Amid a changing world, California Baptist University remains steadfast in its dedication to the Great Commission. This President’s Report offers a meaningful snapshot of how that calling was lived out across our university community.
On these pages, the collective faithfulness of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, partners and supporters is evident. Throughout the year, we saw continued growth in academic excellence, spiritual formation, global engagement and service — each grounded in our mission to prepare students to live God’s purpose. As Scripture reminds us, “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
A defining expression of this commitment is CBU’s emphasis on global perspective and obedience to Christ’s call to “go and make disciples of all nations.” Through International Service Projects and other experiential learning opportunities, students are challenged to step beyond the familiar, engage the world with humility, and live out their faith in practical and transformational ways.
In January 2025, I celebrated a significant milestone — 30 years of presidency at California Baptist University. I am deeply grateful for the Lord’s faithfulness over these three decades and for the countless individuals who have walked alongside CBU during this journey.
In September 2025, we began celebrating CBU’s 75th anniversary. We have taken a look back, seeing how CBU has grown and prepared thousands of alumni to make a difference in their communities. I am amazed by what God has done at CBU over all those decades, and I am excited about what He will do next.
The progress reflected in this report is not the result of one year or one leader, but of a community united by faith, vision and generosity.
As you read this report, I hope you are encouraged by the ways God continues to work through California Baptist University. It is a privilege to serve alongside a community committed to faith, excellence and obedience to Christ’s calling.
May the Lord continue to bless!
Ronald L. Ellis, Ph.D. President
Bringing the Christmas Story to Life Core 4
Numbers Tell the Story
A Global Perspective at Deaflympics
Live Your Purpose
Serving While Leading ISP Teams
Honored Faculty and Staff
University Advancement Athletics Celebrating 75 Years Legacy of Leadership
Bringing the Story of Christmas to Life
Through Music and Drama
A CBU Christmas showcases months of preparation, artistic excellence and a shared mission to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
California Baptist University brought the Christmas story to life with four sold-out performances of A CBU Christmas in December. Through music and drama, audiences experienced the talent and artistry in the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Performing Arts.
Guests enjoyed a polished and professional production but the journey began months earlier, with planning efforts starting in the spring semester. Students dedicated countless hours to rehearsals throughout the fall.
Over 400 students and faculty performed in a production that combined classical, jazz, pop and worship music along with musical theatre and opera.
“It is a huge production,” said Celine Ong (’24), who is pursuing a Master of Music and plays the violin. “It’s a meaningful performance opportunity to me because after I graduate from CBU I might not have this chance to perform such a huge Christmas performance again.”
Kara Emmett, a music composition junior, performed as a ballerina. She also played Mary in two of the performances. CBU Christmas is different from other productions she has participated in, she said.
“We pray during rehearsal, the music is bringing glory to His name, we tell His story and give Him all the glory,” she said. “This show differs also with how joyful everyone is throughout the whole process.”
In her role as Mary, she focused on God rather than the audience.
“Most of Mary’s role was a conversation between her and the Lord,” Emmett said. “When I intentionally perform for Him and Him alone, His spirit can move through me and touch the hearts of the audience members.”
Ong performed in both the Symphony Orchestra and the University Choir and Orchestra ensembles, resulting in about 10 rehearsal hours each week.
“This annual production unites the entire CBU performing arts community to offer a meaningful gift to Southern California, showcase the extraordinary talents of our students and faculty, and creatively proclaim the true message of the Christmas season."
– Dr. Joseph Bolin
“When we play it so many times, we still have to think about how to express it every time, so it won't get too boring,” she said. “We want to set the standard higher each time to make us better musicians.”
She hopes the audience realizes how much work goes into the performances.
“We all put in an enormous amount of time to practice our own parts and to discuss what can be better,” Ong said.
“Being part of CBU Christmas made me realize how God can use all of us, our talents, to convey his gospel and the message.”
Dr. Joseph Bolin, dean of the Collinsworth School of Performing Arts, said of the more than 200 performances the school presents each year, A CBU Christmas stands apart in both scope and impact.
“This annual production unites the entire CBU performing arts community to offer a meaningful gift to Southern California, showcase the extraordinary talents of our students and faculty, and creatively proclaim the true message of the Christmas season,” he said.
Ruth Noemy Wheeler, instructor of music, served as the festival orchestra director, preparing the instrumentalists for the production. During the show, she conducted and played the electric violin for “Carol of the Bells,” in an arrangement inspired by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
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“I love being in the room with the students, guiding, shaping and challenging them to reach higher levels of musical excellence,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler has watched A CBU Christmas grow into a cherished tradition since it started in 2018. Her vision is to combine artistry and worship to tell the story of Christmas with beauty and sincerity.
“I want every performer — from the orchestra to the choirs to the soloists, to the dancers, to the actors — to feel united in purpose, and for every audience member to leave inspired, encouraged and reminded of the hope and the reason we celebrate during this season,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler said the first full rehearsal with all the participants captures the spirit of CBU Christmas.
“At first, it feels a bit chaotic, people adjusting, and working through details. But then, suddenly, everything aligns, the sound fills the room, and the students’ faces light up,” she said. “That transformation from individual parts to one unified ensemble is the heart of this production.”
Emmett views the show as a ministry.
“It is something CBU is using to share the gospel of Christ to the SoCal community, and I get to be a part of it,” she said.
Through music, design and acting, the show visualizes what the Holy Night might have looked like, Emmett said.
“I want the audience to leave with a new perspective of God’s great act of humility for coming down to earth to a lowly couple, in a lowly town, as a newborn baby,” she said.
A CBU Christmas is a beautiful reminder of what can happen when performers pursue excellence with purpose, Wheeler said.
“Watching our students rise to that challenge every year is truly inspiring. Beyond the music, my hope is that this production points our hearts back to the true meaning of Christmas,” she said. “If the audience feels God’s peace and joy through what we do, then every moment of hard work is worth it.”
"I want the audience to leave with a new perspective of God’s great act of humility for coming down to earth to a lowly couple, in a lowly town, as a newborn baby."
– Kara Emmett
Core 4 Outcomes
CBU has created a foundation for students that builds on Christ’s example of being a light in a world of darkness. Students are encouraged to use their God-given talents and skills to live their purpose.
To help students reach this goal, a set of outcomes — known as the “Core 4” — are reflective of the impact the university seeks to have in the lives of its students. They include demonstrating spiritual literacy, respecting diverse cultures and perspectives, using critical thinking skills, transferring academic studies to a profession and implementing a personal and social ethic.
It is CBU’s hope that these outcomes become rooted in the character of each Lancer, inspiring and motivating students wherever life leads them at CBU and around the world.
Academically Prepared Globally
Biblically Rooted
NUMBERS TELL THE STORY
$435,415,272 742
University Budget
FY 2025-26
$3,852,113
Faculty Grants and Awards Received
FY 2024-25
$94,599,735
397
Full-Time Staff
CBU Institutional Aid Given
FY 2024-25
Full-Time Faculty
BACHELOR’S PROGRAMS
12,516
19:1
76.7% n 10
MASTER'S PROGRAMS DOCTORAL PROGRAMS
299 STUDENTS FROM 59 COUNTRIES
20:1
Student : Professor Ratio Average Class Size (Students)
Freshmen Retentio
The national retention rate is 69.5%, per the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
GNINIAG GLOBALPERSPECTIVEAT
DEAFLYMPICS
3K
DEAF ATHLETES
Ivana Bilaver, a student at California Baptist University, loves sports and travel.
When she learned CBU was sending a team to the Deaflympics in Japan in November, she was excited to combine her two passions.
“After learning how under-represented the Deaf community is within athletics, I wanted to learn more about their culture and team dynamics,” said Bilaver, a student in the Master of Science in Sport and Performance Psychology program.
A total of 13 students, undergraduates and graduates and all members of CBU’s American Sign Language Club, joined two faculty on the trip.
Nearly 3,000 Deaf athletes from more than 100 countries competed at the 2025 Deaflympics. The CBU group wasn’t there to just watch — it supported Team USA’s performance psychology team.
"The world is a much smaller place if you can fly yourself there," LaChausse says.
Graduate and undergraduate students experience cross-cultural engagement and support Team USA
100 COUNTRIES
The connection between CBU and Team USA’s performance psychology team began a year earlier. Dr. Kristin Mauldin, director of the sport and performance psychology program, became involved in advocacy for athletes and sport psychology practitioners with disabilities through the Adaptive Sport and Physical Activity Special Interest Group, part of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. Two of the group’s members are part of the Deaf community and co-directors of the first sport psychology team to join the Deaflympics.
When funding challenges arose, CBU’s sport and performance psychology graduate program and the Center for Deaf Studies partnered to sponsor the team, providing $4,000 for essential communication equipment.
The collaboration opened the door for the CBU group to attend competitions, meet members of Team USA’s performance psychology team and experience both Deaf and Japanese cultures.
“The students seemed to gain a deeper appreciation for the challenges Deaf athletes face, the resilience they demonstrate in the face of these challenges,” Mauldin said. “It also exposed them to a group of athletes who very much need the services of mental performance consultants and yet have received almost none up until now.”
Bilaver said Deaf athletes often face limited resources, including a lack of funding for interpreters on teams made up of both signing and non-signing athletes. This has inspired her to work with Deaf athletes and raise awareness about the importance of sports and self-advocacy within the Deaf community.
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“The most memorable part of this experience are the images in my mind of our students interacting with Deaf people, gradually gaining confidence,” said Dr. Daniel Blair, director of the Center for Deaf Studies.
Abigail Gomez, a communication sciences and disorders senior and co-president of the ASL Club, said the experience confirmed her career goal to be a speechlanguage pathologist.
“You have to make an effort to venture out and immerse yourself in the world to learn about different cultures and languages,” she said. “This deepened my sense of calling and purpose, which I believe God has given me: to serve others as Jesus would want me to, with grace, selflessness, kindness and love.”
"Rather
than the typical lens of viewing deafness as a disability and almost ‘lesser’ group, I was able to see how the Deaf community are simply human beings who communicate differently like any other culture.”
– Megan Chou
Megan Chou, a biology junior, went on this trip to experience cross-cultural engagement and gain a greater worldview. Chou plans to be a dental hygienist and wants to be able to communicate with Deaf patients.
“I got to step into a whole new world where I was challenged to communicate only through hand signs, body language and facial expressions,” Chou said. “Rather than the typical lens of viewing deafness as a disability and almost ‘lesser’ group, I was able to see how the Deaf community are simply human beings who communicate differently like any other culture.”
"This deepened my sense of calling and purpose, which I believe God has given me: to serve others as Jesus would want me to, with grace, selflessness, kindness and love.”
– Abigail Gomez
Performance Psychology program, was excited to explore the Deaf community, a demographic she had not yet observed. At a USA women’s basketball game, she talked with a player’s parent and learned about the process of making the team. They sat close to the team where she saw what the coach signed to the players.
“Team sport is so reliant on communication, and from a sports psych lens this was interesting to observe. They have to rely on other forms of communication like written and non-verbal to communicate with one another,” Sudbrook said.
Bilaver said she was also impacted that most of Japan’s population and the Deaf community have not heard the Gospel.
“We need to be praying for unreached people groups and continually trying to spread the Good News,” she said.
“Interacting with people from different backgrounds and cultures proves how big our God is.”
Gomez said the trip strengthened her sense of purpose.
“It has made me more aware that everyone is special and has been uniquely crafted by our marvelous Creator,” she said. “Interacting with peers, athletes and spectators from diverse backgrounds, cultures and languages influenced my worldview.”
Live Your Purpose ®
California Baptist University believes every person is created for a purpose.
To discover theirs, students become well-rounded — through their time in the classroom, in clubs and at chapel — growing in how they live for God daily.
CBU provides a Christ-centered educational experience that helps students understand their purpose. By blending academics with spiritual and social development opportunities, students are encouraged to pursue who they are meant to be.
Learning extends beyond the classroom, shaped by service, involvement and the everyday connections that make campus life meaningful.
Faculty and staff intentionally invest in students, creating a supportive environment where they can explore interests and grow in their unique gifts.
At the same time, CBU empowers its employees to live their own purpose, encouraging them to serve others and make a meaningful impact within the campus community. They cultivate a community where purpose is discovered and lived out each day.
As students prepare to graduate, they are challenged to become individuals whose skills, integrity and sense of meaning glorify God and distinguish them in the workplace and the world.
To live their purpose is ultimately to live God’s purpose for their life, making a difference in the world around them.
Serving While Leading ISP Teams
Some faculty and staff have led multiple times. They share their experiences.
In 1997, California Baptist University launched the International Service Project program, sending teams to China, Ecuador and Russia. Since then, teams have visited countries around the globe to assist field workers and the local people.
Teams now serve from two to eight weeks, conducting English camps, trekking to remote villages, teaching conversational English, providing health care and assisting with children’s and university ministries.
Most teams include a faculty or staff leader. A handful of these leaders have served multiple times. We talked with some of them about their experiences.
Helping Students Take the Next Step
Dr. Chris McHorney, professor of political science, has the most ISPs under his belt – leading 14 teams. His first one was to Rwanda in 2008. The prospect of leading an ISP team with the task of helping Rwandan university students who had survived the 1994 genocide as children was intriguing to him, he said.
1997–2025
5,869 PARTICIPANTS
67 COUNTRIES
23 COUNTRIES
674 TEAMS
2026
289 PARTICIPANTS
35 TEAMS
Kayla Ruiz, second from left
A conversation with a fieldworker during McHorney’s next ISP to East Asia led to a deeper understanding of the need for Christians to go to the nations and proclaim the gospel.
“There's just so much lostness. I came home and I told my wife, ‘I don’t know how we make this work, but I need to go every year.’ Because the task is daunting, but the command is very clear,” he said.
He has led ISP teams to countries such as Japan, France and Taiwan. The teams have engaged in ministries that ranged from physical labor — clearing a section of a jungle for individuals with disabilities — to evangelism, talking with people at college campuses, malls and markets.
His goal is to help students take the next step in their spiritual journey. This may include sharing the gospel at home, joining another mission trip or committing to serve as a missionary.
“Many members of my teams learned that God could use the challenges they have overcome through their faith in God to help them connect with non-believers who are struggling with the same problem,” he said.
Guiding in Faith and Service
Dr. Rebecca Meyer, professor of nursing, has led more than 10 ISP teams since her first one in 2011 to Russia. Other trips include Brazil, South Asia and Southeast Asia. God tells believers to go to the nations, Meyer said. While a family member’s chronic illness keeps her from going long term, she can serve short term.
“I think that's my way of following ‘send me’ found in the book of Isaiah,” she said.
Her teams have been either a mix of majors or only nursing students. They have worked in orphanages, led vacation Bible school, taught CPR and first aid and visited people in their homes.
“It's fun to see the students’ gifts come out,” she said. “You see them grow and learn about themselves, too.”
During their time abroad, students learn about culture, people, themselves and, hopefully, more about God, she said.
“It shows our students that the person in front of you is a fellow image bearer, no matter what their background is and no matter where we are,” Meyer said.
Meyer recalls a special moment that happened in South Asia, where the team served at a center that helped the sick and dying. A mother of three daughters had TB. The mother sat in the corner with her mask on, watching the team members play with her girls.
“She asked the field worker ‘why have those girls been touching my children and playing with them? Nobody has ever touched my children before,’” Meyer said. “They were the untouchables. They were the lowest of the low in society and literally no one had ever done that before. And the CBU students were just showing the love of enthusiastic young adults and of the Lord Jesus.”
“Many members of my teams learned that God could use the challenges they have overcome through their faith in God to help them connect with nonbelievers who are struggling with the same problem."
– Dr. Chris McHorney
Dr. Rebecca Meyer
Dr. Chris McHorney, back row
Opening Students’ Worldview
After teaching English in Japan for a year, Dr. Cynthia Boes, professor of communication, jumped at the chance to lead an ISP team to East Asia in 2008.
Since then, she has led teams to countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Panama and Southeast Asia. Her 13 teams have helped with English camps or engaged with university students.
“We go to places where people have never heard of Jesus before,” Boes said. “I have students who went on their first mission trip with me, who are now living full time in South Asia or the Middle East. I get to be a part of that journey.”
She also values the deeper relationships formed with students outside the classroom, seeing their unique skills and challenges and making a lasting impact. Boes has seen students talk about Jesus after thinking they could not start a conversation with a stranger.
“Now they go to a coffee shop in the States and strike up a conversation with the person sitting nearby. They don’t have to fly across the world,” she said.
She saw people in East Asia decide to become Christians, which means rejecting their culture, sometimes their family, and it can be dangerous.
“It makes faith more real,” she said. “God is a God of the whole world. God is not an American God.”
I
CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERISTY GLOBAL MISSION GOD'S
NTERNATIONAL SERVICEPROJECTS
“It makes faith more real. God is a God of the whole world. God is not an American God.”
– Dr. Cynthia Boes
Dr. Cynthia Boes, center
Dr. Tom Ferko, center back
Couple Both Step into Leading Teams
Dr. Tom Ferko, professor of chemistry, joined an ISP team of faculty and staff with the purpose of giving future leaders the ISP experience. Traveling to Southeast Asia in 2012 gave him enough of a taste to lead a team the next year to East Asia.
He has led eight teams to countries such as Germany, France and Kenya. His team this year will go to Southeast Asia.
His first three ISPs partnered with field workers who served rural minority people groups with no access to modern sanitation or reliable water sources. Teams built water storage tanks and latrines.
“It was a lot of manual labor… but opened a door for those who spoke the native language of the villagers to be alongside us and to share the gospel with those in the villages,” he said.
Later teams worked with immigrants, hosting an English camp and providing disaster relief.
“I think that all Christians need to be active in spreading the gospel and expanding the Kingdom in some way,” he said. “ISP allows me to do this in several ways — going, equipping and supporting those who go through prayer and giving.”
It is a joy seeing the students mature spiritually, Ferko said. A student on his first team was struggling academically the year she did ISP. Afterward she changed her major, went on ISP the following year, and was a student leader the third year.
“Seeing her go from someone having no clear direction to leading a team was such a joy,” he said.
Ferko’s wife, Dr. Doreen Ferko, professor of special education, wanted to lead, too. However, family obligations, health issues and COVID kept her from going until 2022. The couple take separate teams, providing CBU with two leaders.
Doreen Ferko first led a team to Panama, serving children with disabilities. Later trips included Taiwan, where teams worked with university students and preschoolers. She will lead a team to East Asia this year.
“I learned that service can be used as a vehicle to share the gospel, because not all projects are in open countries,” she said.
Her first mission trip was in ninth grade to a Navajo reservation in Arizona. She and Tom now go on missions with their church. Ferko said ISP has deepened her heart for the nations.
“I encourage my students to think beyond just the United States,” she said. “There's so much out there to learn. The beauty of how God reaches people, their stories and their love for the Lord is the same no matter where you're at.”
“There's so much out there to learn. The beauty of how God reaches people, their stories and their love for the Lord is the same no matter where you're at.”
– Dr. Doreen Ferko
From Student to Leader
As a student, Kayla Ruiz (’18), outdoor adventure coordinator for Campus Recreation, traveled to Poland on ISP in 2015. As a staff member, she has led teams to South Asia for three years, traveling to villages to share the gospel, partnering with local believers who do ministry in hard to access areas.
“There are people who have no way of hearing the gospel unless people go and share,” Ruiz said. “When I was approached about the opportunity to share the gospel with the lost, empower and encourage students and trek, it was a very easy yes!”
Each trip reminds her that believers have the privilege of participating in His work.
“The trips have also taught me to lead with a humble dependence on Christ,” she said. “Partnering with field workers and nationals in country also are a reminder of how our belief in Christ is a greater similarity than any difference we have.”
She has seen big changes in the students who have gone.
“They have done things that are really hard, pushed themselves outside of their comfort zone, and grown immensely in humility and care for others,” Ruiz said. “ISP provides a life-changing experience. I have had the chance to see the kindness, sovereignty, immutability and power of the Lord again and again.”
Dr. Doreen Ferko, right
EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Janet Hernandez
EMPLO EERECOGNITION WARDS
Senior Student Accounts Counselor, Office of Student Accounts
Janet Hernandez always believed in the benefits of a Christian education, having worked at the Christian school near CBU for 13 years, where her sons attended. Beginning in 2006, she officially became a “CBU Mom” when her oldest son began his college journey as a Lancer.
Five years later, Hernandez joined CBU as a student accounts counselor, where she has served for the last 14 years.
“As our family became very committed to CBU and loved everything about it, I prayed the Lord would lead me to a job to be a part of all He was doing there,” Hernandez said.
Dr. Jenifer N. Nalbandian
Associate Professor of Chemistry
DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR
To learn more about them, scan the QR code.
In her role as a senior student accounts counselor, Hernandez is responsible for managing approximately 1,200 student accounts each semester, supporting students and parents as they navigate charges, balances and payment options. She collaborates with the Student Accounts team and other departments to improve and refine processes to reach departmental goals.
Hernandez said her goal is to make the financial process a positive and manageable experience for students. Serving at CBU provides her with the opportunity to witness life changes in students and contribute to the university’s mission.
“I have been blessed by the awesome management team and staff who have felt like a family, encouraging one another, praying for one another, supporting each other, celebrating life and our purpose together,” she said.
Dr. Jenifer N. Nalbandian describes herself as a tough but fair professor who loves encouraging and challenging her students through rigorous courses.
“Students know I will work hard to make the difficult course information as clear as possible,” said Nalbandian. “I love my students passionately and endeavor to build a personal relationship with each of them.”
Nalbandian joined CBU as an adjunct faculty in 2015 and was hired to a tenure-track by fall 2016, a testament to her teaching style and ability to connect with students.
As an organic chemist, Nalbandian primarily teaches classes and labs for organic chemistry courses, including Introduction to the Discipline. There she enjoys connecting with the new chemical sciences majors. She also teaches chemistry courses for pre-nursing majors.
“I approach each interaction with my students as an opportunity to show them the love of God,” Nalbandian said. “They are not just a number or a face in a crowd, but they matter to me and even more so to God.”
DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR OF THE YEAR
Dr. Matthew Rickard Dr. Shawn Wilhite
Professor of Engineering
For the past 16 years, Dr. Matthew Rickard has helped shape the next generation of engineers at California Baptist University by pairing technical rigor with purpose-driven education grounded in faith.
A Riverside native, Rickard joined CBU shortly after the launch of the university’s College of Engineering.
“There are very few Christian universities with engineering programs,” he said. “To see CBU growing into this area — in my hometown — was exciting and meaningful.”
Coming to academia from industry as an R&D engineer, Rickard initially questioned whether he would find success in the competitive academic landscape. Being named Distinguished Scholar of the Year affirmed that journey.
“This award confirms that the medical device research I’ve pursued with students has led to work that truly matters,” he said.
Rickard is known for making engineering both challenging and engaging. Courses such as Introduction to Engineering and Fluid Mechanics for Biomedical Engineers emphasize handson laboratory projects that reinforce learning and make the discipline accessible.
“Engineering is hard,” he said, “but it’s manageable — and it can be fun.”
His research addresses pediatric myopia, a growing global health concern. Leading a collaborative study with UC Irvine, UC San Francisco and Globe Biomedical — a company spun out of CBU — Rickard helped validate smart pediatric frames that accurately track outdoor exposure and wear time, advancing both research and treatment.
Guided by Jeremiah 9:23–24, Rickard reminds students that true success is not found in prestige or achievement alone, but in knowing God and using their gifts to serve others.
Associate Professor of New Testament
DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR OF THE YEAR
For Dr. Shawn Wilhite, teaching at California Baptist University represents the fulfillment of a lifelong calling — and a commitment to shaping students through both academic rigor and Christian formation.
In 2025, Wilhite was named a Distinguished Scholar, an honor he received with deep gratitude. He credits the encouragement of his dean and several mentors for helping him view scholarship as a form of contemplation and faithfulness to God, and not simply as self-promotion.
A CBU alumnus (’06), Wilhite joined the faculty in 2015 with a clear vision for the classroom: to be approachable and encouraging, while holding students to high intellectual standards. His aim extends beyond mastery of course content to cultivating habits of thoughtful faith, virtue and vocational readiness.
“Students are challenged to think christianly about God and their chosen field of study,” Wilhite said. “Through that work, they cultivate spiritual anchors that will guide their future pursuits.”
Wilhite holds two doctorates — one in New Testament from Southern Seminary and one in historical and theological studies from Durham University— as well as additional advanced degrees in New Testament and Patristic Theology. His research centers on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the development of Christian theology from the first through fifth centuries. Wilhite is the author of 13 books (some already published and some currently under contract), and he regularly contributes to academic journals and conferences.
He teaches courses on Jesus and the gospels, Paul and the church, and Christian virtue. In his classes, he continually invites students to slow down, think deeply and grow in love for God and others.
CBU Surpasses $200 Million Endowment Milestone Ahead of Schedule
California Baptist University reached a historic milestone in December 2025 when its endowment surpassed $200 million — a year ahead of its goal. The achievement reflects the university’s commitment to long-term financial stability and the support of its donors.
“Reaching this goal a year ahead of schedule demonstrates the extraordinary generosity of Lancer Nation and the strength of our financial strategy,” said Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of CBU. “This accomplishment is not just a number. It represents a shared vision for the future built on a firm foundation.”
After 71 years, CBU reached its first $100 million in endowment, in 2021. Four years later, CBU doubled that amount. This will support academic excellence for generations to come, said Paul Eldridge, vice president for University Advancement.
“The belief of friends and supporters in our mission and their commitment to invest in our future have made this achievement possible,” he said. “This accelerated growth reflects a powerful combination of donor generosity and institutional stewardship working hand in hand."
The endowment provides long-term financial stability and is critical to the health and wellness of the institution. The growth can be attributed to generous donors; university institutional matching funds for endowment gifts; growth in university quasi endowment; and market growth. Together, these elements have created a sustainable model that will support academic excellence for generations to come.
CBU’S ENDOWMENT
“Institutional matching and quasi endowment funds have provided the critical foundation for this achievement. They ensure stability and allow the university to plan strategically for the long term,” said Mark Howe, vice president for Finance and Administration.
Meanwhile, over the past five fiscal years, CBU received more than $124.5 million in gifts and gift commitments. Donors contributed to schools, colleges, programs, athletics and other areas across the university.
A sample of gifts given in 2025:
• When a donor committed up to $6 million in matching funds, CBU launched a three-year $24 Million Endowment Challenge in January 2025. The endowment challenge is aimed at securing long-term support for students and programs in the School of Christian Ministries, including double major endowed scholarships, Bachelor of Applied Theology scholarships and the School of Christian Ministries Excellence Fund.
• Frank and Lucy Heyming donated almost five acres with a 6,300-square-foot home and a flourishing botanical garden, a $5.3 million gift to the university. A new endowment to provide care for the botanical garden was created at the time of the gift. That endowment is now more than $1 million. The property is located just blocks from CBU.
• James and Barbara Knuppe committed $2 million to an endowment for the construction management program, which has been named in their honor. Through its endowment matching initiative, CBU will double the impact of their gift, creating a $4 million endowment.
"This
accelerated growth reflects a powerful combination of donor generosity and institutional stewardship working hand in hand."
– Paul J. Eldridge, J.D. Vice President
GIVING AT CBU
Every gift to CBU, large or small, enables the university to continue offering students an educational experience that blends academics with spiritual and social development opportunities.
To find out more about giving to CBU, scan the QR code or visit calbaptist.edu/give.
Botanical Garden and Home donated by Frank and Lucy Heyming
ATHLETIC SUCCESS LANCER NATION
In 2024-25, California Baptist University finished 100th nationally in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, first in the Western Athletic Conference and ninth among non-football institutions. The Lancers won three conference championships and sent six teams to NCAA postseason play.
Midway through 2025-26, CBU led the WAC in the fall Learfield Directors' Cup standings. All this as the university prepares to transition to The Big West Conference in July 2026.
Most of The Big West schools are located in California. That proximity means less travel for CBU’s teams, greater accessibility for fans and stronger regional rivalries. In fact, Riverside now becomes home to two NCAA Division I programs competing in the same conference — California Baptist University and the University of California, Riverside. It’s a milestone moment for the city and for collegiate athletics in the region.
Since becoming a full member of Division I in the 2022-23 season, CBU has competed nearly 200 times against Big West teams. The move simply makes it official: CBU is competing on a big stage in collegiate athletics. Here are some highlights.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
In 2025, men’s basketball noted a 17–15 record, advancing to the WAC semifinals for the first time. Dominique Daniels Jr. and Bradey Henige received all-conference honors, with Daniels Jr. leading the WAC in scoring and setting CBU’s Division I singleseason scoring record. Head coach Rick Croy reached 250 career wins at CBU.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Women’s basketball earned the No. 6 seed in the WAC Tournament. Khloe Lemon set program and conference records for three-pointers in a game. Cece Legaspi earned WAC Freshman of the Year honors.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
In 2024, women’s soccer came from behind in the finals of the WAC tournament to capture its first WAC Championship and make its NCAA Tournament debut. The team made another comeback in 2025 to win consecutive WAC championships.
Nikki Mau
BASEBALL
Baseball finished the season 30–27 and advanced to the WAC Tournament. Nick Dumesnil was named WAC Player of the Year. He was drafted 249th overall (8th round) in the MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers, the highest draft pick in CBU’s program history. Head coach Gary Adcock closed the season with 763 career wins.
CROSS COUNTRY | TRACK & FIELD
Cross country claimed its fifth consecutive WAC Championship and qualified for nationals in 2024. The men’s team placed 13th nationally, the best finish in program history. In 2025, the men and women swept the WAC championships. Track & field produced five regional qualifiers and two WAC individual champions. Valentin Soca earned First Team All-American honors and recorded the seventh-fastest 5K time in NCAA history.
MEN'S WATER POLO
In 2024, men’s water polo finished ninth nationally, won its first West Coast Conference Tournament Championship and made its NCAA Tournament debut.
STUNT
STUNT won the 2025 Joust Championship and its fifth consecutive national title, remaining undefeated at 107–0. Brandon Seagondollar and Maddison Arochi were named Coach and Athlete of the Year.
Nick Dumesnil
Dominique Daniels Jr.
Women's soccer
Cross Country
Nikki Mau
CBU CELEBRATES ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY
California Baptist University celebrated its 75th anniversary during the 2025-26 school year. Starting with Welcome Weekend, events featured themed backdrops and banners that showcased the growth and scenes of the campus over the years.
When the doors opened in 1950 in borrowed classrooms in El Monte, California, faculty and staff already had the goal of transforming students’ lives through education grounded in a biblical worldview. That commitment has not waivered.
On Sept. 18, 2025, CBU marked Founders Day with a student event on campus and historical trivia on social media. Over 500 students gathered to enjoy live music, food trucks and cupcakes and to sing “Happy Birthday” to CBU.
CBU celebrated its first Founders Day in 1956 to mark the opening of California Baptist College, which occurred on Sept. 18, 1950. In 1956, Founders Day was part of a longer Founders Week. Former students, Board of Trustee members, pastors and those who supported the opening of CBC were invited to attend the celebration.
During Homecoming, members of the Lancer Nation painted a mural featuring elements of campus, such as the Kugel, James Building and orange trees. Alumni, students, faculty, staff and CBU supporters had an opportunity to paint a section. The completed mural is installed on the first floor of the Yeager Center, near the admissions office.
Throughout the year, students and visitors alike experienced the joy of the anniversary, with little moments of delight — a spontaneous game of hopscotch, motivational signs during finals week and a chalk art installation supported by student artists. From logos to signs to T-shirts and hats, CBU celebrated its 75th all year long.
Over the decades, CBU has experienced both challenges and triumphs. Through it all, God has been faithful. We celebrate His provision over these 75 years. He has brought the right people to guide, teach and sustain the work required to grow a university.
CBU’s growth is seen not only in enrollment, buildings and academic programs, but also in its expanding impact — locally and globally. Our students are being equipped across diverse fields to live out their purpose, serve others and share the gospel. We thank God for the thousands of students who have walked this campus, discovering who they are and who He is.
Through it all, God has been faithful. We celebrate His provision over these 75 years. He has brought the right people to guide, teach and sustain the work required to grow a university.
CBU LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP
“The basic reasons for establishing California Baptist College were to train the minds of the students to the highest degree and to develop Christian character in the lives of those who attend.”
P. Boyd Smith, first president, 1950-1958
“One of the most cherished objectives of the present administration of California Baptist College is that our institution shall continue to develop in its missionary spirit and commitment.”
Dr. Loyed Simmons, second president, 1958-1971
“Conformity to methods of past decades is not enough for young people in a world which has experienced ventures into space and under waters of the seas. This is our hour … to develop young people to become leaders, well-educated and with quality.”
Dr. James R. Staples, third president, 1971-1984
“We must have the courage to dream big dreams and the courage to pray for God’s will and the courage to follow it.”
Dr. Russell Tuck, fourth president 1984-1994
“The founding and history of the college are filled with the spirit of missionary and zeal. Today, we rea rm that missionary spirit as an integral building block for the new era just beginning. May future generations look back on our time and find us faithful.”
Dr. Ronald L. Ellis , fifth president 1994-present
Executive Council
Dr. Ronald L. Ellis
President
Dr. Charles Sands
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Mr. Kent Dacus
Senior Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services
Mr. Mark Howe
Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration
Paul J. Eldridge, J.D. Vice President for University Advancement
Mrs. Angela Meluski Vice President for Marketing and Communication
Adam Burton, J.D. Vice President and General Counsel
