Our faith-based perspective and culture mean that you, as faculty, have the opportunity to instill within our students a foundation of Christian and professional values and ethics that will serve them throughout their lives. While developing academic proficiency is a hallmark of higher education, teaching students how to utilize that knowledge in the service of God, community, and profession differentiates CBU.   

At CBU we are committed to the success of our students. We expect that faculty will challenge students to think critically, applying what they learn.  However, we also expect our faculty to engage in scholarly work which informs their own teaching and/or contributes to their respective fields of study.   

As a university committed to the Great Commission, “…the fields are white for harvest.” (John 4:35) – and it starts in our classrooms.

Charles "Chuck" D. Sands, PhD

Provost

Mission - Create Conditions for Success

The Office of the Provost is dedicated to the faculty, staff, and students of California Baptist University. The primary mission of the Office of the Provost is to create conditions for success by providing leadership and strategic vision for academics at CBU. In addition, we ensure academic excellence, integrity, and fairness in educating our students, in performing our research, scholarship, and creative works, in serving our university, community, and professions, and in fostering an environment that embraces and promotes the cultivation of ideas supporting a university committed to the Great Commission.

Vision – To Be a Premier Comprehensive University Committed to the Great Commission

California Baptist University (CBU) is a faith-based academic institution dedicated to academic excellence and academic integrity that upholds high quality student-centered teaching and learning, applied research, scholarship and artistic creation, and community engaged service learning. The vision of the Provost’s Office is to become a premier comprehensive Christian university through excellence in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional education; in scholarship, research, creative achievements; and in service to and engagement with our community that will enhance the quality of life for our students, faculty, staff, and citizenry.

Priorities and Strategic Goals

Priority 1 – Educational Effectiveness: Enhance the Quality of Undergraduate, Graduate, Doctoral and Professional Education
Priority 2 – Research & Scholarship: Enhance Scholarship, Research and Creative/Professional Achievements
Priority 3 – Learning Environment: Provide Excellent Facilities for Student Learning, Faculty Research, and Scholarship
Priority 4 – Community and Global Engagement: Engage the Local Community and the Nations
Priority 5 – Student Success

Charles Sands Image

Charles Sands, Ph.D.

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Professor of Health Science
Office Phone: (951) 343-4213
E-mail: csands@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Eugene and Billie Yeager Center, Room C210A

Degree Major Emphasis Institution Year
Ph.D. Public Health University of Alabama at Birmingham 2004
M.A. Education University of Alabama at Birmingham 1995
B.S. Education Samford University 1993

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Wayne Fletcher Image

Wayne Fletcher, Ed.D.

Associate Professor
Associate Provost for Academic Services
Office Phone: 951-552-8175
E-mail: wfletcher@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Eugene and Billie Yeager Center, Room C212

Degree Major Emphasis Institution Year
Ed.D. Educational Leadership UCLA 2013
M.B.A. Master of Business Administration University of Denver 1991
B.S. Construction Management Colorado State University 1985

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Elizabeth A. Morris Image

Elizabeth A. Morris, Ph.D.

Professor of Education and Mathematics
Associate Provost for Accreditation, Assessment and Curriculum
Office Phone: (951) 343-4507
E-mail: emorris@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Cottage 19

Degree Major Emphasis Institution Year
Ph.D. Education Capella University 2007
M.S. Education California Baptist University 1999
B.S. Liberal Studies California Baptist University 1998

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Elisa Shepard, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology
Associate Provost for Online Education
Office Phone: (951) 343-3946
E-mail: eshepard@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Eugene and Billie Yeager Center, Room C214

Degree Major Emphasis Institution Year
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University 2011
M.A. Clinical Psychology Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University 2007
B.A. Liberal StudiePsychology Biola University 2005

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Steve Neilsen, Ed.D.

Dean of Academic Persistence and Support
Office Phone: (951) 343-4614
E-mail: sneilsen@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Lancer Arms 40C

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Tae Sung, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of English
Dean of Student Success
Founding Director of University Writing Center
Office Phone: 951-552-8992
E-mail: tsung@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Lancer Arms 39E

Degree Major Emphasis Institution Year
PhD English UC Irvine  
MA Theology Fuller Seminary  
BA English UC San Diego  

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Tracy Ward Image

Tracy Ward, Ph.D.

Professor of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Associate Provost for Administration
Office Phone: 951-343-4552
E-mail: tward@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Eugene and Billie Yeager Center, Room C213

Degree Major Emphasis Institution Year
Ph.D. Education Claremont Graduate University 2010
M.ED. College Student Affairs Azusa Pacific University 2001
M.Div.   Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary 1996

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Ted Murcray, Ed.D.

Associate Professor of Education
Director, The Teaching and Learning Center
Office Phone: 951-343-4760
E-mail: tmurcray@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Teaching and Learning Center - Cottage 18

Degree Major Emphasis Institution Year
Ed.D. Education Leadership, Policy, and Organizations Vanderbilt University 2011
M. S. Education/ Teaching and Learning California Baptist University 2002
B.A. English/Music California Baptist University 1998

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Christina Cornejo

Assistant Director of Institutional Research
Office Phone: (951) 552-8650
E-mail: ccornejo@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Cottage 20

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Angelica Diaz Image

Angelica Diaz

Director of Research Initiatives
Office Phone: 951-343-4827
E-mail: adiaz@calbaptist.edu

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Shantina Manning

Shantina Manning

Administrative Assistant to the Provost Office
Office Phone: (951) 343-4556
E-mail: smanning@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Eugene and Billie Yeager Center, Room C211

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Jennifer Riad

Curriculum and Accreditation Coordinator
Office Phone: (951) 343-5022
E-mail: jeriad@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Cottage 19

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Kenneth Nehrbass, Ph.D.

Director of Assessment
Office Phone: (951) 552-8720
E-mail: knehrbass@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Cottage 19

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Brian Niemeier, Ph.D.

Director of Institutional Research
Office Phone: 951-552-8637
E-mail: bniemeier@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Cottage 20

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Shawnn Palmer

Director of Academic Technology and Reporting
Office Phone: 951-343-4224
E-mail: spalmer@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Eugene and Billie Yeager Center

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Holly Sauers

Director of Academic Operations
Office Phone: 951-343-4654
E-mail: hsauers@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Eugene and Billie Yeager Center, Room C211

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Rich Simpson, Ed.D.

University Registrar
Office Phone: 951-343-5568
E-mail: rsimpson@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Eugene and Billie Yeager Center, Room D121

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Claudia Valdez, Ed.D.

Administrative Services Manager
Office Phone: 951-343-4213
E-mail: cvaldez@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: Eugene and Billie Yeager Center, Room C210B

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CBU Comprehensive University Plan (CUP) / Strategic Goals

1.  CUP