Catching Up with Our Alumni

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Class Notes | Follow the Flag | Alumni Milestones

Karsten Lundring ’65 and Kirsten (Bodding ’64) Lundring celebrated 59 years of marriage in June with fellow alumni friends at Lazy Dog Restaurant in Thousand Oaks. Pictured from top right at the table circling around are Bob Trevathan ’66, Bob Davis ’67, Dave Festerling ’69, Charlene Ohlrich ’65, Nancy Trevathan ’65, Gail (Samuelson ’70) McGinnis, Laura Daivs, Karsten and Kirsten, Kathie Ferkin ’68, TC ’83, MA ’88, Sue (Peterson) Festerling ’68, and Gary McGinnis ’72, TC ’74.

John Luebtow ’67 recently had his book titled Glass, A Lifetime of Creating published. Available via Amazon, the book walks readers through six decades of his life via 500-plus images showing the development of his artistic concepts and ideas. The images include drawings and objects he started in grade school, to recently completed large architectural commission projects. John also had two exhibitions in L.A.

The Rev. Chris Heian ’70 completed 27 consecutive years of gospel preaching with salvation and healing in 22 different countries, mostly in Asia and Africa. Over the years, this included 105 two-day seminars throughout Nepal. Chris also should have graduated in 1967 but was in Vietnam; he is a Vietnam veteran.

Robert Jonson ’74 is a professor emeritus, a professor of Art Legacy Project Partner. He created the largest photo documentary project and the world’s largest single photograph size: 28 feet high by 111 inches wide.

David Penny ’74, after graduating from Cal Lutheran with a BS in biology, moved to Northern California, where he attended the Pacific Marine Station in Dillon Beach, then earned his MS in marine biology from University of the Pacific in 1978. He became a general contractor in 1985, specializing in renovations, remodeling and repairs to vacation cottages in Dillon Beach. As a sought-after contractor, he served that community for over 40 years. During that time, he raised his son Lee as a single dad. David also kept his hands busy on piano keyboards, playing with local bands and musicians. He had a five-piece jazz group, then a jazz trio, performing at many local venues and events. He also played in the bands for a local Lutheran church and the Center for Spiritual Living in Santa Rosa. Now retired from professional construction and musical engagements, David spends his time on home projects, camping, hiking, gardening, reading and writing, creating yard-art sculptures from recycled materials and traveling with Margee, his wife and best friend. They have lived for over 30 years in the home they built together in Petaluma, California.

Ray Haynes ’76 was recently asked to speak at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation on Electoral College reform. Ray is a former California State Senator (1994-2002), where he served as the Republican whip; and a former member of the California State Assembly (1992-1994 and 2002-2006), where he served as the assistant Republican leader (under Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leader and later speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives). Ray was also national chair of the American Legislative Exchange Council, a national organization of state legislators, in 2000. He is currently a senior consultant and national spokesperson for the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact initiative, the chief executive officer of the Institute for Research on Presidential Elections, and a nationally recognized expert on Electoral College reform, having spoken to over 800 state legislators in 30 states about their role in changing how the Electoral College works. That was his role at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he talked about ways to change the system of awarding a state’s Electoral College votes to encourage more voter participation in presidential elections.

Natalie Larkin MS ’89, TC ’91, TC ’96, was ordained as a deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on Aug. 27, 2023, in spiritual formation. The service was held at New Hope Lutheran Church in Agoura Hills, but her call is with Southwest California Synod as a spiritual director. Currently, Natalie is working with Thriving Leadership Formation of CLU/PLTS, her own practice and Stillpoint: The Art of Spiritual Direction. This call involves small-group ministry, retreats and one-on-one sessions.

Mark Storer ’89, ’92, and Susan Storer had a quick meetup in their hometown of Lakewood, Washington. Pictured are Marc Janssen ’89 and Laura (Kennedy ’89) Janssen, Elizabeth Mercer ’89, Marc and Laura’s children Kate and Tom, and Mark and Susan’s daughter, Shannon (PLU Senior).

Nathanael Brazelton ’92 was promoted to lieutenant with the Oceanside Police Department in November 2023.

Shari (Owen ’94) Brown has built a multimillion-dollar business on social media through cosmetic sales and by coaching other women to sell online. In 2022 her book Let’s Grow, Girl! was published and became an Amazon bestseller. In the book, she primarily teaches women how to overcome fear and step out of their comfort zone to share their authentic selves on social media. Shining their light and being a positive influence can improve their confidence, help their businesses grow and encourage other women to do the same.

Susan Voss-Rothmeier ’92 is a licensed clinical social worker in mental health crises and homeless outreach in Portland, Oregon. She has worked at Cascadia Health for almost 20 years on a team that responds to crises in the community as an alternative to police. She expanded that team eight years ago by creating a program at the Multnomah County Library, becoming one of the first library social workers in the county. She recently collaborated with other social workers on a book about trauma-informed care. Outside of work, she helped develop a new family homeless shelter in Portland where she serves as a board member and volunteers her time to coordinate programming.

Melissa (Rider ’99, MA ’03) Portela is one of the athletic trainers at O’Connor High School in Arizona. She has taken the lead role in the school’s AT department and plays a vital role in the athletic and career and technology education departments. Melissa teaches the sports medicine curriculum and the school’s NASM class. In both classes, students practice their skills related to athletic training and sports medicine. As a preceptor for Grand Canyon University athletic training students, she works with two to three clinical students each semester to provide them with opportunities to use their skills and work on their proficiencies. Melissa rallies her students to get behind and support local community service efforts like toy drives, canned food drives, and childhood cancer and diabetes awareness campaigns.

Juan Ros MBA ’08, CFP, has been named a partner for Forum Financial Management, LP. Juan joined Forum as a financial adviser in late 2018. He brings extraordinary perspective to the Forum partner group, amassed from his career experiences in the film industry, the world of charitable giving and financial planning. Before joining Forum, Juan worked with Forum Partner Chris Lamia as a partner and vice president for Lamia Financial Group in Thousand Oaks. Lamia Financial Group joined Forum in 2019. In 2024, Juan began splitting his time between Thousand Oaks and Scottsdale after moving to Arizona.

Mackenzie (Faumuina ’08) Rubish participated in The Great American Baking Show on The Roku Channel on May 24. The jokester of her family, she is always ready with a smile and a light to help break the ice. She comes from a warm and welcoming Samoan family, so no one stays a stranger for long around her; she immediately welcomes them as family and tries to feed them something comforting and sweet. Mackenzie grew up surrounded by aunties and cousins, and they always had epic parties where a pig was roasting on a spit in the backyard. Mackenzie’s mom made all the birthday cakes, but her dad taught her about baking from her culture. He passed away when she was 19, but she celebrates his memory every time she makes puligi, a traditional Samoan steam cake. Her baking has evolved exponentially over the years, and she now bakes creations that look magazine-worthy. Mackenzie and her husband Luke have three daughters, and she works as a quality analyst. When she isn’t baking you can find her Polynesian dancing, which she’s returned to as an adult so she can pass along the Samoan tradition.

Christian Hogan ’10 completed his first mural project in Ventura County in August. The Oxnard Mural Project, pictured, commissioned by the city of Oxnard, is in Downtown Oxnard near Plaza Park behind the Carnegie Art Museum. This achievement was made possible through his involvement with Open Door Studio in Oxnard, where he teaches various art forms, including digital art, photography, digital marketing and online sales to adult artists with autism. The project reflects his commitment to engaging with the local community and underscores his ongoing dedication to learning from and educating others. The mural, titled “Action Oxnard,” had been a long-standing aspiration, and he is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring it to fruition. This expansive mural embodies the essence of “action” painting: It seamlessly melds abstract expressionism with elements of performance art. Although he carefully plans the colors, the creation process is entirely freestyle, driven by the energy and emotions of the moment. It’s a dynamic and spontaneous expression of artistic creativity.

Upon graduation, Jesse Knutson ’11 went into the TV news business, serving as a producer and moving into a reporter role. He worked in Los Angeles, Harrisburg (Pennsylvania), Seattle and Nashville, where he earned three Emmy Awards for his reporting. He left the news business and for the past 2 1/2 years has served as the head of publicity and media relations at the Academy of Country Music, working with the biggest names in country music and leading all publicity efforts for the 57th, 58th and 59th ACM Awards.

Ryan Townsend Strand-Prewit ’12, pictured with friends, did not shift career courses as stated in CLU Magazine’s fall/winter issue. Ryan is still singing professionally full time in Chicago and expects to release his third album, Letters to Jackie, this year with Sono Luminus Records.

Dr. Felecia S. Russell ’13, a Black DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient, scholar and practitioner, has released Amplifying Black Undocumented Student Voices. The book highlights the invisibility and lack of belonging Black undocumented students face within both the undocumented community and the United States at large. Through both a biographical memoir and a qualitative approach, Felecia interprets the experiences of “undocuBlack” students, a group seldom represented in the immigrant narrative, arguing that without visibility, “undocuBlack” students rarely benefit from advocacy and instead become targets of overcriminalization. This text offers an important new perspective for faculty, administrators, policymakers, upper-level undergraduate and graduate students and readers interested in Black and immigrant narratives and the undocumented experience as an academic subject.

Jasmine Waples ’15 has worked at Citizen Pictures, a production house best known for the TV series Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, for the last several years. She has had a hand in every episode since Season 33 (they are just starting Season 39). She’s also had the opportunity to work on several Emmy-nominated television productions.

Natalie Bologna ’15, MS ’19, earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, minor in English and master’s degree in counseling psychology at Cal Lutheran, completing her marriage and family therapy licensure in 2022. Natalie graduated summa cum laude and deeply cherishes her academic and interpersonal experiences. Since then, she has built a group practice in Simi Valley called New Leaf Marriage & Family Therapy. The staff of six Cal Lutheran graduates have a high regard for the experience, education and training they received at the university. Their mission and services are built upon inclusion, diversity and community, largely influenced by their experiences as MFT trainees.

Ali Sadreameli ’20, EMBA ’22, has been voted on to the School of Management Advisory Council at Cal Lutheran. With nearly two decades of experience in the banking industry, Ali currently serves as the branch manager for Montecito Bank & Trust’s Regional Commercial Banking Office/Branch in Camarillo. Active in community service, Ali has contributed his time to county nonprofits including the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce and the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo. Ali holds a BS in organizational leadership and an EMBA from Cal Lutheran. In 2023, he graduated from the Ventura County Leadership Academy, showcasing his commitment to continuous learning alongside industry leaders. He has maintained an active role in the community through volunteer work at the Commemorative Air Force Museum at the Camarillo Airport and ongoing service on the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo board since 2018, where he contributes to the Finance Committee. Beyond his professional endeavors, Ali is passionate about aviation, education and community engagement.

Kylie Roseanne Johnson ’21 has been self-producing short horror films with the help of her YouTube audience. Through their crowdfunding campaign, she’s completed her second independent film and is submitting it to festivals, hoping to premiere it in 2025. She has already completed a feature-length script of the story and hopes to shop it around once the short has been made public. Pictured with the crew that made her short horror film “Liked” possible, Kylie is in the sunflower top and glasses, holding the clapper.