News and Features
News and Features
Cal Lutheran News
News and Features

Topic: Vocation & Purpose

Turning Passion into Purpose

Music has been a colossal part of Jasmine Keys' life. Now, as a high school teacher, she seeks to inspire students to love the art form as much as she does.

December 13, 2024
Jazzy Colbert in front of her jewelry display

Being Jazzy

After completing a unique interdisciplinary degree, Jazzy Colbert is ready to launch into a creative career aimed at helping those living with OCD — starting with her new book.

May 7, 2024
Josh McCall

Vocations: Reaching for the stars

As a fourth grader visiting the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, Joshua McCall ’22 enjoyed it so much he didn’t want to leave. Now, his love of space is fulfilled with a permanent place at NASA:...

April 4, 2024
Cameron Fetter in hiking gear standing in front of a snow capped mountain in Alaska (Katmai National Park)

TikTok-ing his way to opportunity

Geosciences major Cameron Fetter is finding opportunities beyond the classroom through his successful, science-based TikTok channel.

December 15, 2023
Isabelle Valdez ’23

Master of Her Future

From intern to employee, Isabelle Valdez used Cal Lutheran's MS in Management program to launch her business career after studying history as an undergrad.

October 10, 2023

Cal Lutheran receives $1.2M federal grant

The five-year grant will fund Access Teach: Closing the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Educator Gap, a project to support 60 graduate-level students who will leave the program as credentialed teachers of high-need deaf and hard...

October 2, 2023
Howie Wennes

Treasured memories

The Cal Lutheran community lost one of its most treasured members when the Rev. Dr. Howard Wennes died on July 12, 2022.

April 30, 2023
Rev. Scott Adams and Bishop Brenda Bos

Seeing one another

“Rev. Scott,” as he is known, is the university’s first Black pastor and the first non-Lutheran to hold the post.

April 28, 2023
Sign for help outside of monastery in Kyiv, Ukraine

On a mission

To the Rev. Rachel Eskesen ’04, MA, MDiv ’14, the work of a pastor can look remarkably similar to the work of an English professor.

April 27, 2023
Lorrie Brown

Balancing the narrative in Ventura

Being an effective public servant and improving the human condition has always been an objective for Lorrie Brown ’07, MPPA ’09, whether that means working in government or helping people discover their purpose.

April 21, 2023
Rev. Scott Adams

Cal Lutheran welcomes new spiritual leader

Known as “Reverend Scott,” he was selected by a search committee of representatives from numerous departments at the school, including students.

October 21, 2022
From left, Regent Ann Boynton '83, President Lori E. Varlotta, PhD, Bishop Deborah Hutterer, MDiv, and the Rev. Jim Bessey '66, MDiv, participate in the Feb. 27 installation ceremony.

Coming together

The academic, spiritual and ceremonial events celebrating the inauguration of President Lori E. Varlotta, PhD — delayed by the pandemic — were opportunities to restate her vision for the campus. Cal Lutheran is...

May 25, 2022
Kathie (Schaap '89) Hale started her Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim run at the Grand Canyon's South Rim at 2:30 a.m. Photo: Courtesy of Kathie (Schaap '89) Hale

Realizing a personal victory

Kathie (Schaap ’89) Hale started her Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim run at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim at 2:30 a.m. Photo: Courtesy of Kathie (Schaap ’89) Hale When Kathie (Schaap ’89) Hale met her...

May 23, 2022
Amanda ElBassiouny thrives alongside her students as they explore the things that first drew her to study psychology. Photo: Erik Hagen

Love of learning

Nearly four years after joining the Cal Lutheran faculty as an assistant professor of psychology, Amanda ElBassiouny, PhD, likes to joke that she’s a senior.

May 23, 2022
Teketa Bellamy hosted an online spoken word event in March 2022. Photo: Obinna Anyanwu

With community backing, students take on racism

As one of four CSBL recipients in 2021-22, Jaden Lyons launched the “Making Cents” financial literacy program. Photo: Obinna Anyanwu Growing up in Los Angeles, Jaden Lyons came to the conclusion that his Black community...

May 5, 2022
In fall 2020, PLTS became a certified Green Justice Seminary and began offering students earning master’s degrees the option to pursue a climate justice concentration. Photo: Brittany App

Seminary starts programs for change agents

(BERKELEY, Calif. — March 2, 2022) California Lutheran University’s Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) is offering new programs to prepare religious leaders and laypeople to work for social and environmental...

March 2, 2022