Founders Day Celebration Provides Opportunity to Explore Name

California Lutheran University will hold its annual Founders Day Convocation on Friday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m. in Samuelson Chapel. The theme for this year's Convocation is "Lutheran is Our Middle Name," featuring Dr. Alexander Astin as the speaker.

Astin is the Allen M. Cartter Professor of Higher Education and Director of the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA. He has served as Director of Research for both the American Council on Education and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. A founding director of the Cooperative Institutional Research Program that studies issues in higher education, Astin has authored 20 books and more than 300 other publications in the field.

During the morning Convocation, the Christus Award will be presented to the Rev. Gerald Swanson, Campus Pastor Emeritus, and Dr. Jan Bowman, Professor Emerita.

Swanson served as campus pastor from 1969–1986. He then served as Director of the Learning Resource Center and as a faculty member with his wife, Dr. Bowman.

Bowman joined the CLU faculty in 1974. As a professor of English, she helped to develop courses in integrated studies, global studies and women's studies.

The Christus Award is given to community members who do an outstanding job of building a bridge between the University and the church.