Winter 2011 Archive:
Practicing Faithful Presence in a Post-Christian Culture
by Gayle D. Beebe, Ph.D. President What is our role as followers of Christ in the 21st century with regards to culture? Should we be transforming culture or become part of the counter-culture? I first started thinking about this... Read More
Eaton Family Helps Establish Faculty Chair
A leadership gift from Trustee Emeritus David Eaton and his wife, Carol, will help establish a new endowed fund, the Eaton Family Chair in Economics and Business. A significant contribution from the Board of Advisors and gifts from alumni... Read More
Good News for the Sciences, Music and Education at Westmont
Forbes has selected Westmont as the second-best college for minorities to earn a degree in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Westmont graduates in the class of 2008 included 54 minority students, and 20 of them earned... Read More
Successful Events Boost Campaign
After nearly a year and more than 50 events nationwide, the Bright Hope for Tomorrow campaign continues to make good progress. Since April 2010, Westmont has nearly $19 million for a total of $81 million toward the $102 million... Read More
Two Trustees Join the Westmont Board
The Westmont Board of Trustees has welcomed two new members. Allen Hopkins ’95, a sportscaster for ESPN and FOX Sports has served on the college’s Board of Advisors since 2007. “I had a tremendous, life-changing experience at Westmont,” he... Read More
An Extraordinary, Ordinary Woman
Condoleezza Rice grew up in segregated Birmingham and never had a white classmate until she went to college. “I couldn’t eat at Woolworth’s lunch counter, but my parents convinced me I could be president of the United States —... Read More
Carlander Celebrates a 30-Year Career
Professor John Carlander was teaching at Westmont before there was a Westmont Art Center. It was only fitting that one of the men who helped create Westmont’s Art Department be the focus of the first exhibition in the Westmont... Read More
Evangelicals Examine Natural Law
A diverse group of participants from 18 academic institutions explored the role of natural law in evangelical political thought during a conference at Westmont Feb. 17-19. World-class scholars gave public lectures, including the keynote address, “Natural Law, God, and... Read More
Faculty Footnotes
Mary Docter (modern languages) and Laura Montgomery (sociology and anthropology) presented a paper, “Maximizing the Latin American Study Abroad Experience” at the Southwest Council of Latin American Studies annual meeting in Puerto Rico in March. Chris Ecklund (kinesiology) has... Read More
Willis Named Santa Barbara Poet Laureate
Paul Willis, professor of English, has been selected as Santa Barbara Poet Laureate, a position the city established in 2004 to “advance awareness of and appreciation for literary arts and humanities within the greater Santa Barbara community.” He was... Read More
Civil Disobedience and the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
by Chandra Mallampalli, Associate Professor of History I would like to begin by declaring my deepest gratitude for the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I am grateful to Dr. King for holding this great country of ours... Read More
I Told Me So
by Gregg Ten Elshof ’92 Associate Professor of Philosophy, Biola University An edited excerpt of his October 2010 talk at Westmont My topic is self-deception, sadly, perhaps an all-too-familiar topic for many of us. Scripture, as it turns out,... Read More
Praying in Person for Japan
The trip to Japan fit Yuko Hirayama’s schedule perfectly. As a substitute teacher, she’d be on spring break. Formerly reluctant to do short-term missions in her parents’ native country, she felt called to this one, going as a member... Read More
An Economist Confronts Challenges in the Congo
Michael ’84 and Kris Sellars ’85 Trueblood knew the statistics about poverty in the Congo. But it still shocked them to see scores of undernourished people, many missing limbs and needing medical attention, when they arrived in Kinshasa last... Read More
How an Artist Became an Attorney
Majoring in art was a surprising choice for Melissa Rodriguez ’91, but she’s never been interested in doing the obvious thing.“Art clicked for me when I took a design class,” she says. “I didn’t have much background in it,... Read More
Taking West Coast Food to the Middle East
Chad Jordan ’99 doesn’t hand out numbers at his restaurant — he calls customers by name when their orders are ready. “Any restaurant can serve the food we provide at California Fresh,” he says. “But we learn people’s names,... Read More
Making High School More Like Westmont
Erik Ellefsen ’97 came to Westmont to play baseball, but he never pitched an inning. His first semester, he injured his shoulder, and reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation failed to restore his arm. “My identity was tied up in baseball,... Read More
Students Help Bridge the Technology Gap
When junior Morgan Vigil graduated from high school in Merced, Calif., she had little experience with computer science. She says her Westmont education and major in computer science have changed her world-view so radically that she wants to share... Read More
Student Musician Becomes Music Teacher
Sarah Shasberger ’12 is making a name for herself. As the oldest daughter of Michael Shasberger, Adams professor of music and worship at Westmont, Sarah says she wanted to go away to college to shape her own identity. “But... Read More
What’s a Legacy Coach and Why Do You Need One?
Legacy: Something handed down from an ancestor or predecessor, money or property bequeathed to someone by will. Coach: A person who gives private instruction, as in singing or acting. A legacy coach provides Westmont alumni, parents, faculty, staff and... Read More
Remembering an Unforgettable Teacher
He was one of those teachers students never forget, who made innumerable impressions in the lives of others. Arthur Lynip, emeritus distinguished professor of English, died Jan. 16, 2011, in North Carolina at the age of 97. An outstanding... Read More
Lifelong Planning Yields a Long-term Legacy
Wandalee ’54 and JR Fullerton have committed their lives to serving others. As a social worker and firefighter, they assisted Ventura County residents throughout their long careers — and the scholarship fund they’ve created for Westmont students will endure... Read More