The Ceremony - University of La Verne

VOICE
Summer/Fall 2011
Her
Moment
Devorah Lieberman
is inaugurated as the
18th president of the
University of La Verne

Remember La Verne Down the Road
Tell La Verne about your bequest!
Make sure your estate plans and wishes are known so that your
bequest will serve the university far into the future.
The university wants to thank you during your lifetime
and recognize you as a member of the Veritas Society.
The Veritas Society has access to special events such as
Disney Concert Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Holiday Choral Concert,
and invitations to President Lieberman’s house.
To learn more, please contact Julia Wheeler, Development Director
at (909) 593-3511, ext: 4686 jwheeler@laverne.edu
Please also visit our website: www.laverne.edu/planned-giving
TRUTH
UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE
* VERITAS SOCIETY *
VALUE SERVICE
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
To Reach The Stars, We’ve Got To Reach Out To Each Other
Fifteen months ago, while Provost and Vice President at
Wagner College in New York City, I received a call asking
me to consider applying for the Presidency of the University
of La Verne. Although I grew up in Covina, I was only slightly
familiar with the university. However, when I read of La Verne’s
120-year history and its foundational values, I was struck by how
similar they are to the values that I hold in my own life, as well as
the priority and purpose of higher education. This feeling only
became further reinforced with each of my successive visits to this
university.
On July 1, I began my tenure as the President. Once I officially
arrived, I wanted to know everything about this fine institution.
I began by touring our beautiful campus, visiting multiple
classrooms and offices, stopping by to speak with everyone that I
met to learn about La Verne’s history and traditions. Every day
was what I called “Devorah’s magical mystery tour.” I visited with
faculty, students and staff members of nearly every department,
members of the Board of Trustees, alumni, local community
members and friends of the university. In September, I presented
our State of the University address before an overflow crowd in
the Ludwick Conference Center. On October 21, we set new
benchmarks with our successful inauguration, which was attended
by over 1,500 individuals from our 11 campuses, our greater
community and nationally. And Homecoming! What a great
day — filled with exciting events, accomplished alumni, exuberant
students and delicious food — wrapping up with a winning
football game. I have attended Board meetings, faculty retreats,
athletic events and midnight student government meetings. As
a person at the inauguration aptly described me, “She is everywhere.”
And, I have enjoyed every minute of these events and
activities. Yes, all of this keeps me very busy, but I would not have
it any other way.
One of my top priorities is to keep you informed about La
Verne’s “happenings.” Communication is key to our success. Just
look at the way social media has increased dramatically. Technology
has made it better and faster than ever, with easy access to
calling, e-mailing, skyping, Facebooking and Tweeting, to name
only a few. I will be using all of these tools to increase my accessibility
and communications with you.
Our outstanding magazine, the VOICE, is one of several
ways we communicate. Through my conversations with alumni,
I see that you will always have a special place in your heart for
La Verne. I also know it is not always easy for you, our alumni
and friends, to keep abreast of all that happens here. We are
pulled in varying directions — time with our families, careers
to pursue, and the simple requirements of day-to-day life. With
the VOICE, we take pride in presenting news and information
about the university, showcasing our ever-increasing accomplishments
and our vision for the future. There is much of which we
should be proud today and I predict that we will continue to
increase this pride in the future.
While technology is wondrous and amazing, giving us tools
to communicate faster and in more ways than ever, I believe that
balance is vital to good health. As you take time during your day
to slow down, you can enjoy stories of our special alumni and
friends here in the VOICE. We also send the wish that, as you
enjoy a leisurely stroll through its pages, you’ll remember “La
Verne... those were some of the best years of my life.”
I invite you to stay in touch with the university, with a note, a
phone call, a FAX, an e-mail, or a text. Drop us a few lines using
the Leo Lines form on the back cover of the VOICE, or, stop by,
if you are in the area. If I am not in my office, you may find me
at Davenport with our students, at Barbara’s Place with faculty or
staff, walking the track, or viewing art in one of our many galleries.
I would love to meet you, say hello, reminisce and share excitement
for the future of the University of La Verne.
Devorah Lieberman, Ph.D.
President

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Presidential Inauguration Has Passed,
But The Afterglow Of Pride Remains
As I write this, it’s less than a week
after the inauguration of our new
president, Devorah Lieberman.
It was a big event. Maybe the biggest in
the history of the school.
The full day of events started with four
academic symposia in the morning, which
transitioned into a luncheon event all its
own, followed by the robing and procession
of hundreds of academic representatives,
which preceded the Inauguration
Ceremony.
The thing that impressed me most was
the pride. Everyone who had some role was
proud to participate, and everyone merely
attending was proud to witness the historic
event. Afterward, everyone was proud of
the University of La Verne.
I know I was. With a new leader, recordsetting
enrollment numbers, a transformation
of the campus through recent and ongoing
capital projects, it feels like La Verne
is taking a step up to a new level. It feels
like we have grown up a little and now see
ourselves in a different light.
Part of our goal with this issue of the
VOICE is to capture some of the event
and share it with you. We have several stories
and lots of photos of the event, plus
even more photos of Homecoming Weekend,
of which the Inauguration was a part.
In addition, we have many other points
of pride in this issue. One of those capital
projects is a renovation of the football stadium,
which includes a new track and new
artificial turf.
We’ve also got great stories about alumni
doing great things. There’s a story about
Arturo Delgado and Gary Thomas, who
got their doctorates from La Verne’s College
of Education & Organizational Leadership.
They went on to become superintendents
of schools for two of the largest
counties in the nation.
A profile of Marlin Heckman, longtime
librarian at La Verne, is the personification
of one of the tenets of the university’s mission
statement: Lifelong Learning. Though
retired, Marlin is a busy author and pho-
2 VOICE Summer/Fall 2011
tographer and is a handful to keep up with.
In addition, we take great pride in presenting
to you one of the most popular
alumni ever to come out of La Verne: Eric
Bishop. Eric is so well-known and wellliked
that I felt comfortable using only
his initials in the headline, since everyone
seems to know him simply as, “EB.”
We’ve also got six pages of “Leo Lines,”
so you can see what many of your fellow
alumni are up to.
Some of the stories, like the ones about
Marlin and Eric, were so good that we
asked our writers for expanded versions
that you can find in our electronic magazine,
the Voice Online (www.laverne.edu/
voice).
As you thumb through this
issue of the VOICE you
might also notice these little
things about the size of a postage
stamp that look like a bar code seen
through a kaleidoscope.
With the Internet serving as the current
information superhighway, it was just
a matter of time before someone came up
with a way to link up print and electronic
media. That’s what these tags do. Those
with a properly equipped electronic device,
such as a “smart” phone can hold the device’s
scanner over a tag and coding in the
tag takes the reader right to that web page.
One thing we’re all about here is giving
our readers options for getting all the information
they want about the university. So,
there’s one more.
I hope you enjoy this issue of the
VOICE. Check out the Voice Online for
more, and please feel free to send us a Leo
Line (see the back cover of this magazine).
Rusty Evans
Editor
VOICE
Vice President, University Advancement
Jean Bjerke
jbjerke@laverne.edu
Director of Public Relations
Charles Bentley
cbentley@laverne.edu
Editor and Creative Director of the Voice
Rusty Evans
revans@laverne.edu
Writers
Charles Bentley, Lisa O’Neill Hill,
Alisha Rosas, John Ross,
Mark Vidal, Rusty Evans
Cover Image
Tom Zasadzinski
Photographers
Jeanine Hill, Nancy Newman,
Mark Vidal, Walt Weis,
Tom Zasadzinski, Rusty Evans
Graphic Designer
Rusty Evans
Director of Alumni Relations
Beth Elmore
belmore@laverne.edu
Leo Lines
Malissa Hernandez
mhernandez@laverne.edu
The Voice is published by
the University of La Verne
Office of University Advancement
Please address all correspondence to:
Voice, University Advancement,
University of La Verne,
1950 Third St., La Verne, CA, 91750
e-mail voice@laverne.edu
www.laverne.edu
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Contents
UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE
VOICE
Vol. 92 No. 1 Summer/Fall 2011
PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION ISSUE
The Ceremony
With plenty of pomp and circumstance, Devorah Lieberman is
sworn in as La Verne’s 18th president, galvanizing the Campus
Community and launching a festive Homecoming Weekend.
The Symposia
A veritable Who’s Who of national scholars, possibly the most
accomplished ever to visit La Verne, lead academic panels
focused on university Mission Statement tenets.
The Sculpture
In conjunction with the historic event, artist Seth Kaufman
makes a third contribution to the Muriel Pollia Sculpture
Garden on campus, the city’s only public art display.
The Weekend
The energy created by the Friday inauguration carries over into
a most festive Homecoming Weekend, which included food,
fun and a football victory.
Leveling The Playing Field
New track, football grid will serve more of the student body,
and heighten the athletic recruiting allure.
Macro Managers
Alumni Arturo Delgado and Gary Thomas set school policy as
superintendents of schools in two of the largest counties in the nation.
A Work In Progress
Marlin Heckman has four degrees and a 42-year career as librarian
behind him, but he’s most excited about what’s yet to come.
a.k.a. E.B.
In 24 years, Eric Bishop made his mark on the University of La
Verne as a student, teacher and mentor.
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News & Notes Leo Lines
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Too much mail? If you would prefer to enjoy the Voice online at www.laverne.edu/voice instead of receiving
the printed version, please check the box on the back cover of this magazine and send it in. Thanks!
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Summer/Fall 2011 VOICE 3

The University of La Verne’s College of Education &
Organizational Leadership has been granted national accreditation,
a confirmation of the college’s high standards
and commitment to producing top educators and leaders.
The National Council on Accreditation of Teacher Education
(NCATE) announced the decision in October,
four months after the college received full accreditation
for seven years from the California Commission on Accreditation.
The California decision renews the college’s
authorization to offer state credentials in all locations to
La Verne students who complete any program that prepares
educators and leaders for roles in schools.
The national accreditation provides the college with
an advanced standing and means that people across the
country recognize that La Verne has met the highest standards.
“The university and the community are now seeing
that our college is a national player,” said Mark Goor,
Dean of the College of Education & Organizational
Leadership. “This is the first national accreditation for
the CEOL, which is significant in that it puts us in a
different stratum of colleges of education nationwide.
It gave us the opportunity to examine national level
standards and show that we can meet that high level of
standards.”
Goor said prospective students know NCATE and
want to know if the college of education they are considering
is nationally accredited because such accreditation
has significant benefits.
“When our graduates go to other states, they have an
easier time getting accreditation because their transcript
will be stamped with the NCATE accreditation,” he said.
To read the full story of the University of
La Verne’s NCATE accreditation, please visit:
laverne.edu/voice/CEOL.
4 VOICE Summer/Fall 2011
News & Notes
CEOL Earns National NCATE Accreditation
The new Athletic Hall of Fame at La Verne
makes a strong first impression on guests.
Rusty Evans image
Mark Goor, Dean of the College of Education & Organizational Leadership,
says NCATE accreditation has taken La Verne to national prominence.
Jeanine Hill image
Athletic Hall of Fame Is A Brilliant New Showcase
With a giant, eye-catching Leopard head
graphic affixed to its storefront glass, La
Verne’s new Athletic Hall of Fame is impossible
to miss upon entering the Sports
Science & Athletics Pavilion’s northeast
doors.
Paved with an actual section of the floor
with the basketball court’s jump circle from
the Old Gym right in the middle, the Hall of
Fame is a shrine to 77 of La Verne’s greatest
sports figures, including Roland Ortmayer,
Dwight Hanawalt, Ben Hines and Bob Richards.
There are plaques with the names of all
members, plus a new interactive history on a
computer monitor.
Down the hallway, there’s also a new bank
of trophy/display cases for visitors to enjoy.
NEwS & NOTES
An architect’s rendering shows the re-designed corner at Second and D streets near
the entrance of the new residence hall and the new location of the university bookstore.
Residence Hall On Pace For July Opening
A redesign of one corner of the university’s
new residence hall will provide additional safety
and dramatically change the appearance, as it
moves along toward its July 2012 opening.
The new look, depicted in the rendering
above, provides more sidewalk space and
room for foot traffic around what will surely
be a busy entrance to the hall and the bookstore,
which will be relocated to the new
building from its current location near the
intersection of Bonita and D Street.
The adjacent parking lot, located west of
Paul Alvarez says experience with such
endeavors helps him to give his students
broader perspective in athletic training.
the residence hall site, opened in late September.
In addition, a new patio area on Hanawalt
House’s west side was completed in October
and provides an outdoor area for dining and
social events.
The residence hall, part of the 10-year Master
Plan set forth by the university’s Board of Trustees,
was designed to integrate with the Sara &
Michael Abraham Campus Center to provide
a more dynamic and centralized campus environment
for students now and in the future.
Renovated Auditorium
Earns Lofty National
Architectural Acclaim
The Ann & Steve Morgan Auditorium,
which underwent a massive part renovation/
part restoration in 2010 and re-opened
last April, has been selected to appear
as an Outstanding Design in American
School & University Magazine’s November
Architectural Portfolio issue.
First opened 85 years ago as Founders
Auditorium, the venue is still serving the
needs of its students thanks to the exquisite
structural and cosmetic renovation. The Ann
& Steve Morgan Auditorium was scheduled
to appear in the renovation/modernization
category of the annual showcase celebrating
the best in education design.
This recognition gives the University of
La Verne national acclaim in an education
design sourcebook used by administrators
at institutions of higher education
nationwide.
The redesign by Phillips Metsch Sweeney
Moore Architects of Santa Barbara, funded
largely by private donations, called for replacing
all seats and fixtures, new doors and
windows, louvred shutters, a brand-new climate
control plant, as well as structural reinforcements,
acoustic enhancements and new
lighting.
Alvarez Joins Team USA At World University Games
Paul Alvarez, Athletic Training &
Education Program Director & Professor
of Movement & Sports Science at La Verne
served as one of a select few athletic trainers
to take care of American athletes during
the World University Games at Shenzhen,
China in August.
For Alvarez, now in his 25th year as a
professor and head of the University of La
Verne’s award-winning athletic trainer’s
program, the China trip was quite a feather
in his cap. From a personal standpoint, it
was further validation of his successful
ascent through the ranks of athletic training
and a reflection of his devotion to his
profession.
From a professional standpoint, it means
Alvarez’s Sports Science students have one
more reason to listen closely in class.
“The reason I was on the team is
that I still practice, and there are a lot of
professors who don’t,” Alvarez said. “They
didn’t need an academic on the team; they
needed someone who could tape and take
care of the athletes. I think that my being
involved — just like the work outside of
class that George Keeler and Mike Laponis
do in Communications, that Reed Gratz
does with music, that Jerome Garcia does
with biology — all of these are things that
give our students an edge.”
Alvarez followed up by organizing a gathering
on campus with a photo essay about
his experiences in China, followed by a discussion
of the politics and resource cost of
putting on such a large international event.
Summer/Fall 2011 VOICE 5

6 VOICE Summer/Fall 2011
COVER STORY
Devorah Lieberman models her new colors to the cheering approval of an estimated 1,500 in attendance at the Inauguration.
Tom Zasadzinski image
COVER STORY
Upward Momentum
The inauguration of Devorah Lieberman as La Verne’s 18th president infuses the
campus with a high level of energy as she sets a course for future achievement.
By John Ross
It’s not often that an entire university gets caught
up in a moment, swept away by emotion, but then
the University of La Verne hadn’t had the chance to
celebrate like this in 26 years.
That was when Steve Morgan took office, the beginning of
the longest presidential tenure in the school’s 120-year history.
So, on October 21, when Devorah Lieberman took the
stage, took the oath, took the plunge as the university’s
18 th president and its first female president, the electricity
was palpable. Every one of those 1,500 or so gathered
for the inauguration ceremony in the university’s Sports
Science & Athletics Pavilion — from national scholars
and Board of Trustees members to rambunctious freshmen
— had their hands clapping, their toes tapping and
their sensual sails set to catch every last wave of energy.
The Friday ceremony kicked off a festive Homecoming
Weekend for La Verne, surely one of the most memorable
in the school’s history. Whether attending the
morning symposia or the afternoon ceremony, viewing
the events live on streaming video, or connecting with
fellow alumni on Saturday and Sunday, those in town for
the weekend were treated to an electricity that pulsated
through the campus community.
Of course, Ann and Steve Morgan, presidential partners
for a quarter of a century of growth and dynamic
leadership, were on hand to share in the celebration. On
stage, Morgan gave Lieberman a congratulatory hug, and
wished her well. It was through Morgan’s leadership that
the university pulled out of dire financial straits of the
late 1980s. That leadership and stewardship, and that of
the Board of Trustees, now provides the university an opportunity
to further enhance its service to students and
community seldom seen in higher education.
The university now finds itself with a dynamic new leader,
and is poised like no other to meet the needs of the people
who live and work in the region, the state, and beyond.
Nationally-renowned academicians and La Verne
deans and faculty spoke in morning symposia sessions
on campus. The symposia were capped by an address
by luncheon keynote speaker Lee Shulman, who, when
president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advance-
Continued on Page 8
With Natural Sciences Chair Robert Neher leading the way out with the
ceremonial mace, President Devorah Lieberman gestures to some of the
academic representatives in attendance at the inauguration ceremony.
Tom Zasadzinski image
Summer/Fall 2011 VOICE 7

Excerpts from Devorah Lieberman’s Inaugural Address:
ment of Teaching, led the transformation of
the way students are taught in college.
While each of the four symposia focused
on one of La Verne’s four Mission Statement
tenets, much of the day addressed the university’s
commitment to diversity and inclusivity.
By virtue of its heritage and mission, La Verne
is uniquely poised to meet the needs of emerging
demographics that are beginning to define
America’s cities and metropolitan areas.
Few urban or metropolitan universities are
the equal of La Verne in serving the underrepresented.
Half of its students are the first in
their families to attend college, and more than
90 percent of them continue as sophomores,
weathering the uncertainties of their first year
of study at a university. Fully 70 percent earn
their baccalaureate degrees within six years, a
figure significantly above the national average
for a population as diverse as La Verne’s.
Why is the university so successful? During
inaugural presentations, three reasons
8 VOICE Summer/Fall 2011
COVER STORY
“Dr. Stephen Morgan, committed leader of this institution for 26 years, I salute you for the vision you brought
to the University of La Verne when named president in 1985. I thank you; we all thank you for your unwavering
and continuing support through this transition, enabling us to continue La Verne’s successful trajectory.”
Continued from Page 7
“We live in an age I label, ‘a crisis of confidence,’ which
cuts across government, health care, business, industry,
financial, and, yes, even higher education.”
emerged. The faculty and staff are inordinately
dedicated to mentoring students and
helping them succeed. The mission of the
university fosters lifelong learning, diversity,
civic engagement and values of spirituality,
themes that resonate with traditional and nontraditional
students who want better lives for
themselves, their families, and their children.
Anyone walking around the campus center
through Homecoming Saturday’s fair
of campus organizations would have found
it easy to feel the earnestness of students to
make a difference on campus and in their
communities. There was also an air of fun.
For them, opportunities are boundless. This
is the culture that La Verne has nurtured
since its founding in 1891 and which it is
committed to expand in the future through
two new programs Lieberman will initiate:
The 2020 Vision and The La Verne Experience.
Concluding her address, Lieberman asserted:
“Today is our moment…tomorrow is our future.”
Pure rhetoric from a new president? Not if
you listened to the post-inaugural comments of
faculty and staff, of delegates who represented
Devorah Lieberman repeats an oath given by the
Honorable Manuel Ramirez, left, and also gets a hug from
her predecessor, Steve Morgan.
Tom Zasadzinski images
45 institutions during the ceremony, of alumni
and parents, and students who participated.
Clearly, they believe that synergy among
trustees, faculty, and staff – encouraged by the
new president – is elevating the university to
a position of national significance that will allow
La Verne to attract the human and financial
resources needed to achieve its vision and
expand its educational opportunities to populations
in Southern California and beyond.
A commencement is a beginning. So too
is an inauguration. But there is a difference.
Commencement exercises embark students
into a future of myriad opportunities and
uncertainties. An inauguration is the celebration
of expanded vision and prospects for an
institution and new energy to achieve its potentials,
under a new and inspired leader.
And so, the inauguration of La Verne’s new
president, and the accompanying Homecoming
Weekend testified to the fact that La
Verne is now launched on a steeply upward
trajectory. As President Lieberman wrapped
up her her inaugural address, she issued one
of her first directives: “Fasten your seatbelts!”
“Over the past 60 years, our country’s belief in
the abilities of our social institutions to provide
long-term solutions to the problems of our complex
society has undergone significant erosion.”
“Solutions to the crises of our time are sitting before me
in this room. Tempting though it may be to rely on social
institutions, it is important to keep in mind that those
institutions are composed of individuals like you and me.”
If anyone was waiting for Devorah Lieberman
to make a statement about academics,
they can now get on with their lives.
With the assembly of an educational
Who’s Who for the academic symposia that
preceded her inauguration, and a focus on
the four tenets of the university’s Mission
Statement, Lieberman demonstrated that
she’s not only serious about education, but
that she enters her presidency with a healthy
respect for tradition.
The observations and outcomes from those
learned discussions encompassing lifelong
learning, spirituality, community and civic engagement,
plus inclusivity and diversity publicly
framed the context for the university’s
120-year history. They will also assist in structuring
the institution’s strategic “2020 Vision”
and provide the foundation for “The La Verne
Experience,” the emerging integration of curriculum
and co-curriculum for all students.
“The university commits itself to promoting
education that facilitates lifelong learning,”
said Mark Goor, Dean of the College
of Education & Organizational Leadership,
in opening the panel on that relevant topic.
“Teaching students how to learn, how to
think critically, to do constructive research,
and to access and integrate information in
order to prepare them for continued personal
and career growth is our priority.”
Employers demand that employees be
nimble in adapting to evolving knowledge,
technology, and social, economic, and environmental
conditions. A liberal education,
said symposia speaker Carol Geary Schneider,
president of the Association of American
Colleges & Universities (AAC&U), has been
INAUGURATION
proven to provide the most effective foundation
to succeed in this economy.
Schneider presented data from a 2010 survey
showing that employers want colleges to
place more emphasis on, among other learning
outcomes, teamwork in diverse groups
and global and intercultural knowledge
along with oral and written communication.
“Diversity is an integral part of what the
University of La Verne is and what the university
would like to be,” said Abe Helou,
Dean of the College of Business & Public
Management, who introduced the inclusivity/diversity
panel.
Combined, the elements of community
engagement, when coupled with the notion
of civic involvement – the duties of citizens
“Challenge lights the fire of change and opportunity. We
will challenge ourselves and our colleagues, seizing this
opportunity, embracing our institutional niche, and creating
a profound collective vision.”
Mission-Driven Symposia Make Bold Academic Statements
By John Ross
“Our strengths will help to define our identity: a diverse
demographic student body; strong community-based foundational
values; our geographic location; and relevant
curriculum, as well as outstanding faculty and staff.”
Dr. Carol Geary Schneider talks about lifelong learning in the Ann & Steve Morgan
Auditorium during one of four academic symposia held on campus on Oct. 21 — part
of Presidential Inauguration activities.
Jeanine Hill image
to participate in the governance of their
communities — create a powerful force for
public good and personal growth. Both elements
are essential components of the university’s
mission.
That these symposia featured renowned
leaders in higher education underscores that
the university is on a path to achieve national
recognition for its ability to infuse the tenets
of its Mission Statement throughout every
student’s experience. In so doing, La Verne
has the opportunity to become a new model
of an urban university.
To read more about the academic
symposia and view a complete list
of guest speakers, please visit: www.
laverne.edu/voice/symposia
“In 2011, we are much more complex, but with the same
integrity and commitment to academic excellence and
institutional values. On this solid foundation, we will
be intentional, forward-thinking, bold and successful.”
Summer/Fall 2011 VOICE 9

There is almost no chance that visitors
will overlook the most recent addition
to the University of La Verne’s Muriel
Pollia Sculpture Garden. The nine-foot stainless
steel piece is anything but subtle and was
created to honor a person who has brought a
bold and pulsing energy to the university – its
18 th president – Devorah Lieberman.
The sculpture, titled “Lignum Spire,” was
taken from vision to reality by Southern California
artist Seth Kaufman. The third public art
piece included in the sculpture garden, located
between the Campus Center and
the University Quad, was dedicated
to President Lieberman at her inauguration
ceremony’s reception.
In addition to Lignum Spire,
Kaufman has two other pieces on
display inside the Campus Center.
His artwork was first noticed by
Director of University Art Galleries
Dion Johnson, who kept in touch
with Kaufman after an exhibition
of his work was hosted by the Harris
Art Gallery last fall.
“There is something incredibly
compelling about his work,” said
Johnson. “I admire how he is able
to find the balance between absurdity
and elegance.”
According to Kaufman, finding
such balance requires countless
hours and the right motivation.
“The efforts behind my pieces
truly reflect what I am feeling or
doing,” he said. “Instead of having
a discussion about what I feel, I try to express it
through a metaphorical way through the materials
I use, how I feel, what I’m thinking.”
After finding his muse, Kaufman combines
his creative energies with artistic techniques
that help make his work unique and representative
of the world’s natural elements by the materials
he uses. For example, Douglas fir wood
was used as the original material for Lignum
Spire, which translates to “wooden” (lignum)
and “architecture” (spire). However, in order to
create a lasting piece for the outdoor sculpture
garden, Kaufman had to design his piece to
withstand the elements.
Using lost wax casting and taking nearly 40
hours to complete, Kaufman took his wooden
sculpture and created a mold of it first out of wax
10 VOICE Summer/Fall 2011
INAUGURATION
Kaufman Piece Is Dedicated To New President’s Arrival
By Alisha Rosas
“There is
something
incredibly
compelling
about his work.
I admire how
he is able to
find the balance
between
absurdity and
elegance.”
– Dion Johnson
Director of University
Art Galleries,
on Seth Kauffman
and then out of plaster. The cavity of the piece
is kept hollow as the mold is covered in stainless
steel, leaving the finished product not only
a more durable, exact replica of the original art
piece, but also one that is significantly lighter.
Kaufman said he was proud to have the
piece used to celebrate the inauguration of the
university’s 18 th and first female president. “It’s
shocking to have your work, which doesn’t aspire
to do anything more than exist, be appropriated
for a public art piece,” he said.
“When someone buys my work, there is a
tremendous humility I feel along with appreciation.
For the University of La Verne to use
it to honor their new president, it
really takes it to another level.”
The idea to have an art piece
dedicated to President Lieberman
as part of her inauguration festivities
stemmed from Executive Vice
President Phil Hawkey, who felt it
would help memorialize the day
and its significance to the university.
Hawkey was then given the task to
generate monetary support for the
piece. Donors that helped make
Lignum Spire a reality at the university,
include: Kurt Rothweiler and
KAR Construction, Rancho Pacific
Electric, Valley Crest Landscaping,
Robert Kim of Hanover Pacific
Company and Lewis Companies.
“This sculpture represents the
new energy and dynamism President
Lieberman brings to this university,”
said Hawkey.
Kaufman agreed. “The piece is
energetic, honest, reflective … it’s
modest in scale, but has a prominent presence,”
he said. “I think you could describe her with
the same adjectives.”
At the reception that followed her inauguration,
President Lieberman stood and listened to
Kaufman describe the work and meticulous attention
to detail required to create the sculpture
dedicated in her honor.
“Understanding the process of how this
sculpture was created makes me appreciate its
beauty even more,” she said. “Every time I walk
past, I will let it serve as a reminder of the many
challenges and sometimes, twists and turns we
will face as we move forward as an institution,
but when that happens, like the sculpture, we
will work together to find a path that will take
us upward toward success.”
“Lignum Spire,” created by Seth Kaufman
in honor of Devorah Lieberman’s
inauguration, is the third piece of public
art in the Muriel Pollia Sculpture Garden
on the University of La Verne campus.
Rusty Evans image
HOMECOMING
La Verne safety Arsian Erdinc celebrates a second quarter fumble recovery during
the Leopards’ 30-21 Homecoming victory over Chapman at Ortmayer Stadium.
Rusty Evans image
Jacob Acevedo, left, and Jenae
Hodges were crowned king
and queen during a coronation
ceremony at halftime of the
Homecoming football game.
Nancy Newman image
La Verne fans celebrate the home team taking the
halftime lead into the locker room.
Rusty Evans image
Alumni Treated To
Traditional Fun, Plus
Winning Football
And so the Homecoming call went out
and the alumni came, and they were
treated to a magical weekend indeed.
Saturday’s mid-October weather was suitable,
even summer-like, reaching into the 90’s
— all but ideal for all but the football team,
which also faced a formidable Chapman University
squad. Still, the Leopards endured and
brought home a 30-21 victory before a frenzied,
sun-screened crowd that filled the home
side grandstand.
Though the football triumph may have been
a pleasant surprise to those who have attended
Homecoming in recent years, the student organization
fair and barbecue lunch near the
center of campus delivered its full measure of
robust fun. Dancing by spirited squads of students
filled the streets, followed by a parade,
kept the mood light and spirits high.
After the football game, there was more
food, plus live music from a stage set up in
Sneaky Park.
Sunday’s traditional class reunions brought
together alumni from 1951, 1961, 1971,
1981, 1991 and 2001, where plenty of memories,
stories and laughs were exchanged. The La
Verne faithful discovered their “Dear favored
spot,” is just as green (and orange) as when
they left it.
View more images of Homecoming
Weekend Online. Visit: http://
laverne.edu/voice/hwimages
There was plenty of
reminiscing and a lot of
catching up to do at the
Class of 1961’s 50-year
reunion. Reunions were
also held for the classes
of 1951, 1971, 1981,
1991 and 2001 during
Homecoming Weekend.
Nancy Newman image
Summer/Fall 2011 VOICE 11

As he took in the thundering approval of
the home fans packed into Ortmayer
Stadium during the closing seconds
of his team’s Homecoming victory over Chapman,
La Verne head football coach Chris Krich
may have been tempted to think, “It doesn’t get
any better than this.”
But in the back of his mind, he knows it
can. This time next year, Krich’s Leopards
will be pounding artificial turf during home
games, as plans for a stadium renovation
went into action at the end of the just-completed
football season. The bulk of that plan
involves resurfacing the football field as well
as the rubberized track and field areas.
The university will replace the football
field’s weary natural turf with the artificial
12 VOICE Summer/Fall 2011
ATHLETICS
A new artificial turf football/soccer/lacrosse field and a new rubberized track and field surface surrounding the field will not only
give the facility an eye-catching facelift, but also open the area to sports science classes, intramurals and other student activities.
Leveling The Playing Field
New track, football grid will serve more of the student body, heighten athletic recruiting allure.
By Rusty Evans
stuff, called FieldTurf, which resembles the
AstroTurf of the 1970s only in that it is
green. FieldTurf is just as weatherproof and
provides excellent traction, but is much softer
than some of its predecessors. It also looks
fabulous.
“It will definitely be a plus for recruitment,”
Krich said. And that’s how things will
get better. The better the facility, the better
the chance of attracting more of the very athletic
student-athletes. That generally translates
to more victories on the field, bringing
more fans and alumni out to the games, creating
more excitement all across campus.
“Anytime you have something new like
this to show a recruit, it’s exciting,” Krich
said. “They see the new field and the new
track and they get excited. I think it’s great.
Anytime you’re building something new,
something like this is always a good thing.
Especially in this economy, it shows how
strong La Verne is, to be able to give Ortmayer
Stadium a different look.”
The football program is not the only beneficiary.
With the resurfaced track, La Verne will
once again be able to host a track meet. Gone
will be the current patchwork quilt of a track.
There are new areas for long jump and triple
jump, and the steeplechase course has been
re-routed.
Both the men’s and women’s soccer teams,
displaced by removal of the baseball field that
served as their home, will play their home
games on the new field, which will have permanent
field markings. There are also plans
Continued on 13
Continued from 12
to add a women’s lacrosse team, which will
use the field as well and have its own markings.
One other effect that is likely to boost
morale lies in bringing a few teams back
onto campus. The return of the men’s and
women’s track team and both soccer teams
doubles the number of sports playing on
campus. The lacrosse team makes nine.
“This is a win-win situation, for both the
Athletic Department and the entire university,”
La Verne Athletic Director Julie Kline
said. “It will be a point of pride, a point of
engagement for the community. It’s great
from a recruiting, retention and student life
standpoint. I’m beyond thrilled.”
The durability of FieldTurf also opens the
door for use by more of the student body.
For La Verne’s Movement & Sports Science
Department it means access to what is, essentially,
a new one-acre lab. Intramurals and
other fun events will also be staged on the
new field.
“It’s an opportunity to expand our recreation
and expand our fitness and wellness
needs of the students,” Kline said. “With the
addition of lights, we’ll be able to expand the
hours of use to meet the student body needs.”
Some of those lights will be affixed to
100-foot-tall poles designed to help direct
the light downward and not outward into the
surrounding neighborhood. That wouldn’t
be good for the university’s image, one that
has been enhanced greatly by recent projects.
“This project reinforces the growing sense
of a vibrant campus, and not only in Athlet-
“Especially in
this economy,
it shows how
strong La Verne
is, to be able to
give Ortmayer
Stadium a
different look.”
Chris Krich
Head Football Coach
ATHLETICS
A jumble of patches that has kept the track together, and depressions and bare spots
on the grass are telltale signs of the need for the stadium renovation at La Verne.
Rusty Evans image
ics, but with the Movement & Sports Science
program as well,” said Phil Hawkey,
Executive Vice President and the person in
charge of campus construction. “There’s a lot
of satisfaction, in the larger scope. We have
rebuilt our campus. More than 50 buildings
have been built or remodeled. We’ve doubled
our property and positioned ourselves for a
“It’s great,
from a
recruiting,
retention and
student life
standpoint.
I’m beyond
thrilled.”
Julie Kline
Athletic Director
successful future.
“We’ve created an environment in which
students may supplement the educational
experience they have here outside the classroom.
Along with a school’s academic reputation,
parents and [prospective] students
make judgments based on what they see.
We’ve created a very nice setting here.”
“Along with
a school’s
academic
reputation,
parents and
students make
judgments
based on what
they see.”
Phil Hawkey
Executive Vice President
Summer/Fall 2011 VOICE 13

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION & ORGANIzATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Macro
Managers
Arturo Delgado and Gary Thomas share more than La Verne alumni status: Both are
Superintendents of Schools of counties with school systems among the largest in the nation.
By Lisa O’Neill Hill Community Engagement
Growing up in East Los Angeles as one
of seven children, Arturo Delgado
learned to look out for his siblings.
His parents instilled in Delgado a hard work
ethic. Teachers recognized his potential.
“I had some influential teachers throughout
my life,” said Delgado, who is now
the Los Angeles County Superintendent
of Schools, the top education leader of the
nation’s most populous and diverse county.
“I admired them. I guess that admiration
turned into wanting to be like them.”
Gary Thomas understands that perspective.
Working in education felt like his calling.
“I feel like education is really the noblest
profession there is,” said Thomas, San Bernardino
County Superintendent of Schools.
“It really is an extremely important aspect of
our democratic society.”
As superintendents, Delgado and Thomas
share similar responsibilities, concerns and
challenges. They are committed to helping
children receive a quality education, even as
support for public education has eroded and
budget cuts have created large obstacles.
They also share something else: both men
earned doctorates from the University of La
Verne’s College of Education & Organizational
Leadership (CEOL). The superintendents
say La Verne helped them further their
careers through its rigorous program.
“We prepare leaders,” said Mark Goor,
Dean of the College of Education & Organizational
Leadership. “People who want to be
high-level administrators and leaders come
to the University of La Verne.”
In fact, a quarter of superintendents and
administrators in California have earned
their doctorates from La Verne.
14 VOICE Summer/Fall 2011
Delgado, who was appointed to his post
in July, is responsible for ensuring the financial
and academic stability of 80 K-12 school
districts that serve more than 2 million preschool
and school-age children.
He began his career in education more
than 30 years ago as a bilingual teacher in the
Baldwin Park and Rowland Unified School
“I had some influential
teachers throughout my
life. I admired them. I
guess that admiration
turned into wanting to be
like them.”
– Arturo Delgado
Los Angeles County
Superintendent of Schools
Districts. Delgado said he recognized early in
his career that he wanted to be an administrator.
He aspired to be a school principal because
he enjoyed being around the students
and working with teachers.
After administrative posts for the Rowland
and Norwalk/La Mirada Unified School
Districts, Delgado served as an elementary
school principal for more than eight years for
the Azusa Unified School District.
As he began to get to know a number of
people in the district administration, he realized
it wasn’t that much of a jump to become
superintendent. Prior to his position in Los
Angeles County, Delgado was the superintendent
of the San Bernardino City Unified
School District. While the magnitude of his
new job may be much larger, the underlying
goals are the same, he said.
“It’s incredible,” he said of the scale of
his new position. “The one thing that stays
constant is that when you are working with
people they want clarity, they want articulation.
They want to look to a leader they can
trust. The scale gets bigger but those things
don’t change,” he said.
Education has changed significantly in the
more than 30 years that Delgado has been in
his career. “Every decade it seems to be a different
emphasis,” he said.
And just about every decade brings a new
challenge: “We are trying to look to the future
to see how we change our message and
prioritize and be able to compete with fewer
resources and how we build partners to do
that.”
In the short-term, the Los Angeles County
Board of Supervisors has already identified
challenges for Delgado to tackle. He has
been charged with improving the education
in camps and juvenile halls across the county.
Delgado has been visiting those facilities to
assess the caliber of education and see how
well educators are trained and guided for
teaching that population.
“It’s a big job,” he said. “We have over
12,000 kids in those halls. The quality of that
education has been lacking for some time for
a number of reasons. A big part of that is
what will happen when they transition to a
regular school. How far behind are they?”
Continued on 16
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION & ORGANIzATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Superintendent Arturo Delgado oversees K-12 education of more than 2 million children in 80 Los Angeles County school districts.
Walt Weis image
As San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, Gary Thomas sets the educational pace for 417,000 students in 538 schools.
Jeanine Hill image
Summer/Fall 2011 VOICE 15

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION & ORGANIzATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Continued from 14
Delgado’s other big challenge is the Head
Start program.
“L.A. County has the largest Head Start
program in the nation. We are expanding
programs and trying to get kids ready
for school, especially in poor areas. There
is a great opportunity for doing some good
things. Already, I’m excited,” he said.
Delgado said one of his top goals is to take
a look within the organization and streamline
it. That will allow the county to be better
positioned to respond to needs, he said.
He will undoubtedly tap into the foundation
he received at La Verne to do that.
His education at La Verne helped him discover
his own leadership style, he said.
“You learn to build bridges and listen and
hear perspectives about education and organization
and leadership. Working together
with people with different styles was a big
help,” Delgado said. “You discover your own
style through that process.”
Thomas agreed. He also earned his master’s
degree at La Verne.
“I was really looking for a program that
recognized that people who were working
full-time would need flexibility,” he said. “La
Verne just had a very accommodating model
which allowed me to do my job as well as get
my course work done. That degree and administrative
credential helped me secure my
first administrative position.”
The degrees at La Verne prepared Thomas for
managing schools and districts and becoming a
strong leader. “In addition, I would say in the
doctoral program, we did a lot with emerging
technologies, which was extremely helpful.”
Thomas began his career in 1979 as a junior
high social studies teacher in the Charter
Oak Unified School District. That wasn’t
exactly what he had planned. He had aspired
to teach high school but was told he was too
young; he was only 22.
“I ended up in junior high. I swore I
would never teach junior high and I spent
my entire teaching career there,” he said. “I
just remember how I was when I was a junior
high kid and I didn’t want to deal with that.”
He spent some time thinking about the
middle school teachers he’d had and tried to
emulate what they did in the classroom. That
proved to be successful, he said. He realized he
needed to have respect for the age group, set
guidelines and rules for students and then fol-
16 VOICE Summer/Fall 2011
low through with enforcing the rules. He also
knew to make the classroom environment fun.
When Thomas first began teaching, educators
and students were not facing the same pressures
they are today. “We have a larger array of
indicators people watch to determine whether
there is success,” he said. “The formulas and
things people have used have changed.”
Thomas said he has seen a deterioration of
support for public education. Class sizes are
larger than they have ever been, schools have
skeleton support staff and it has been difficult
for schools to obtain the material and
equipment they need.
Despite all of that, “We have still seen
an increase in student achievements,” said
Thomas, whose county serves about 417,000
students in 538 schools. “Teachers in the
“I ended up in junior high. I
swore I would never teach
junior high and I spent
my entire teaching career
there. I just remember how
I was when I was a junior
high kid and I didn’t want
to deal with that.”
— Gary Thomas
San Bernardino County
Superintendent of Schools
classrooms as well as principals are doing an
extraordinary job given the reduction of resources
that we have had.”
Thomas, who has held numerous administrative
positions and who served as superintendent
of the Silver Valley Unified School
District and the Lucerne Valley Unified
School District, began his first full four-year
term in January; he had spent the previous
two years filling out the term of the former
superintendent. His priorities include closing
the access and achievement gap, improving
dropout and graduation rates and preparing
students for college and careers. He
is particularly passionate about a program
designed to increase college-readiness.
The Early Assessment Program (EAP)
is a collaborative effort between the California
Department of Education (CDE),
the California State University (CSU),
and the State Board of Education (SBE)
to avoid incoming CSU students’ need for
remediation in English and mathematics.
Students take a voluntary test in the 11th
grade; the results give them an idea of their
college readiness in English and math. Students
with acceptable scores on the EAP who
are admitted into the CSU system can enroll
in college credit-bearing courses in those
subjects as entering freshman without taking
remedial courses. If a student does not pass
the EAP, that student can be offered solutions
in his or her senior year.
“What we are really trying to do is move the
remediation to the K-12 side,” Thomas said.
The San Bernardino County Superintendent’s
office, working with Cal State San
Bernardino and the Chaffey Joint Union
High School District, has developed a pilot
where Cal State San Bernardino will
provide a guarantee of admission for all
graduating Chaffey seniors who successfully
complete CSU entry requirements
and achieve passing rates on the EAP.
Three community colleges — Chaffey, Crafton
Hills and Victor Valley — also have
agreed to accept EAP scores and UC Riverside
has agreed to look at the program,
Thomas said.
“We are really pushing to get as many
partners as we can in the pilot,” he said.
“The effort here is to see that EAP students
are coming into college successfully prepared
for college-level coursework, to align high
school coursework and college-entrance requirements,
and to reduce higher education
remediation costs.”
For Delgado and Thomas, the most rewarding
part of their jobs is seeing the impact
– in the short-term and over the longterm
– of education.
“You are really transforming lives — anything
from that first-grader who all of sudden
discovers he can read, to a high school student
who finally works out algebra or geometry, to
the first time a kid has an opportunity to perform
on a live stage,” Thomas said.
“The artistry that comes out of youth is
amazing. I think opening minds of people
about the possibilities that there are, that is
really exciting about education.”
Related story: Read about the College of
Education & Organizational
Leadership’s recent accreditation at:
http://laverne.edu/voice/2011/11/ceol
A Work
In Progress
After earning four academic degrees and a
42-year career as librarian, Marlin Heckman
is most excited about what’s yet to come.
By Mark Vidal
If there is one thing Marlin Heckman lacked when he retired after
31 years as head librarian, it was the mentality of slowing down.
He didn’t have it then, and he doesn’t have it now. Between prepping
for his upcoming books, attending book signings, traveling the
world and working on his iPad, Marlin has lived up to the mission he
shares with the University of La Verne: lifelong learning.
“I read about a book a week, usually have two or three going sometimes.
I read you have to keep your brain active,” Heckman said. “Too
many people sit down in front of the TV and never move again.”
For Heckman, a resident of Hillcrest Retirement Community in
La Verne, being on the move is as important
to staying active as it is to lifelong
learning. He is adamant about going on
Lifelong Learning
daily walks, he practices Pilates and enjoys aerobic exercises in the
pool. He also spends time raising turnips, tomatoes and cucumbers
in his garden, and shooting nature photographs with his Nikon D40.
Although he admits, he’s still learning.
But if Heckman is spotted sitting on the couch, especially recently,
he is likely to have a mountain of postcards by his side and his Flip-
Pal portable scanner on his lap. He’s working on what he plans to call
“California at Night from Sunset to Sunrise” — one of several books
he has composed entirely out of antique postcards.
“I call postcards the e-mail of that day,” Heckman said, referring
to circa 1890 – 1915, when postcards grew to prominence. Since
1990 Heckman has accumulated thousands of postcards from antique
shows, shops, yard sales and gifts. “You never know what you’re
going to find.”
Postcard books are Heckman’s way of documenting California’s
history. Once he has identified a theme, such as California scenes
depicted at night, he’s ready to start planning for a book.
Why the portable scanner? Heckman is also the designer of his
books. Using self-publishing services available on the Internet, specifically
MyPublisher.com and Blurb.com, he uploads scanned images
of the postcards and strategically lays them out on pages. He writes
his own captions and selects the appropriate stock for each project.
It’s an efficient and cost-effective process that gives Heckman design
and production control, though it wasn’t always like this.
The majority of his earlier books were published the traditional way
ALUMNI
An author and photographer, former University of La Verne
librarian Marlin Heckman once wrote a book about front doors.
Mark Vidal image
with Arcadia Publishing, based in Chicago. “Lordsburg/La Verne,”
“Santa Barbara,” “Long Beach,” “Santa Catalina Island,” “Pasadena,” and
“Santa Monica,” make up the heart of his vintage postcard history series.
“I chose areas that would be of interest. Someone vacationing in
Santa Barbara might want something to take home,” Heckman said.
To this day he still receives royalty checks for his vintage postcard
history series.
For Heckman, the perks of being an author and a self-publisher are
spontaneously pleasant.
“Last summer, I got a call from a publisher saying there’s a new
bookstore that moved to Belmont shores in Long Beach and he wondered
if I would come and do a book signing. This is for a book
(“Long Beach”) I published 10 years ago,” Heckman shared. “I came
and signed them all.”
He received another special call last summer, this time from a lady
who read in the paper that he would be doing a book signing in Long
Beach. She had an old picnic basket full of vintage postcards she had
accumulated and she wanted to donate them to Heckman.
Thanks to a kind lady’s generosity and Heckman’s creative edge, he is
equipped to create a short series of postcard books that will feature California
in winter, at nighttime and in classic sunshine in the near future.
Read the expanded version of Mark Vidal’s story
about Marlin Heckman in the Voice Online. Visit:
http://laverne.edu/voice/2011/11/heckman
Summer/Fall 2011 VOICE 17

18 VOICE Summer/Fall 2011
ALUMNI
Leo Lines
Mildred (Adams) Patterson ’32 and Gordon Keith Patterson celebrated their 75th
wedding anniversary with friends and family on July 30, 2011.
1940s
Ruth Beard ’48 submitted a poem she recently
wrote, “Life Ending Assurance,” to the
local Cross Keys daily TV channel where it
was shown for a week.
1950s
Janice Fillmore Martinez ’59, ’76, ’78
and her husband, Richard, volunteered as
hosts in Brethren House at Bethany Seminary
August and September. The previous
eight years, they were volunteers at New
Windsor Conference Center in New Windsor,
Md.
1960s
Doris Hopwood Dunham ’60, ’92 was
ordained as a minister in the Church of the
Brethren on September 12, 2010. She is
working as a volunteer in the Bereavement
Department of Optimal Hospice in Bakersfield,
Calif., and is enrolled in an online MA
program in Christian Studies/Pastoral Ministry
through Grand Canyon University.
Al Rouse ’64 retired after 18 years with
the Washington State Department of Transportation.
He hopes to play more golf and do
some traveling.
Mary Kay Ogden ’68, ’73, Marion
Grundvig ’84, and David Rivera ’10 participated
in the Church of the Brethren’s
Children’s Disaster Services training last year.
The two-day training session taught communication
and listening skills, positive toys
and games, the dynamics and stages of disaster
and the agencies responding to disasters,
simulated exercises, and how to set up a
“shelter” in the church gym.
Dr. Todd DeMitchell ’69, ’73 was selected
as the Distinguished Professor for the
University of New Hampshire. The university’s
website says: “It’s not surprising that
Todd DeMitchell was named team captain
and most valuable player for his football
team at La Verne College in California. To
his colleagues in the UNH Department of
Education, the one-time All-American still
fulfills those roles as a leader, top scholar,
teacher, mentor, and friend.”
Paul Handley ’69 retired July 2010 from
the Los Angeles Department of Water and
Power (LADWP), after 30 years serving as
an energy and conservation consultant. Paul
moved to Windsor, Calif., with his wife of 28
years. They are happily restoring their new
home and pursuing their passions: reading,
traveling and drinking wine.
1970s
Dr. Biff Green ’72, ’76 has retired after
serving 20 years as President of Friends University.
Prior to his tenure as President of
Friends, Biff served as Vice President of University
Advancement at the University of La
Verne. His wife, Binnie (Brandt) Green, is
also a proud 1973 alumna of La Verne.
Joseph Davalos ’73 and Mark Davalos
’75, ’96, siblings, are now both superintendents.
Joe was selected last summer as the educational
leader for the Suquamish tribe and
their extensive programs. Mark was recently
selected in the St. Helens School District,
west of Portland, Ore.
James McCutchen ’81 is proud
to announce his daughter, Phylicia
Elaine McCutchen, a 2009 graduate
of Georgia State University was married
to Steven Fair on April 2, 2011 in
Stockbridge, Ga.
Martin (Marty) Lomeli ’78, retired La
Verne City Manager, is now the new Interim
City Manager in Irwindale. Marty received
a bachelor of arts in public administration
from the University of La Verne.
Mary Ann Harvey-Melleby ’79, ’91 retired
as public affairs director of Monte Vista
Water District in May after 32 years working
in the field of public relations and marketing.
In April 2011, she was sworn into office as
a Director on the San Gorgonio Pass Water
Agency in Beaumont, Calif.
Pamela Lawson ’79 is opening her own
law practice after 20 years with Hunterton &
Associates in Las Vegas, Nevada.
1980s
Hidefumi Mizutani ’81 is running a kindergarten
in Japan.
Dr. Stephen J. Cavanagh ’83, ’84, professor
and associate dean for academic and
clinical affairs in the College of Nursing at
Wayne State University in Detroit, will be
the new dean of the School of Nursing at
Continued on Page 19
Tim Hartnett ’73 recently retired from
coaching high school football after a
38-year career. Tim and his wife, Linda
(Corso), have three children and six
grandchildren, who range in age from
1 to 12. They now have the freedom to
spend more time with the grandchildren
and recently took a vacation to Alaska.
The family makes it a point to get
together as often as possible and shares
an annual week at the beach. Hartnett
is also devoted to his church; he is an
elder at the Lutheran Church of Prayer
in Bakersfield.
Continued from Page 18
the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Stephen has published more than 40 scholarly
papers and reviews for nursing research
journals. He has also generated more than $8
million in external federal and state funding
to develop nursing practice arrangements,
support diversity in nursing, and increase the
nursing workforce.
Andre Bossieux ’83, ’88 recently received
the San Bernardino County Department of
Behavioral Health’s Shine a Light on Child
Abuse Award. While he was a student at
the University of La Verne, Andre accepted
a weekend recreational job at the LeRoy
Haynes Center for Children and Family Services,
in La Verne, where he continued to
work for 26 years. He is currently a program
manager for San Bernardino County’s Transition
Age Youth Program (TAY). Andre
earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications
and a master of science degree in
healthcare administration at La Verne.
Rosalia Machuca Ortega ’84 lives in
Whittier, Calif., and has 16-year-old twin
daughters (her pride and joy) who will be juniors
at La Habra High School. She has been
an AFLAC agent since April, 2009, working
ALUMNI
Leslie Crucil ’84 wrote the book, “You
Don’t Need to Know That: The Saga
of Sammy,” which documents 20 years
of her daughter’s life with Autism. The
book was recently published and Leslie
does speaking engagements.
out of the Fullerton office. Before that, she
had worked various jobs, including branch
office administrator at Edward Jones Investments,
in Whittier and administrative jobs at
stock brokerages in Los Angeles.
Dennis Smith ’85 was appointed the City
of Irwindale’s chief of police. Dennis started
out as a psychology major while at the University
of La Verne because he liked helping
people. After a police ride-along, Dennis
changed his career path and received a bachelor
of science degree in public administration
from the University of La Verne. Dennis
has worked for the Claremont Police Department
for 27 years.
Brian Young ’87 is a retired worldwide
Director of Sales and Marketing, has been a
Scoutmaster for Boy Scouts of America for
the past five years and is a Kindergarten thru
12th grade substitute teacher.
Mary Elizabeth Anderson ’87 returned to
the University of La Verne to pursue a master
of science degree in Leadership & Management
after living and working in Wyoming
for the past eight years in the corporate online
e-learning and foodservice industries.
She said she hopes to return to Northwest
Wyoming down the road to build a multilayer
training and service company focused
on hospitality and entertainment. “It has
been a blast coming back to La Verne and
seeing all the wonderful improvements and
diverse student population!” she writes.
Dr. James E. Smith II ’88 was recently announced
as the 2011 recipient of the Distinguished
Alumni Award at St. Luke’s School
Youlonda Copeland-Morgan ’87
has been named associate vice chancellor
for enrollment management at UCLA.
Since 2008, Youlanda has served as associate
vice president of enrollment management
at Syracuse University, managing
a $450 million financial aid budget.
She is also the recent past chair of the
board of trustees of the College Board,
where she helped launch the Advocacy
and Policy Center to promote research
and solutions for national and state education
issues. She previously served as
vice president and dean at Harvey Mudd
College in Claremont, Calif., overseeing
admissions and financial aid, and, prior
to that, as director of financial aid at
Occidental College in Los Angeles and
at the University of La Verne.
in New Canaan, Conn. James has been a
professor at Washburn University in Topeka,
Kan., since 2008. He holds a master’s degree
in social work from Virginia Commonwealth
University, in Richmond, Va., a master’s degree
in public administration from the University
of La Verne, and a Ph.D. in family
life education and consultation from Kansas
State University.
Michelle Cox ’89 recently earned a Ph.D.
in Counseling Studies from Capella University.
She is an associate professor of the
School Counseling and Psychology Department
at Azusa Pacific University.
1990s
Jewell Henderson ’90 was appointed to
the Alabama Ethics Commission in May
Continued on Page 20
Summer/Fall 2011 VOICE 19

Continued from Page 19
2011 for a four-year term. Dr. Henderson
relocated from Pasadena, Calif., to Montgomery,
Ala., in 2003 and served as an assistant
professor at Auburn University, Auburn,
Ala., from 2003 until her retirement
in 2007. She has an educational consulting
enterprise: C & J Enterprises, LLC.
Tony Velebil ’91 founded the start-up
company Symbuyosis. Symbuyosis brings
local businesses, customers and nonprofits
together. When customers purchase from
merchant partners, those merchants make a
donation of the same good or service to a local
charity.
Susan Zytnik-Kunzler ’91 is Campaign
Chairperson for a candidate seeking a position
on the School Board of Hacienda La
Puente School District.
Michelle L. (Brune) Collins BA ’93 married
Patrick Collins in a beautiful ceremony
conducted by a friend on their property in
Glade Park, Colo., which is above Colorado
National Monument. Michelle teaches high
school English in Basalt, Colo., and is adviser
for the school newspaper. She recently earned
a master’s degree in Education in Curriculum
and Development.
Lou DeVita, ’93 was inducted into the
St. Francis High School Athletic Hall of
Fame. Selections for the Athletic Hall of
Fame were made by a panel of alumni and
school administrators based on nominations
submitted by our alumni. He graduated
from Loyola Marymount University in
1987 with a degree in finance. He went on
to earn a MBA from La Verne in 1993. He
has held executive level positions for most of
his career and is currently a Vice President
with Bank of America. For the past 17 years,
Lou has lived in the Seattle area with Tami,
his wife of 23 years, and their three children
John, Bryn and Bret.
Dawn Del Vechio ’94 earned an MBA
at Cal State Los Angeles in 1999 and a certificate
in community college teaching at Cal
State Dominguez Hills in 2003. While working
full-time in retail management and later
in advertising, she also worked part-time as
a classroom math teacher and a private tutor
in math and test prep. Most recently, she
accepted a position in November 2010 as an
adjunct faculty member at Le Cordon Bleu
College of Culinary Arts in Pasadena, Calif.,
teaching applied math to the student-chefs.
20 VOICE Summer/Fall 2011
ALUMNI
Leo Sayles ’89 was recently hired as the
head volleyball coach at NCAA Division
I Gardner-Webb University. Gardner-Webb,
located in Boiling Springs,
N.C., competes in the Big South Conference.
Leo served as the head volleyball
coach at Bryan College from
2004-2010, compiling a record of 153-
11. After going 22-44 his first seasons,
the 2006 AAC Coach of the year went
131-67 overall with a 70-14 record in
conference play. His teams achieved 5
consecutive 20+ win seasons, reached
the NCCAA national championship
Final Four in 2009, advanced to the
NCCAA national tournament in 2007,
twice reached the conference championships
and once advanced to the
NAIA Regional championships. Leo
and his wife, Tanya (Hirsch) Sayles, are
settling into their new area with their
five children.
Dr. Jennifer (Osko) Summers ’94 received
a Doctor of Psychology degree in
Clinical Psychology in June 2011. She
moved to Hawaii and works at the University
of Hawaii Counseling and Student Development
Center.
Raymond Cota ’95 is police chief for the
Sedona, Ariz., Police Department. Raymond
has more than 30 years of law enforcement
experience, and his career includes supervising,
managing and commanding all functions
of a police department. Raymond’s last
assignment was as Police Captain in Corona,
Calif. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public
administration from the University of La
Verne and completed public administration
graduate studies at California State University,
San Bernardino. He is also a graduate of
the FBI National Academy, the Department
of Justice Drug Unit Commanders Academy
and the Los Angeles Police Department West
Point Leadership Program.
Col. Leon M. (Mike) Bridges ’96 was recently
inducted into the U.S. Army’s Officer
Candidate School Hall of Fame at Fort Benning,
Georgia. He is a 31-year Veteran of the
Army National Guard, including a combat
tour in Iraq leading an Embedded Provincial
Reconstruction Team during the Surge period
of the Campaign. He resides in Anchorage,
Alaska, and is Director of Logistics/J4/
G4 for the Alaska National Guard.
Lydia Ortega ’97 was honored by California
State Assemblyman Mike Morrell at the
63rd District’s 2011 Women of Distinction
Luncheon in Ontario. Lydia is recently retired,
but served as director of records, registration
and evaluation at Cal State San Bernardino.
Lydia also served as acting director of housing
and residential life, acting associate vice president
of enrollment services and director of
admissions and records. Ortega has a master’s
degree from the University of La Verne.
Russ Douglas was recently named general
manager of Devcon® Security’s San Diego
branch. His primary focus is hiring and
training sales people and technicians in the
San Diego area. In his spare time, Russ is
heavily involved within his church community
as a drummer for the church band, and
is an assistant coach for the Laguna Niguel
Little League. Russ studied media communications
and broadcast journalism at the University
of La Verne.
2000s
Joni Moody ’00 moved in 2010 from a
town near Boston, where she practiced appellate
criminal defense, to Evanston, Ill. She
is a LL.M. degree candidate in International
Law, with the added focus in Comparative
Law and Rule of Law, at DePaul University
College of Law in Chicago.
Scott Francis ’00 was recently hired at
The Port of Tacoma as real estate manager.
He will be responsible for real estate sales and
marketing, contract negotiations, property
management and new business development.
He received a master’s degree in Business Organization
from La Verne in 2000.
Dr. Maryam Davodi-Far ’01, an assistant
professor at National University, has been appointed
to serve as the Director of the Center
for Cultural and Ethnic Studies at National
University.
Manny Escalante ’01 ran the Long Beach
Marathon barefoot in October to raise aware-
Continued on Page 21
Continued from Page 20
ness for the charity, Soles4Souls, and about
a new physical challenge. “I frequently get
asked why I run barefoot and it gives me a
chance to talk to people about the great work
being done by Soles4Souls. We often forget
that for many people shoes are a welcomed
luxury.” Manny, who since 2001 has lost 50
pounds, completed 3 Ironman Triathlons
and other races, trained for a year to run the
race barefoot.
Danielle Pashone ’02 married Ryan Frisco
and is excited to announce the birth of
their first child, Haley.
Nick Lemas ’02, ’05 a native of Hayward,
Calif., met the girl of his dreams when he attended
the University of La Verne. On July 16,
2011, at a beautiful ceremony at the La Cañada
Flintridge Country Club, he married Ali Scherer.
Nick and Ali honeymooned in the Dominican
Republic and make their home and their
new life together in Southern California.
Christine Boucher ’03 obtained a master’s
degree in Criminal Justice from Boston
University and is now a second-year law student
at Concord Law School.
Johnnya Center Burruss ’03 is Post Production
Coordinator for The Talk on CBS
starring Julie Chen, Holly Robinson Peete,
Sharon Osbourne, Sara Gilbert and Leah
Remini. She is also the Creator/Editor in
Chief of SalsaSouthBay.com. She recently
married Fernando Burruss, who is the Technical
Operations Supervisor at KCBS-TV
and KCAL-TV in Los Angeles. They have a
beautiful, 3-year-old daughter who recently
filmed a Target commercial and has appeared
in a GAP clothing store brand ad.
Ayana Moultrie ’03 is a mom of a 6-yearold
who is full of wonder and humor. She
works in post production on several different
reality TV shows for Atlas Digital, a sub
company under Pilotware. Every year since
graduation from La Verne she has attended
the Homecoming street fair and football
game.
Sandi Willis ’05 graduated from San Jose
State University with a master’s degree in Library
and Information Science.
Shirden Prince ’06 is the new Vice Principal
at Jacobsen Middle School in Tehachapi,
Calif.
Robert Hastings ’06 says he has given up
on healthcare after more years than he cares
to remember and is writing and illustrating
ALUMNI
Sara (Kirk) Mertaban ’04 and Amir
Mertaban were married on Jan. 1,
2011, and celebrated with a reception
on March 13. Sara and Amir met at
Fairplex and both work there in the
Sales department.
children’s books. He recently had his first two
books published through Createspace and
Amazon, the first, “The Blue Kangaroo (It’s
Nice to be Different),” and the second, “The
Spirit Wolf (Life is a Never-Ending Lesson).”
The second book is going to be a series. Robert
is finishing the second book and reports
at least a third will follow. Robert says it has
been fulfilling writing and illustrating the
books. Life throws us lots of curves and he is
very happy for this one, he says.
Adam Carranza ’08 traveled to Washington,
D.C. and met with members of the
Obama administration and attended an intimate
reception with the President. Adam was
part of a small group of members of the People
For the American Way Foundation’s Young
Elected Officials Network. Adam is a clerk at
the Mountain View Board of Education, and
graduated from La Verne with a bachelor of
arts degree in Speech Communication.
Leslie Elrod ’08 is the new service manager
at 24 Hour Fitness in City of Industry,
Calif. Leslie was a member of the Women’s
Basketball Team in 2007 and 2008.
Erin Konrad ’09 earned a master of fine
arts degree in creative writing from Goddard
College in July.
Bobby Olgin ’09 and Rieschelle Roberts
’09 moved to Ismir, Turkey, to teach English
as a second language (ESL) at ISTEK University
in Bursa, Turkey.
Jenny Genovese ’10 is furthering her education
by taking courses at University of La
Verne in order to obtain a multiple subject
teaching credential as well as a master’s de-
Reinel Campa ’05 graduated in August
2011 from Antioch University Los
Angeles with a master of arts degree in
Organizational Management.
gree in Special Emphasis. Additionally, she
works as a substitute teacher for Claremont
Unified School District.
Little Leos
Steven Dugan ’89 and his wife, Kimberly,
are proud to announce the birth of their
first grandchild, a girl, named Gracie Skye
Dugan. She was born 5/7/11 at 12:07 a.m.
She weighed 7 lbs., 14 oz. and was 20 inches
long.
Erin D. Lopez ’92 and Art Cadena are
pleased to announce the birth of their first
child, Maximilian Blessing Cadena, born
Jan. 25, 2011.
Marissa Espinoza ’94 and Ira Kruskol
welcomed their son, Max Andrew Espinoza-
Kruskol born on November 5, 2010. Max
weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces and was 21-1/2
inches. Marissa and Ira are thrilled with this
little addition to their family!
Misha (Kellogg) Drapalik ’95 welcomed
Whitney Lee Drapalik, born September 15,
2010, 5 lbs., 15 oz., 19 inches. Big sister Vivian
turns 3 in January.
Sandra Perez (Gonzalez) ’95 Little sister
Amelia Marin joined big sister Lucilla on
September 9, 2010. Born at Arcadia Methodist,
Amelia was 7 lbs., 1 oz., and 20 inches
long. She was welcomed by Sandra Perez and
her husband, Zachary Gonzalez, to their new
Continued on Page 22
Summer/Fall 2011 VOICE 21

Continued from Page 21
home in Diamond Bar, Calif.
Heather Soon McCaulley ’96 and her
husband, Jim, welcomed Gavin Daniel Mc-
Caulley on August 3, 2010. He joins big
brother Jack who is 3.
Hector D. Casas ’06 is proud to announce
Delina Nicole Casas was born on September
24th, 2010, at 11:06 a.m. She weighed 7
lbs., 12 oz. and was 20 inches. She joins her
big brothers, Dominic and Dylan.
Nicole Aptekar ’08 and husband, Jeff
Aptekar, are pleased to announce the birth
of their triplets, Jacob, Ava and Olivia, who
were born on January 17, 2011.
In Memoriam
Esther Robinson ’46 passed away Thursday,
June 30, 2011. Her health had been
failing for several years, and in late May she
began a rather lengthy hospital stay. Unfortunately,
she was unable to make a recovery
and was later discharged to her assisted living
quarters at Baycrest Center in Coos Bay,
Ore., where she received hospice care for her
remaining time. At Esther’s request, and in
keeping with a Robinson tradition, there
were no memorial services. Esther was a
schoolteacher.
Edna Cecilia Hertz ’49 passed away at
the age of 103 on February 4, 2011. She
had been a Claremont Manor resident since
2005. Edna was the youngest of four brothers
and one sister and grew up in the small
farming community of Malvern in Southwest
Iowa. One of 24 students, Edna graduated
from Malvern High School in 1924. She
attended La Verne College and also attended
Claremont Graduate University to work toward
a school administrative position. Edna
taught taught fourth grade in Ontario, Calif.
Edna lived in Claremont, Calif., since 1964.
After 44 years in the education field, Edna
retired in 1972.
Rosemary Thomason ’51 passed away
May 31, 2011, in Fresno, Calif. Rosemary
was 82 and had a long career as an elementary
school teacher in Fresno. Rosemary is
survived by her son and daughter.
Don Hodson ’53 passed away in June
2008. He is survived by his wife of 53 years,
Barbara; his sister, Patricia Allen; his three
children, Judy and Don Hodson, and Sandra
Henderson, and nine grandchildren.
Peter van Wyke ’65 passed away on Jun
22 VOICE Summer/Fall 2011
ALUMNI
John Joines ’07 and Christine Joines
’10 welcomed son Jakob last year on July
13. Jakob is a bustling 1-year-old and
loves to play with his toys, especially his
best buddy, Huckle Cat! John and Christine
recently moved to Ladera Ranch in
South Orange County where Christine is
a seventh grade Language Arts teacher at
Serra Catholic School. John is in his 11th
year at the Disneyland Resort where he
is a Guest Service Manager for Security
Operations. Jakob’s “Grammy,” Dorothy
Joines, is Manager of Mail Services
& Capital Projects Operations at the
University of La Verne.
1, 2010, at his home in Apple Valley, Calif.
Pete was born in Santa Monica in 1943, but
lived in Santa Barbara during his childhood
years. Pete graduated from the University of La
Verne in 1965. He was active in football and
baseball while at La Verne. He retired in 2003
after 29 years of service. Pete and his wife Carol,
recently celebrated 33 years of marriage. Pete
is survived by his wife, Carol; two daughters,
Kimberly Mays and Jennifer Vaccari; two sonsin-law,
Wesley Mays and Robert Vaccari; three
grandchildren, Morgan Mays, Christopher and
Thomas Vaccari; his sister, Ann Fontana ’84
and brother, John van Wyke.
Judy Sible (Keith) ’74 passed away on
Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011. She died of
complications from diabetes after battling
for more than 50 years. She was married to
Lloyd Keith ’73 for 35 years and is survived
by her two children and two granddaughters.
She taught in the Arcadia Unified School
District until she retired to raise her children.
Dorothy McCullough ’76 passed away
on February 26, 2011, in Glendora, Calif.
Dorothy was an alumna of the CAPA program
and received a bachelor of science degree
in behavioral sciences.
Betty Ruth Sharp ’78 passed away on September
6, 2010, in Fallbrook, Calif., where
Ruth Morgan ’36 alumna and mother
of University of La Verne President
Emeritus, Steve Morgan, passed away
on September 27 at the age of 96. Ruth’s
connection to the La Verne community
spans nearly a century. Ruth was born
on March 9, 1915 to J.L. and Grace
Hileman Miller, an alumna who graduated
from La Verne in 1914. Ruth
attended Bonita High School during
the Great Depression and became a
second-generation La Verne alumna
in 1936, before going on to become a
teacher. In 1937 she married Thomas
Morgan and later had two sons, Tom
and Stephen. They remained generous
donors to the university, supporting
multiple scholarship and endowment
funds. Ruth was a resident of Hillcrest
Retirement Community for 11 years.
She is survived by her two sons, Tom
and Stephen Morgan ’68, daughterin-law
Ann McMurray Morgan ’71,
’74, ’96; one granddaughter, Kesley
Morgan Johnston ’00, and her husband,
Robert; three great-grandchildren,
Mackay, Charlie, and Stephen.
she lived with her husband, Bruce. Glendora
had been Betty’s home for 40 years. She was
retired from the Glendora Unified School
District, having worked for 27 years as a
speech therapist. Betty was born in Azusa,
Calif., in 1930 and attended Citrus High
Continued on Page 23
Continued from Page 22
School and Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte High
School, graduating in 1949. She earned a
master’s degree from La Verne College. Betty
was a sweet, thoughtful lady who cherished
her family and friends. Her kindness touched
many lives, and she will be greatly missed.
In addition to her husband, her survivors
include daughters Susan Benson, Carol Alvarado
and son David Sills; 7 grandchildren
and three great-grandchildren.
Aleen E. Agranowitz ’88, described as the
Angel of Long Beach, passed away at the age
94. Aleen was featured in the Winter/Spring
2006 issue of the Voice for her work as the cofounder
of the Speech and Language Development
Center in Buena Park, the former site
of Mira Linda Elementary School. For more
than 55 years, Agranowitz, a Boston native
who was in the WAVES during World War
II and moved out to Southern California in
the late 1940s, dedicated her life to working
with those who have aphasia. Her daughter,
Sara Jones, who is the supervisor of speech and
language development at the SLDC, says her
mother passed away at her home surrounded
by family members, including her two sons
and three grandchildren. Aleen wrote several
books on aphasia and received a doctorate in
Organizational Leadership from the University
of La Verne at age 82.
Mary Ann Manning, wife of Paul Patrick
(Pat) Manning ’91, died of breast cancer on
May 8, Mother’s Day. Mary Ann, 46, and
Pat had been fighting her cancer for more
than 10 years. Pat graduated from the CAPA
program and moved to the northwest to help
take care of Mary Ann’s parents in 1995.
Lois Neil-Sambar ’94 passed away October
11. She was 76. The Crescenta Valley
Chamber of Commerce “Woman of the
Year” in 2001, Neil-Sambar was a prominent
local educator and philanthropist. While
principal of Rosemont Middle School, Neil-
Sambar helped the school attain California
State Distinguished School status in 1990
and 1994, and National Blue Ribbon School
recognition in 1993. It was during that time
that Lois earned a doctorate in education at
the University of La Verne.
Catherine Arra, ’01 passed away May 29,
2011.
Kevin Linn Shively, son of University of
La Verne trustee David Shively, passed away
October 30, 2011 Kevin was born and raised
ALUMNI
Lloyd Carleton Brandt ’49 passed
away March 4 at the age of 86. He is
survived by his wife of 61 years, Lois
Brandt ’48; his children Bernice Binnie
Green ’73 (Biff ’72,’76), Jan Newcomer
’75 (Bill ’73), Karen Pierson
’79 (Gary ’77), and Roy Brandt (Debbie).
Lloyd was born in Pomona on
Oct. 22, 1924, to Jesse and Kathryn
’26 Brandt and grew up in La Verne,
the second of six children (sisters Betty,
Bernice, Dorothy and Marian; brother
Daryl ’52). He was grandfather of
eight and great-grandfather of two.
in Bakersfield, Calif. He attended Slipping
Halos Preschool, Heritage Christian Schools,
Garces Memorial High School, CSUB,
and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
where he received his bachelor’s degree in
Aeronautical Sciences. There he became a
proficient pilot and flight instructor which
led him to proudly serve in those capacities
for Loyd’s Aviation at the Bakersfield
Jet Center. To say that he loved to fly is an
understatement! He would drop everything
to get “behind the stick” and soar the skies
over the western United States. He was a funloving,
“life of the party” kind of guy who
was loved by all his family, friends and acquaintances.
Kevin loved his family and had
a very special relationship with his grandparents;
he enjoyed seeing to each and every
need they might have. Kevin will be sorely
missed by all! Kevin was preceded in death
by his maternal grandparents William Guenther
and Donna and Vern Ruedy. Kevin is
survived by his mother and stepfather Diana
and Ray Schill, father and stepmother David
Warren Carter ’58 passed away on
July 21, 2011, at age 74. Warren Carter
was an entrepreneur, teacher, and
an agricultural leader. As an almond
farmer in McFarland, Calif., Carter
served on the Almond Board of California
from 1979 to 1992, including
two years as chairman and four years
as vice chairman. His valuable leadership
contributed to the sustained
growth of the California almond industry,
leading to its position as global
leader of almond production. Carter
served on the board of the McFarland
Unified School District from 1981 to
1994, and was also a past president of
the Kern County Farm Bureau. Warren
was also a trustee for the University
of La Verne from 1965 to 1992.
It was his idea to initiate a centennial
fundraising campaign at La Verne, in
the decade leading up to 1991 — the
university’s 100th anniversary. That
campaign, with Warren as chairman,
raised $881,000 in the first two years.
In 1985, the University of La Verne
awarded him an honorary doctorate of
laws. Warren is survived by son Doug
Carter ’83, ’85 and daughter-in-law
Dena Carter ’83; son Ken Carter ’85
and daughter-in-law Renee Carter;
daughter Karen Campbell and sonin-law
Joey Campbell; brother Wayne
Carter ’50; sister Opal Wilkinson
’52; and 10 grandchildren. His wife,
Lenore Carter ’58, passed away in 2009.
and Janie Shively, brother Kyle Shively and
grandparents Angie Guenther and Sherlo
and Ila Shively.
Summer/Fall 2011 VOICE 23

In his roles as adviser, professor, director
and dean, one principle has been paramount
for Eric Bishop: students always
come first.
Bishop has been known to say he had
1,500 children that he enjoyed caring for – a
reference to his commitment to students at
the University of La Verne.
“Many have graduated and left me, but I
always seem to adopt more,” he has said.
When he left his full-time job at the University
of La Verne in 2007, Bishop had been
at the university for 22 of the previous 24
years in one capacity or another. His roles included:
student, faculty member, and above
all, mentor and respected member of the La
Verne family. Countless people had come to
rely on the man they knew as “EB.”
“I used to joke with people that I had
served in every category at La Verne: as a classified
staff member, a faculty member and an
administrator. It was hard leaving,” Bishop,
now Dean of Chaffey College District’s Fontana
Campus, said.
He said he found it particularly difficult to
leave the students. And students also found
ALUMNI
a.k.a. E.B.
In 24 years, Eric Bishop made his mark on La Verne as a student, teacher and mentor
By Lisa O’Neill Hill
After a long stay
at La Verne,
Eric Bishop now
devotes his
time to helping
students at
Chaffey College’s
Fontana Campus,
where he is Dean
of Students.
Walt Weis image
24 VOICE Summer/Fall 2011
Diversity/Inclusivity
it tough to say goodbye to their champion
and friend.
The timing was right, however, and Bishop
couldn’t pass up such an opportunity. He
said he was fortunate to land at an institution
that “mimics and mirrors the same values at
ULV.”
His contributions to La Verne have earned
him respect from students, faculty and staff.
In 2008, he was named the Distinguished
Alumni Award Winner for Service to Alma
Mater. That prompted formation of an “EB
Fan Club” on Facebook, where students,
alumni and colleagues left him notes of congratulations
and spoke of his impact.
“You’re what ULV is all about…family, dedication,
excellence,” one former student wrote.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1988 and
began working in La Verne’s Communications
Department. After a short stint away from
campus, he returned in 1994 with a master’s
degree and began work as a faculty member,
teaching journalism and mass communications
while advising for the Campus Times.
He moved into administration in 2001,
first working as Director of Academic Advising
and later as Associate Dean of Academic
Support and Retention Services. He worked
in administration for six years.
Earlier this year, Bishop, who earned a
doctorate in organizational leadership, was
chosen to speak at La Verne’s commencement
ceremonies.
Bishop said he was flattered to be asked to
deliver a commencement speech. He said he
was honored to have the opportunity to address
college graduates and future educators
and hoped to offer words of wisdom and encouragement.
Simon Bouie, who graduated from La
Verne in 1999, has said Bishop would do
anything in his power to help someone.
“He is a reflection of what one can argue
is the most intriguing thing about a La Verne
education,” Bouie said, “the opportunity for
a student to not only learn from, but to become
engaged in the lives of their instructors
and establish true, lasting friendships.”
Read an extended version of
this story at: http://laverne.edu/
voice/2011/10/a-k-a-e-b/
With a record 2,000+ new students this Fall, our
loyal family of donors is more vital than ever. Your
support ensures our growing student body can
experience a superior La Verne education.

University of La Verne
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La Verne, CA 91750
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