Our Community Counseling Centers provide low-cost therapy and experience for grad students.
Where Training Meets Helping
Community Counseling Centers provide low-cost therapy and experience for grad students.
Finding Their Pathways
Residency program helps to create much-needed bilingual teacher pipeline.
Support Behind the Scenes
Meet some of the staff helping students navigate their college years and beyond.
Swan Song
Beloved music professor Wyant Morton shares his final notes after 33 years at Cal Lutheran.
Remember When?
Alumni share their go-to songs to help us spin the ultimate Cal Lutheran playlist.
Uplifting Our Community, Peace by Piece
The lengthening of daylight is a delightful sign of spring. This season of Lent is, for Lutherans and a billion other Christians, a time of reflection and preparation. This year, it extends from Ash Wednesday, March 5, to Easter Sunday, April 20. As I consider my own Lent, I appreciate the acrostic: LENT.
It serves as both a challenge and an invitation: to choose hope over despair, action over apathy and faith over fear.
At California Lutheran University, culture matters.
We are cultivating a culture of service, resilience and grace — values deeply rooted in our identity as a Lutheran institution. While we are a place of open inquiry and welcome to all, our foundation, rooted in faith, shapes how we support and uplift our community.
Through our Peace by Piece initiative, we are taking meaningful steps toward this vision. This semester-long effort encourages our campus community to take actionable steps toward bringing peace into our communities. One component of this initiative is Perspectives, an asynchronous online learning module designed by the Constructive Dialogue Institute. Perspectives helps us develop the skills to navigate complex conversations, fostering understanding even when we hold differing values and viewpoints. By participating in Perspectives, we take an essential step — one piece — toward peace.
This spirit of intentionality and service is reflected throughout our university. Our dedicated faculty and staff, many of whom are highlighted in this issue, play a vital role in fostering a supportive and thriving campus environment, and our alumni also exemplify this commitment to purposeful work.
By doing our part in our piece of the world, we continue to uphold the values that define our university. May we each find ways to contribute, however small, to building a more peaceful, compassionate and just world.
There is much to celebrate at Cal Lutheran, and I am grateful to walk this journey with all of you.
Blessings,
John A. Nunes Interim president
EDITOR
Linda Martinez
ART DIRECTOR
Sherri Matsumoto
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Gina Cusano
CONTRIBUTORS
Brittany App
Logan Bury
Michael DeTerra
Carley Doyle
Sarah Graue
Steven Guetzoian
Alisa Harrison, MBA ’21
Jamie Hay
Kyle Jorrey
Jee Jung ’16
Karen Lindell
Mike Martinez
Slava Narozhnyi
Kaori Peters
Daniela Ruiz
Tracie Ryemon
Jessi Soporito
Artina Tarokh
Rupert Thorpe
VOLUME 32, NUMBER 2
Copyright 2025
CLU Magazine is published twice a year for alumni, parents and friends. The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of Cal Lutheran nor the magazine staff.
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CLU Magazine welcomes ideas for articles and nominations for Vocations articles.
Note: Names and class years in bold denote Cal Lutheran alumni. ON THE COVER Illustration by Gina Cusano
Where Training Meets Helping
Community Counseling Centers provide low-cost therapy and experience for grad students.
BY KYLE JORREY
For millions of Americans, mental health is in focus like never before.
With a reduction in the stigma surrounding treatment and advancements to improve access, especially the rise of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking therapy has become increasingly commonplace.
Data from Statista reveals a substantial rise in the number of Americans receiving mental health treatment. In 2023, over 59 million U.S. adults reported going to therapy or counseling the previous year, up from 34 million in 2013.
California Lutheran University’s Community Counseling Centers are meeting the demand. The two facilities in Westlake Village and Oxnard serve a dual purpose: providing low-cost therapy sessions to the community while simultaneously preparing the next generation of clinicians for meaningful careers.
Everyone who comes through the doors is seen by a graduate student backed by a team of licensed professionals. Rick Holigrocki, PhD, dean of the university’s Graduate School of Psychology, oversees the centers.
“We’re unique in that we’re equally client-centered and student-centered,” Holigrocki said. “We want to make sure our students are getting the best education and being trained on state-of-the-art tech and at the same time, we’re looking very carefully to make sure we’re doing efficacious work and the clients are satisfied.”
Cal Lutheran has one of the largest university-based counseling centers in North America.
— Rick Holigrocki, PhD, dean of the Graduate School of Psychology
Putting theory into practice
The first Cal Lutheran counseling center was established on campus in the 1970s. Today, the Oxnard and Westlake Village clinics facilitate around 10,000 sessions a year, offering individual, couples and family care — in English and Spanish — for as little as $25 a visit. External grants allow some clients to be treated completely free of charge.
Designed to fulfill their shared mandate, the clinics boast 17 wellfurnished meeting rooms equipped for both in-person and telehealth sessions. An adjoining workspace provides students with access to computers for session review and note-taking. All records are securely stored digitally within an encrypted system to ensure client privacy and confidentiality.
Approximately 60 students are available to provide therapeutic services each year, making it one of the largest university-based counseling centers in North America, Holigrocki said. The students staffing the centers are pursuing either a five-year doctoral degree in clinical psychology (PsyD) to become a licensed psychologist or a two-year master’s in counseling psychology to become a marriage and family therapist (MFT).
“Clinical experience, working with real clients, is always part of a graduate student’s training,” Holigrocki said. “They spend their first year in the classroom learning theory from the textbooks but, beginning their second year, they’re working with people in the community, providing mental health services under the supervision of licensed professionals.”
Unlike those at other schools, Cal Lutheran students don’t have to leave the university setting to get their necessary clinical hours toward graduation.
“That’s a big win for them coming here because we will guarantee them a position at our clinics,” Holigrocki said. “It makes everything very seamless. The students love that.”
One of those students is second-year Javier Cano. Born and raised in Oxnard, Cano decided he wanted to become a therapist after going through a personal tragedy: At age 18, he lost his father, 49, to a sudden heart attack.
“My boyfriend was like, you should see someone, you should talk to someone, and I ended up finding a therapist, and she helped me a lot,” Cano said. “I thought, if she did that for me … then I can do that for other people.”
Cano, who is on the MFT tract, experienced a wave of nerves as he prepared for his first client session last year. The fact that the patient was a child only heightened his anxiety.
“I hadn’t been around children most of my life, so I didn’t really know how I was going to respond … but that first session ended up changing my perspective on everything,” he said. “At first, he was running around the whole room, but eventually, I was able to have him sit down and talk to me.”
Now Cano is open to working with children as a career, though he prefers couples.
One of the key benefits of the centers is that they give students the opportunity to work with a diverse set of patient groups — young and old of all genders, individuals, couples and family groups.
“We try to make it so this is an experience where they’re exposed to a wide swath of what’s out there,” Holigrocki said.
Second-year PsyD student Dar Farzaneh said his time at the clinics has reaffirmed his commitment to the field.
...I can spend the rest of my life trying to help people make the most of their lives.
— Dar Farzaneh, second-year PsyD student
“There’s almost always a moment during each session where it hits me, ‘This is why I’m doing this,’” Farzaneh said. “Maybe it’s the patient expressing that something has been helpful or saying they’re enthusiastic about coming into a session. There’s those moments where I get a sense I’m making a difference, it’s helping.”
After completing his undergrad at UC Davis in 2006, Farzaneh’s life took an unexpected turn. A biology major, he considered becoming a doctor, but after a parent’s medical condition forced him to remain close to home, he ended up spending two decades in the restaurant and hospitality business, the last 10 years as a bartender.
The pandemic was a catalyst for change, prompting him to re-examine his life and finally pursue his long-held dream of helping others. Farzaneh specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, a type of psychotherapy that’s often used to treat patients who struggle to regulate their emotions. Jamie Bedics, PhD, one of Farzaneh’s professors, is a leading expert in the field.
“When I’m in (the sessions) I’m getting this sense that I can spend the rest of my life trying to help people make the most of their lives,” Farzaneh said. “Working in the clinic, helping provide people the opportunity to get affordable care, it’s extremely rewarding.”
Graduates return to give back
One clear sign of the program’s viability: several graduates have returned to serve as supervisors at the clinics, providing students with the same support they received when they were therapists in training. Among them is Rochelle Gillespie, MS ’19, who graduated from the MFT program.
“Honestly, doing the two-year program (at Cal Lutheran) was single-handedly the greatest decision of my life,” said Gillespie, current program director of ROWI Teen & Parent Wellness Centers in Thousand Oaks.
Gillespie said the jump from classroom to clinic can be overwhelming. No matter how prepared a student feels going in, there’s also that feeling of “imposter syndrome.”
“It’s intimidating … it’s a completely different ballgame sitting and being in a room with a client,” she said.
Having the support of experienced therapists was critical to Gillespie’s success during her time as a student at the counseling centers. Now she’s returning the favor.
Every counseling session conducted by a student is digitally recorded and subsequently reviewed by a licensed professional. These recordings are then utilized in both one-on-one meetings between the student and their supervisor and in group supervision settings.
“Even though it can be uncomfortable watching that video back with a supervisor, it is so helpful having that one-on-one time and having someone observe what you’re doing and providing feedback,” she said. “My supervisor, she was so helpful. I learned so much from her. It was a goal of mine to go back and to be that person for somebody else.”
Another student-turned-teacher is Kristina Rodriguez ’08, MS ’10, PsyD ’15, who serves as assistant director of the Oxnard counseling center. Rodriguez earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate all from Cal Lutheran; her colleagues sometimes joke she deserves her own parking space on campus.
“I think one of the things we do really well here is we help prepare students for everything they’re going to encounter as a clinician, and that includes some of the administrative components,” she said. “Our students are learning how to collect fees, how to maintain proper documentation, because those are things they’re going to have to be able to do to have a successful practice.”
Rodriguez, who is bilingual, is also passionate about the centers’ ability to serve Ventura County’s large Spanish-speaking population.
“There’s a lot of focus in the Hispanic culture on the family unit, being able to provide and care for one’s family,” she said. “So in trying to reduce the stigma around therapy, we try to emphasize that in order to better serve our families and communities, we have to first take care of ourselves.”
Now 10 years into his tenure as dean, Holigrocki credits the program’s sustained success to its alignment with Cal Lutheran’s commitment to caring for the underserved.
“The clinics really provide the community with a service, because mental health care is out of reach for so many people,” he said. “If you have two or three kids and they each need help, it can be very expensive and it’s hard to access. We try to break down those barriers and make it more accessible.”
Spring is the season of rejuvenation, and your support of the Annual Fund brings transformation to Cal Lutheran. From groundbreaking research to flourishing student initiatives, your gifts nurture the seeds of tomorrow’s success stories. Together, we will grow something extraordinary.
CERF releases ground-breaking U.S. Latina GDP Report
The Center for Economic Research and Forecasting (CERF) has discovered that U.S. Latina GDP has doubled since 2010 to reach $1.3 trillion in 2021. Furthermore, “the total economic output of Hispanic Females in 2021 is larger than the entire economy of the state of Florida. In fact, only the GDPs of California, Texas or New York are larger.”
That revolutionary finding was presented by Matthew Fienup, CERF’s executive director, in the first-ever Bank of America U.S. Latina GDP Report released in August 2024. The report sheds light on the extraordinary impact of Latinas on the economy, with the group contributing to major growth areas in total economic output, labor force participation and more.
“ T hese daughters and granddaughters of immigrants combine the extraordinary and selfless work ethic of their elders.”
— Matthew Fienup, CERF's executive director
Fienup produced CERF’s findings alongside researchers Dan Hamilton, PhD, CERF director of economics; David Hayes-Bautista, PhD, director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the School of Medicine, UCLA.; and Paul Hsu, PhD, epidemiologist at the Fielding School of Public Health.
Other highlights of the report include the Latina GDP growing 2.7 times the growth of non-Hispanic GDP and the Latina component of the U.S. labor force growing more than 12 times that of nonHispanic females.
“This population of Latinas entering the U.S. labor force during our period of study are overwhelmingly second- and third-generation Americans,” Fienup said. “These daughters and granddaughters of immigrants combine the extraordinary and selfless work ethic of their elders with the rapid growth of human capital, propelling not just Latina GDP but overall GDP growth in the U.S.”
Provost named Educational Leader of the Year
Leanne Neilson, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, has been named as the 2025 Educational Leader of the Year by the Ventura County Leadership Academy (VCLA).
The accolade comes after over 30 years of service at Cal Lutheran. She first served as a psychology faculty member for 11 years, participating in faculty governance, and shifted into administration later in her career. Neilson was hired as provost in 2009.
Neilson is one of six community members to receive the award, with recipients spanning from business, education, nonprofit and public sectors of the county. The association was founded by former Board of Regents member Priscilla Partridge de Garcia in 1994.
As provost, Neilson oversees all areas of Academic Affairs, working alongside deans and program leaders to monitor services responsible for facilitating student success. Neilson says the award can be attributed to her longevity in the administrative role and her involvement in local community organizations.
In addition to performing outside accreditation work for neighboring universities, Neilson volunteers her time serving on the board of TOArts and as a member of United Way’s Women United, an organization providing scholarships for single mothers in poverty to obtain their bachelor’s degrees.
Neilson will accept her award at the 22nd Annual VCLA Journey to Leadership Awards on April 24.
President in the Rose Parade
Cal Lutheran Interim President John A. Nunes welcomed the new year in grand fashion as he rode on the Lutheran Hour Ministries float during the 136th Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day. Themed "Behold! Jesus the Savior is Born," the float served as a vibrant Christian witness, celebrating Jesus’ birth and key moments from his life through beautifully crafted stained-glass windows adorning the float’s church design.
Reflecting on the experience, Nunes shared, "I have sore arms from waving, a sore face from smiling, and a hoarse voice after a day of Rose Bowl Parade greetings." Along the 5.5-mile route through Pasadena, Nunes, donning Cal Lutheran attire, greeted an estimated one million spectators lining the streets, with millions more watching on television.
Accompanied by the song "It’s Christmas" by Chris Tomlin, the float featured two heralding angels and traditional Christmas imagery, reinforcing its powerful message of faith and joy. The effort was made possible by the dedication of the Lutheran Hour Ministries Float Committee, the Southern California District Lutheran Laymen’s League and volunteers known as the Petal Pushers. The float was this year’s only Christian-themed entry and was the 74th year of entries by Lutheran Hour Ministries.
For Nunes, one of the highlights of the day was hearing a familiar voice from the crowd — his wife, Monique, whose enthusiastic support could be heard even amid the roar of the parade. Next year, the pair plans on bringing Cal Lutheran students to help decorate the float before the parade.
“I have sore arms from waving, a sore face from smiling, and a hoarse voice after a day of Rose Bowl Parade greetings.”
— John A. Nunes, Cal Lutheran's interim president
Brian Fahnestock named interim CFO
Brian Fahnestock has been named Cal Lutheran’s interim vice president of Administration and Finance and chief financial officer. His appointment began Jan. 6 and will continue while the university searches for a permanent CFO.
In the interim CFO role, he will oversee Cal Lutheran’s financial operations, including budgeting, financial planning, facility management and resource allocation. He replaces former CFO Rick Ysasi, who now works for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Fahnestock has worked in finance and accounting for over 30 years, including 15 years in higher education institutions. Most recently, he served as acting assistant superintendent/vice president of Business Services at Santa Barbara City College.
Interim President John A. Nunes said Fahnestock’s multiple stints as an interim executive at schools such as UC Irvine, El Camino College, San Francisco State University and the Ventura County Community College District, have helped him develop the ability to quickly assess and understand an environment, lead action-oriented initiatives and help organizations in transition set the groundwork for success.
Fahnestock’s academic credentials include an MS in administration with a concentration in finance from the Naval Postgraduate School and a BA in political science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
ACFC opens training center at Cal Lutheran
California Lutheran is now home to the largest training facility in professional women’s soccer in the United States. Angel City Football Club (ACFC) cut the ribbon Jan. 21 on the new 50,000-square-foot, high-performance training center.
The center opened three months after striking a deal with university officials to lease nine acres on the north side of campus formerly used by the Los Angeles Rams.
“This is more than a place to train,” ACFC president and co-founder Julie Uhrman said. “It’s a symbol of our commitment to building a championship-level experience for our players and staff so they can perform at their best, removing all distractions and excuses.”
Established in 2020, the National Women’s Soccer League franchise has practiced at Cal Lutheran since 2022. Their collaboration is “invaluable,” Uhrman said.
“Through our partnership, we’ve been able to work with (Cal Lutheran) and your staff as well as your students and talk about the future of sports and the world that they can play in,” she said at the event. “So, to be able to extend our relationship with you for many more years is something I’m really excited about and pleased to do.”
Before moving in, the team completed a multimillion-dollar custom remodel that included creating one-and-a-half soccer fields, integrating cutting-edge performance and sports science technology and constructing a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy area featuring cold and hot plunge pools and saunas. Existing facilities also received upgrades, including the 5,400-square-foot gym, 3,400-square-foot medical treatment area and 930-square-foot film room.
“This state-of-the-art performance center, let’s be clear, sets the bar, but it really should be the norm,” said Willow Bay. She and her husband Bob Iger, CEO of the Walt Disney Company, are the franchise’s majority owners.
The performance center will operate year-round and serve ACFC first-team players and their developmental team and staff.
Angel City is an inspiration to students and staff, said Cal Lutheran Interim President John Nunes at the event.
“It’s not a coincidence that our women’s soccer team won the national championship last year,” he said. “We are inspired by you and by this partnership. We are inspired by the alignment of values.”
Findi n g T he i r Pathways
Residency program helps to create much-needed bilingual teacher pipeline.
By Martha Groves
During her first years as a preschool instructional assistant, Fátima Landeros experienced a variety of challenging student behaviors.
But the fledgling bilingual instructor embraced the challenge and has spent the two decades since studying early childhood education. She became a preschool teacher and now works as a part-time substitute teacher for the Santa Maria-Bonita School District.
Thanks to an innovative partnership between the school district and California Lutheran University’s teacher credentialing program, Landeros, at 42, expects soon to become a full-time, fully credentialed teacher with the promise of at least four years of employment.
Opening Pathways to Teaching
Santa Maria is a mid-sized city of about 110,000 people on California’s central coast in northern Santa Barbara County — famous for its eponymous barbecue style and the 20 million trays of strawberries its fecund fields produce each year.
The school district has 17,000 students enrolled in transitional kindergarten through eighth grade. Nearly 75% of the district’s teachers are white, whereas more than 80% of the students are of Latine heritage, including some whose migrant farmworker families split time between Santa Maria and Mexico. It’s also one of thousands of districts across the nation contending with a persistent shortage of qualified teachers.
According to studies from the U.S. Department of Education and independent education researchers, most states and the District of Columbia face scarcities of fully credentialed teachers in at least one subject area or grade level. Reasons for the shortages include relatively low pay, retirements, high turnover, declines in tax revenues that support schools and memories of COVID lockdowns and remote learning.
The Pathways to Teaching Program aims to overcome obstacles such as tuition costs that keep otherwise interested candidates from pursuing classroom careers to fill those gaps.
Fátima Landeros
For Landeros and other employees of the Santa Maria-Bonita School District, the rigorous program features evening classes at district offices and a residency teaching experience during the day in local schools. Participants are taught by Cal Lutheran faculty and paired with mentor teachers who work with them in the classrooms three days a week.
Funded by an array of grants totaling more than $9 million so far, candidates receive help with the application process, a $2,000 monthly stipend, health benefits and the chance to work as a substitute teacher two days a week to boost income.
Despite having spent many years in classrooms, Landeros — who was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and immigrated at age 8 with her parents to Santa Maria — said her student teaching in kindergarten during the Pathways to Teaching Program has instilled in her a much deeper understanding of how children learn and how to address their special needs.
“I’m more understanding and open and just a better teacher,” she said. “This experience has been very meaningful.”
Building the pipeline
Shelli Hart, the Santa Maria-Bonita School District’s program specialist for teacher development, years ago realized that online university programs were not sufficiently preparing would-be teachers for the classroom — especially given her district’s relatively high level of vulnerability and the need for bilingual instruction.
“They were getting credentials but were struggling in the first years,” she said. Meanwhile, nearby Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, though highly regarded, was not producing enough candidates.
Hart realized that the district had to get creative to build a pipeline of classroom professionals suited to the district’s students.
The state of California, then flush with funds, was attempting to create incentives to build partnerships between districts and universities. Hart was aware that Cal Lutheran sponsored a program in Santa Maria to train school administrators, and she contacted the university’s Graduate School of Education to explore a partnership for classroom teachers.
“We’d always talked about how it would be great to do a teacher ed program as well,” said Michael R. Hillis, PhD, a professor and dean of Cal Lutheran’s Graduate School of Education. “We very quickly had good chemistry.”
Acting on blind faith and initially without funds, Hart surveyed paraeducators (non-credentialed school employees who are supervised by certified teachers) in the district, asking: “If we built this program, would you be interested?” The theory was that the program could tap this large pool of employees who were already familiar with the community and dedicated to education. In less than 24 hours, she had received 115 responses.
Overcoming challenges
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing provided an initial grant of $250,000 in November 2021, and the program’s first cohort started with 17 candidates in January 2022. Of that first batch, eight fulfilled all requirements — which included passing the California Subject Examinations for Teachers, or CSET — and moved on to a semester of student teaching.
Acela Comerford, 48, recalled being one of the “guinea pigs” in the first cohort.
“I would work at the district (as an administrative secretary) until 4 or 5 p.m. and then go downstairs for classes,” she said. “It was very convenient. It’s really a partnership — holding hands, mentor, tutors. They thought of everything.”
She now teaches transitional kindergarten (TK) for 4-year-olds and says her student teaching in a kindergarten classroom inspired her to extend their TK curriculum.
“The more you expect from the students, the more they give you,” she said. “I want to do TK a few more years and then go back to kindergarten.”
She knows firsthand the challenges that some of her small charges face. As a child, she would migrate every year with her parents to Mexico and then return to Santa Maria for the strawberry harvest. The long absences made it tough for her to keep up with classmates. She had to repeat first grade and credits her teacher with inspiring and pushing her to excel.
Landeros and 18 other candidates from the second cohort are expected to graduate in May. The third cohort, which started in January, has 19 candidates.
Acela Comerford
Next chapter
Cal Lutheran and school district representatives hold weekly Zoom meetings to assess what’s working and what’s not. They discuss recruitment, placement and student performance.
“The reason why this is so successful is that both Cal Lutheran and the district really believe in this program,” said Lauren Prieto, graduate admission counselor at Cal Lutheran.
Candidates can now choose from two tracks: multiplesubject credential with TK and bilingual authorization or the preliminary education specialist credential for classrooms with “mild to moderate support needs.”
Rocio Ramirez, 25, was born in Santa Maria, grew up in nearby Guadalupe and graduated from Fresno State University in December 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies. Soon after, she started as a bilingual instructional assistant in the district.
She saw a flyer about the Pathways program and realized that it checked all her desired boxes: a bilingual authorization, TK units and a teaching credential. A member of the second cohort, she is now enmeshed in student teaching and hopes to secure her teaching credential and begin full-time teaching in August.
Her mentor has passed along wisdom about instructing tiny tots: Be flexible. Have a calming corner. Use breathing techniques. Talk with them about their emotions.
“I want to be a teacher whom the students can see themselves in,” Ramirez said. “I speak Spanish. I am from the community and can communicate with parents. I want to be compassionate.”
Rocio Ramirez
Kingsmen, Regals go dancing
For the first time in Cal Lutheran history, both the men’s and women’s basketball teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
The Kingsmen advanced to postseason play as an at-large selection after a 21-4 season, claiming the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) regular-season title for the second consecutive year. Over the past two seasons under head coach Russell White, the team has compiled a remarkable 43-7 record, the best two-year stretch in program history.
The Regals (19-6), led by head coach Kelli DiMuro, punched their ticket by conquering the SCIAC Tournament for the first time since 2013, defeating rival Whitter 73-61. The team led the conference in scoring, and sophomore Alline Ballard tied a 38-year-old school record by grabbing 332 rebounds in a single season.
While both teams’ March Madness journeys were cut short with first-round losses, the memories and experiences forged this exciting season will undoubtedly last a lifetime.
Basketball’s 1K Club grows by three
A banner year for Cal Lutheran basketball — men’s and women’s — included three additions to the 1,000-point club, players who have recorded the century mark in points scored during their time at the university.
Joining this exclusive company: Kingsmen Devon Lewis and Tommy Griffitts and Regal Sara Mills.
Lewis, the Southern California Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Year, eclipsed the mark on the road with a 17-point effort against the University
of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Griffitts, an All-SCIAC selection for the third time in his career, did so two weeks later at home versus Messiah University. Including Lewis and Griffitts, just 29 Kingsmen have reached the milestone in the 65-year history of the program.
Mills, a sharp-shooting guard from Joshua Tree, notched her 1,000th point in the Regals’ 83-69 win over Chapman in the SCIAC Tournament semifinals.
First-year phenom dives into record books
Brooke Blaylock, a first-year from Moorpark, claimed 11th and 15th, respectively, in the 1-meter and 3-meter dive at NCAA Division III Regionals in March. Two of her dives, a forward 2 somersault pike and an inward 1.5 somersault pike, registered the highest scores in the entire 1M competition.
The results were unprecedented from a first-year diver, diving coach Jennifer Vreeke said. Even more incredible — Blaylock, a former gymnast, only learned to dive in July.
“Words can’t describe how proud I am of her," Vreeke said. “She has progressed immensely since she started diving less than a year ago, which is a true testament to her athleticism and determination. I can’t wait to see what she will accomplish in the next three seasons at CLU.”
Flag football gets flying
Cal Lutheran’s first-ever women’s flag football team started practicing in February at William Rolland Stadium. Under the tutelage of coach Brandon Alexander, the 15 or so players — most of whom are playing the sport for the first time — hope to be ready for intramural competition this spring.
“I’m excited … but we’ve got some work to do, no doubt,” said Alexander, who also coaches flag football at nearby Westlake High School. “Right now, they’re more students than student-athletes.”
Hired this year, Alexander is deeply invested in the rapidly growing sport. In addition to his role at Westlake, he serves as commissioner of Glendale FNL Youth Flag Football and owns and operates the Ultimate Sports League, part of NFL Flag.
The university announced the creation of the program last fall, becoming one of the first colleges in California to do so. If all goes as planned, the Regals’ flag football team will face NCAA-sanctioned competition in the 2026-27 school year.
Lacrosse coach pioneered sport in Israel Coming full circle on the diamond
The upstart Regals lacrosse program has netted the right head coach to help it reach fresh heights.
MacEllen McDonough — “Mac” for short — spent four years (2019-2022) growing the game in Israel, where contact sports have traditionally been the realm of men only. She competed on the country’s national team and served as director of women’s lacrosse for the Israel Lacrosse Association.
“I went (to Israel) because the sport has given me so much that I wanted to give back by helping grow it in a new area,” McDonough said.
A native of the East Coast, McDonough already feels right at home in Thousand Oaks.
“I like the mountain views, and the people have been very warm and friendly,” she said.
Fans of Regal softball may have noticed a familiar face pacing the dugout at Hutton Field this spring. Kecia Davis, who stepped down as head coach in 1998 to focus on serving the university as head athletic trainer, returned to the helm last fall.
Davis is currently in her 34th year at Cal Lutheran, having spent the last four as director of health, wellness and performance. When the Regals found themselves without a head coach last summer, this veteran athletics staff member stepped up to the challenge. During her previous coaching stint in the mid-’90s, Davis led the program to 159 victories and four conference championships in five seasons.
“I love coming to work every day,” she said. “I love working with student-athletes. It’s a privilege to be here.”
• And much
BY KYLE JORREY
Creating opportunities
Alumnus pioneers program for leaders in the
outdoor recreation industry.
Raised in the shadow of the Rockies, Chris Castilian ’90 found his playground in the rugged terrain of the Mountain West, forging a deep connection to nature while exploring Colorado’s peaks, valleys and trails. The experience translated into a lifelong passion for mountain biking, culminating in his participation in some of the nation’s most grueling endurance races.
Today, the 56-year-old father of two blends his love of the outdoors with his knowledge of business and law.
As creator and executive director of the Leadership in Outdoor Recreation Industry program at Denver University, Castilian equips professionals with the skills necessary to excel in the fast-growing sector. The sector includes everything from apparel to travel to technology.
“What we’re focused on is the business side, creating a product or selling a service or something in that space that empowers people to get outdoors and enjoy the many recreational amenities this country has to offer,” Castilian said.
Home to several leading outdoor brands, the greater Denver area provides an ideal setting for the program. Its two 16-credit graduate certificates are designed to serve individuals in the industry at
different stages of their careers. One caters to experienced professionals looking to expand their roles. The other is designed for newcomers or veterans from the operational side who want to transition into business-oriented positions. The program’s inaugural cohort in 2023 was comprised primarily of employees of Aspen Skiing Company, which operates four resorts in the world-famous ski mecca. Many of these individuals, drawn to the industry by a passion for fresh powder and exhilarating descents, now seek more tangible career paths.
“Say you’ve worked 20 years in ski patrol, and at some point, your body doesn’t work like it used to. You’ve been with the company for two decades, you’ve made a home here, raised a family here, are you just expected to leave?”
Castilian said. “Aspen doesn’t want to lose someone like that … so we train them on other opportunities in the company, be it the hospitality side or the business side.”
After graduating from Cal Lutheran, where he majored in French and minored in political science, Castilian earned his juris doctorate from Denver University’s Sturm College of Law with aspirations of becoming a criminal prosecutor. He changed his mind and decided to pursue a career in lobbying, working in both the private and public sectors.
In the years that followed, the fourth-generation Coloradan held various leadership positions, including deputy chief of staff for the governor of Colorado, chair of the Colorado Parks & Wildlife Commission, and executive director of Great Outdoors Colorado, a voter-created agency that utilizes funds from the state lottery to help preserve and enhance parks, trails, wildlife, rivers and open spaces.
Castilian fondly recalls his time at Cal Lutheran, particularly studying in Paris, serving as student body president and countless mountain bike rides through the hillsides surrounding campus. However, few experiences surpass the two summers he spent working for the Dallas Cowboys.
Castilian was among a select group of students hired to assist with their annual training camp, held at Cal Lutheran from 1963 to 1989. His duties included shuttling players and coaches to Burbank Airport.
“A lot of my coworkers didn’t want the gig … but I loved it. Having breakfast with Tom Landry before driving down to Burbank to pick someone up or to grab the mail. I’d just get to sit there and visit with them,” Castilian said.
Though he and wife, Chantell Taylor (also a Denver University law grad), rarely visit Cal Lutheran, Castilian said he remains grateful for the opportunities the university provided him, opportunities as varied as his career turned out to be.
Support Behind the Scenes
By Sarah Graue
Meet some of the Cal Lutheran staff helping students navigate their college years and beyond.
Andrew Castro ’16, MS ’19
Assistant director of Residence Life and Student Conduct
Time at Cal Lutheran: 5 years
Ways you support students: I supervise resident assistants, offering them support in all aspects of their roles. I’m available to help all students through challenges they may have with roommates, adjusting to life on campus or concerns related to student conduct.
Favorite memory or meaningful moment: Move-in day is always the day of the year that stands out to me the most. It’s a great time meeting all of our new students and families, but it’s also a time when the resident assistants shine and it really sets the tone for the year.
Leslie Madrigal ’20, MPPA ’22
Financial aid counselor II
Time at Cal Lutheran: 3 years
Ways you support students: I help them understand the financial aid process, whether that be with institutional, state or federal aid. I also support students by helping them explore different options to ensure their higher-education dreams become a reality.
Favorite memory or meaningful moment:
The most meaningful moments I have working with students are definitely when I get to help first-generation college students. This is a whole new world and financial aid can be complicated to understand at times, so I try my best to explain the process to them and their families, whether it be our prospective students or our continuing students.
Kecia Davis Director of Health, Wellness and Performance and head softball coach
Time at Cal Lutheran: 34 years
Ways you support students: Sports medicine, instructor, adviser, adjunct faculty, softball coach
Favorite memory or meaningful moment: In 1995, the softball team was able to go to NCAA regionals in Storm Lake, Iowa. While we were there, we were under a tornado warning and our California athletes were a bit nervous and scared. The hotel we were in was called the Lamp Lighter and the pool was more like a green pond. Our equipment manager took some of the water out and told us “the history” of the power of the pond water and poured it on the bats to ignite them. All the players loved the story and were then excited to play when the warning was over. The results of the games were not what we had hoped for, but the experience in and out of the weather was one we will never forget. We went again to Iowa the next year and once again there was a tornado warning, this time we went and saw “Twister” in the movie theater. The veteran athletes were still a bit nervous but we came together as a team and “rode out” the storm.
I was head athletic trainer in 2011, and Eric Flores was scheduled to compete at the NCAA National Championships for both the hammer and shot putt. A few weeks before the meet, he had some lower back problems. I was able to work and rehab his back so that he could compete. In his interview with the press after winning the national championship in both the hammer and shot putt, he specifically mentioned my name and how much he appreciated all the work I did to get him healthy. I don’t ever need recognition for what I do, but that was a special time, and I was very grateful for Eric and his appreciation of our work with all student-athletes.
Jeff Kohagen Supervisor at Ullman To Go
Time at Cal Lutheran: 3 years
Ways you support students: By working at Ullman To Go, I cater to dietary needs, answer any questions, help the students understand their meal plans and offer support when they are stressed.
Favorite memory or meaningful moment: One of the tennis players gave me a T-shirt to give to my son because I had mentioned I liked it.
Cindy Lewis Executive director of Career Services
Time at Cal Lutheran: 25 years
Ways you support students: Helping students find satisfying internships and career opportunities, running programs and workshops, helping students apply for grad school and opening services for students even once they graduate.
Favorite memory or meaningful moment: Recently, I helped several recent graduates find jobs after they contacted me and said they had been looking for quite a while with little luck. I helped them update their resumes and cover letters, identified what they might be doing that could be hindering their chance at an offer and did mock interviews which resulted in them getting employed.
Time at Cal Lutheran: 10 years
Ways you support students: My primary role is to lead the instruction of our students on how to find and access the information they need for their studies, especially in an ever-changing information environment. I encourage students to be curious, to follow their passions and to use critical thinking as they encounter new and different ideas. By being strong in who they are as unique persons, they can discover the willingness and courage to take and defend a position or even change their minds. I and the other librarians do this work in many forums, from teaching in classrooms to one-on-one consultations to assisting students in programs such as the McNair Scholars Program and the Community Scholars for Black Lives Fellowship Program. I believe that there is not a single program or student that the efforts of the library staff do not support.
Favorite memory or meaningful moment: There are so many! Honestly, some of my most meaningful interactions have been when basketball coach Russell White brings his new players into the library every fall. I give them my own “pep talk” about what it means to be a scholarathlete and how the library can help them accomplish their goals. These young men are always polite, interested and can ask really good questions!
Time at Cal Lutheran: 15 years
Ways you support students: In my role, I support students by meeting them where they are and helping them navigate challenges, big or small. Every student’s situation is unique, so my role often shifts depending on what they’re experiencing and what is needed at that time. Sometimes, it’s simply being a compassionate listener during a tough moment. Other times, it’s helping them navigate available resources, whether that’s getting connected with mental health counseling, academic support or other services we offer here at Cal Lutheran. A key part of what I do is helping students feel empowered to tackle challenges. This might involve discussing social dynamics, like managing conflicts with friends, family or roommates, or selfadvocacy and effective communication with faculty. I encourage students to take proactive steps and often model what that process might look like. Ultimately, my goal is to help students feel seen, supported and confident in their ability to move forward.
Favorite memory or meaningful moment: The most meaningful moments in my role often come after the initial crisis has passed — when students reflect on how far they’ve come. Knowing I was able to play a small part in their journey is incredibly rewarding. Some of the most powerful experiences happen when former students reach out to share about how something I said or did made a lasting difference.
At this year’s Homecoming, I had the privilege of reconnecting with several alumni who shared the lessons they learned during our time together and how they still resonate in their adult lives. Hearing those stories is a reminder of why this work matters. It’s an honor to help students through challenging times, celebrate their growth and see them thrive long after they’ve left Cal Lutheran. Moments like these remind me that even in their struggles, students are building resilience that will serve them for years to come.
Librarian, head of Undergraduate Instruction and Outreach
Yvonne Wilber
Salma Loo, MS ’12 CARE Case Manager
spotlight Swan Song
BY MIKE MARTINEZ
Wyant Morton, b eloved music professor and Cal Lutheran choral conductor, shares his final notes after 33 years of service.
After an impressive 33-year tenure as a music professor at California Lutheran University, Wyant Morton is set to retire this May, leaving behind a legacy that has deeply influenced the university’s musical landscape.
“I am proud to have offered a high-quality music-making experience over the years for the thousands of student musicians who sang in the Cal Lutheran choirs,” he said. “While I have geared the repertoire and work level to our music majors, I am equally proud to have had so many nonmusic majors on this musical journey with me.”
Morton’s path to choral music wasn’t straightforward. He began his musical journey as a trumpet player, earning an undergraduate degree in trumpet performance. He didn’t get involved in choral music until late in college but quickly transitioned from instrumental to vocal music, starting a master’s degree in choral conducting the next year.
Throughout his time at Cal Lutheran, Morton has been honored with several awards, including the Honorary Alumni Award, President’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Professor of the Year. He attributes his success to his dedication to mentoring his students.
“It warms my heart when former students tell me I was a good teacher and that I had a positive impact on their lives.”
“I have always tried to meet my students where they are, yet challenge them as musicians and artists to be their best every day.”
Cal Lutheran alumna Janna Santangelo ’11, choir director and chair of the Visual & Performing Arts Department at Thousand Oaks High School, is one of many who have felt Morton’s impact.
“Dr. Morton is an incredible musician, mentor and educator,” Santangelo said. “I have taken so much of what I learned from him and applied it to my own teaching — and that is partially why I think I can be an effective educator and choral conductor myself.”
One of Morton’s significant contributions to Cal Lutheran is the annual New Music Concerts, which he helped start in 2003. These concerts have featured collaborations with renowned composers such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Henry Brant, Steven Stucky, David Lang, Eric Whitacre and
Morten Laurisden. A particularly memorable concert brought Salonen to campus, culminating in a performance of his “Five Images After Sappho,” which the Los Angeles Times described as “persuasive.”
“I have always had an interest in new music,” Morton said. “Over the years, I have worked with composers many times, bringing their music to life with the students in the (Cal Lutheran) choirs. I feel a responsibility to give voice to the works of living composers.”
In 2009, Morton founded the Areté Vocal Ensemble, a professional-level chamber choir comprising students, alumni, faculty and local singers. He envisioned an ensemble with a professional model, requiring singers to come to rehearsals prepared and featuring them as soloists. During the past 15 years, Areté has enriched the community with its artistry and has collaborated with organizations like the Los Angeles Opera and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Morton’s influence extends beyond music, fostering deep relationships within the university and the broader choral community.
“That Wyant Morton is a first-rate musician is incontestable,” said John Nunes, Cal Lutheran’s interim president.
“But the evidence goes beyond this. His virtuosity extends to being a builder of long-standing relationships, enduring choral community partnerships and endearing friendships.”
As he prepares for retirement, Morton said he cherishes the special memories created at local venues and on international stages.
“The most meaningful moments for me are the hundreds of concerts I have performed with my students.”
“Whether in Samuelson Chapel on campus or on tour in the U.S. or abroad, the musical memories are what have brought me joy and will stay with me all of my life.”
Looking ahead, Morton plans to continue his musical journey. He will remain active as the conductor of the Areté Vocal Ensemble, director of the New West Symphony Chorus and director of the choir at Ascension Lutheran Church. He also looks forward to pursuing other interests when he eventually steps away from conducting.
“So yes, you will still see me around!”
“Although I am retiring, I am not ready to be done being a musician.”
Morton said he hopes his students carry with them a love for and an understanding of the unique and collaborative nature of music. He’s also grateful for the support from the university administration, which has allowed him the artistic freedom to explore his interests.
“If there is anything that my students take away from their experience in the Cal Lutheran choirs, I hope it is a love for music making,” Morton said.
“Not just loving to listen to music, but a love for making music with others, and having an understanding of how special that experience is, and that it is not something we can do alone.”
Reflecting on a recent highlight at Cal Lutheran, Morton recalls the 2024 Homecoming concert, which was special not just for him, but for the alumni and current students who now have a better understanding of the musical lineage they are part of.
“The experience at Homecoming this year with over 150 alumni singers performing
with me was amazing,” Morton said. “I am so grateful to have shared that weekend with them. It was meaningful to me that so many of them came back to sing and I know that it was meaningful for them too — not because of me necessarily, but because of the experience of making music with each other again.”
As he passes the baton, Morton said he is optimistic about the future of choral music at the university.
“As I retire, I hope the future of choral music at Cal Lutheran remains strong,” he said. “I will look forward to seeing and hearing the new ideas and directions that my successor will bring to the CLU choral ensembles.”
— The music in the background is “O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht” (“O Jesus Christ, Light of My Life”), BWV 118, from the Motets by Johann Sebastian Bach. The Motets were the subject of Morton’s doctoral thesis and remain among his favorite choral works.
Layout design by Daniela Ruiz ’25 multimedia, graphic design
CHarTs toPpINg
Alumni share favorite songs from the soundtracks of their Cal Lutheran memories.
(Wirthlin ’85)
Mark Edward Hall ’77
Astley
Love”
Anita Baker
Rebecca Lirette ’90
Amanda Asquith-Caya, MS ’15 “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
Eric Wilder, MS ’15 “On The Way Home” by John Mayer
2015
2019 2021
Taylor (Netter ’19) Wilson Johanna Rose-Kamprath ’19 “Closer” by The Chainsmokers
“Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus Kyle Tamkin ’21
“Neverender” by Tame Impala
2025
2009
“Just Dance” by Lady Gaga “Cyclone” by Baby Bash
Sarah (Rickert ’09) Nielsen
2018
Erin Sommers ’18 “A Head Full of Dreams” by Coldplay
“Don’t Let Me Down” by The Chainsmokers featuring Daya
Giana Gutridge ’18, MBA ’21
Layla Islas ’25
Alumn
’70s
David Brobeck, PhD ’75, is in his 50th year as a P20 educator in Ohio. He is a research associate at the University of Cincinnati Systems Development & Improvement Center and Ohio Deans Compact, where he focuses on supporting all PK-12 schools and Ohio Education Preparation programs and acts as a liaison between the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Higher Education, with a focus on literacy and writing. Throughout his half-century career, he has taught reading and English, coached football and track, served as a building principal and superintendent, and taught graduatelevel education courses at Walsh
University. At Cal Lutheran, he was president of the Class of 1975 and is looking forward to Homecoming 2025. In the photo, taken during the Fall 2024 Ohio Deans Compact Action Forum for improving education preparation programs in literacy and mathematics, David is at the far right.
’80s
The Rev. Ruth Sievert, MDiv ’80, celebrated her installation on April 4, 2024, with PLTS alumni including the Rev. Dr. Peg Schultz-Akerson ’74, MA ’77, MDiv ’80, the Rev. Reg SchultzAkerson ’74, MDiv ’80, the Rev. Melissa Maxwell-Doherty ’77, MDiv ’81, the Rev. Scott Maxwell-Doherty ’76, MDiv ’81, and Bishop Brenda Bos.
Grahame Watts ’86 is enjoying life in Newbury Park with his wife, Kristen, and two kids, Caitlyn, 16, and Kaleb, 13. Both are doing well as studentathletes at Sycamore Canyon Middle School and Oaks Christian High
Submissions from Jun. 26, 2024, to Jan. 10, 2025
your travel news, career updates, education accomplishments, awards, reunions and milestones to
School. Grahame, in his third decade with the city of Thousand Oaks as an emergency and transit programs administrator, enjoys working with good people and serving the community.
Kim Poast ’88, MS ’92, PhD, was thrilled to spend time with great humans and friends in Colorado. Pictured from left are Kim, Julie (Butler ’87) Drube, Sue Dwyer-Voss ’86, Leslie (Simmen ’87) Lapp and Julie (Heller ’89) Herder
April (Rozen ’91) Sharp shares the sad news that she lost her uncle, the Rev. Dr. Lee B. Rozen ’66, on Aug. 13, 2023. She greatly misses him but takes joy in knowing he lives again with our Lord and Savior Jesus. Lee left this world at home in Whittier, California, after many loving visits from family and friends and with his sweet Samoyed, Sitka, by his side.
’00s ’90s
Andy Bartsch ’00 completed his second season as head football coach at Cannon County High in Woodbury, Tennessee. The team made the playoffs for just the eighth time in program history, in a season that included five wins at home and the first four-game winning streak in over 40 years. With Andy in the photo, from left, are his wife, Jamie, and his kids August and Adison. They all joined Andy on the field after the team secured a spot in the playoffs. His first season coaching at Cannon County High was 16 seasons ago.
Greg McAllister ’00 co-founded the law firm lacuone McAllister Potter PLLC in Dallas. IMcP litigates FINRA, employment and partnership disputes. Greg’s recent recognitions include Best Lawyers in America, Texas Super Lawyers and Dallas Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas.
Lindsey (Rarick ’05) Carnett, the CEO and president of Marketing Maven, is a marketing and public relations professional who launched her new book, The Marketing Maven Method: Secrets of a Maven, to help businesses exceed their marketing and growth goals. Lindsey has fine-tuned her method through successful campaigns that have netted more than $1 billion for clients. The book includes tactics and steps to take the guesswork out of marketing. To learn more, visit marketingmaven.com.
’10s
Casey K. Cole ’17 thanks Cal Lutheran University for allowing him to continue to fulfill his dreams. He was recently blessed with a new milestone: He graduated with a doctorate in physical therapy from Hawai‘i Pacific University. Casey played football for two years at Cal Lutheran and will cherish his time at the school forever.
Ali Sadreameli ’20, EMBA ’22, was voted onto the School of Management Advisory Council at Cal Lutheran in January 2024.
After almost two decades in the banking industry, he is the director of development for a local nonprofit. Previously, Ali served as the branch manager for Montecito Bank & Trust’s Regional Commercial Banking Office/ Branch in Camarillo. He continues to demonstrate his commitment to community service and development. Ali has contributed his time to county nonprofits, including the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce and the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo. In 2023, he graduated from the Ventura County Leadership Academy, showcasing his commitment to continuous learning alongside industry leaders. Ali also volunteers at the Commemorative Air Force Museum at the Camarillo Airport. Beyond his professional endeavors, Ali is passionate about aviation, education and community engagement.
Lily Ball ’24 is excited to announce that as a recent Cal Lutheran alumna she is following her passion. She was accepted into AmeriCorps and started her 10-month term in the Southern Region of the United States. Through her time at Cal Lutheran, she discovered that her life purpose lies in service to others.
THE FLAG FOLLOW
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Tom O’Brien ’79, ’85, kissed the Blarney stone on the top of Blarney Castle in Ireland. Retired after 39 years of teaching science and coaching football, he enjoys being a grandpa, substitute teaching and seeing the world.
Jerry Halweg ’65, MA ’73, Judy (Lavenberg ’66) Halweg, George Ferkin and Kathie (Ditchey ’68, ’83, MA ’88) Ferkin celebrated Christmas on July 2 at the Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood in Oregon.
An annual reunion dinner of Cal Lutheran close friends included, from left, Frank Mazium ’74, Charaline (Yu ’74) Maxim, MA ’86, Jeanie (Wilbert ’74, ’75) Gordon, the Rev. Russ Gordon ’76, MDiv ’80, the Rev. Reg Schultz-Akerson ’74, MDiv ’80, (back right side) the Rev. Mary Stein-Webber ’77, MDiv ’84, Terri (Fisher ’74) Lau, the Rev. Brian Stein-Webber ’77, MDiv ’84, the Rev. Dr. Peg Schultz-Akerson ’74, MA ’77, MDiv ’80, Cindy (Hinkle ’73) Meschke and Toni (Fisher ’74) Schramm.
Peter Appleby ’22 joined the Peace Corps in 2023 because of his interest in foreign affairs and politics and desire to be of service in the wider world. At Cal Lutheran, he learned about the complicated history of the Balkans, and his German language studies inspired him to venture into the sphere of Albanian and Serbo-Croatian languages. Peter is stationed in Kosovo, in the northern city of Mitrovica, where he teaches English to primary and secondary school students. Tension still exists in Kosovo, so international peacekeeping troops are deployed in Mitrovica and throughout the country, but the U.S. State Department hopes to improve the country’s chances of long-term success through peaceful means by promoting education and community development. Peter divides his non-teaching time between helping at a youth center, improving his Albanian language skills and volunteering with a nonprofit governmental organization that focuses on peace and reconciliation in Kosovo. He has a great cohort of about 18 fellow Peace Corps volunteers who trained together, but are dispersed at duty stations throughout the country.
Friends got together to celebrate Homecoming Weekend 2024 and watch the Kingsmen football game. Pictured from left are Nancy (Schindele ’65) Trevathan, Judy (Wacker ’69) Day, Christina (Iverson ’68) Myren, Kathie (Ditchey ’68, ’83, MA ’88) Ferkin, Roxanne (Larson ’68) Spafford and Laura Davis.
Toni (Fisher ’74) Schramm and friends enjoyed a cruise along the U.S. East Coast and into Canada in September 2024. On Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, they visited the Anne of Green Gables Visitors Center. After reading about the importance of friendship to Anne, they proudly displayed their alumni flag in honor of 54 years of friendship. Pictured from left are Toni, Cindy (Hinkle ’73) Meschke and Terri (Fisher ’74) Lau.
Elizabeth Riker ’22 and Derek Levy ’22 visited the Colosseum in Rome.
Erin (Hedrick ’13) Henderson and her father, Harry Hedrick ’78, visited Disney World for a family vacation in November.
Charles Duval ’83 and his family visited Kruger National Park in South Africa in August 2024. Charles wore the alumni flag to keep the dust out of his mouth as they drove around the park getting pictures of the animals. He said it was an amazing trip.
The Rev. Dr. Peg Schultz-Akerson ’74, MA ’77, MDiv ’80, and the Rev. Reg SchultzAkerson ’74, MDiv ’80, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 28, 2024. Also pictured are their son Micah Akerson ’06 and his wife, Meggie (Graves ’06) Akerson. Mindy Swanson, daughter of the late former campus pastor Gerry Swanson, and wife Jan Bowman, was their flower girl 50 years ago and led the 50th-anniversary procession. Gerry and Jan’s son Krister Swanson ’89, MA ’96, PhD, offered the luncheon prayer. Gerry presided at Peg and Reg’s 1974 wedding. Pictured in the front row are the Rev. Rich Doerrer-Peacock ’72, Mindy, Reg, Peg, Charaline (Yu ’74) Maxim, MA ’86, Jeanie (Wilbert ’74, ’75) Gordon, Karen Josephson ’79, Cindy (Hinkle) Meschke, Meggie, Micah, Marvie (Jaynes L.C.S.W. ’78) Paulson, and Linda Piera-Avila ’78. In the back row are the Rev. Brian SteinWebber ’77, MDiv ’84, Frank Mazium ’74, the Rev. Russ Gordon ’76, MDiv ’80, and Bob Camacho ’78
Kathie (Ditchey ’68, ’83, MA ’88) Ferkin and her husband, George Ferkin, stand at Wall Drug, South Dakota, with their alumni flag.
ALUMNI MILESTONES
MARRIAGES
Esteban Pineda Jr., MBA ’23, and Andrea (Delgadillo ’18, MBA ’23) Pineda were married on Oct. 12, 2023, at a surprise destination wedding in Hawaii. They transformed what was meant to be a family vacation into a beautiful, intimate wedding celebration. Surrounded by their parents and siblings, they exchanged vows in paradise, creating memories to last a lifetime. Esteban, a Spanish tutor, and Andrea, a French tutor, met as undergraduate students at Cal Lutheran in 2017 and quickly developed a connection because they had so much in common. Together, they navigated the challenges of graduate school, earning their MBA degrees in 2023.
Polina (Grishko ’21) Zalezshko and Eduardo (Gonzalez) Zalezshko got married on May 26, 2024, at Mt. Woodson Castle in Ramona, California, fulfilling their fairy-tale dreams of not only getting married in a historic castle (over 100 years old), but also getting to spend the rest of their lives with their best friend and love of their life. Polina said it was a magical and unforgettable day with their closest family and friends. Polina and Eduardo, who combined their last names to be Zalezshko, both work in the film industry; they met on a production job and became friends almost instantly.
Isabel Zaragoza ’16 and Li Ku got married during an Alaskan Cruise on June 22, 2024. They were fortunate enough to celebrate with 75 of their friends and family. Pictured from left are Jolly Moua ’15, Dinah Hernandez ’16, Meghann Ellis ’16, Gina Domergue ’17, Li, Isabel, Nicholas Millar ’16 and Octavio Meza ’17. Isabel met some of her best friends at Cal Lutheran, and wouldn’t have met her partner if not for Gina. The couple is grateful to Cal Lutheran and even more grateful to friends who traveled to Alaska to spend a week celebrating their marriage.
Will Peña ’21 and Lauren (Graf ’21) Peña were married in August 2024 in Carpinteria, California, nearly seven years to the day after they met in the same Honors group during firstyear orientation at Cal Lutheran. Their wedding party was composed entirely of friends they made through Cal Lutheran, and the ceremony was officiated by former campus pastor the Rev. Hazel Salazar-Davidson and her partner, the Rev. Drew Stever. They are so grateful for their friends and the love they found through the Cal Lutheran community. Others in the photo from left include Maya De La Torre ’21, Clayton Currie ’22, Riley Civerolo Douglas ’22, Sarah Sherwood ’21, Jake Nicosia (Riley’s partner) and Sydney Steinberg ’24.
Chris Park ’12 and Katelyn DowningPark ’14 were married on June 7, 2024, in Moorpark, California. Their time at Cal Lutheran was special to them, and they were fortunate to have alumni family and friends to help celebrate their special day. In the photo from left are Susan (Waterman ’97, MBA ’08) Millis, Michelle (Eiftert ’15, MA ’19) Cox, Jordan Cox ’12, Amy (Downing ’06) Duarte, Peter Ciaramitaro Jr. ’12, Chris, Katelyn, Reid Furlong ’12, ’13, Allison (Kerr ’11) Furlong, CJ Woldanski ’12, Brittany (Kennedy ’11) Brouhard, Justin Brouhard ’10, Kiley (Munro ’20) McQuillan, Sheyenne Machida ’14, Kayla (Sakamoto ’14) Taniguchi, Collin Knudesn ’14, Ashley (Frese ’14) Knudsen and Bill Hall ’12.
Theresa (Taylor ’19) Weiler and Christian Weiler were married on Feb. 26, 2024, in Santa Barbara, California. Pictured from left are Luke Waldschmitt ’21, Miguel Tenorio ’12, MEd ’19, Kayla (Phillips ’17, ’19) Tenorio, Christian, Theresa, Karlee Cuddy ’20, Sarah Slattery ’19 and Noelle Ferrante ’21, MEd ’24.
BIRTHS
Esther Elizabeth Hernandez was born on Nov. 7, 2023, to Maria (Gomez ’13) Hernandez and Ruben Hernandez ’13 almost one year after their marriage. Their hearts could not be fuller with all the love and joy they have been blessed with since she was born.
Monica (Louis ’16) McNamara and Ben McNamara ’16 welcomed a baby girl on Oct. 28, 2024.
DEATHS
Mark Anderson ’91 on Aug. 9, 2024
Timothy Dogulas Barber ’94 on Nov. 18, 2024
Patricia A. Bissett-Depew ’99 on June 23, 2024
Rueben C. Bouvet ’77 on Dec. 26, 2023
Joan C. (Hughes ’64) Castor on Nov. 25, 2024
Cheri (Bannister ’89, ’97) Erickson on May 15, 2024
Joan E. (Coffed ’69) Erickson on Aug. 28, 2024
Matthew Michael Fausset ’90 on Dec. 30, 2024
Kurt Robert Helm, MBA ’99, CERT ’00, on Dec. 26, 2024
David H. Hopland ’64 in May 2024
Leigh Kern ’93 on Feb. 2, 2019
Larry W. Langberg, MS ’78, on May 16, 2022
The Rev. Oscar Larson, BDiv/MDiv ’55, on Sept. 15, 2024
The Rev. Jeffrey (Jeff) Lilley, MDiv ’90, on Oct. 13, 2024
The Rev. Susan Lindberg, MDiv ’79, on Sept. 15, 2024
Steven Loch, MA ’87, on Dec. 30, 2024
Linda Luther ’72 on July 21, 2024
Jimmy Marin ’82 on July 24, 2024
Grace L. Martinez, MA ’76, on May 8, 2024
Heather McCoy ’08 on Sept. 8, 2024
Jeanine McKeown ’75 on Dec. 17, 2024
The Rev. John Merlin, MDiv ’74, on Sept. 28, 2024
Sherrill Ann Necessary, MBA ’94, on Sept. 22, 2024
Jerry Palmquist ’66 on Nov. 21, 2024
Timothy Peterson ’68 on Sept. 30, 2024
Andre Petrossian, PsyD ’21, on July 31, 2024
Shirley (Huber ’78 and ’79) Rice on Aug. 27, 2024
Monique Roy ’89 on June 17, 2024
Susan (Grumbling MS ’93) Samonsky on Oct. 4, 2024
Patricia (Myers MS ’79) Sheaffer on Aug. 8, 2024
Susan Kaye Soy MBA ’81, on June 11, 2024
Gary Stubblefield, MBA ’91, on Nov. 3, 2024
William R. Swiontkowski ’67, MA ’80, on Oct. 18, 2024
Daton Tuve ’66 on Nov. 17, 2024
Carol S. Wise, MA ’00, on Aug. 29, 2024
CAL LUTHERAN CARES DAY 2025
Re-bridging to the Past, Present, and Future
Wednesday, April 9 | One Day. Endless Impact.
At Cal Lutheran, generosity transforms lives.
It’s when students discover that college isn’t just a dream — it’s their destiny. It’s professors whose mentorship sparks lifelong passion.
Your donations make these incredible moments possible, strengthening the bridges that connect our rich legacy to our promising future.
Together, we create opportunities that change lives. Every gift matters. Every gift shows you care.
Scan the QR code or visit Give.CalLutheran.edu.
Photo by Slava Narozhnyi
LEAVING THEIR MARKS
New students and peer advisers have fun painting handprints on the CLU Rocks during New Student Orientation activities in August 2024. Hiking to the rocks is a long-standing tradition for new students.
60 W. Olsen Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-2787
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
CAN YOU HELP? If this magazine is addressed to a Cal Lutheran graduate who has established a new address, please notify us at clumag@ CalLutheran.edu or 805-493-3651. Thank you!
We’d like to know what you see from your day job, no matter where that might be — in a high-rise, outdoors, your home or wherever.
Snap a quick photo of the view from your office and share it with us at CalLutheran.edu/view by June 1. Be sure to include a brief description and your graduation year.
