Vanguard fall winter 15 final web

FALL/WINTER 2015

ENSURE JUSTICE IN ARGENTINA 12 SENIOR FOCUS: SHERIDAN SMITH

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Vanguard’s Golden Glove LEADING OTHERS TO SUCCESS TEDLA MEKONNEN GIVES BACK 14

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18

20

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30 THE MISSION OF VANGUARD UNIVERSITY IS TO PURSUE KNOWLEDGE, CULTIVATE CHARACTER, DEEPEN FAITH, AND EQUIP EACH STUDENT FOR A SPIRIT-EMPOWERED LIFE OF CHRIST-CENTERED LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE.

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from the president

FALL/WINTER 2015 | VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 2

FROM ITS ORIGINS AS A SCHOOL THAT TRAINED MISSIONARIES IN THE 1920s TO ITS STANDING AS A WORLD-

GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT.. ........................................... 8

CLASS PRIVATE LIBERAL ARTS

Vanguard alumni across the world prove the value of the University’s commitment to

INSTITUTION TODAY,

cultural diversity and global engagement.

ENSURE JUSTICE IN ARGENTINA............................... 12 Dr. Sandie Morgan and Derek Marsh lead students to Argentina to help facilitate an Ensure Justice Conference there for course credit.

LEADING OTHERS TO SUCCESS................................ 14 Tedla Mekonnen took the gift of his full scholarship to Vanguard and used it as the springboard for success—and to give back to others.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES....................................... 20 Student Heidi Lepe is exploring ways to bring the power of her Vanguard education to bear on the lives of the people in her home community.

RESTORING HOMES AND FAMILIES........................... 23 As the Foster and Adoption Programs Director at Olive Crest, Jessica Valdez helps bring healing to children and families.

DEPARTMENTS Message from the President. . ........................................ 1 On Campus. . ............................................................ 2 Faculty Spotlight...................................................... 24 Sports.. .................................................................. 26 Class Notes.. .......................................................... 32 My Story.. .............................................................. 40 Learn of Me............................................................ 41

CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Doug Green

Erin Hales

UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION

CREATIVE SERVICES CONSULTANT

UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE

PRESIDENT

Tawny Marcus

Michael J. Beals

WRITER / COPY EDITOR

PROVOST / VICE PRESIDENT OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Rene J. Scheys

Doretha O’Quinn

Chauncey D. Bayes

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER

Kim Johnson

VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS

Tim Young

VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT

Daniel Kim

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Vanguard University has always made it a part of its mission to send students out into a world that they can impact in a positive way, a world that desperately needs the influence of people who serve Christ.

Each year we see Vanguard’s student population more and more reflect all the diversity inherent in God’s creation, as we take active steps to engage in our Southern California community and represent His kingdom. That cultural diversity helps us as we equip students for work in the global marketplace, where employers, organizations, and the communities they serve stand to benefit from our tremendous Vanguard alumni!

In this issue, Tedla Mekonnen’s ’97 story shows us what happens when people invest in the lives of others through education. Were it not for two generous donors, Tedla might not have attended Vanguard, and he has always remembered that, choosing to share fruits of his own success with young students like him with great potential and few resources.

We also are able to hear about Dr. Sandra Morgan’s journey to Argentina with a cohort of 10 students receiving course credit for the study abroad trip. As the director of the Global Center for Women and Justice, Dr. Morgan is tireless in her advocacy. In addition to hosting the Ensure Justice Conference every year at Vanguard University, she and her students helped manage the same type of conference in Argentina, performing valuable work overseas on a trip sponsored by Vanguard’s office of Global Education and Outreach.

Vanguard University was also awarded a national grant as a Hispanic Serving Institution, thanks in part to the tremendous work of Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Tim Young and many other staff, administration, and faculty. This designation validates Vanguard’s commitment to cultural diversity and represents resources that will enable us to continue that commitment.

A number of faculty are featured in this issue as well, including two longtime religion professors Dr. Roger Heuser and Dr. Jerry Camery-Hoggatt.

The students they’ve educated and ministered to over their careers at Vanguard must number in the thousands, and each of them offers a view of their warm and engaging personalities in their respective pieces!

I believe it’s possible, when reading all these stories about global engagement, to stretch and push beyond the limits of your comfort zone— and I hope you are inspired to do just that!

Candice Co

Justin McIntee

Vanguard University of Southern California, in compliance with laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, age, disability, national origin, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures.

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

vanguard magazine is a free publication published 2 times per year by Vanguard University. All contents copyrighted, 2015, Vanguard University.

MICHAEL J. BEALS PhD

Bulk rate postage paid at Las Vegas, NV. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Vanguard University Alumni Relations Office, 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.

PRESIDENT, VANGUARD UNIVERSITY

Jeremy Moser

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on campus

ON CAMPUS VANGUARD TO OFFER ONLINE RELIGION PROGRAM IN 2016 Vanguard University’s School for Graduate and Professional Studies is in the planning stages of a religion program that will be offered entirely online, set to commence in Fall of 2016. The program would feature a BA in Religion with a concentration in ministry and leadership, and an MA in leadership studies. Vanguard’s goal in offering this religion degree entirely online is to train individuals for ministry and service who might otherwise not be able to attend classes on Vanguard’s campus, thereby extending the reach of Vanguard’s elite religion faculty. “We want to reach students all over the world, who are not within commuting distance,” says Dr. John Sim, who is leading the development of the program. “The goal is to train more Assemblies of God ministers, and online programs are attractive to people in other states and other countries.”

THE PRICELESS LUNCHEON TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING RAISES MONEY AND AWARENESS For twelve years, the Global Center for Women

In addition to raising more than $230,000 for

and Justice (GCWJ) at Vanguard University

the work of the Center, the Priceless Luncheon

has provided training and resources to enable

was also an occasion to honor the recipients

leaders to promote justice for women and girls.

of the Diamond Award. This year the Diamond

The support of individuals and organizations

Awards were given to Kyla Smith, director of

who believe in this mission is essential to the

the Dream Center in Los Angeles, Betsy Tarbel,

work of the GCWJ, and on September 19,

who served on the board of the Salvation

2015, the Center held its annual Priceless

Army for 15 years, and the Orange County

Luncheon, an event that helps raise funds for its

Transportation Authority, for it’s Be The One

global advocacy.

human trafficking awareness campaign.

This year’s event was chaired by Jasmine

“For me, it is so affirming to see that we have a

Shodja, a vice president, wealth advisor

community that believes in what we’re doing,”

at Wells Fargo, and brought together 350

says Dr. Sandie Morgan, director of the GCWJ.

supporters, businesses, and anti-human

“The funds that we raised are feeding our

trafficking advocates for an inspiring program

programs, and it’s evidence of the character of

to honor victims and community members,

this community that we are a part of.”

The online religion degree will also draw students who are called to ministry yet are not traditionally collegeaged, allowing them to complete their education within the context of their other obligations. The program also represents another extension of the partnership between Vanguard University and the SoCal Network Assemblies of God. Religion professor Roger Heuser is excited about the potential: “The online programs in leadership, both undergraduate and graduate levels, greatly expands the opportunity and flexibility for Christian leaders to expand their horizons, think new ways about leading organizations, sharpen their skill sets, and network with other leaders. We are grateful to the SoCal Network for making this possible.”

as well as educate the attendees about the startling issue of human trafficking.

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@VANGUARDU

TWEETS @C_Moore_34 #Welcome2VU was honestly probably one of the best weekends of my life!

I’m really excited to start and see what God has in store with me.

A Vanguard family enjoys family weekend.

VANGUARD UNIVERSITY HOSTS FAMILY WEEKEND One of the goals of Vanguard University’s

and this year, families attended the dedication

Office of Student Success, Retention, and

of that same building—witnessing an exciting

Family Relations is to engage students and

example of Vanguard University’s growth. “It

their families with their university experience

was the most fun moment of the weekend,” said

in multiple and meaningful ways. To this end,

Amanda Lebrecht, director of student success

each year Vanguard invites students to bring

& academic resources. “We were able to

their families to campus for a weekend of

celebrate a year of provision, as the Lord made

activities that connect parents and siblings to

it possible to be finished. People were able to

the lives of their Vanguard student.

take tours through the building that we were

Last year, Family Weekend included the groundbreaking ceremonies for the Scott Academic Center renovation and expansion,

@alexajoyhall God is so faithful! Once again He has provided financially for me to go to @VanguardU #goodgoodFather

@StrengthSupport For vets looking for a college that caters to the needs of Veterans check out @VanguardU. They have a beautiful new Veterans Center.

dreaming of a year ago. And it’s a reminder that families are such an important part of what we’re building.”

@DTucrkile Everytime I visit @VanguardU I feel like I am home.

VANGUARD UNIVERSITY IS BEST IN THE WEST, ACCORDING TO PRINCETON REVIEW Vanguard University is one of the best colleges

Princeton Review editors made their selections

in the West according to The Princeton Review.

based on data the company collected from

The well-known education services company

its survey of administrators at several hundred

lists the college among its “Best in the West”

colleges in each region, as well as its staff visits

recommended schools in its “2016 Best

to schools over the years, and the perspectives

Colleges: Region by Region” website feature

of college counselors and advisors.

that posted on August 3, 2015.

@therealdumas Shout out to my fellow @VanguardAlumni on the morning commute. I see you reppin’ @VanguardU with that license plate.

“I am thrilled that Vanguard University is being

@shreecarter

In its website profile on Vanguard University,

recognized by The Princeton Review as an all-

The Princeton Review commends the college for

around outstanding academic institution,” said

“focusing on students’ personal development

Vanguard University President Michael Beals.

Today’s highlight...the @VanguardU Staff Community Care Cart! Perfect time for an afternoon snack.

and sense of community on campus.” “We

“Acknowledging Vanguard’s unique focus on

chose Vanguard University and the other

professor-mentors, academic rigor, and Christ-

outstanding institutions on this list primarily for

centered learning, this esteemed recognition

their excellent academics,” said Robert Franek,

affirms that Vanguard is one of the finest

The Princeton Review’s Senior VP-Publisher. The

Christian universities in the state.”

TWEET @VANGUARDU SOME LOVE AND YOU JUST MIGHT END UP IN THE NEXT VANGUARD MAGAZINE!

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on campus

FACULTY BOOKS & JOURNALS ED RYBA R C Z Y K Rybarczyk, Edmund J.

“New Churches: Pentecostals and the Bible,” pp. 587-605, in The New Cambridge History of the Bible, vol. IV: From 1750 to the Present John Riches, Editor.

Cambridge University Press, 2015.

GA RY TY R A Tyra, Gary

VANGUARD HOLDS INAUGURAL LARSON LECTURESHIP ON ETHICS & BUSINESS

Pursuing Moral Faithfulness: Ethics and Christian Discipleship

On October 26, 2015, Vanguard held its

business community,” says David Vazquez,

inaugural Bill & Jo Anne Larson Lectureship

director of strategic partnerships. “As a

IVP Academic (May 15, 2015)

on Ethics & Business. Presented by the

University, it’s important to be a resource

Vanguard University Department of Business

to industry, and the Larson Lectureship has

and Management, the Larson Lectureship

already proven to be a great way to invite

features recognized business and civic

business leaders to campus and to discuss

leaders who embody a life of Christ-centered

the important issues of ethics and values in

leadership and service. The evening was a

relation to business and leadership.”

J I M WA LZ Walz, Jim

SPeak Performance: Using the Power of Metaphors to Communicate Vision, Motivate People, and Lead Your Organization to Success Corporate Communication Collection Business Expert Press (January 26, 2014)

M A RY WI C K M A N Anthony, M. & Wickman, M. (May/June 2015).

Precepting Challenges: The unsafe student.

Nurse Educator, 40(3), 113-114.

rousing success, gathering business leaders, city council members, community members, students, alumni, professors, and other friends of Vanguard. After a formal lecture from Admiral Vern Clark, retired Chief of Naval Operations and former Vanguard trustee, Vanguard president Dr. Michael J. Beals moderated an interview with Admiral Clark.

The Lectureship was endowed by Dr. Bill and Jo Anne Larson. The Larsons are dear friends of the Vanguard community, and passionate about Vanguard students and Christian higher education. They endowed this lectureship to provide Vanguard students with invaluable insight from distinguished and accomplished business and thought leaders.

“The Larson Lectureship provides a great format for Vanguard to engage the local

DELTA KAPPA ALUMNI RETURN TO VANGUARD Each year since the 1960s, Vanguard University

and celebrate the opening of the newly

has inducted students into its Delta Kappa honor

renovated and expanded Scott Academic

society. Commemorated with an engraved

Center. “As we prepared to open the new front

brick displayed on Vanguard’s campus mall, the

door to Vanguard, we wanted to incorporate

recognition honors students who are exemplary

those whose stories are woven into our history,”

in their Christian lifestyle as they serve their peers

said Joel Gackle, director of alumni relations.

YOUR GIFT IS A PRICELESS INVESTMENT IN OUR STUDENTS

and represent the University.

“Each member who attended was able to

Give today at vanguard.edu/growourstory

Delta Kappa alumni event, inviting past

This summer, the alumni office held a special recipients of this honor to return to Vanguard

sign the wall outside President Beals’ office, to leave their mark and pray over the next chapter in Vanguard’s story.”

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COMING TO VANGUARD’S LYCEUM THEATER

New students gather at Balboa Beach during Welcome Week.

VANGUARD ROLLS OUT THE RED CARPET DURING WELCOME WEEK Each year at the start of the fall semester,

all designed to promote the community

Vanguard introduces new students—both

atmosphere Vanguard is known for.

freshmen and transfers—to the special

“Welcome Week is all about student

community of the University. Welcome

success and we want our students to

Week features a number of sessions

flourish!” says Shelley Youd, associate

centered around the University’s mission,

director of residence life. “Setting their

exploring topics such as Title IX, academic

expectations, connecting them with

expectations, and living a life of service.

their first friends, and giving them timely

These sessions are held in an engaging

resources helps them to adjust into life at

“Ted Talk” model, featuring personal

Vanguard with the hope that they will stay

A ROMANCE DRAMA THAT SENDS A CHILLING MESSAGE

stories, reflections, and group learning,

and persist through graduation.”

OF FORGIVENESS AND RENEWAL

THE WINTER’S TALE

BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

VANGUARD UNIVERSITY RECEIVES $15,000 EDISON GRANT FOR STEM PROGRAM

DIRECTED BY SUSAN K. BERKOMPAS

A royal family is ripped apart when the king imprisons the queen on suspicions of infidelity and then exiles their newborn daughter.

Vanguard was recently awarded a

and will help to increase retention and

But callous hearts are redeemed, and broken ones mended, when

gracious $15,000 grant from Southern

graduation rates.

the king’s abandoned orphan falls in love with a distant prince. In

“The demand for students trained in STEM

a surprising Shakespearean twist, this beautiful and bittersweet tale

California Edison (SCE) to launch a one-year pilot program entitled: Student Success for Undergraduate Minorities STEM Education Program. This initiative will help to improve minority student achievement by implementing bestpractices in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education through supplemental instruction and expansion of student tutorial services. The grant funding will help to launch this program that will better prepare Vanguard students with oneon-one tutoring in science related fields

career fields is only growing,” says David

transcends wrath and regret to achieve romance and renewal in a

Vazquez, director of strategic partnerships

miraculously cathartic conclusion. Suitable for teens and older

at Vanguard. “Our recent partnership with Southern California Edison positions Vanguard to better equip our students with the skills required for in-demand STEM fields, and to excel in their coursework.

Edison is interested in increasing the number, diversity and success of students

FEBRUARY 26-28, MARCH 3-6 GENERAL $14

SENIOR/CHILD/GROUPS $12

participating in STEM fields of study and we are thankful for their generous gift to partner with us to achieve this goal.”

PURCHASE TICKETS AT VANGUARDTICKETS.COM vanguard magazine FALL/WINTER 2015

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THROUGH THESE DOORS The Oddo Family Bell Tower rises above the newly-expanded Scott Academic Center.

The tower is the crown jewel of the Scott Center renovation, serving as a beautiful landmark that visually establishes Vanguard University’s presence in Costa Mesa, Calif. and marks Scott as the “front door” of the campus.

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FUNDAMENTAL TO VANGUARD UNIVERSITY’S MISSION TO EQUIP STUDENTS FOR A SPIRIT-EMPOWERED LIFE OF CHRIST-CENTERED LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE IS THE COMMISSION TO ENGAGE WITH A CULTURALLY DIVERSE GLOBAL COMMUNITY. PREPARING GRADUATES FOR SERVICE IN THE WORLD HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF VANGUARD’S EDUCATIONAL AMBITIONS, TRACING BACK TO ITS ORIGINS AS A SCHOOL FOR TRAINING MISSIONARIES AND PASTORS. TODAY, VANGUARD’S DIVERSE CAMPUS, RIGOROUS ACADEMICS, AND COMMITMENT TO CHALLENGE STUDENTS TO MAKE GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT A PART OF THEIR EXPERIENCE PRODUCES STUDENTS AND ALUMNI WHO ARE PREPARED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE WORLD, THROUGH VOCATIONS IN MINISTRY AND IN BUSINESS.

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“We want to graduate every single student with cultural competency,” says Kayli Hillebrand, Vanguard’s director of global education and outreach. “Living in Orange County, we have access to so many global representatives. We want to take advantage of our community, and give students an understanding of cultural competency and a heart for it.”

As the world effectively shrinks through globalization and the

Passive Asset Management, where he manages a territory that ranges

evolution of internet technologies that connect more and more

from South Dakota, Oregon, Alaska and all states in between. He

citizens—combined with the ease of international travel—it becomes

works with the top portfolio managers and executives at the major

of even greater importance for this cultural competency to serve as a

Wall Street firms. “What Vanguard as a business school lacks in size,

highlight of the liberal arts education. Vanguard’s students and alumni

it more than makes up for in its commitment to a godly viewpoint,”

are equipped with a special sensitivity for diversity, as this sensitivity

says Lance. “Jobs, careers, and titles will all pass away. What made my

is rooted in the context of building God’s kingdom. Each graduate of

education relevant was the Christian worldview I learned it in.”

Vanguard pursues his or her career with a strong moral foundation that values ethics, excellence, justice, and a deep understanding that every global citizen, from Orange County and beyond, is made in the image of God.

Lance’s education in economics didn’t fully click for him until he was out of school and working; however, his education in how to make moral choices and serve God in business happened at Vanguard.

He has always put faith at the forefront of his relationships with

This foundation serves Vanguard alumni who pursue careers in

colleagues and employees. “It’s very simple,” he says. “Even the most

high-stakes, stressful occupations in which ethics plays a crucial role

high-powered finance managers have just as many personal or family

in challenging global realities. One such vocation is in the financial

issues as anyone else. I’m in constant contact with people who need

sector, where globalization promises individuals, corporations, and

God, and I believe that your work is your market for God.” One of

banks ample opportunities for profit, and where stories of malfeasance

the times that Lance followed God’s urging to leave a position, his

are never far from the public eye. Acknowledging this, Lance Allen

decision was a result of making a very clear moral choice, one that

(’96) is grateful for the education he received at Vanguard. Lance

gave him a conspicuous platform to explain to colleagues the way that

is currently a Regional Vice President in the Global Client Group,

his faith influenced his thinking.

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Lance firmly believes that his faith is perfectly aligned with the global

government,” he says. “ However, we all have a responsibility to bring

reach of his company, which allows him to serve communities on a

Christian values to our work and beyond. If you are anointed with

larger scale. “We live in a world where global banks are doing what

the Holy Spirit, you can bless others, and you can be used to show the

they can to go out of their way to help communities,” he says. “My

work of the Holy Spirit. A lot happened for me at Vanguard which

passion for finance is a God-given one. It is very biblical to grow

focused on academics, but Vanguard didn’t forget about my spiritual

businesses, and work hard to expand the kingdom. God wants the

life and my walk with God.”

whole world reached, no matter what a person does!”

Tim now lives in Paris, France and represents Slovenia in the

In addition to banks and corporations, the key driver for globalization

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD),

is quite obviously world governments, who advocate for their

which is in some ways like a consulting firm for governments, with

populations and endeavor to position themselves to prosper from

the goal of improving the well-being of people around the world. “We

the shared resources of the global community. Once again, stories of

pursue better policies for countries,” says Tim. “We seek to help the

misconduct often dominate the news, so it can be more difficult to see

environmental, financial, social effectiveness of governments around

the hard work of the many individuals who work for governments

the world.” As Tim pursued this work, he found that his interests at

to improve the lives of their citizens. Tim Soos (’08) is one Vanguard

Vanguard prepared him well for a position in which it is necessary to

alumnus whose strong faith and cultural competency have been

meet with people from many different cultures and forge discussion

integral in preparing for a career in government. Originally from

on important ideas. As a member of Vanguard’s debate and forensics

Slovenia, a small country in Central Europe of just 2 million people,

team, and in his communication classes, Tim was being trained to look

Tim came to Vanguard and was welcomed by a gracious community,

at the broader perspective of an issue before communicating his ideas

and challenged by demanding academics.

effectively about it.

While still a student at Vanguard, Tim took advantage of an

In his position with the government of Slovenia, Tim has been able to

opportunity to travel to New York and work for the Slovenian

utilize his strong foundation in faith from Vanguard to serve God’s

government’s representation to the United Nations. After graduation,

kingdom in government work. “If you make governments better,

he moved back to Slovenia and took a government position in

you affect people’s lives for the better,” he says. “Many governments

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (this is analogous to the U.S. State

are ineffective and not well-run. Even though individuals working

Department). Eventually Tim was serving as one of three principal

for governments are doing their jobs well, the processes many times

advisors to Slovenia’s Secretary of State. And though his work is

diminish the value of their work. OECD helps governments bring

in government, Tim has made faith central to his life. “When I was

innovation and effectiveness to their objectives.”

younger, I heard time and time again that Christians had to avoid

“WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE GLOBAL BANKS ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO HELP COMMUNITIES. MY PASSION FOR FINANCE IS A GOD-GIVEN ONE. IT IS VERY BIBLICAL TO GROW BUSINESSES, AND WORK HARD TO EXPAND THE KINGDOM. GOD WANTS THE WHOLE WORLD REACHED, NO MATTER WHAT A PERSON DOES!” LANCE ALLEN ’96

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“WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT CHRISTIANS HAD TO AVOID GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING CHRISTIAN VALUES TO OUR WORK AND BEYOND. IF YOU ARE ANOINTED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, YOU CAN BLESS OTHERS, AND YOU CAN BE USED TO SHOW THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.” TIM SOOS ’08

As the director of global education and outreach, Kayli Hillebrand

opportunity is provided with the Center for Holy Land Studies through

is at the forefront of Vanguard University’s innovations in global

the Assemblies of God to spend five weeks in Israel for three units of

engagement. Her department represents the University’s recent focus

course credit, open to all majors and all years and giving students the

on challenging students with study abroad experiences that are co-

chance to walk where Jesus walked. Other departments planning these

curricular, providing a very strong connection between exposure to

kinds of trips include theater arts, kinesiology, business, and biology.

new places and cultures, and the academic learning necessary to add

In every case, the student is responsible for completing work that

maximum value to the experience. Kayli explains how Vanguard has

indicates he or she is processing the academic and spiritual significance

implemented progressive expectations for each student’s engagement:

of the experience. “We want students to apply what they are learning

“In their first year, every student has to do community service hours,

to their lives,” says Kayli. “They’re not just putting it on a shelf. They

and not just in things like teaching Sunday School. That kind of service

are asking how it affects the community, and how God is shaping what

is obviously important, because it’s serving the Lord. But we want

he has for them through the experience.”

students to serve the community also, and begin to think globally. We then encourage them to go on outreach trips, then shorter study abroad trips, and then a three to four month study abroad trip. No matter what the student’s major is, they are looking at these assignments as a practical way to help those around the world.”

All of this adds value to the Vanguard student’s liberal arts education, helping him or her understand God’s world and be more sensitively equipped to engage with it. But it also adds value to the Vanguard student’s resume, helping employers see explicitly that the student has vital cultural competency. “Employers ask: do you have cross-cultural

Faculty at Vanguard are excited about the opportunities this focus

experience?” says Kayli. “It’s becoming the norm in the business world,

represents, and a number of new study abroad learning experiences

and the beauty of globalization is the access we have to the world. If

are already in the works. The Psychology Department has partnered

you can engage with people through cross-cultural interactions, you

with the Africa Theological Seminary in Kenya to offer 9 units of

will go far, and when you experience this, you are exposed to the needs

academic credit for a course that includes a practicum in which

of the world and the Kingdom causes. You begin to learn about how

students will be working with local churches and schools to connect to

your passion and talents intersect for Kingdom work.”

families who are survivors of violence in that country’s wars. Another

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ENSURE JUSTICE IN ARGENTINA A CALLING TO SERVE THE WORLD HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF THE MISSION OF THE GLOBAL CENTER FOR WOMEN AND JUSTICE—IT’S RIGHT THERE IN THE NAME. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DIRECTOR DR. SANDIE MORGAN, THE GLOBAL CENTER FOR WOMEN AND JUSTICE HAS LOOKED OUTWARD FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, TAKING STEPS TO EDUCATE ORANGE COUNTY CITIZENS AND STUDENTS FOR ACTION TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING HERE AND ALL OVER THE GLOBE. For more than a decade, Dr. Morgan has taken many

in Argentina. Participants also came from Chile, Ecuador, and Colombia,

groups of students abroad to advocate for justice,

helping to build a regional awareness on human trafficking. “I’m not a fan

and with the recent assignation of the office of Global

of ‘looky-loo’ social justice,” says Dr. Morgan. “We bring students there to

Education and Outreach into Vanguard’s academic

do constructive work with people who have experience to help them make a

house, she is able to make these same trips with specific

difference. We don’t go in as if we have all the answers from America. We will

curricular goals. Students can now earn course credit

bring tools and be a part of the solution.”

as they travel and engage with the world, making their study abroad experience even more meaningful and life-changing.

Dr. Morgan’s co-professor on the trip, agrees that students are challenged by the realization that the work expected of them on the trip is real. “It would

Human Trafficking Country Study: Argentina was the

be easy to go on a vacation,” he says. “But the students are going in order to

second course to represent the partnership between the

connect with change agents in those countries, contributing to their process.

Global Center for Women and Justice and the office of

Students are able to see that they have a positive impact. At the same time, we

Global Education and Outreach, sending Sandie Morgan,

are realistic about what they can accomplish. We don’t take it lightly.”

her co-professor Derek Marsh, and six students to Argentina for two weeks in July of 2015. The educational aspect of this type of study abroad experience is unparalleled. “Experience is the key word,” says Dr. Morgan. “From a learning perspective, experience is a great teacher. After you are engaged overseas with someone who is guiding you, you come back and it becomes integrated with who you are. It’s not overstating it to say that it’s transformative.”

As part of the study abroad trip, the students participated in the Asegurar Justicia conference, a replica of the Ensure Justice conference hosted annually by the GCWJ. The Asegurar Justicia conference had over a hundred and twenty leaders learning about the issues of human trafficking including teachers, professors, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and social workers, as well as attorneys and faith based leaders from four provinces

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Derek Marsh, retired Deputy Chief of the Westminster Police Department and

In the context of their unique expertise, Derek Marsh and Sandie Morgan offer quite a one-two punch in the fight against injustice. Dr. Morgan is a nurse and a teacher, training community leaders to advocate for the least powerful in their societies. Derek is a law enforcement officer, and by virtue of that, is able to gain access into what is often an insular culture—where he is able to train other officers in how to use the law to advocate for these same people. The education Vanguard students receive just by being witnesses to Derek’s and Dr. Morgan’s work is enough to account for a whole semester’s worth of studying textbooks.

The students are much more than mere observers, however. “They’re not just following us around,” explains Dr. Morgan. “They have to find a way to contribute to social justice and engagement.” This is precisely what Kayli Hillebrand, Vanguard’s director of global education and outreach, is aiming

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Dr. Sandie Morgan and students share the journey on the Global Center for Women and Justice’s study abroad trip to Argentina.

for when she helps facilitate these study abroad opportunities. “It’s a win-

for her. “I’ve been on trips where I’ve visited an orphanage and built a

win,” says Kayli. “We partner with Assemblies of God World Missions. The

playground,” she says. “We left something physical. On this trip we knew we

students are exposed to content here and in another country, and it broadens

may not be able to see the immediate fruits of our labor, so it wasn’t about

their understanding of how big the world is and how many people care about

feeling good about ourselves. It was about knowing we were able to be used.

important things. The trip to Argentina opened these students’ eyes to see

Our desire was to connect to other people and have something continue after

other people fighting for good.”

we left. So many people feel that there’s no escape for those trapped in human

Haylee Pierce was one of the Vanguard students who went to Argentina.

A junior psychology major, Haylee took Sandie Morgan’s class on human trafficking and child exploitation the semester before and jumped at the chance to travel and work with her abroad this summer. Haylee can attest to

trafficking, and in Argentina, many people are unaware of the problem. To offer something to those people by spreading awareness in Argentina was transformative. I know it’s something that Jesus cares about, so I want to care about it.”

the rigorous expectations placed on students for the trip. Prior to leaving the

In this mission of advocating globally for those who are oppressed by human

States, Haylee and her classmates took a four-week intensive online course

trafficking and sexual slavery, Dr. Sandie Morgan is not limiting herself to

on the history of Argentina. Once they got there, in addition to supporting

just a few other countries. She’s been invited back to Argentina, and also has

the logistics of the Asegurar Justicia conference, Haylee and her classmates

an invitation from the Ecuadorian government. She recently took a team

were responsible for cultivating lasting relationships with the people

for training and outreach to Italy, she has connected with Nigerian Women

from Argentina and other countries. They met with priests and non-profit

Against Violence, and she’ll be going to Romania next May—accompanied

organizations before and after the conference, visited church services where

by passionate co-educators and Vanguard students who have a driving desire

they worshipped with those in the community, and did a special Live2Free

to see more justice in the world. “We want to expand for our students what

presentation for community leaders.

constitutes ‘ministry,’” she says. “So they can use their experiences and their

Even though Haylee has been on a number of service-oriented trips overseas,

energy for something greater than themselves.”

she is candid about how working with Dr. Morgan was a new experience

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LEADING OTHERS TO SUCCESS It is safe to say that Tedla “Ted” Mekonnen’s ’97 journey to Vanguard University was more unusual and a little more unlikely than most.

It was made possible only through an extraordinary sacrifice by his parents, and a beautiful and lasting act of generosity by three people who believed in a boy with no resources but vast potential. Ted’s time at Vanguard became a mandate for the rest of his life, serving as the cornerstone of a successful career built on helping others to receive the same opportunities in education that he did.

In 1990, Ted and his brother Mike were two boys living in Yugoslavia, where their father was an ambassador from Ethiopia.

As the civil war in Yugoslavia intensified and political turmoil in Ethiopia made that country unstable, Ted and Mike’s parents made the decision to send them to the United States to attend Piney Woods School, a Christian boarding school in Jackson, Mississippi.

There Ted and Mike were befriended and cared for by a man named Lee Unger, vice president of Piney Woods, who recognized their special circumstances and their potential. Lee took personal and financial responsibility for Ted and Mike, teaching them leadership and business development skills and helping them apply to college.

When he did apply to college, Ted was accepted for admission by 32 institutions. His primary criterion for which school he would

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“[The professors] take you under their wing like you are their own child. They care about not just your education, but also your sense of direction in life and who you should be.” attend was practical; he needed a scholarship. It happened that at this

from a missions point of view, you need resources. I didn’t go into business

time a successful real estate developer and operator in Newport Beach,

just to make money. That attitude leads to many businesses having no

Calif. named Hap Byers and his wife Marilyn decided to fund a four-

integrity. For me, my integrity, ethics, courage, and generosity will serve me

year scholarship to Vanguard University for a student in need. The result

and my purpose.”

was that Vanguard was the only one of 32 colleges to offer Ted a full scholarship, and that’s the one he chose.

Ted began working full time for an investment firm called Endeavor Group during his last year at Vanguard, and after graduation went on to become

Ted immediately discovered that the scholarship wasn’t merely tuition.

an extremely successful financial executive. Eventually, he founded his

Hap and Marilyn extended their generosity to Ted personally, opening their

own investment company called RoKa Capital, but again, personal wealth

home to him during the holidays and becoming like a second family. Hap,

wasn’t the goal. “I left my company and started my own business,” explains

who passed away in October of 2015, also began to mentor Ted. “While I

Ted. “It’s a platform to generate income to impact lives. From there I can

was at VU, we had lunch every month near campus,” says Ted. “He taught

fulfill my true purpose, which is the foundation I started with help of Lee

me that the most important things in life are relationships with God, with

Unger in 2004.”

your family, and with others. He also helped me develop as a business student. He taught me to take calculated risks and not let my fear stand between me and my dreams.”

This is the L.E.A.D. Foundation, whose goal is to provide for the education of young people throughout the world with big potential and few resources—the kind of child Ted once was. The letters stand for Leadership,

At the same time, Ted was having the full Vanguard experience, majoring

Education, Arts, and Diversity, and naturally each of these is important

in finance and management and exploring his larger purpose under the

to Ted. “This is a holistic foundation,” he says. “We don’t just give the

guidance of professors like Ed Westbrook. “The love that professors and

student some money and say, ‘Good luck.’” Leadership and Education

staff have toward students is so genuine,” he recalls. “They take you under

equip students to live a powerful life of purpose, Arts gives them the tools

their wing like you are their own child. They care about not just your

to express themselves, and Diversity helps them connect to a unique and

education, but also your sense of direction in life and who you should be.”

varied world. Ted is particularly committed to diversity. “We need a lot of

Ted did discover who he should be: someone successful in business. His goal, however, wasn’t to amass personal wealth, but to follow the example of his mentors Hap Byers and Lee Unger, who used their assets as a means

colors in our lives! That’s how God created the world. Vanguard was very diverse for a small college. I learned that if you’re a child of God, then you embrace diversity, because we all have that in common.”

by which God could impact the lives of others. “My father’s career in

It’s impossible for Ted to appraise the magnitude of Lee Unger’s and Hap

business was constrained by the fact that he was in poor third-world

and Marilyn Byers’ generosity, so he simply gives the same way that they

countries,” says Ted. “He had limited resources but unlimited potential.

did, to others who are like him. In addition to supporting scholars through

Through business, I found my purpose: to find people like that and give

the L.E.A.D. Foundation, Ted is an active member of Vanguard’s Alumni

them the opportunity to pursue their purpose.” For Ted, Vanguard’s

Association Board. Ted’s time at Vanguard prepared him for a life of

community served as a model for how all the different disciplines are

purpose, and the influence of his mentors has shaped that sense of purpose

interdependent, galvanized by a desire to expand God’s kingdom. “At

for Ted’s entire journey. “I’m defined by who I am, what I attempt to do,

Vanguard, I got to know a lot of religion majors, students working to

my goals, and how I treat people,” he says. “Those are all a product of my

become missionaries and ministers, and I realized, they need people like us,

education at Vanguard, where I learned vision, courage, the importance of

to help them! In order to build churches, libraries, and hospitals globally,

relationships, and how to have a sense of who you are.”

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LIVING THE GLOBAL FUTURE NOW. Send presentation to Buenos-Aires. Videoconference with Stockholm.

Lunch with a new colleague from Sri Lanka. Team meeting to brainstorm new strategies for Cape Town. You’ve always wanted to explore Cape Town.

The nature, the cultures – so exciting. Request transfer with promotion to Cape Town. Compete for this transfer with graduates of the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and Paris-Sorbonne University.

Whether this excites or scares you, the global workplace is not

The second is a research-backed model of cultural capabilities

just the future. It is our present reality. Vanguard graduates have

which can be developed in order to enhance individuals’ ability

worked and served on all inhabited continents. They started

to thrive in intercultural situations.

companies in Africa and institutions of Higher Education in the Middle East. They work in multinational organizations. And as the world becomes even more connected, the trend will continue.

In my personal intercultural experiences I found three individual characteristics to be of key importance to positive and successful interactions: caring, curiosity, and courage. Caring about

I “fell into” working in intercultural relations right after college,

people – being genuinely interested in their well-being – opens

at the time when the boom of global connections was just

opportunities for quality, deep interactions and relationships.

beginning. It was great fun. People had trouble pronouncing my

Another, related key is curiosity. Developing interpersonal and

name. I had trouble pronouncing their names. It did not matter

intercultural understanding naturally flows from caring curiosity.

that interactions were not immediately easy or comfortable

What shaped individuals you are interacting with? Why do

(just do not give up right away, and just settle for monosyllable

they interpret events and behaviors the way they do? Asking

nicknames). A minor discomfort of occasionally not knowing

these questions allows developing deeper understanding of

what certain foods were or what being on time meant to

individuals, which in turn facilitates building relationships.

different people did not matter. What mattered is that we could communicate. We could collaborate. And we could accomplish the work that made the world just a little bit better. It was a great way to start my working life. Since then, I wrote a dissertation and published on the role of culture in the workplace, presented my work on four continents, consulted for organizations with international reach, and developed many intercultural collaborations and friendships. It’s been a good ride.

Finally, I believe courage is essential. While there are many expressions of courage, the type of courage I find most conducive to developing intercultural capacity, learning new languages, or living in international contexts is the courage to make mistakes.

Fear of making mistakes can be paralyzing. Do not take yourself too seriously; the learning process does not require an immediate perfection. You are going to make mistakes. Others are going to make mistakes. Being open to the learning process, and enjoying

People often ask – “what makes a person successful in

that process, is much more productive than being paralyzed by

intercultural relations?” I have two answers. One is a brief list of

the “perfection or nothing” mentality. Just make sure to not waste

characteristics I personally found helpful across many situations.

a good mistake – learn from it, do not keep repeating it.

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Opportunities in the global workplace are

from other cultures. Would your attempts to

Finally, motivational capability, or “drive”, reflects

abundant. So are the challenges. Cultures

establish yourself as the leader (or simply to

a desire to learn and function in another culture.

influence our workplace expectations, our ideas of

get noticed) have an effect of others perceiving

If you do not care to learn which behaviors can

what leadership looks like, how we provide and

you as obnoxious, conceited, or disrespectful?

be offensive in certain contexts, or do not care

receive feedback, how we handle stress, how we

Understanding of how culture influences such

to act accordingly even if you do know your

work in teams, and what pushes our subconscious

perceptions is a major part of building successful

behavior (say, putting your feet up in public) will

buttons and leads to conflict. As more and

intercultural collaborations. I would add that

be perceived as offensive, you are not likely to

more individuals daily interact with those who

awareness of your own cultural background and

build successful intercultural relationships. While

are very different from them, the diversity is invigorating, but it also requires different ways of thinking, and a new skillset of paying attention to communication signals that are more difficult to decipher, acting in ways that are not intuitive, and examining your own behavior more closely than

”DEVELOPING INTERPERSONAL AND INTERCULTURAL UNDERSTANDING NATURALLY FLOWS FROM CARING CURIOSITY.”

we typically might be inclined.

Fortunately, research shows that cross-cultural capabilities can be developed. According to one of the prominent approaches to these capabilities, the cultural intelligence approach associated

how it influences your behavior and perceptions is

developing motivation capacity might be more

the key to metacognitive capability.

difficult than simply learning the rules, observing someone who built their success on functioning

with the work of Soon Ang, Lynn Van Dyne,

Behavioral capability (also called “action”) reflects

David Livermore and their colleagues, there

the ability to demonstrate appropriate verbal and

are four aspects of cultural capabilities (cultural

non-verbal behaviors in a foreign culture, which is

intelligence) that can be deliberately practiced

vital to effective communication and to establishing

and improved upon:

relationships. To develop this capability, it is

The global workplace is here. We can bemoan

essential to practice new behaviors so that they

the increasing complexity of life. We can

become easier and more natural for you. Practice

grudgingly drag ourselves into the world, perhaps

the type of handshakes or table manners expected

holding onto the safety blanket of some of the old

in specific environments - such as keeping the fork

ideas and assumptions. Or we can harness the

in the left hand and the knife in the right for the

change and have fun riding its wave. With proper

entire duration of using these utensils, European

skills and attitudes, opportunities in the global

way. Watching others and role playing specific

workplace are endless.

Cognitive aspect of cultural capabilities, or knowledge factor, reflects familiarity with the norms and practices of other cultures, as well as understanding of how cultures function in general. There are many ways to increase cultural knowledge – travel, interaction with individuals from other cultures, reading, visiting cultural events or centers, or perhaps taking courses focused on developing cultural knowledge.

However, knowledge by itself is not enough.

well across cultures, or thinking of your prior successful and beneficial interactions with people from different cultural backgrounds, should help.

behaviors (standing closer or father apart from conversation partner, using culturally appropriate volume of voice in a conversation) is helpful in developing behavioral capability.

Metacognitive capability (also called “strategy”) reflects the ability to understand cultural knowledge, cultural awareness of appropriate

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

behaviors, and awareness of own behavior

Ludmila Praslova, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Vanguard’s Master of Science in Organizational Psychology (MSOP) program. In her 20s, she served as a Director of International Relations for the Russian Union of Pentecostal Evangelical Christians.

She received her Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from one of the top 10 programs in the field, at the University of Akron, OH.

and thinking in intercultural interactions. It can be developed by paying attention to your own behavior in cultural situations and the reaction of others to your behavior. It requires being carefully attuned to what you know about cultures and individuals, and learning to predict how your behavior will be perceived by individuals

As a reflection of Vanguard’s commitment to preparing students for the diverse and global workplace, MSOP is working on introducing a specialization in Intercultural Relations within the program, which will specifically serve students interested in global careers or careers in organizational diversity.

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PULL AND PUSH WHEN NATHAN GONZALES ’00 READ THAT THE CAMPAIGN TO RENOVATE AND EXPAND THE SCOTT ACADEMIC CENTER WAS NAMED THROUGH THESE DOORS, HE REALIZED THAT, IN REFLECTING ON HIS OWN EDUCATION AT VANGUARD UNIVERSITY, THE IMAGE OF MOVING THROUGH A DOOR VERY MUCH RESONATED WITH HIM. NATHAN WOULD ADD ANOTHER SET OF DOORS TO THE METAPHOR, HOWEVER. “VANGUARD HELPED ME THROUGH ONE DOOR,” HE EXPLAINS, “INVITING ME INTO A COMMUNITY WHERE I COULD LEARN AND GROW IN MY FAITH, BUT IT THEN OPENED OTHER DOORS TO NEW EXPERIENCES AND SENT ME THROUGH THOSE. THIS SENSE OF BEING PULLED IN AND THEN PUSHED OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONES WAS FOUNDATIONAL AND LIFE-CHANGING.”

Nathan was certainly pulled in. When he arrived on campus, he had a plan that considered Vanguard little more than a two-year stepping stone to a larger state university. That all changed when within two weeks he had made lifelong friends in what was then the East Tower, serving together with them on a juvenile hall ministry team in Riverside.

There he quickly discovered what it meant to be pushed out. “It was a sobering experience, not very comfortable,” he says. “We accompanied a Teen Challenge group and had a chapel for the kids there. We played worship songs, then broke up into small groups. They had two questions for us: how much we were paid to be there, and what was our experience in criminal activity. Vanguard gave me the opportunity to take ownership of my faith. I grew up in the best Christian home any kid could ask for, but college was time for me to figure out what faith really meant.” Nathan’s faith was being challenged by the hard reality of real service to the Lord.

Near the end of his time at Vanguard, Nathan had the experience of being pushed out again, this time with results that echoed far into his life and career. Professor Dennis McNutt introduced him to the American Studies program, which led to an internship in the White House Press Office. During the internship, Nathan’s desk—really just a folding table with four telephones—was on the other side of the room in which the White House press secretary delivered daily briefings. He was in the center of all the activity, and caught the political bug. “Ninety percent of my time I answered phones and made copies,” he says.

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I tell young people when I explain to them the importance of an internship!”

Nathan’s passion for politics moved beyond television work when he was connected to highlyregarded political analyst Stuart Rothenberg and began writing for the Rothenberg Political Report in 2001. Nathan had found his true calling. He’s been hard at work for this publication ever since, recently assuming ownership of it. It’s now the Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report, and to this Nathan has added another website he created called Politics in Stereo.

The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report explores and explains the different races happening at each level during election years, while Politics in Stereo allows its reader to filter political commentary state by state and according to ideology. Both of the projects have similar aims: to educate voters with precision, relevance, and fairness. Both are non-partisan, one of Nathan’s abiding principles. “It’s important for people to be exposed to opinions other than the ones they agree

Nathan Gonzales appears on Meet the Press in October of 2015.

with,” he says. “Knowing and understanding where the other side is coming from can take the edge off political discourse. We don’t have to all agree with each other, but the tone of political discourse is often unhealthy and often not Christ-like. As Christians we should be mindful of how we act in the political realm.”

Nathan’s faith has always been closely connected to his work. “One of my missions is to seek truth and write about truth. Good journalists seek out truth and write a fair story about what’s happening.

That’s in line with Vanguard’s core values and, of

course, the Bible’s. Faith plays a huge role in how

of Vanguard’s future has at its center that image of

I interact with sources and other journalists. It’s

those doors. “My heart is to get as many students

a brutal industry and I try to conduct myself in a

on campus as possible, growing them in their faith

Christ-like manner in all my interactions. My hope

and knowledge, and then pushing them off campus

is that people will come to trust me with material.

to learn about and serve the world. Vanguard helped

They know they’ll get fair treatment if I write it.”

me broaden my worldview and encouraged me to

Nathan has recently been appointed to the Vanguard Board of Trustees, and he’s the youngest member.

With the privilege of being directly involved in the governance of Vanguard University, Nathan’s vision

grow deeper in my faith, which led to freedom as I left campus. As I enter service on the Board, that’s my goal: I want to get kids here, and then push them out to do great things.”

“GOOD JOURNALISTS SEEK OUT TRUTH AND WRITE A FAIR STORY ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING. THAT’S IN LINE WITH VANGUARD’S CORE VALUES AND, OF COURSE, THE BIBLE’S.” NATHAN GONZALES ’00

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COMMUNITY RESOURCES AMONG THE DIVERSE BENEFITS OF THE TRANSFORMATIONAL EDUCATION STUDENTS RECEIVE AT VANGUARD UNIVERSITY, PERHAPS THE MOST RESOUNDING ARE THOSE THAT ECHO BACK THROUGH THE STUDENT AND INTO HIS OR HER HOME COMMUNITY. Students are empowered by the tools they acquire

who received the National Hispanic Christian

she says. “Professor Hien Park saw my passion for

at Vanguard, and with those tools they return to the

Leadership Conference scholarship for Latino students

the Hispanic community early and encouraged me,

communities that formed them intent on helping serve

at Vanguard. Heidi also served as a diversity intern

telling me that my goals are worthy and that I can

the concerns there.

in Vanguard’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and

go far. Professor Elizabeth Powell motivates me to

she volunteered for the community development

integrate faith and psychology. She gives me a model

organization MIKA as part of their El Paseo after-

to aspire to, teaching and presenting at seminars

school tutoring, helping K-12 students achieve their

and conferences. And Professor Ed Clarke has so

maximum potential academically. This year, Heidi is

much going on, and is so busy, and yet when I told

also volunteering for the Down Syndrome Association

him of my dream of building a resource center at my

of Orange County, serving the Hispanic community

church, he said, ‘Let’s make it happen!’” Heidi has

under their Spanish Outreach program. In this role,

already begun just that, working with her church, The

Heidi is really laying the foundation for her future. “We

Wash LA, to organize events that serve the diverse

provide bilingual resources and educational support

surrounding community, many members of which are

for families of individuals with Down Syndrome,” she

low-income or homeless.

Heidi Lepe is one of these students. Originally from the ethnically diverse, compact, and crowded community of West Los Angeles, Heidi came to Vanguard and immediately fell in love with the sun-drenched pace of living in Costa Mesa and the structured community of higher education. Her home was never far from her mind, however. At Vanguard, Heidi discovered a way to talk about and name the issues that her community faces, and even more importantly became equipped with tools to challenge them. “Before, I didn’t take things seriously, or think about them,” she says about the matters that plague West LA. “My education here has opened my eyes, made me aware of these problems, and be able to label them as ‘not okay.’ Now I can’t overlook them. I can find a solution to them.”

At Vanguard, Heidi found an academic community sensitive to her identity and committed to providing opportunities for her to appreciate and expand it.

Two years ago she was the president of El Puente Club, and last year she was one of four students

says. “This allows me to take part in a movement to advocate for people who have no voice. I love working with these families. My dream job is to be an educational advocate for Latinos in schools and communities across the nation locally and politically, whether it be in a school district or on a city council.”

But for all that Heidi has done, it’s not enough.

She graduates this spring, yet her education is not complete. “My parents, who immigrated to this country and are now citizens, always taught me to do my best, and set God first. More than anything, they said to me ‘Go to school, because we never could.’ I plan

The most essential component of Heidi’s development

to go on and get my PhD, to be an example in my

at Vanguard has been professors who transmit their

community and an advocate in education for Latinos,”

knowledge and experience through passion and

she says.

relationship. “There is a sense of professors being there for you, both spiritually and academically,”

“My sociology degree will be a part of my ministry, using the church as a tool to open resources to families in communities.”

HEIDI LEPE

At Vanguard, Heidi has been equipped for a life of faith that serves the needs of her own people, whatever ethnic or economic demographic they belong to. “I will never forget when a professor here told me ‘The gospel is best heard when people know that you care about all of them and not just their spiritual well-being.’ My sociology degree will be a part of my ministry, using the church as a tool to open resources to families in communities.”

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S H E R I D A N IF YOU TRY TO CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW WITH SGA PRESIDENT AND SENIOR SHERIDAN SMITH ANYWHERE ON VANGUARD’S CAMPUS, BE PREPARED FOR INTERRUPTIONS. Nearly everyone who passes by has a friendly word to say to Sheridan, and he welcomes these greetings with warmth and kindness. This is fitting, because for Sheridan, the community-mindedness of Vanguard University is so deeply woven into the fabric of campus life that he began to benefit from it the very first moment he stepped onto the grounds. He wasn’t a part of an Admissions Pre-VU weekend or any other official event; he was just walking around a strange new place with his parents. “We didn’t have a tour guide, and class wasn’t even in session,” he says. “Yet every student we encountered was so friendly. They realized I was new

S M I T H

Sheridan would rely on these relationships, as well as the support services Vanguard offers, when at the end of his sophomore year and into his junior year he began to experience a deep and dark depression. He had no idea where it was coming from. “That period cultivated the most growth in my life,” he says. “I learned that you have to show up to your own life. I was drawn to God, and truly understood what it means to receive his love and grace. It was a very important season in my life, when my narrative became redemptive.”

An essential part of Sheridan’s recovery was the Counseling Center at Vanguard. In addition to personally helping him, the experience gave him the foundation for his future, and Sheridan knows that the heart for ministry he’s always had will somehow manifest in giving others the same help he received. “I’m planning to attend the Institute of Spiritual Formation program at Biola, to prepare for a position as a spiritual director at a church or as a Christian therapist. What I do know for certain is that I want to help others like I was helped. My passion is to challenge people to understand who they are and

and gave my parents and me an unofficial tour. They

how to go deeper in their faith.”

were already building relationships and they didn’t even

In the meantime, Sheridan is embracing the joy of

know us.”

serving as SGA president. “It’s a fun job with a lot of

As a student, Sheridan immediately found ways to

responsibility,” he says. “Leading people and making

be engaged in this community, becoming a Resident Assistant for Huntington Hall as a sophomore. Sheridan

decisions requires confidence and the ability to delegate to my team.” This experience will be one of many at

shortly realized that being a part of any community

Vanguard that have prepared Sheridan for his future.

carries with it the frustrations of being human. He

At Vanguard, the education Sheridan received cannot

diplomatically explains that he was in charge of the

be separated from the redemptive power of a community

rowdiest floor in the building. “It was very hard, but

in partnership with Christ. “It’s difficult to create an

extremely rewarding,” he recalls. “It was a relationally

environment of academia as well as a culture of spiritual

exhausting job, and I had such a tough year that when

and Christian leaders. It’s so valuable because not many

they asked me to be an RA again I almost said no. But I

universities can do it. At Vanguard, you gain knowledge,

found strength in the relationships I had developed with

become a scholar, and understand what it means to

the Resident Life staff.”

discover God.”

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RESTORING HOMES AND FAMILIES BEFORE JESSICA VALDEZ ’00 ARRIVED AT VANGUARD UNIVERSITY AS A JUNIOR TRANSFER STUDENT, SHE HAD AN EXPERIENCE THAT WOULD PROVE FORMATIVE AS SHE DEVELOPED THE FOUNDATION FOR HER CAREER. JESSICA HAD VOLUNTEERED AT A CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER, LOCATED IN A HOUSE AND RUN BY A SMALL STAFF OF DEDICATED WOMEN.

“I loved that it was run out of a home,” Jessica recalls. “When women came in, they came into a living room. They could feel safe. They could feel like they were in a home, not a hospital or clinic. I remember thinking, ‘I would love to run something like this!’”

Jessica fulfilled this ambition, but with a twist. In her position at Olive Crest—an organization that educates and advocates for youth and families in crisis—she still has an opportunity to see the home as a place of healing and restoration. Now the Foster and Adoption Programs Director, Jessica’s first position at Olive Crest was over a decade ago as a student intern required to perform 30 hours of service in the late Dr. Elizabeth Leonard’s Domestic Violence class. “Dr. Leonard was the person at Vanguard I identified with the most,” says Jessica. “Something about who she was resonated with me. She made her teaching more personal than academic; she related to my passion as I was discovering it.”

Jessica distinguished herself so well in her role as an intern that Olive Crest gave her a parttime position while she completed her degree at Vanguard. Upon her graduation, Jessica accepted a full-time position, and from there steadily began taking on more and more leadership responsibilities. When Olive Crest was chosen as one of LA county’s adoption services providers, Jessica was asked to coordinate the new department. In 2013, she assumed her current role, and one of the more unique aspects of her journey at Olive Crest is that in over 10 years, she has only once held a position that anyone held before her. She has consistently been responsible for creating new positions and developing them within the framework of Olive Crest’s mission.

“God has opened doors for me, and as I have chosen by faith to walk through each one, amazing opportunities have presented themselves!” One of these doors was further education, and so, while still working full-time at Olive Crest, Jessica went back to school, obtaining her Master’s in Social Work from Cal State University – Long Beach.

One of the accomplishments Jessica is most proud of is a Digital Storytelling program she began with a co-worker to help children process their adoption story. “Many children have rarely told their story to anyone,” she says. “Our Digital Storytelling workshop allows youth to share aspects of their life story, through their perspective, by creating short, multimedia movies that combine photographs, video, animation, sound, music, text, and a narrative voice. This therapeutic experience, which has historically been specifically for adoptive youth, is the only

Jessica is not shy about what is needed most in this battlefield:

one of its kind in Los Angeles County. To date, more than 40 stories have been created.”

families of faith who will step in and fill the role of the church

Olive Crest’s motto is “Strong Families, Safe Kids” and Jessica is motivated in part by the idea

in the lives of children in foster care. For these families willing

she encountered at the crisis pregnancy center and was exposed to growing up, of the home as a place of safety and renewal. “My passion is for family,” she says. “I had a wonderful family growing up, but of course, not everyone has that. People and children heal in families—even if their wounds come from their family. My initial experience at Olive Crest was being a part of a team that took joy in making a difference. I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted a life that was purposeful and had meaning.”

Such a life is not without effort. In her work in the world of adoption and foster care services,

to answer this call, Olive Crest is a means by which they can facilitate the healing and recovery of others in crisis. “What is our role as believers in these kids’ lives?” Jessica asks. “At Olive Crest, we are always in need of families who believe in restoration, who are willing to adopt. It’s a strong call, and a hard call—we know that. But we also see it as a missional call, to serve kids and families.”

Jessica is witness to a great deal of pain and trauma. “It’s not easy,” she says. “We are walking

If you would like more information about Olive Crest’s adoption

into the battlefield for people’s hearts and souls. But we keep our eye on the goal and fight for

services and volunteer opportunities, please visit

what is hard and uncomfortable, but right.”

www.OliveCrest.org.

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A DREAM THAT NEVER DIES “DREAMING GOD’S DREAM” – THAT’S THE PHRASE PROFESSOR ROGER HEUSER USES TO DESCRIBE HOW LEADERS ALIGN THEIR DREAMS – AND THE DREAMS OF THEIR CONGREGATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS -WITH GOD’S MAGNIFICENT VISION OF RECONCILING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF. THE INVITATION TO DREAM AMIDST THE MANY AND DIVERSE CHALLENGES OF CONTEMPORARY CULTURE IS BOLD AND ADVENTUROUS, AS IT IS AT TIMES DAUNTING.

Upon this solid foundation, Dr. Heuser built an eclectic ministerial and academic career. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Trinity College and his MA from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Dr. Heuser served for eight years on the pastoral staff at his father’s multicultural congregation and pastored a church plant in a Chicago suburb, before he somewhat unconventionally pursued his PhD in religious studies from New York University, a place where graduate students came from many backgrounds and faith traditions. “My classes there challenged me, testing and deepening my faith,” he says.

“But God is not intimidated by our curiosity.

Certainly God’s dream has been at work in

congregation of a German church in a

God wants us to open our mind to academic

Dr. Heuser’s life, from the small Midwestern

demographically changing neighborhood in

pursuits, and our heart to life experiences.” One

communities where his parents taught him his

urban Milwaukee, attempting to reach people

of Roger’s heart-opening experiences was his

first lessons in pastoral leadership, to his 32-year

different from their own church culture. As a

foray in a jazz-rock Christian band called the

career at Vanguard University, teaching leadership

child, Roger observed his father in the trenches

Crimson Bridge. “We thought God was calling us

studies, spirituality, and practical theology.

of ministry, making hospital calls, broadcasting

to be rock stars, but it never happened,” he says

a weekly radio program, preparing Bible study

with a laugh. (You can observe the chromatic

and prayer meeting every Wednesday, and

vestiges of this calling in Dr. Heuser’s office in

preaching three times on Sunday. Roger’s mother

Heath, where an old “psychedelic” poster for the

was deeply involved in children’s church and

band encourages you to “Fill your head with the

women’s ministries, before transitioning to

Crimson Bridge”.)

“I was raised in an Assemblies of God pastor’s home in Wisconsin,” he says. “Both of my parents were dedicated servant leaders who modeled for me authentic ministry.” As a life-long learner in leadership studies, Roger can look back at his parents’ ministries and see how their effectiveness was rooted in the deeply spiritual and sacrificial nature of their leadership. One experience he remembered vividly was his dad pastoring an English

her gift of teaching in ecumenical, adult Bible studies. Her occupation was serving the Lord, and she never retired from it, leading her Bible study up until just three weeks before she passed away. “She had a saying,” explains Roger. “She wanted ‘to die with her boots on.’” And she did!

After filling his head and heart with vocational ministry experience, an excellent education, and a long shot at rock music stardom, Dr. Heuser found himself in Costa Mesa in 1983, dreaming God’s dream for Vanguard University. “When I came here, it just connected: ‘This is where I’m supposed to be.’ Earlier in my career, I knew

DR. ROGER HEUSER teaches a variety of religion courses in graduate and undergraduate programs at Vanguard University. He is a consultant and retreat facilitator for congregations, nonprofits, and mission agencies as well as an adjunct professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Northwest University, and other programs in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Before beginning his teaching career, Roger served as a pastor for twelve years in the Chicago area.

that I would serve God by serving the church, and here I discovered I could do that through teaching, writing, consulting, and working with leaders in other countries.” Professor Heuser came to Vanguard to help launch the MA in Religion, with two concentrations: Biblical

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Studies and Church Leadership studies. He was honored to count himself among the members of a faculty he had great respect for. “I joined the faculty with scholars I always admired: Don Baldwin, Jerry CameryHoggatt, David Clark, Murray Dempster, Nancy Heidebrecht, Byron Klaus, Bill Williams, and Ron Wright. And I had an immediate sense that I was home when I met them, and with the entire faculty. That has continued through the years even with the changing of the faculty. I am proud to be a

“The same God who created the majesty of these heavens and earth wants to recreate fresh, vibrant mission in congregations and nonprofits to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Claiming kingdom values for ourselves— forgiveness, the ministry of reconciliation, loving our enemies, blessing others, not cursing them—is a radical mission for individual leaders and their congregations and nonprofits.”

part of this religion department, where we have a rare combination of scholar/servants who care about students, pastorally, as well as the integration of scholarship with faith and ministry.”

Dr. Heuser is committed to Vanguard’s identity as a Christian liberal arts institution, having benefitted himself from such an education while at Trinity College. “When I was an undergraduate, my mind opened into a whole new world. Someone told me, ‘All truth is God’s truth,’ and I realized how I could be a follower of Jesus and still explore a variety of academic fields of study under the lordship of Christ. The Christian liberal arts experience believes in a God who

for our world. What better motivation to

look no further than his own journey, and

excel in different fields of inquiry!”

his own marriage. Four years ago, he was

As Professor Heuser developed Vanguard’s leadership curriculum, he also deepened his passion for the subject, helping place Vanguard at the forefront of training students to lead congregations, organizations, and nonprofits to be agents of God’s kingdom in the world. “I love to study and write about what makes organizations and congregations work well,” says Dr. Heuser.

“The same God who created the majesty of these heavens and earth wants to recreate

diagnosed with low-grade lymphoma, and the experience of facing this life-threatening disease gave him a deepening sense of gratitude. Now in remission, he is thankful every day to be with students, friends, and family—most especially his wife of 22 years, Gayle. “I’d be at a different place without the joyful companionship of my wife,” he says. “I’ve never known such strength and tenderness that is a natural incarnation of her care and prayerful support.”

fresh, vibrant mission in congregations

Perhaps what motivates Dr. Heuser more

and nonprofits to meet the challenges of

than anything is the belief that God is

the 21st century. Claiming kingdom values

still dreaming for Vanguard. “God’s not

for ourselves—forgiveness, the ministry of

done with Vanguard,” he says. “One of the

reconciliation, loving our enemies, blessing

things that attracted me over 30 years ago

“Without God,” he continues, “the

others, not cursing them—is a radical

was the participation of the faculty, staff,

temptation is to become a materialist. Are we

mission for individual leaders and their

administration, and trustees as partners in

all just physical, material interactions? With

congregations and nonprofits.”

the governance of this institution. It has been

created the world and is in the process of redeeming that world through Christ. This education has no limits in exploring God, his creation, and his relation to humankind.

God, we can believe in the wonder, joy, and majesty of a God who doesn’t stop creating and wants us to create with Him, and care

When Dr. Heuser wants a fresh reminder of the power of these “kingdom values,” he need

tested, but I believe there’s still a desire to be what God is dreaming for this place.”

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sports

ALL GOOD THINGS FOR MANY STUDENT ATHLETES AT VANGUARD UNIVERSITY, THE EXPERIENCE OF PLAYING ON A TEAM THAT IS ABLE TO EXPLICITLY EMBRACE FAITH IN CHRIST AS A PART OF ITS MISSION IS A NEW ONE. FOR JOSE ROJAS, HOWEVER, THE TRANSITION WAS EASY. AS LONG AS HE’S BEEN PLAYING BASEBALL, JOSE HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO MAKING HIS FAITH AN ESSENTIAL PART OF HIS SPORT. “Ever since I was little,” he says “I have made an

NAIA National Baseball Tournament, reaching the

effort to give all good things to the Lord, especially

third round of the NAIA World Series in Lewiston,

the privilege to play baseball. I have always been

Idaho, ending the year ranked 8th.

thankful for the opportunity to play, and the effort I’m willing to give to get better is because of that.”

Jose was also individually honored at the close of the season. The shortstop was chosen for an NAIA

Of course, now that he’s a member of Vanguard’s

Gold Glove Award, the first player in Vanguard’s

baseball team, led by coach Rob Pegg, Jose is

history to receive this distinction, and he was also

very grateful to be at a place where his faith is

recognized as an Honorable Mention on the

supported all around him by a close community

2015 NAIA All-America team. Jose appreciates

of believers. “When Coach Pegg offered me

the recognition, but awards have never determined

the chance to attend Vanguard, I felt it would be

his happiness and success. “I’m grateful because it

a good place to go because of my faith, and

means that my hard work showed on the field,” he

because I could stay in California and be close

says. “But my mindset is simple: keep having fun

to my family. Then, ever since the day I arrived, I

and working hard, and good things will happen.

loved it. The community of students, athletes, and

The rest takes care of itself.”

staff have been so caring, helpful, and friendly.”

Upon his graduation from Vanguard, Jose hopes

At Vanguard, Jose has found a team that balances

to continue playing professional baseball, where

a strenuous commitment to athletic excellence with

as before, his faith will be a central part of who

the broader perspective that comes with faith.

he is as an athlete and teammate. “Jesus is always

“Coach Pegg has influenced me in a major way,”

my first priority. My will, my work ethic, and my

says Jose. “He has encouraged me to give my

confidence all come from my faith, and I love to

best effort in all I do. He encourages the team to

express it.” When Jose’s playing career is over, he

glorify God and do our best, building a foundation

intends to give back to his community, becoming

of working hard every single day.” Coach Pegg’s

a physical education teacher and baseball coach,

approach so far has brought results. This year,

helping guide others like himself to the fun of

Vanguard’s baseball team scorched through the

baseball and the joy of faith in Christ.

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“JESUS IS ALWAYS MY FIRST PRIORITY. My will, my work ethic, and my confidence all come from my faith, and I love to express it.”

JOSE ROJAS, BASEBALL

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BRIDGE PROGRAM

BY VIRTUE OF ITS LOCATION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, VANGUARD UNIVERSITY SERVES ONE OF THE MOST CULTURALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. IN THE LAST TWO DECADES, AS THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANY POPULATIONS HAVE EVOLVED, MORE AND MORE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE SEEKING A QUALITY CHRISTIAN LIBERAL ARTS EXPERIENCE.

students, listen to their story, become a part of

Vanguard has consistently been at the forefront

connecting students to each other, and helps

for the day, and are then invited to participate

of meeting the unique needs of these students,

students access and navigate the resources

in a number of events that connect them to

fulfilling its mission to minister to the whole student,

available to them. Students also receive

each other and to the school. One evening

no matter what social or cultural demographic he

academic support, centered on math and

they attend an Angels game; the next they have

or she occupies.

writing, and what we call ‘proactive advising,’

dinner at the home of the vice president for

where we go directly to students and help them

student affairs. And as the director of student

take advantage of tutoring and mentorship.”

success and academic resources, Lebrecht has

Whereas many colleges and universities endeavor to create programs for first-generation

their story, become an advocate for them while we teach them to advocate for themselves, make them a part of our community, and give them the tools to explore their giftings.”

As Lebrecht explains, making students feel immediately welcomed into Vanguard’s community is often as important as the academic preparation. During the two weeks of the Bridge Program, students complete their study portion

first-hand knowledge of the impact the program

students, Vanguard’s efforts reflect its special

Confidence plays a large role in a student’s

identity as a place where relationships are of

likelihood of success, and one of the trends

the highest priority. At the center of these efforts

among first-generation students is a lack of this

is Vanguard’s Bridge Program, now in its third

confidence. Many students experience adversity

year. The Bridge Program is an intensive two-

when they attempt to navigate the culture

week introduction to the community of Vanguard

of academia, and there is a risk that these

University, focused on providing academic

students fly under the radar. As an academic

and social resources to students who are, for a

institution invested in the lives of each of its

variety of reasons, underprepared for the rigors

students, Vanguard wants to find those students

of college life. “The Bridge Program provides a

and make sure they succeed. “This program

Cyndi Murillo, Vanguard’s Hispanic Serving

relational and academic transition to college,”

embodies what Vanguard does well,” says

Institution (HSI) coordinator, echoes how vital the

explains Dr. Tim Young, vice president for student

Amanda Lebrecht, director of student success

sense of community is to the Bridge Program.

affairs. “The program delivers social integration,

and academic resources. “We uniquely identify

“Being a community to them means a lot,” Cyndi

has had on these students completing their degrees. “We have an increase in retention across the board,” she says. “There’s a reason for that. We have a rich legacy of caring for people, and we have a small campus. We can identify these students, discover their needs, and give them all the best of Vanguard University in two weeks.”

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Students participate in Vanguard’s 2015 diversity graduation celebrations.

says. “A lot of our first-generation students

represents $2.57M over five years. Vanguard

their careers. This federal grant enables us to

have questions about the college experience

provost Dr. Doretha O’Quinn is proud of the

enhance and expand our academic offerings

that they feel ‘dumb’ asking. We establish trust

hard work of different departments to make this

to our students and positions Vanguard as a

with them, and go out of our way to create

grant a reality. “The synergy and collaboration

leader in equipping Hispanic students.”

opportunities for them to succeed. It’s more

between the academic and student affairs units

than being just a friend or mentor, however.

can make a significant difference in the life of

We’re always asking them, ‘How’s school?’

Vanguard University,” she says.

Our biggest goal for them is to graduate.”

As Vanguard continues to grow the Bridge Program and expand its reach and influence, Dr. Tim Young is excited about the potential of

David Vazquez, director of strategic

the program as one more way in which the

In addition to introducing students to the

partnerships at Vanguard, echoes this pride.

University fulfills its mission, which is, as he puts

University, Vanguard aims to draw these

“Vanguard University Hispanic student

it, “To equip each student. We believe there is

students’ families closer as well. Events such as

enrollment parallels trends of the Hispanic

no student who is not capable of succeeding

Grandparents Day and Family Weekend are

population in both Orange County and

at Vanguard. Meeting the needs of students

vital to this aspiration, but so is the translation

California,” he says. “Vanguard is really

means that we meet them where they’re at

service that Cyndi provided Hispanic parents

addressing a need in our community. Being

now, and our vision for a holistic student is to

during Welcome Week. She knows how

the only institution in Orange County to receive

make sure they succeed academically. First and

important this type of help is through personal

the Title V Grant is in many ways a compliment

foremost, we want each student to receive the

experience. “I feel passionate about reaching

to what Vanguard is doing to train, educate,

fullness of a Vanguard education.”

out to these parents because I know that my

and prepare Hispanic students for life and

parents were once there, wanting to learn and grow and understand college life.”

The benefits of the Bridge Program extend beyond the obvious advantages it confers on the students who participate. By implementing this support system and investing resources into it, Vanguard University was able to establish the clear steps it was taking to serve the needs of Hispanic students. This played an integral role in Vanguard having been awarded a Hispanic Serving Institution Grant from the

“WE UNIQUELY IDENTIFY STUDENTS, LISTEN TO THEIR STORY, BECOME A PART OF THEIR STORY, BECOME AN ADVOCATE FOR THEM WHILE WE TEACH THEM TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES, MAKE THEM A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND GIVE THEM THE TOOLS TO EXPLORE THEIR GIFTINGS.” AMANDA LEBRECHT, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUCCESS AND ACADEMIC RESOURCES

U.S. Department of Education—a grant which

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Vanguard’s Landmark Scott Academic Center Opens Vanguard University unveiled a dramatically expanded and remodeled Scott Academic Center on Saturday, October 3, to nearly 600 community members, civic leaders, administrators, students and others keen on advancing the history of this 95-year-old university – the first four-year college opened in Orange County. The expansion will allow for Vanguard to increase classroom capacity by approximately 1,500 students per day.

“We offer this building as a public landmark, tying Orange County’s past to its future,” said Dr. Michael J. Beals, president of Vanguard University. “Scott Academic Center now serves as a welcoming beacon for a new generation of academics, idealists, and thought leaders prepared to lend influence to some of the most-pressing challenges of our time.”

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through these doors

Top row, left to right: President Beals addressed the crowd at the ribbon cutting ceremony; the new Samson’s Café gathering place; donors to the Scott Center campaign are honored on special panels in the building; Middle row, left to right: guests enjoyed brunch on the Heath Lawn; tours of the newly renovated building; the three-story expansion on the building’s east side; the Veterans Courtyard; Bottom row, left to right: the Judkins Courtyard; the Assemblies of God Heritage Room; the beautiful new entry lobby.

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class notes

CLASS NOTES 1960s

1970s

Service Officer working for the United States Agency

Jan (Lawless ’65) Hennemuth had a great

Patrick Thomas ’72 retired after 30 years in

time in June at Vanguard’s Decade of the 60’s reunion

education. He received his Master’s Degree in

halfway through a four-year posting where Brian is

getting reacquainted with old friends from her time in

Physical Education from Adams State College in

school. She had a wonderful time worshipping and

Alamosa, Colorado and also his PhD in Curriculum

Cecilia (Geronimo) Martinez ’89 was promoted

hearing some old friends preach. Lots of new memories

and Instruction from Kansas State University. For the

to Supply Chain Procurement Manager in June 2015

were made.

last 13 years he served as an associate professor

with the St. Joseph Health System.

for International Development (USAID). They are overseeing economic development programs.

and department chair in the College of Education at

Joe McCarthy ’89

Armstrong State University in Savannah, GA. Patrick

60’s GRADUATES GATHER ON

traveled with a student study abroad program in

CAMPUS FOR REUNION

the Far East, Europe, and several nations in Central

About twenty years ago, alumni of Vanguard

Sharon Thomas, retired after 40 years as a public

University from the decade of the 1960’s began gathering on campus to connect with one another and celebrate their shared past.

This past June marked another opportunity for alumni from the decade of the 1960’s to join together, under the theme of “Friendship and Memories.” The event encouraged new friendships and the renewal of old friendships, as attendees celebrated a weekend of activities.

“The weekend was filled with times to connect, fellowship, worship, inspire, and care for others,” said Joel Gackle, director of alumni relations. “The 60’s group is a special group, forged by the intimate, closeknit campus built on serving Christ. This decade witnessed a transformational time that included the nearby Jesus Movement and the moments leading up to, and the start of the Vietnam War. When you connect with any members of this group, you quickly realize the depth of friendships, and sometimes faith, that began on our campus. Fifty years later,

is the Director of Marketing & Public Relations at Hope International University

Asia working with schools in each country. His wife, school media specialist. The couple lives in Savannah, Georgia, and continue traveling, adjunct teaching, and playing as much golf as possible.

in Fullerton, CA. He and his wife of 17 years have adopted two daughters, Eliana Joy (8) and Gabriela Grace (6). The McCarthys have lived in Brea since 1996.

1980s

Phil and Linda (Stiles

Gerard Beenen ’84 was recently awarded

’84) Parker ’85 have

tenure at Cal State Fullerton where he works as a

served as youth pastors,

management professor. He teaches undergraduate

business administrators,

and MBA courses in organizational behavior,

Christian education directors, and lead pastors

leadership, negotiation, and organizational change, and his research focuses on workplace motivation and

in four churches over 17 years. Phil also served as the

learning, and leadership. He is also currently vice chair

Business Administrator for the Nebraska District

of the management department and acting associate

Assemblies of God for almost 10 years. In 2011, he

dean for graduate programs in the business school.

started a ministry/business called FASTChurch

Additionally he works as an adjunct professor in the

(Financial & Administrative Services for Today’s

MBA programs at Carnegie Mellon University and UC

Church), which aids churches and religious non-profits

Irvine, where he will be a visiting associate professor

with bookkeeping and other administrative needs. Phil

during his fall sabbatical. Beenen completed his PhD

and Linda raised four daughters, one of which returned

in organizational behavior and theory at Carnegie

to Vanguard several years ago. They have three

Mellon in 2008, and previously did his MBA at

grandchildren as well. Phil and Linda live in Colorado

Northwestern University and MA at Fuller Seminary. He

Springs, Colorado.

and his family (Eun, Matthew, and Hannah) are active members of Irvine Presbyterian Church.

the alumni from the 1960’s continue to inspire

Brian Conklin ’89, his

and serve those around them.”

wife Dawn and their children, Kyle, Kaylee and Elysse are living in northern Ghana. Brian is a Foreign

1990s Joy (Andrick ’99) Qualls has accepted a new position as an Associate Professor and Chair of the Communication Studies Department at Biola University.

Joy and her family Kevin, Blakeley (5), and Soren (4) moved to Brea late this summer. They are all enjoying

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their new life in California and look forward to participating in activities at both Biola and Vanguard!

2000s Steffany Ayala ’09 decided to pursue an MBA at Hope International University after graduating from Vanguard. While studying, she found herself passionate about the financial structure of non-profit organizations and started to pursue a career in the sector. She currently works for an international humanitarian non-profit called Good Neighbors USA Justin ’98, MBA ’08 and Joelle (Mockabee ’00) McIntee with children Estella and Quinn.

that works in over 35 countries around the world. She also started her own company called S-Finance with the mission of helping non-profit organizations and individuals reach a good financial structure and to attain their bookkeeping goals.

Jennifer Fetters ’07 has been a Financial Aid Administrator for over eighteen years, and is currently working for Bellevue College in Washington State.

She is also involved in politics and currently serves as

A NOTE FROM JUSTIN HAS VANGUARD HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE? AS I CONSIDERED COMING BACK TO SERVE HERE AT MY ALMA MATER, THIS QUESTION PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN MY DECISION. I initially came to Vanguard to play basketball

expertise have you been developing? I have a

for Coach Reynolds. Little did I know at the

vision that every one of our students would

Melissa (Cook ’08)

time, that I would earn two degrees from

connect with a mentor during their time on

Craik taught Physical

Vanguard, meet my beautiful wife here, make

campus. This is a lofty goal, I know. Imagine

life long friends, and build a relationship with

if we were in touch with all of our alumni and

God that provides purpose and direction for

knew what industry you worked in. This vision

everything I do.

would become a reality sooner, rather than later.

Washington State Young Republican Chairman.

Education for the last three years, but is now taking time off to be with her son, Jameson (born June 7, 2015). Her husband, Kevin, is in the ordination

It is a privilege and honor to now serve as the

process to become an Anglican priest.

Vice President for University Advancement. It

Would you enjoy imparting your wisdom on a Vanguard student?

is my intent to build infrastructure so that we

If you haven’t been back on campus in a while,

published her fourth book,

can have a life long relationship with all who

there is no better time to come visit. In August,

Breathe Deep (Eternal

care deeply about Vanguard and our mission

we opened the newly renovated Scott Academic

Press, 2015), a sequel to

to pursue knowledge, cultivate character, and

Center. I would love to give you a tour. So, next

Deep Green (2013).

deepen faith.

time you are in the area, please, let me know and

Aaron Jimenez ’03

I invite you to reconnect with us. First and

graduated with a Master’s

foremost, we would love to hear what you have

Degree in Clinical Mental

been up to since graduation. Secondly, what

Trisha Haddad ’00 has

let’s reconnect.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Health: Community Counseling in 2011 and opened a private practice - Foundations 4 Life, LLC. Aaron has also become a Licensed Addiction Counselor and works with parolees recently released from prison. Aaron is also an adjunct

JUSTIN MCINTEE ’98, MBA ’08

professor at Colorado Mesa University and Colorado

VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT

Christian University. Aaron’s main passion is working

vanguard magazine FALL/WINTER 2015

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Joshua, Heather, Benjamin, Nathan, Lizzie, and Seth Harrington.

NATHAN HARRINGTON – RUN FOR MERCY 5K During Homecoming Week of 2013,

Nathan knows firsthand that every individual with

more concrete. Even though I was 34 years old with

Vanguard University hosted a 5K fun

HD represents a family made more vulnerable to

four kids, the professors and other students were so

run/walk as a fundraiser for the medical

Huntington’s Disease. Nathan also recognizes that,

accepting. Jerry Camery-Hoggatt, Gary Tyra, and

expenses of Mercy Doyle, the daughter

while his hope for healing ultimately rests with God,

Bill Dogterom were so influential in shaping my

of alumni Kevin ’99 and Camie (Grasser

earthly resources make possible medical advancements

learning experience, and in helping me deal with

’99) Doyle. The event served as an opportunity

that can vastly improve the lives of those with HD.

Huntington’s. They helped me press forward, and live

for the Vanguard community to rally around two of its

“Our mission with the Healing Huntington’s foundation

life to the fullest.”

own, and the Run For Mercy 5K became an annual

is very straightforward,” says Nathan. “Through faith,

tradition. The following year raised funds for the family

surrounded by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

of Candace (Wong ’02) Segrove, and last year

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, all

the 5K supported the family of John Brock (’04).

mankind would receive a cure through God’s gift of

In 2016, the fourth annual Run For Mercy 5K Fun Run/

miracles, and healing from any ailment or disease.”

Nathan completed his BA in religion with an emphasis in pastoral care, whereupon he and his family moved back to Washington state. He is now devoting all of his energy to Healing Huntington’s, though at times it is difficult. He has lived with the disease for nearly

Walk will raise support for Nathan Harrington

Nathan has been strengthened in his resolve by

a decade, and some days are better than others.

(’15) and his foundation Healing Huntington’s.

a long journey of highs and lows—a journey that

There are stretches when he seems to be functioning

Nathan and several members of his family suffer from

includes a 12-year break between his junior and

normally, but is having trouble with his mind. Add

Huntington’s Disease (HD), a genetic-progressive brain

senior years at Vanguard University. He entered

to this the rigorous demands of leading a nonprofit

disorder that causes uncontrolled movements, cognitive

Southern California College as a freshman majoring

organization, and it’s easy to see why Nathan is so

difficulties, and emotional turmoil. There is no cure

in pastoral leadership in 1998, on a scholarship to

thankful for the support of Vanguard University and its

for HD, and there are very few treatment options. As

sing in Vanguard Choir, but left school early in order

community. “We started the foundation in 2010, and

a result of the brain’s cells gradually breaking down,

to support his family through a difficult season. After

it’s been hard to get support for it,” he says. “When

those afflicted with HD experience symptoms such as

September 11, Nathan enlisted in the Army as a

Vanguard called, I cried tears of joy to know that this

trouble concentrating, depression, chorea, and loss

Chaplain Assistant, serving two years before his HD

university has cared for me from the age of 18 to 35.

of motor skills. Though it affects thousands people,

diagnosis led to his honorable discharge. As the years

There is a sense of me being their son—Vanguard has

Huntington’s Disease is relatively unknown, and there

passed, he met his wife and started a family. Then, in

watched me grow and is taking care of me and my

isn’t a great deal of research currently devoted to it.

2013, when he was 34 years old, God called him

family. It is so hard to fight this terrible disease alone,

back to Vanguard to finish his degree, so he and his

but this is another sign that God is there, and he wants

family moved to Costa Mesa.

to care for us. We are so thankful, honored, and

Nathan hopes to change this. He is not only motivated in part by his own condition, but also by the genetic nature of the disease; his father, two brothers, and

“When I first came to Southern California College, it

sister have also been diagnosed with HD, and

felt like a home away from home,” he says. “When

his daughter is at a greater risk of contracting it.

I returned to Vanguard, that feeling was made even

excited, all at the same time!”

34 vanguard magazine FALL/WINTER 2015

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11/23/15 3:22 PM

class notes

with families and married couples struggling with

Althea Penn ’09

various music blogs and will be playing a showcase

marriage issues, and he is a guest lecturer for Marriage

earned her certificate in

later this year.

Encounters and teaches the skills needed to overcome

Early Childhood

challenges within marriages.

Development, a Bachelor’s

Jonesboro, Arkansas.

began working with the US

in Organizational

Abi Kennedy ’02 just started as Area Coordinator in Residence Life at Arkansas State University in

Jonathon Cobb ’11 State Department in Iraq

Leadership, and a Master’s

after graduation from

Degree in Education Administration. She is currently

Vanguard. He is currently

pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. She Tim ’04 and Cambria (Holford ’06) Larson currently reside in Fargo, ND. Tim works for Microsoft and Cambria works at an adoption

has authored several education tools and resources and serves as a conference speaker for organizations that intentionally cultivate the potential within others.

Vanguard gave her a solid foundation and sparked an interest in lifelong learning about effective instructional strategies and educational organization development.

agency. They just welcomed their second child Eliana

Vanessa Vargas ’09

Clara Larson on 10/25/15. Tim is also a director

recently graduated from the

and producer on the documentary film “Jedi Junior

University of Southern

High,” which releases on Amazon and iTunes on

California with her MSW.

November 17th.

Dawn (Hayes ’08, Credential ’10) Lopez and her high school sweetheart, Daryl, just celebrated their five year wedding anniversary. She had been teaching at a Christian school in Santa Ana until they moved to Idaho in July. They’re looking forward to a slower lifestyle in a smaller town and raising their future kids in the area.

Lisa Morgan ’08 moved to New York City and held jobs in different industries such as advertising, health & wellness, and now in investment banking.

Her passion, joy, and focus lies in a jewelry line she started in New York called Jefferson NYC. She founded Jefferson with her two partners, Jen Trahan and Taryn Randall, who are both California

She continues to be

working to create stability and security in the Kurdistan region of Northern Iraq near ISIS-controlled territory.

Deborah O’Donnell ’10 became a firefighter for the Oregon Department of Forestry and just finished a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Natural Resources.

Kelly Douglas ’13 is working as the Enrollment Management Receptionist at Vanguard as well as a wedding assistant for Brooke Keegan Wedding and Events in Newport Beach.

involved at Newport Mesa

Itzel Guzmán ’12 has

Church as a High School Leader. She also recently

returned to Vanguard

returned from Royal Family Kids Camp where she was

University as a Student

a counselor for abused and neglected foster kids ages

Success Coordinator for

7-11 years old.

Nursing as of January 2015. Itzel continues to

2010s

work alongside her mother, María García, serving the David Beavis ’13 works full time on the Mariners Church High School ministries team and will be completing his MA in Theology from Talbot

School of Theology in May of 2016.

Hispanic community since June 2004 when the first church, Aguas Vivas del Siloé, was planted in the city of Santa Ana. Today, there is a total of four churches: the mother church in Santa Ana and three sister churches in Lake Elsinore, Mexico City and in a small town called Aratichanguío, Guerrero. Itzel is a worship leader for the Santa Ana church and a youth leader for the Lake Elsinore church. God willing, Itzel would like

transplants. Since starting the line in November of

Brian Carmona ’11

to return to school to earn her MBA and marry her

2014 the company has been featured in In Style

recently formed his new

fiancée in the near future.

Magazine and will next appear in Vogue Mexico.

band, XPLOR with friend

Lisa feels so grateful to come from a college that

Vince DiCarlo. The vision

instilled such a strong sense of community, spirit, and

of XPLOR is to create fun

work-ethic in its students. The website for Jefferson

pop songs with memorable

NYC is www.jefferson-nyc.com.

Dale and Rebecca (Mitchell ’66) Myhill ’00 celebrated 46 years of marriage in August. They live in Lake Stevens, Wash., near their family. They enjoy spending time with their two grandchildren, Noah (9) and Sophia (7). They worship at Snohomish Faith Assembly.

Micah Hamilton ’13 has embarked on quite a few adventures since graduating. He biked

hooks/melodies, and stretch the boundaries of their

across America in 42

creativity and abilities. On June 12, 2015 the band signed their first Publishing/Licensing deal with Warner/Word Entertainment which is host to artists like For King & Country, Jon Foreman, and NeedToBreathe.

The two Nashville transplants, Carmona (Los Angeles) DiCarlo (Forth Worth) met through their church The Belonging in Nashville, and immediately formed a friendship that led to the creation of XPLOR. Although in

days, traveled to Iceland to shoot a wedding, worked at GoPro as an editor, and traveled to Israel, China, and Haiti to shoot documentaries. He is currently pursuing his film career by directing commercials and music videos out of LA. He actively use skills learned in the Vanguard’s film program in his career.

its infancy, XPLOR has received great feedback from

vanguard magazine FALL/WINTER 2015

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11/28/15 11:46 AM

Ethan and Jennifer (Nelson ’13) Harper ’13 met at Vanguard and were married on August 23, 2014. Jennifer works for a Christian investment firm called Applied Financial Planning, and Ethan works as a Claims Adjuster for Travelers Insurance. Ethan’s parents, Cynthia (Davis ’83) and Scott Harper ‘82 graduated from Vanguard and his older brother Grant Harper ’10 did as well. Now, his younger brother Lance will graduate in 2016. Jennifer and Ethan live in Irvine.

Heather Hernandez

BUSINESS WITH INTEGRITY One of the first things to catch Emmanuel Hyppolite’s ’11 eye when he first came to Vanguard’s campus as a student in the Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) program was the statue of the lion that resides between the Heath and Scott Academic Centers. “The lion is so majestic and powerful,” he recalls. “I loved that it was Vanguard’s mascot!” And if the lion represented a vision of strength for the education Emmanuel was set to receive, then what was perhaps more surprising was the gentleness and warmth of the community that came with it. “When I came in and met my counselor, the conversation was very natural. No one seemed rehearsed, and everyone got along and genuinely cared about me. That got my attention very quickly.”

Emmanuel soon discovered that this kindness and vigor extended to the professors he was learning from.

Now Emmanuel is the Manager of Business and Project Controls for the Environmental Remediation Department at Pacific Gas & Electric. In this position, Emmanuel manages the planning and governance function within the department, providing leadership over business processes and project performance. He is also a part of the leadership team that manages the Remediation program which investigates and where necessary, remediates former manufactured gas plant sites, former power plants, service centers, gas regulator stations, and substations throughout PG&E’s service area. These sites include properties that the company owned or operated which may have been impacted by their operations. This work serves to meet PG&E’s corporate environmental commitment, protecting human health and the environment by achieving compliance with regulatory requirements, restoring vacant PG&E property to beneficial use, and reducing PG&E’s long-term environmental liabilities.

It’s a job Emmanuel is proud of. “It’s land development with environmental constraints,” he

22204_ValueSource_CC2015_.indd 36

explains. “It’s fulfilling for me on many levels. I get to see the site, learn about its history, and its contribution to how California was formed. By renewing the site, I’m participating in making the world a better place.”

In addition to the obvious benefits Emmanuel’s business degree conferred on his professional life, Vanguard was also able to guide him to a deeper understanding of how he could integrate his faith where and when appropriate. Though he isn’t able to explicitly make his faith a part of his work, Emmanuel has shared one of his favorite classroom texts from Vanguard called Business Through The Eyes of Faith with many of his employees. He can do this because the subject is relevant to his goals as a manager.

One of his favorite sentences from Business Through The Eyes of Faith is, “The need for justice in business should continually touch our Christian consciences.

Our decision about wages, prices, safety standards, recruiting policies, and a host of other issues must mirror our concern for doing the right thing in the right manner with the right motive.” Emmanuel believes that business and the Christian faith aren’t that far apart.

“Christian values make good business values, as far as doing the right thing, keeping your word, and not being greedy. There are a lot of business benefits that come with having integrity!”

One part of Emmanuel’s business plan is giving back. This desire motivates his larger goals, which is to teach at the college level. After he completed his education at Vanguard, he went on to receive an MBA from Golden Gate University, but he hasn’t forgotten the importance of his time in Costa Mesa, or of giving others the opportunities he had. One other way that PG&E reinvests in the community is to offer matching funds to employees who donate to worthy causes. Emmanuel has already taken advantage of this, becoming a donor to Vanguard University and helping others experience the strength and grace of a Vanguard education.

’11 graduated with her BA in Business Administration. This past year Heather relocated back to San Diego, spent a month exploring Europe, and recently obtained her Real Estate license and is now working with Team Foote Real Estate at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties.

Paige Johnson ’15 graduated a year early which opened up the possibility of going on VU Italia (a study abroad program in Italy). Upon returning from Italy, she interned with Mariners Church Junior High School ministries and then started a full time position with them this fall. She currently is the Junior High Ministry Operations Coordinator.

Christian Lucas ’15 spent his summer traveling with From the Vine music, Vanguard’s student worship team. He recently moved to Henderson, Nevada and joined Green Valley Christian Center as their new Youth and Young Adults Worship Leader and 6th-8th grade Music Teacher.

Will Manson ’13, after graduating from Vanguard, moved back to Woodland, California and began working for Fourth and Hope, a local faith-based emergency homeless shelter that serves more than 70,000 meals annually. This September, Will became the overseeing supervisor at the Fourth and Hope Toxicology Laboratory located at Walter’s House, a faith-based residential drug and alcohol treatment facility.

Tamara Philips ’13 didn’t get too far from Vanguard after graduating – considering she still lives in Costa Mesa and continues to eat a ton of Laventina’s pizza. After leaving The Voice student newspaper, she has become the Managing Editor for a Newport Beach magazine publishing company. She

11/28/15 11:33 AM

enjoys her job immensely and plans to stay local for the foreseeable future.

Anthony Varon ’11 graduated from Vanguard with a degree in Business Administration from the School for Professional Studies. He recently moved to North Carolina and is working on two feature films in addition to working as a Project Coordinator for Time Warner Business.

FUTURE ALUMNI Brian and Emily (Sloan ’06) Kimball ’09 are excited to announce the birth of their 3rd child, Liliana Mae. They are current living in Tustin, CA and Brian is a Loan Officer for one of the nation’s most elite mortgage companies. He also serves on the Vanguard Alumni Association Board.

Emily is a full-time mom and has her hands full with raising the three kids, caring for their backyard chickens, and managing the home.

Robin (Gleeson ’00) Lara and her husband Rosendo welcomed little Rosendo Daniel Titus Lara to their family on July 31, 2014. Robin resigned from her teaching position with the Twin Rivers Unified School District in order to be a stay at home mom, and to have more capacity to serve at Bayside Church in Granite Bay, California, where her husband is on the pastoral staff.

Lydia (’14) and Kyle (IT staff ’06-’14) Mack welcomed Lewis Robert and London Samuel on April 16, 2015.

Ashley Michael ’08 welcomed London Grace Michael to the world on June 15, 2015.

Charis (Medina ’96, MA ’98) and Trevor Meyer are proud parents to Ethan Aleutian Meyer, born

MAKING GOOD IN SAN DIEGO As the daughter of an Assemblies of God minister in Pasadena, Calif. and the youngest of eight siblings, Sophia Padilla Hall ’83 was nurtured and protected by her close-knit family. When it came time for her to choose a college, Sophia’s parents were concerned that Vanguard University was too far away for Sophia to go to school. However, just prior to fall semester, Sophia convinced her mother to come along and see Vanguard in person.

While there, her mother was persuaded by the kind attention of the dean of the college himself, who helped Sophia register for classes and settle her housing situation just one week before the semester was to begin.

Once enrolled, Sophia discovered that she couldn’t have made a better choice. At Vanguard, Sophia encountered an atmosphere where the intimacy of her upbringing was matched with the thrilling challenges of academic freedom. “I went from one family to a larger family,” she says. “Since I enrolled late, they had to find a place for me in the dorm. My RA convinced Maria (Raygosa ’84) Dunlap and Judy (Asmuth ’84) Hamilton, who were upperclassmen at the time, to take me in.

Right away, they welcomed me as a friend. They showed me around, and brought me to church with them. I met my first boyfriend at that church; he’s my husband now!”

This family environment extended to her professors as well. While some students seem preordained with vocational interests from early on and follow those interests through their education and career, Sophia had no idea what she wanted to be. She chose biology as a major and began taking science classes. When she began to struggle, professors Don Lorance and Larry McHargue noticed, and instead of merely attempting to help Sophia raise her grades, they encouraged her to ask big questions about what she was doing and what mattered to

her. “They were mentors to me,” she says. “They challenged me to figure out who I was and what I wanted. This led me to the path I’m on now, always seeking truth and asking questions.”

Though Sophia’s major was biology, one of the things she realized as she explored classes and ideas outside her major was that a career in the sciences wasn’t what she wanted. Her journey after Vanguard was eclectic and diverse, eventually leading her to lease a space in San Diego to sell hand-made goods from the community.

Now Sophia’s store, called Make Good, is thriving, having recently been named once again Best Shop in San Diego by San Diego Magazine. With Make Good, Sophia has combined her desire to support her community with her love of artisans and their work. When she began her business, she sold the goods of just seven makers and artists; today she features over 140 artists in her store. Her prevailing philosophy is simple: she sponsors artisans from San Diego-Tijuana and nowhere else, supporting the local economy and providing products made by people who are treated fairly.

Knowing the artists and makers personally adds a unique and critical dimension to Sophia’s business.

“Most makers have a reason for making and selling what they do,” she says. “I get to hear their stories and backgrounds, and in this way, their stories are what I’m truly selling. These artists make their goods, and then they themselves invest in the local economy.

The people who buy from my store are likely to meet the very artisan whose goods they’re buying!”

So even though Sophia chose a path other than science, the community, love, and spirit of inquiry she found at Vanguard University has served her well. “My faith is about being kind, helping others, doing good, and loving people in a tangible way.

My store is an expression of that, and that’s what I’ve always been meant to do.”

on September 7, 2015.

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Matt and Becky (Wallace ’00)

JUST MARRIED Grant and Mollie

Preece welcomed

(Huntsinger ’11)

their second son on

Harper ‘10 were

August 25, 2015.

married on September

Timothy Matthew was

19, 2015 in Windsor,

born in Sydney, Australia, where they are currently living. Big brother Jonathan George is very excited to have a little brother.

Colorado. They currently reside in Phoenix, Arizona where Grant

IN MEMORIAM

works for State Farm and Mollie works for Ping Golf.

Jonathan and Kimmy (Gower ’13) Pelanne ’06

married in August

June, on June 11,

group and Kimmy is busy keeping up with Eleanor.

YOU NEWS OF THE LOSS OF A VANGUARD

at Vanguard and were

their first child, Eleanor

where Jonathan works with a real estate investment

IT IS WITH HEAVY HEARTS THAT WE BRING

(Davanaugh ’15) Van Orden ’15 met

celebrated the birth of

2015. The Pelannes reside in Ventura, California,

Connor and Jillian

2015. Connor currently works as a marketing coordinator for Canon and is testing for several police agencies.

Jill is an administrative assistant for the Orange

UNIVERSITY SUPPORTER AND FORMER BOARD MEMBER. ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2015, HAP BYERS WENT TO BE WITH OUR LORD JESUS, AT THE AGE OF 87.

Hap touched many lives with his generosity, love, humor

Jenny (Heath ’07)

County Water District. The couple lives in Newport

and wisdom. He became connected to Vanguard when

Prior and husband

Beach and still frequent Vanguard, as Connor’s little

George Wood was speaking at the Newport Mesa

Brandon just welcomed

sister is now a Lion!

Church. Hap took a special interest in the students at

their second child, Daniella, into their family. Since becoming a mom, Jenny has become heavily involved in ministry to moms at their church. Next year she will be serving as the coordinator for the program.

Catherine (Riley ’09) and husband CJ Santiago welcomed their first child, Koen Isaiah, on September 3rd. The Santiagos are enjoying their time in Spokane, Washington while Catherine is stationed at Fairchild AFB. Catherine is working as a prosecutor in the US Air Force.

IN MEMORY Following a two month battle with several health concerns, Dianne (Myers ’64) Haneke was

up their home to students throughout the years. He was a

Her husband, John, was by her side in Manor,

Hap was born on January 30, 1928 in Vienna, Austria

Texas. Dianne was very involved as a student, ranging from sports to her love of choir. In 1994 Dianne was recognized with the Distinguished Service Alumni Award. She was a continuous learner and a gifted writer, authoring several books. Dianne’s love and commitment to Vanguard ran deep. She and her husband John established the Dianne Myers Haneke Scholarship Fund.

Along with three of her 60s classmates, she also created the Library Endowed Fund. The family has

Lauren (Rogers

Dianne be directed to the Dianne Myers Haneke

’09) Riddle

Scholarship Fund.

October 21, 2015

and character, and, along with his wife Marilyn, opened supporter of Vanguard University for over 30 years.

requested that any donations made in honor of

Gregory Riddle on

mentored many Vanguard University students in business

called home to be with the Lord on Aug 6, 2015.

Andrew ’07 and

welcomed Declan

Vanguard and started looking for ways to help. Hap

Violet (Hougland ’48) Swaney passed away on March 29, 2015.

weighing 4lbs. 8oz and 17 inches. Pictured with big sister, Avery Michelle, 2 years old.

SEND US YOUR PHOTOS!

to Roxana Byers, and leaves behind a younger sister, Rosemary. Hap attended Los Angeles High School, and was a member of Hollywood Presbyterian Church where he met Marilyn Sturgis, his soon-to-be wife. Hap went to USC where he studied Business and Cinema and became the resident photographer for the fraternities and sororities. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. After serving in the Korean War, he returned home to begin his career in photography. Hap ran his successful photography business for 26 years, later changing careers and began working in real estate with Coldwell Banker and later, Collins Foods International. In 1973 he founded his own commercial Real Estate company, Byco, Inc., in Orange County.

Hap was married for 65 years to Marilyn and is the beloved father of four children, Carin, Janet, John and Mark.

His family and friends celebrated his amazing life at his Memorial Service on Friday, October 23, 2015, at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach.

We’d love to showcase pictures of your new baby, wedding or anniversary in Class Notes.

Email your photos to alumni@vanguard.edu 38 vanguard magazine FALL/WINTER 2015

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11/23/15 3:22 PM

FROM THE WRITER

THANK YOU TO OUR

SINCE I’M ONLY HUMAN, I CONFESS THAT I REALLY ENJOY IT WHEN I’M REMINDED OF HOW INTERESTING MY OWN INTERESTS ARE. I was delighted

Of course, that’s also the whole point

to have this

of vanguard Magazine. We tell stories

experience when

about the people who have studied

I spoke to Jerry

here, the people who teach here, and the

Camery-Hoggatt for this issue’s Learn

people who work here, because through

of Me. A longtime professor of New

stories about what we’ve done we learn

Testament at Vanguard, Dr. Camery-

about who we are. We discover who is

Hoggatt described his belief that

in this community and what we share

narrative story is a way of thinking and

with each other.

learning about Christian theology that holds many advantages, chief among them the opportunity to discern the character of God “from the inside.”

According to Dr. Camery-Hoggatt, it is deeply significant that God chose to reveal himself through a book of stories, and Dr. Camery-Hoggatt’s students past and present no doubt recall the many characters he portrayed for them from these stories.

In the many dozens of people whom I’ve interviewed for vanguard Magazine, I’ve seen two recurring

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themes repeated over and over again. The first is that there is a

FA N TA S I A P R E L U D E

sameness when the topic is that

HOAG ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTE

person’s experience while a student at Vanguard. Many alumni describe close relationships with brilliant professors who cultivate belonging in a special

ORANGE COAST AUTO FA N TA S I A S Y M P H O N Y

community. The other truth is that there

ANONYMOUS

I’m no theologian, but as a lifelong

is an incredible diversity when the topic

AT&T

reader, former English major, and

is that person’s experience after having

current English instructor, I was excited

graduated from Vanguard. Vanguard’s

FORUM CHRISTIAN BUSINESS LEADERS

about this idea. One of the reasons I

identity as an academic institution

love literature is because we learn so

where faith, learning, and relationships

much about what it means to be human

are valued is written onto the blank

MESA WATER DISTRICT

when we are fully immersed in some

pages of every new student’s life,

long work of prose. Good writing,

and that identity often influences the

THE BANHSEN GROUP/ HIGHTOWER ADVISORS

whether it be fiction or non-fiction,

greatness on all the pages that follow.

TRILOGY FINANCIAL

offers the opportunity to imaginatively enter the life and mind of someone else, and see through the author’s powerful language. This is thrilling enough when you consider the experience of reading John Steinbeck or Toni Morrison, but what about when you apply it to your reading of the Bible? Through language you discover the character of God—

I love the literature in all of the stories of Vanguard University. It’s a joy to hear these stories, and a privilege to tell them. I hope you’re inspired by the greatness on the pages of vanguard

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ARAMARK

THE DOT CORP

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US RIGGING

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Magazine, and that these stories are a reminder to you about the greatness of your own!

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what he loves, what he doesn’t, what

CAROL CARSON

makes him sad, and what he hopes

FARWEST INSULATION CONTRACTING

for—and nothing reveals these things as powerfully as his stories.

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RENE SCHEYS ’04, WRITER/COPY EDITOR

GENERAL DATA KEITH WEBSTER

HILL PARTNERSHIP INC/ NEWPORT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT MAYER-LITHO MOSS ADAMS OPTIMAL BENEFITS

LUSARDI CONSTRUCTION

vanguard magazine FALL/WINTER 2015

22204_ValueSource_CC2015_.indd 39

39

11/28/15 11:34 AM

my story

A (FUL)BRIGHT FUTURE MANY OCCUPATIONS CAN CLAIM TO PROVIDE THE WORLD WITH A PRODUCT OR A SERVICE THAT PROVES INDISPENSABLE TO OUR DAILY LIVES, AND AS AN ANTHROPOLOGIST, I BELIEVE THAT MY OCCUPATION IS ONE OF THEM. I WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN CREATING KNOWLEDGE, AND I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A DESIRE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. As an anthropologist, I study specific cultural aspects

There are a number of factors that can influence how

of the human experience, in specific cultural contexts,

a person struggles with a disease like diabetes in a

and the research I produce becomes a tool by which

developing country like Ghana, and my research will

governments, nonprofits, businesses and other social

aim to quantify them. I know it might be surprising to

organizations can innovate positive change. I am

hear about diabetes as a problem in the developing

motivated by my faith and my activism. I believe God

world, but the reality is that quite often public health

wants us to make changes that challenge power

funding and outreach focuses on big-name diseases

structures that are keeping people sick and in poverty.

that the West finds more important, like HIV and

Vanguard University is where I discovered my passion for anthropology as a tool for social good, although my entrance into the field was reluctant. When my counselor placed Anthropology on my class schedule, I thought it was an error and meant to change it.

But all it took was a few classes with the late Dr. Craig Rusch and I was hooked. I loved it. Dr. Rusch immediately began debunking my assumptions about how the world works, teaching me how to embrace differences, and how to think for myself. Dr. Elizabeth Leonard taught me to be compassionate for social

malaria, leaving those suffering with chronic illness with less resources and support. I remember when I did an ethnographic field study in Honduras with an organization during my junior year at Vanguard, and everyone was talking about diabetes. It’s a growing issue in the developing world, and that’s how I ended up planning to go to Ghana. This country has seen more instances of diabetes as a result of people doing less physical activity and consuming more calories, as well as more stressful lives and less access to medical care.

justice, and Dr. Jamie Huff believed in my abilities.

The alliance between academics and faith is such

They all encouraged me to live a thoughtful life that

a vital part of Vanguard’s identity, and it gave me a

incorporated my intellect and my faith.

context for serving God by pursuing my scholastic

I am currently in the process of completing my PhD at Michigan State University, and I was recently honored to receive a Fulbright Grant, which will fund my fieldwork in Ghana. The grant will allow me to embed in a diabetes clinic at a major city hospital, where I will examine how persons living in extreme poverty manage their illness in the course of their daily lives.

SABRINA PERLMAN ’09 is a Fulbright Scholar and a PhD candidate in Anthropology. She will be travelling to Ghana in 2016 to complete the fieldwork for her dissertation.

ambitions. Vanguard is one of the few Christian schools that even has an anthropology department, and I credit the Department of Anthropology and Sociology for instilling in me the idea that everything I do is for God. This is so important, because it encourages understanding and embracing differences in our world, and it’s how we connect to and serve people.

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learn of me

WHEN I CAME TO VANGUARD UNIVERSITY AS AN UNDERGRADUATE, I ENCOUNTERED BILL WILLIAMS, RUSSELL SPITTLER, AND MURRAY DEMPSTER. Their encouragement was transformative! It was strange to come back later in my career as their colleague, but once again, they encouraged me as a young professor.

When I had kids, I learned that I had to allow them the freedom to be wherever they were in their development. When my son was three years old, he needed to be three—no younger or older than that! I try to keep this in mind in my classroom. A freshman needs to be 18, not 25. As teachers, we have to start wherever our students are because that’s the first abutment of the bridge to maturity.

MY STUDENTS HAVE TAUGHT ME HUMILITY. I remember an encounter with a female student who made a rude comment to me. My response to her was equally graceless. I realized that immediately, and I apologized on the spot.

In public. Four years later, when she graduated, she thanked me for that apology. She told me it changed her experience here. Another time, I had just finished a lecture in class. One of my students raised his hand and said, “I have a different take.” I sat down and let him speak, and it was wonderful. When he finished, I said to the class, “Applaud him—he has surpassed his teacher!”

I BELIEVE THE HUMAN MIND HAS THREE MODES: RATIONAL, NARRATIVE, AND METAPHORICAL. ALL OF THESE VARY AND COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER IN OUR EXPERIENCE, AND ALL THREE

LIFE LESSONS FROM VANGUARD UNIVERSITY LUMINARIES

JERRY CAMERY-HOGGATT Dr. Jerry Camery-Hoggatt is retiring after a 32-year career as a religion professor at Vanguard University. His areas of specialization include New Testament studies and narrative theology. He is the author of numerous books, including Reading The Good Book Well: A Guide to Biblical Interpretation and When Mother Was Eleven-Foot-Four.

FROM MY FATHER I LEARNED TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER. He didn’t intend to teach me this. He was mentally ill, and his life was a constant struggle to care for a large family with limited inner resources. He made up for this deficit with an iron will, and sometimes to survive I had to say, “This far, but no farther.”

MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME COURAGE. She dealt with impossible circumstances with great bravery.

PERHAPS BECAUSE MY CHILDHOOD WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT,

ARE ESSENTIAL IF WE ARE TO THINK ABOUT GOD DEEPLY AND WELL. There’s a belief out there that truth can only be understood in the rational mode. I do not believe that. Some dimensions of experience can only be understood by telling stories. Storytelling isn’t a subset of rationality, but it has its own validity and its own ways of grasping and communicating truth, and -- I believe with all my heart -- there are aspects of God that can only be understood in the narrative mode.

I’VE LEARNED THAT NEGATIVE EMOTIONS ARE OKAY. The well-lived life has room for anger, sorrow, and doubt. Anger at the right things, and in the right degree, can drive our quest for justice. Sorrow can help us leave things in the past and move forward to new things, and it can help us empathize more deeply with others who are experiencing loss. Doubt can push to look past the obvious, and sometimes to discover the profound.

The upshot of this discovery is that I’ve learned to be more accepting of the difficulties of the inner life, and thus to be a little more forgiving of others who may be struggling with emotions I do not fully understand. One takeaway: By the time my father had passed away, all of his children had forgiven him his shortcomings, and had come to wish him well.

I’VE LEARNED THAT GOD IS MORE MYSTERIOUS THAN MY MORTAL MIND CAN GRASP. He’s at work in so many ways. Whatever we

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN AN IDEALIST. It’s not always comfortable or safe being

can say falls short of the reality of who God is. You have to dwell in that

an idealist. Many people make pragmatic decisions that violate their ideals, and

mystery. Nevertheless, I trust. It’s not always easy. Sometimes you encounter

I wonder how they look themselves in the eye.

difficulty, and you say, “Where is God in that?” But we still trust. vanguard magazine FALL/WINTER 2015

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