Public Relations Society of America IE Chapter and is a National PRSA Bronze Anvil Judge.

 

James Kruppa, M.F.A.
Adjunct Professor of Journalism, CBU TV Faculty Adviser

James Kruppa attended California Baptist College in 1996 and became the photographer for the Angelos yearbook. After graduating, he taught computers at Woodcrest Christian. After several years, Kruppa felt the call to go to Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, now Gateway Seminary, receiving Master of Divinity. He went on to receive his Master of Fine Arts in Film from National University and began teaching journalism as an adjunct professor at California Baptist University in 2014, teaching primarily broadcast. In 2019, he became the faculty adviser for CBU TV.

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson APR
Professor of Communication, Director of Journalism & New Media and PR Academic Programs

Dr. Pearson has more than 30 years of experience in leadership, journalism, public relations and education. She has been a professor at CBU for 17 years and worked in public relations specializing in marketing and PR campaigns in property management, real estate and nonprofit work. Pearson has worked with the Paul and Annie Kienel Leadership Institute at CBU, Colton Joint Unified School District’s Hispanic Literacy Program, Give Big Riverside, Girl Scouts of America, PRSA, Capio, Colton Joint Unified School District-Superintendent’s cabinet, International Mentoring Association and other organizations including supporting internships with the Riverside Downtown Partnership.

 

Susan Borgen, B.A.
Publications Secretary

Susan, a native of Southern California, holds a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education with a minor in Bible from Biola University. She has extensive experience in various educational settings, with a particular preference for university environments. Alongside her husband, Susan has been deeply engaged in ministry, contributing to multiple churches and playing a pivotal role in founding a church in Folsom, Calif. Her ministry efforts have been primarily directed towards youth and college communities, where she has made significant contributions through teaching, public speaking, and mentoring.

 

David Kaplan, M.A.
Adjunct Professor of Journalism and Public Relations, CBU TV Faculty Adviser

David Kaplan brings eight years of experience in TV newsrooms, having held roles as an editor, photographer, multimedia journalist, producer, investigative anchor and reporter. He graduated from CSU Bakersfield in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in Communications and earned a master's degree in Professional Journalism from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 2023. Kaplan produced a notable documentary about a former inmate who traveled to every state capitol with a 10-foot-tall cross, praying for elected officials and engaging in evangelism. He also creates and edits video content for his church in Norco. Kaplan leverages his experience and passion for multimedia storytelling to inspire students to use journalism as a means of highlighting stories that reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ.