CLU faculty grants to benefit community

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – March 3, 2014) The California Lutheran University Community Leaders Association has awarded $16,000 for 12 faculty projects ranging from healing circles for juvenile offenders to the recording of retirees’ life stories.

Jennifer Twyford, visiting assistant professor in graduate psychology, received $1,000 to train doctoral students to facilitate healing circles with offenders and people affected by their crimes at the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Facility.

Scott Chiu, assistant professor of English and director of the Writing Center, received $1,500 to enable student tutors to help seniors at University Village to document their life stories in words, photos and recordings.

Jodie Kocur, assistant professor of psychology, received $2,000 to offer a free college skills program for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder in the summer.

Bryan Rasmussen, assistant professor of English, received $1,500 for a glass-sided hive observation case, a portable hive observation frame and additional beekeeping suits to expand educational efforts related to CLU’s bee sanctuary.

Ken Gardner, chair of the theatre arts department, received $1,000 to host a Community Dance Day featuring workshops and a public performance of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” in conjunction with the international “Thrill the World” event.

Andrew Pattison, visiting instructor in the Master of Public Policy and Administration program, received $1,000 to enable students to interview city officials in Ventura County about sustainability policies.

Chad Barber, assistant professor of biology, received $2,000 for a free public cell biology symposium on cancer research.

Jacqueline Lyons, assistant professor of English, received $1,000 to develop an interpretive tour for the CLU SEEd (Sustainable Edible Education) Project Garden.

Michael Pearce, associate professor of art, received $1,000 to help bring sculptor Paul Lucchesi of West Virginia to campus to complete a bronze statue of Richard Pederson, who donated the land where CLU is located.

Michael McCambridge, director of Project ACT (Active, Collaborative, Transformative), received $2,500 to help train teachers from Santa Susanna Elementary School in Simi Valley to use drama techniques in various subjects.

Tim Hengst, chair of the multimedia department, received $500 to help fund the third annual Conejo Valley Film Festival.

Debby Chang, lecturer in the languages and cultures department, received $1,000 for the university’s annual Chinese New Year celebration.