Welcome Lancer Family! In this issue ...

September 11, 2026

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Publishing

Research Articles

 

Greisha

Dr. Greisha L. Ortiz-Hernández

Dr. Greisha L. Ortiz-Hernández, assistant professor of biological sciences: CCN1 as a compartment-specific biomarker of active microenvironmental remodeling: evidence from bone repair, aging, inflammation, and cancer. Frontiers in Medicine (Aug. 17).

Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi
Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi
Dr. Hyun-Woo Park
Dr. Hyun-Woo Park

Dr. Dennis K. Bideshi, professor of biology, Dr. Hyun-Woo Park, professor of biology, and current and former students from the biomedical sciences and biochemistry and molecular biology programs: Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis at the Public Health-Ecology-Biotechnology Nexus: From Larvicidal Precision to Protein Delivery Platform. Applied Microbiology (May 26).

 

Jiliang Li

Dr. Jiliang Li

Dr. Jiliang Li, assistant professor of civil engineering: Parabolic PDEs’ Applications in Mechanical and Civil Engineering. Published for the 2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, in Charlotte, North Carolina, on June 21-24.

 

 

Books

 

Erin

Dr. Erin Smith

Dr. Erin Smith, professor of psychology: Pastoring the Whole Person: Psychology for Ministry Practice. B&H Academic (Sept. 1).

Kenneth

Dr. Kenneth Nehrbass

Dr. Kenneth Nehrbass, assistant professor of social work: co-edited Ecclesiology and Mission. William Carey Publishing (Sept. 8).

 

Articles

 

Nathan

Dr. Nathan Iverson

Dr. Nathan Iverson, professor of psychology: Entry-Level, Three Years of Experience Required. Psychology Today (Aug. 22).

 

 

Fiction and Poems

 

Fortress Cover

Alexis Leigh Ragan, adjunct professor of English: Fortress: Poems by Alexis Leigh. Indian Paintbrush Poets (Aug. 1).

 

 

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Presentations

 

Jiliang Li

Dr. Jiliang Li

Dr. Jiliang Li, assistant professor of civil engineering: Teaching basic mechanics prerequisite courses before applied mechanics for optimal students’ mechanics learning outcome. ASCE Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference 2026 at the University of Colorado Boulder on June 2-5.

Dr. Helen Jung
Dr. Helen Jung
Dr. Benjamin Sanders
Dr. Benjamin Sanders

Dr. Helen Jung, professor of civil engineering and construction management, and Dr. Benjamin Sanders, assistant professor of computer science and data science: poster Towards modelling runoff and flood prediction over unreliable precipitation gauges and assessment of potential gauge error. IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 12.

 

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson
Dr. Mary Ann Pearson
Dr. Victoria Brodie
Dr. Victoria Brodie

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, professor of communication and leadership, and Dr. Victoria Brodie, associate professor of public relations: Unleash results with EQ, AQ and psychological safety. Association for Leadership Educators Conference in Philadelphia on July 28.

Hekman

Dr. Keith Hekman

Dr. Keith Hekman, professor of mechanical engineering: Use of AI as a design aid in a senior-level machine design project. 2026 American Society of Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition in Charlotte, North Carolina, on June 23. Hekman also presented Using a pool noddle to demonstrate Mohr's circle.

 

Nicole Clowdus
Nicole Clowdus
Misty Christman
Misty Christman
Judy Parga
Judy Parga
Alma Salazar
Alma Salazar

Nicole Clowdus, senior graduate admissions counselor: Targeted talent: strategies for recruiting specific degree holders. Mistry Christman, senior graduate admissions counselor, and Judy Parga, senior graduate admissions counselor: One Mission, two paths: relationship-based vs information-based enrollment strategies. Alma Salazar, director of graduate admissions: Our key partners: driving graduate enrollment through strategic academic relationships. Southern California Christian Colleges and Universities Annual Conference at Azusa Pacific University on June 18.

Satoru Suzuki

Dr. Satoru Suzuki

Dr. Satoru Suzuki, professor of chemistry: poster Use of common lab indicators as demonstration of quantum mechanical particle in a box model: bromocresol green and bromothymol blue. American Chemical Society Fall 2026 meeting in Chicago on Aug. 26.

 

Logan Petersen
Logan Petersen
Kevin Pawley
Kevin Pawley

Logan Petersen, transcript and records analyst I, and Kevin Pawley, assistant registrar for traditional enrollment and records: Transfer (friendly) with purpose. ACCRAO – The Assembly in Arlington, Virginia, on July 19.

 

 

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Professional Accolades

 

Kendra

Dr. Kendra Flores-Carter

On July 3, Dr. Kendra Flores-Carter, associate professor of social work, received a license from the Ministry of Health and Wellness that allows her to practice social work in Belize as an allied health professional. She also completed her Department of Health Care Services Doula Certification training and can now practice through Medi-Cal.

Chase Porter and Cohorts

During the Spring 2026 semester, Dr. Chase Porter, associate professor of political science and chair of the department of history and government, was a member of the Faculty Leadership Academy of the Council of Independent Colleges’ (CIC) inaugural cohort. In this role, Porter participated in several training sessions, ending in a convention in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 27-29.

 

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Campus News

 

Student planting small American Flag

The Veterans Resource Center is commemorating Sept. 11 and invites faculty, staff and students to plant a flag on the lawn in honor of the fallen. Student veterans will provide flags in Stamps Courtyard from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. At 3 p.m. the remaining flags will be planted on the lawn. Everyone in the area is invited to gather for a short prayer and the playing of taps as we pause to honor and remember the fallen.

 

 

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Student Highlights

 

Samiah Gomez - left, Jonathan Henry, Breanna Roelling and Dr. Sophia S. Mun

Samiah Gomez (left), Jonathan Henry, Breanna Roelling and Dr. Sophia S. Mun

Under the guidance of Dr. Sophia S. Mun, associate professor of behavioral sciences, Samiah Gomez, Jonathan Henry and Breanna Roelling, from the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences presented their research project at UC San Diego’s Summer Research Conference on Aug. 12.

Benjamin

Benjamin Peterson

Benjamin Peterson, a biochemistry senior, presented his research poster, Bilateral Cartesian ddG for C2 Homodimers, at RosettaCon, a protein modeling conference, in Seattle on Aug. 3. This project was developed under the supervision of Dr. Jones Tsai, associate professor of biochemistry, and Dr. Patrick Schacht, professor of biochemistry.

 

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Personal Milestones

 

Foytick Baby

Marley Friar

Chad Foytik, on-call bus driver, and his wife, Elaine, welcomed their first grandchild on June 14. Marley Friar weighed 8 pounds and measured 21 inches. Her parents are Marshall and Rachel Friar.

Sao Baby

Cole Keoni

Cierra Sao, graduate admissions counselor, and her husband, Brandon, welcomed their second son on Aug. 12. Cole Keoni Sao weighed 5 pounds, 1 ounce.

 

 

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Personnel Changes

HR Chart

Check out job opportunities at CBU by clicking here.

 

About The CBU Family

The CBU Family is published by the CBU Marketing and Communication Division.

Please submit items to be considered for publication to cbufamily@calbaptist.edu.

Credits

Editor
Angela Meluski
Managing Editor
Vivian Quezada
Web Editor
Daniel Akers