75 Years of CBU
75 Years of CBU
In 1950, 42 students gathered at the First Southern Baptist Church in El Monte, California, to begin classes at a brand-new school: California Baptist College.
Today, 75 years later, California Baptist University stands as a beacon of Christian higher education in Southern California—shaped by the faith, dedication and vision of all who have been part of this journey.
Thank you for being part of our story.
More Than a Logo
The 75th anniversary logo honors the generations of students, faculty and alumni who have shaped California Baptist University’s story. For 75 years, their faith, perseverance and purpose have helped CBU stand the test of time—and continue to thrive.
The bold “75,” wrapped in diamond textures and the unmistakable CBU Blue, reflects the strength and endurance forged through decades of God’s faithfulness. The years, accented in CBU Gold, symbolize our gratitude for all who have been part of this journey. And at its center, the iconic CBU belltower reminds us of our ultimate purpose: helping students live their God-given purpose—academically, personally and spiritually—as they prepare to impact the world for Christ.
1950 - P. Boyd Smith is named first president of California Baptist College
1950 - On September 18, classes begin for 42 students at First Southern Baptist Church in El Monte, CA
1953 - California Baptist Convention assumes full responsibility for California Baptist College
1954 - College is chartered by the State of California
1954 - Eight students become the first to earn undergraduate degrees from CBC
1954 - "CBC We'll Love You," composed by Dr. S.E. Smith, is adopted as the official alma mater
1955 - CBC moves to Riverside campus
1955 - Lancer mascot is named
1958 - Dr. Loyed Simmons is named second president
1960 - Annie Gabriel Library is dedicated
1960 - The Roundtable becomes the official campus publication for alumni
1961 - CBC receives full regional accreditation granted by the Western College Association
1964 - Lancer Arms Apartment buildings are constructed
1964 - CBU enrollment reaches 500
1968 - Simmons Hall and Smith Hall are constructed and dedicated
1968 - Van Dyne Field House is constructed and dedicated
1968 - Dewey H. Jones is appointed first academic dean
1971 - Dr. James R. Staples is named third president
1971 - Annie Gabriel Library adds 100,000th volume
1973 - The Wallace Book of Life Building is dedicated
1975 - CBC reaches a record enrollment of 810 students.
1978 - James Building is dedicated to Dr. Whitley E. James.
1984 - Dr. Russell R. Tuck is named fourth president
1984 - First graduate degree is granted
1986 - Board of Trustees votes to create the California Baptist College Development Foundation
1987 - S.E. Boyd Smith contributes P. Boyd Smith Hymnology Collection to the Annie Gabriel Library
1989 - Bob and Dorothy Pentz Tennis Center is constructed
1990 - First Evening College classes offered in High Desert
1994 - Dr. Ronald L. Ellis is named fifth president
1995 - Enrollment reaches 1,226 students
1996 – CBU launches International Service Project (ISP) trips around the world
1997 - Mission Hall, Fitness Center, Training Room and Athletic Offices are constructed
1997 - Enrollment reaches 2,009 students
1998 - California Baptist College officially becomes California Baptist University
1998 - The U.S. News & World Report listed California Baptist University among the top five regional liberal arts colleges for student-faculty ratio
1998 - Aquatic Center is constructed
2000 – CBU’s 50th anniversary celebrated
2003 - Eugene and Billie Yeager University Center is completed
2005 - School of Nursing is established
2005 - JoAnn Hawkins Music Building is completed
2005 - CBU is named "Business of the Year" by Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
2006 - Adams Plaza is purchased
2007 - Lancers Outdoor Sports Complex is completed
2007 - School of Engineering is established
2007 - Army ROTC program is added
2009 - Bourns Engineering Lab is established
2009 - 1,000 students graduate in a single year for the first time in school's history
2010 - CBU celebrates 60th anniversary
2010 - College of Allied Health is established
2010 - Division of Online and Professional Studies is established
2010 - Membership is approved in NCAA Division II, Pacific West Conference
2011 - ISP celebrates 15th anniversary
2011 - College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design is established
2012 - School of Business Building is dedicated
2013 - Recreation Center is dedicated
2013 - Aviation science program opens flight school and FedEx donates Boeing 727 to aviation science program
2013 - CBU is granted full membership in NCAA Division II
2014 - CBU sends out 400th ISP/USP team
2015 - Doctor of Nursing Practice degree (CBU's first doctorate) launches in fall
2017 - CBU announces acceptance into Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and transition to NCAA Division I
2017 - CBU dedicates Events Center
2018 - Dennis and Carol Troesh Engineering Building opens for fall semester
2018 - CBU Lancers begin competing in NCAA Division 1, Western Athletic Conference
2019 - Dr. Ronald L. Ellis receives Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from Boy Scouts of America and is honored as 2019 Distinguished Citizen by the Mt. Rubidoux District
2019 - CBU surpasses 5,000 ISP volunteers since start of program in 1997
2020 - Doctor of Social Work program is launched
2020 - CBU ranks first in California and fifth nationally among private universities helping students with social mobility
2022 - NCAA board approves CBU's Division I membership status
2022 - CBU Soccer Stadium completed and dedicated
2023 - CBU announces historic gift of $28.5 million and the naming of The Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center
2023 - President Dr. Ronald L. Ellis is inducted into the Riverside Sport Hall of Fame
2023 - CBU ties for No. 1 in the country for career preparedness and No. 2 for best student experience in The Wall Street Journal’s 2024 ranking of the Best Colleges in the U.S.
2023 - Hae and Shina Park Building is named — houses the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business, Career Center and Innovators Auditorium
2023 - CBU receives a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education for a program aimed at improving higher education outcomes for Hispanic and low-income students
2024 - Baseball and Softball Clubhouse is completed and dedicated
2024 - CBU honors Dr. Ronald L. Ellis for completing 30 years as president
2025 - CBU announces move to The Big West Conference
2025 - CBU celebrates 75th anniversary
Celebrating 75 Years: Upcoming Events
All EventsLiving Our Purpose: Impact Stories
For John Carney, music has been a lifelong rhythm — from drumming with CBC’s first contemporary Christian music group, Rejoice, to decades of playing in worship teams and community bands. While studying business at CBC, Carney helped introduce a modern sound to campus and met his future wife, Jana Lee (’79), amid countless jam sessions and memories in the Wallace Book of Life building. Though his dream of a professional music career shifted, God opened new doors through a 34-year career with Allstate Insurance, where Carney lived out his faith everyday. Today, he credits his time at CBC for shaping his values, his family, and a lifetime of faith, music, and purpose — all built on the foundation he found there.
For more than 27 years, Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy” Morris has made CBU her home — where her faith and calling have come together. What began in the mid-1990s as a working adult finishing her degree became a lifelong journey from student to teacher to university leader. After earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at CBU, her talent for teaching led to a full-time career that has included roles as professor, associate dean, and now associate provost for Educational Effectiveness. Through it all, she has remained devoted to teaching and mentoring students, grateful for the opportunity to live out her purpose by combining her work and her faith each day.
Since graduating from CBC with degrees in history, sociology, and Spanish, Lilian Betancourt Jezik has dedicated her life to faith, education, and service. Her CBC experience laid the foundation for a career that spanned teaching, library science, and leadership in bilingual education, including roles in Riverside schools and at the University of California, Riverside. Beyond her professional work, Jezik devoted nearly four decades to ministry in Spanish-speaking churches and continues to invest in future educators through a scholarship endowment supporting bilingual teaching careers. Grateful for the spiritual grounding she gained at CBU, she credits her faith for guiding her purpose and preparing her to serve others throughout her life.