Fame, it’s said, is fleeting. The flickering of a candle’s flame against the winds of time. Yet celebrity’s shadow can extend well beyond the life of the wick, and those shaded regard it as a blessing or a burden. Or both. Rayna Harrison ’19 is well aware of her family tree and its links to […]
January 21, 2026
The University of La Verne’s Head Baseball Coach, Scott Winterburn, has achieved a historic milestone: his 600th career win. This victory represents far more than a number; it’s a reflection of three decades of mentorship, tradition, and unwavering commitment to student athletes. Coach Winterburn began his 32-year collegiate coaching service as the head coach for […]
Posted: January 21, 2026
When Kathy Bakhit EdD ’11, first arrived in the United States nearly four decades ago, she never imagined her path would lead to the Vice Presidency of Academic Affairs. What she did know was that relationships mattered—deeply. “The way I grew up,” she reflects, “relationships are like glass. If you break them, even if you […]
Posted: January 21, 2026
Dr. Lauren Crossland-Marr, assistant professor of Anthropology at the University of La Verne, has built her career on a deceptively simple idea: food is more than sustenance; it is a window into culture, politics, and identity. From studying halal certifications in Milan, Italy to examining how CRISPR, a gene-editing technology, is shaping modern agriculture, Dr. […]
Posted: January 21, 2026
It had been two years since I graduated from the University of La Verne, and I had just finished catching up with a fellow alum. I was in my office in Murrieta, sipping coffee between meetings, when a quiet tug at my heart stopped me mid-thought. It was subtle but insistent. I found myself asking: […]
Posted: January 21, 2026
From the time I was a little girl, I couldn’t wait to go to school. I was eager to learn, and I still remember the exact moment I read my first sentence at five years old. That passion for learning has stayed with me ever since. My mother attended Spelman College in Atlanta, and growing […]
Posted: January 21, 2026
Journal of Strategic Marketing By Thomas Martin Key, Astrid L. Keel, Andrew J. Czaplewski and Eric M. Olson “Brand Activism Change Agents: Strategic Storytelling For Impact And Authenticity” proposes a narrative-based model to help brands engage in activism, strengthen customer ties, and minimize alienation, to enhance their impact as sociopolitical change agents while maintaining stakeholder […]
Posted: January 21, 2026
When Michaelyn Thomas EdD ’17 was four years old, she looked toward the stars, saying to herself, “I want to work in outer space when I grow up.” Everyone has a story, and Dr. Thomas’s is quite unique. Through resilience, professional experience, grit, and doctoral research at the University of La Verne, she has had […]
Posted: January 21, 2026
My life took a meaningful turn when I decided to transfer to the University of La Verne during my sophomore year of college. I was initially drawn in by the university’s debate team, which seemed like a natural fit given my passion for forensics. Once I arrived, I learned that the team focused exclusively on […]
Posted: January 21, 2026
“Believe in yourself. Show up for yourself. And always move forward despite life’s challenges.” These words from Guillermo Escalante ’97, MBA ’99, are the personal mantra that transformed a nine-year-old immigrant from Costa Rica who spoke little English into a recognized leader in sports science and higher education. Today, Escalante serves as Associate Dean of […]
Posted: January 21, 2026
Maria Estrada ’25 understood the mission: transitioning from 21 years of service in two combat deployments while serving in the United States Air Force to starting her path to a future in leadership at the University of La Verne. Born on an airbase in Okinawa, Japan, Maria was shaped by her father’s career in the […]
Posted: January 21, 2026
It’s early afternoon, and University of La Verne President Risa Dickson, dressed in business casual and sensibly chic flats, has returned to her Founder’s Hall office from an Academic Affairs meeting. Her goal in these meetings and others like it is to share information frequently and transparently. “I tend to be very collaborative. I delegate […]
Posted: January 21, 2026
Grace F. Napolitano’s connection to the University of La Verne runs deep, shaped by decades of public service in California’s San Gabriel Valley. Born in Brownsville, Texas, and educated at Cerritos College, Napolitano launched her political career locally—first as Norwalk’s mayor, then as a California Assembly member—before representing the region in Congress from January 1999 through […]
Posted: January 21, 2026