Hometown
ʻAiea, HI

Alma Mater
Whittier College

Undergraduate Major
Business Administration

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
The community-like environment

Why do you enjoy working at Cal Lutheran?
I resonate with the mission of the university

What is your favorite place on campus?
Kingsmen Park

What advice would you give to an incoming student?
Try out every opportunity given to you.

What is your best college memory?
Living on campus.

Hobbies
Theme parks

Favorite Food
Yes!

Favorite Movie
Alice in Wonderland (1951)

What other projects are you involved in in the Office (i.e. Pres Host, Transfers, InCLUsive, ASD, etc.)
Pres Host, Intetnational Admission, Readmits

Hometown
Arcadia, CA

Alma Mater
California State University Long Beach

Undergraduate Major
History

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
I love the supportive environment that students, faculty, and staff have here on campus. It really does feel like a big family.

What advice would you give to an incoming student?
Try everything! You'll never be exposed to so many options or people like this again. Learn as much as you can because it really can have an impact on shaping your views, career, and friendships.

What is your best college memory?
I studied abroad in Seoul, South Korea my junior year of college. All the impromptu trips we took just warm my heart. One trip in particular my friends and I decided on a whim to take a slow train trip to a rural lantern fair. The scenery we passed, the memory of staying up all night long, the food, all of that just makes me smile still to this day.

Hobbies
Watching movies, spending time with my dogs and family, and checking out new cute towns and restaurants.

Favorite Food
Anything Korean and TACOS!

What other projects are you involved in in the Office (i.e. Pres Host, Transfers, InCLUsive, ASD, etc.)
Disability Support Services Liaison

Hometown
Oxnard, CA

Alma Mater
California Lutheran University

Undergraduate Major
Mathematics

If you have a Master's Degree, What is it in?
M.S. in Counseling & Guidance - College Student Personnel

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
I love that Cal Lutheran is a home away from home. I have a second family here that I can turn to whenever I need them.

Why do you enjoy working at Cal Lutheran?
I enjoy working at Cal Lutheran because everyone here cares about the students. I have the opportunity to work with individuals that are advocates and provide access to students. Everyone is friendly and willing to help you out.

What is your favorite place on campus?
Student Support Services Office

What advice would you give to an incoming student?
Never give up, college is going to be a big transition and there are going to be some really hard days. It will be hard, but it will all be worth it at the end when you walk across that stage.

Favorite Movie
How to Lose to Guy in Ten Days

What other projects are you involved in in the Office (i.e. Pres Host, Transfers, InCLUsive, ASD, etc.)
Transfers, STEM Academy Outreach

Hometown
Thousand Oaks, CA

Alma Mater
Westmont College

Undergraduate Major
English & Religious Studies

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
The people here are definitely one of a kind. It is so unique to see a wonderful group of people (staff, faculty, and students) who are incredibly inclusive, supportive, and hard working.

What is your best college memory?
Studying abroad

Favorite Food
Ramen

Favorite Movie
Notting Hill

Hometown
Friendship, Maine

Alma Mater
University of Maine, Orono

Undergraduate Major
Child Development/Family Studies with a Business Minor

If you have a Master's Degree, What is it in?
M.S. in Counseling & Guidance - College Student Personnel

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
I love working for a place that cares so deeply for the success for their students as well as the faculty and staff. This is a very special place to work and be apart of.

Why do you enjoy working at Cal Lutheran?
The mission of the university is to educate leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment, confident in their identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice. I love working at a place that truly lives out its mission in the work that they do every day.

What is your favorite place on campus? What advice would you give to an incoming student?
The Office of Undergraduate Admission (and Starbucks)

What advice would you give to an incoming student?
Learn from people who are different from you and don't be afraid to change your major.

What is your best college memory?
Maine Day, anything with my Delta Zeta Sorority sisters and lots of Naps! I miss naps!

Hobbies
Spending time with my husband and son. Hiking, baking and binge watching shows!

Favorite Food
Lobster and Maine crab

Favorite Movie
Sleepless in Seattle & The Holiday

What other projects are you involved in in the Office (i.e. Pres Host, Transfers, InCLUsive, ASD, etc.)
Marketing, Training, Transfer Initiatives

Hometown
Stamford, Connecticut

Alma Mater
Sacred Heart University (BA) Columbia (MA)

Undergraduate Major
Political Science

If you have a Master's Degree, What is it in?
Organization & Leadership

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
The students, faculty, staff - the entire community. There is a sense of innovation and commitment to excellence that allows the university to draw students from across the country and around the world. With a diverse and broad representation at all levels, Cal Lutheran continues to not only educate great leaders but even more impressive, develops character, creativity and ultimately a tradition of altruism and impact on the world around them.

Why do you enjoy working at Cal Lutheran?
Every day there is something new to consider on a campus that is always on the verge of something new and innovative. Coupled with each person that works on our campus, there is a generosity of care and aspiration for excellence that is inspiring.

What is your favorite place on campus?
Right by the flagpoles, in between classes you get a chance to see all the hustle and bustle of campus, set across an incredible panoramic view of campus!

What advice would you give to an incoming student?
Try everything at least once! This is the time to explore new ideas, meet people from around the world, find what you like and discover what inspires you. It's a great time to push your limits and expand your boundaries - it can only help your college experience even more memorable!

What is your best college memory?
RA training! It was so much fun to prepare for the arrival of each incoming class and getting ready to build a sense of community when the got home. Oh and the dining hall. Best grilled cheese EVER!

Hobbies
Travel, Music, Urban hikes, languages and food.

Favorite Food
Anything fried.... and fresh poke'!

What other projects are you involved in in the Office (i.e. Pres Host, Transfers, InCLUsive, ASD, etc.)
Anything and everything I can do that helps the team - I am game! From tours to events, reading applications to welcoming families. Perhaps the most humbling job I have is to sign your admission letters!

Hometown
Ojai, CA

Alma Mater
California Lutheran University

Undergraduate Major
Psychology with an emphasis in Family and Child Development

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
The thing I love the most about Cal Lutheran is how much professors and staff care about our students. There is always someone there to listen and help our students through whatever the situation is.

Why do you enjoy working at Cal Lutheran?
I love working at Cal Lutheran because I want to help students find the opportunities that await for them with us. As a proud alumni, I love to share my experience with others and get them to fall in love with this amazing place I call home.

What is your favorite place on campus?
The cross

What advice would you give to an incoming student?
Something I would want to tell every incoming students is to not count any institution out. Take a campus tour of many campuses (large, small, private, public, etc.) and visualize yourself at each school. What will come from those experiences may surprise you.

What is your best college memory?
I have a lot of favorite memories! One of my favorite would be my commencement ceremony. Being the first in my family to graduate from college, I loved being able to see their faces filled with pride as I danced back to my seat. Another reason it a favorite memory of mine is because I sat with a friend who I met the first day of college in our English course. It was great to be able to close a chapter of our lives together.

Hobbies
I love to play tennis, read, but mostly spend time with my friends and family doing making memories.

Favorite Food
If dessert counts, dessert. If not, my family's home cooked meals.

Favorite Movie
A good thriller followed by a Disney movie.

What other projects are you involved in in the Office (i.e. Pres Host, Transfers, InCLUsive, ASD, etc.)
Spanish Language Visits, InCLUsive Overnight Program, CLU 101 Counselor Fly-In Program

Hometown
Ojai, CA

Alma Mater
Pepperdine University

Undergraduate Major
History

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
The strong community atmosphere.

Why do you enjoy working at Cal Lutheran?
You are part of a caring family.

What is your favorite place on campus?
Kingsmen Park

What advice would you give to an incoming student?
Try to get to know your professors on a personal level and check in with them during their office hours.

What is your best college memory?
Going overseas to study abroad.

Hobbies
Watching sports, baking pies, camping, fishing, and road trips.

Favorite Food
Sushi

Favorite Movie
The Lion in Winter

Hometown
Canyon Country, CA

Alma Mater
University of Redlands

Undergraduate Major
History with a Minor in Music

If you have a Master's Degree, What is it in?
Working on my MBA currently

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
I love the options we offer to students to take advantage of their education. I'm always amazed at the quality of internships, study abroad experiences, and research projects that our students have at Cal Lutheran. They walk away from here confident and excited to start their lives because they have a true foundation underneath them.

Why do you enjoy working at Cal Lutheran?
I love our collective goal to serve our students and our community.

What is your favorite place on campus?
Starbucks! Not just for the coffee, but also for the people I run into while I am there.

What advice would you give to an incoming student?
Be open to change. Say yes. And later, when your interests and priorities start lining up, learn how to say no.

What is your best college memory?
Traveling with the Chapel Singers throughout my four years at Redlands. I made my best friends in college from those trips, and saw parts of the country I had never been to before.

Hobbies
Reading, Singing in Choirs

Favorite Food
Ice cream! I always look for the best ice cream shops when I'm on the road.

Favorite Movie
The Devil Wears Prada

What other projects are you involved in in the Office (i.e. Pres Host, Transfers, InCLUsive, ASD, etc.)
VAPA Scholarship, Honors Day, All-Access, Student Employment, @callutheranadmission Instagram

Hometown
Newbury Park, CA

Alma Mater
Azusa Pacific University

Undergraduate Major
Communications

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
My favorite thing about Cal Lutheran is how open, kind, and hardworking everyone around campus is. From the students to staff to faculty, everyone works together to make campus an enjoyable place for all.

What is your favorite place on campus?
The Gazebo in Kingsmen park

Hobbies
Running, hiking, and going to the beach

Favorite Food
Ice Cream

Hometown
Thousand Oaks, CA

Alma Mater
Azusa Pacific University

Undergraduate Major
Sociology

If you have a Master's Degree, What is it in?
Public Administration

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
I love the nature around campus. There are vegetable gardens, trees, streams, fields, mountains, etc.

Why do you enjoy working at Cal Lutheran?
I love working at Cal Lutheran because the employees here are family. We LOVE to have fun together and we love to support each other.

What is your favorite place on campus?
The dessert station at Ullman Commons

What advice would you give to an incoming student?
Your college experience is what you make of it. If you put the energy in, you will have an amazing experience. Come in with a positive outlook and you will find what you are looking for.

What is your best college memory?
Sleeping in until noon on the weekends!

Hobbies
Gardening, watching my son ride his scooter, having friends over

Favorite Food
Cheese

Favorite Movie
Mulan

What other projects are you involved in in the Office (i.e. Pres Host, Transfers, InCLUsive, ASD, etc.)
data, data, data

Hometown
Oxnard, CA

Alma Mater
California State University, Channel Islands

Undergraduate Major
Psychology

If you have a Master's Degree, What is it in?
Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy emphasis

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
I love the environment! There's a friendly and helpful culture here that makes coming to work so enjoyable. I sincerely care about the people I work with, and the students, and faculty that make up this wonderful community.

Why do you enjoy working at Cal Lutheran?
At Cal Lutheran I am inspired to make a difference and I am given the support and resources to do my job well!

What is your favorite place on campus?
Besides Starbucks, my favorite spot on campus is the vista point at the mountain top behind the football field.

What advice would you give to an incoming student?
I encourage all incoming students to make "friendship a fine art". Relationship building is a great skill that can lead to enormous opportunity and mentorship from others including, peers, faculty and staff. A person's ability to connect with others can prove to be extremely valuable to their overall campus experience.

What is your best college memory?
Graduation! It was a an overwhelming feeling of excitement and accomplishment that I finished!

Hobbies
Running, hosting BBQs, gardening, dancing and spending time with family and friends.

Favorite Food
I love Chinese food, especially chow mein and orange chicken!

Favorite Movie
A Walk to Remember

What other projects are you involved in in the Office (i.e. Pres Host, Transfers, InCLUsive, ASD, etc.)
Transfer events and student employment

Hometown
Las Vegas, Nevada

Alma Mater
California Lutheran University

Undergraduate Major
History and Political Science

If you have a Master's Degree, What is it in?
M.S. in Counseling & Guidance - College Student Personnel

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
I love the sense of forward movement. The university has a culture of seeking improvement, asking tough questions, and striving to become who we proclaim to be. The faculty and staff will continue to find ways to propel the community and especially students towards something greater.

Why do you enjoy working at Cal Lutheran?
I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of something more than simply a place to obtain a degree, and I appreciate that I am not alone in my belief that Cal Lutheran has a mission with meaning and purpose. We are a community of committed and passionate people who want to do some good in this world.

What is your favorite place on campus?
The Pepper Grove

What advice would you give to an incoming student?
Get outside of yourself! See the world with some new eyes. Practice empathy and radical compassion - first with your roommates, then in class and around campus, then in the community and hopefully the world as you study abroad!

What is your best college memory?
Serving as a Pres Host during my senior year at Cal Lutheran. I realized I much I loved learning more about others while also sharing this place that has become so important in my own educational and professional life.

Hobbies
Spending time with my 2 sons, travel, and interfaith engagement

Favorite Food
Chicken Katsu Curry

Favorite Movie
Shadowlands

Hometown
Boulder, CO

Alma Mater
California Lutheran University

Undergraduate Major
Communication with an emphasis in Advertising and Public Relations

If you have a Master's Degree, What is it in?
Masters of Business Administration

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
I love the beautiful campus and great community. Cal Lutheran quickly became a second home for me when I was a student and that continues to this day as an employee. I enjoy the random conversations I have while I walk around campus between meetings and am lucky that I am excited to come to work each day.

Why do you enjoy working at Cal Lutheran?
I love working with prospective students and helping them imagine how they would find their fit at Cal Lutheran. I also really enjoy working with the amazing current students that work with our office and hearing all about their CLU story and how Cal Lutheran is helping them prepare for their future.

What is your favorite place on campus?
Ullman Commons Dining and Starbucks

What advice would you give to an incoming student?
Come visit the campus! Choosing where you want to go to college is a huge decision, but sometimes that can come down to something a simple as how the campus makes you feel. Do you like the location? What resources does the school provide? Can you see yourself becoming part of the community and finding a second home there?

Hobbies
I love to travel - I caught the travel bug while studying abroad during my time at Cal Lutheran and my wife and and I make a point to travel to one new international destination each year. I love the experience of getting outside of my bubble and trying and learning new things. I also love running and have completed three marathons.

Favorite Food
Cereal. I could seriously eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. Toppers Pepperoni Pizza is a close second.

What other projects are you involved in in the Office (i.e. Pres Host, Transfers, InCLUsive, ASD, etc.)
I oversee all of the campus visit programs and events for the Undergraduate Admission Office. I also oversee the platform that allows us to text students and am working on the implementation process of our new recruiting system - Slate.

Hometown
Oxnard, CA

Alma Mater
University of South Alabama

Undergraduate Major
Sociology (BA) with a minor in Criminal Justice

If you have a Master's Degree, What is it in?
MPA-Master's of Public Administration-In progress

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
I love how important inclusion is on campus and how difference of opinions are respected. A comfortable and progressive learning environment helps unlock potential.

Why do you enjoy working at Cal Lutheran?
I enjoy working at an institution that has so many opportunities for the students. Being a witness to the support system is motivating. The weather and location might also be a slight bonus.

What is your favorite place on campus?
Forrest Fitness Center.

What advice would you give to an incoming student?
Time management is key, build meaningful relationships and habits, learn financial literacy sooner than later. Most importantly, have fun and get involved!

What is your best college memory?
Having the opportunity to build relationships and experiences I created being across the country with new people. Seeing things that I wouldn't have otherwise seen was just as important as what I learned in the classroom.

Hobbies
Doing anything outdoors, boxing/working out, furthering my experience as a traveling finger-food connoisseur and expert.

Favorite Food
Anything that can be sold on a Food Truck.

Favorite Movie
The Book of Eli & GoodFellas.

What other projects are you involved in in the Office (i.e. Pres Host, Transfers, InCLUsive, ASD, etc.)
Multicultural community/campus outreach.

Hometown
Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Alma Mater
California Lutheran University

Undergraduate Major
Psychology

If you have a Master's Degree, What is it in?
M.S. in Counseling & Guidance - College Student Personnel

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
Cal Lutheran doesn't feel like school or work. It feels like home.

Why do you enjoy working at Cal Lutheran?
The people at Cal Lutheran will change your life for the better.

What is your favorite place on campus?
Rolland Stadium

What advice would you give to an incoming student?
Keep your door open in your hall your first year. You'll meet so many new people!

What is your best college memory?
It is impossible to pick just one memory! My roommates will have my heart forever and I did meet my husband here so my memory cup is quite full. I will say though, every year my girls and I would have a roommate Christmas party and we would make a nice dinner and get cake and exchange gifts with the twinkle lights on our little tree in our dorm. Thinking about those moments makes me feel warm and fuzzy!

Hobbies
Pilates, eating, TV!

Favorite Food
All things healthy...literally!

Favorite Movie
Sleepless in Seattle

What other projects are you involved in in the Office (i.e. Pres Host, Transfers, InCLUsive, ASD, etc.)
Athletics, Pres Host, Events and Visits, Overnight Programs

Name
Matt Ward

Hometown
Thousand Oaks, CA

Alma Mater
University of Wyoming and University of Miami

Undergraduate Major
Political Science

If you have a Master's Degree, What is it in?
International Studies

What do you love about Cal Lutheran?
Students come first

Why do you enjoy working at Cal Lutheran?
The community

What is your favorite place on campus?
Samuelson Aquatics Center

What advice would you give to an incoming student?
Try to open your heart and mind at the same time

What is your best college memory?
Meeting my life partner

Hobbies
Golf, running, hiking, swimming, sustainable landscaping

Favorite Food
Sushi

Favorite Movie
Traffic