CLU opens year with formal procession

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Aug. 26, 2009) California Lutheran University will hold its Opening Academic Convocation for the 2009-2010 year at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, in Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center.

Faculty and administrators will assemble in full academic attire to welcome about 700 new freshmen and transfer students. The university will recognize the Presidential Scholars, Scholastic Honor Society members, spring Provost's Honor List members and Honors at Entrance recipients. Faculty who have received tenure or advanced in rank will also be honored.

Sixteen new faculty members will be presented at the ceremony. They are Gerhard Apfelthaler, International Business and International Management; Nathan Carlson, Mathematics; Jennifer Christian, Criminal Justice and Sociology; Lynn Creighton, Art; Rahuldeep Gill, Religion; Dan Hamilton, Economics; Eric Kinsley, Music; Kirk M. Lesh, Economics; Maureen Reilly Lorimer, Education; Edlyn Vallejo Peña, Education; L. Jeanne Ricci, Education; Mariana Robles-Dalany, Education; Nate Sinnott, Theatre Arts; Harry Starn, Jr., Finance; Bill Watkins, Economics; and Deric Wisleder, Exercise Science.

Music department chairman Wyant Morton, who received the 2009 President's Excellence in Teaching Award, will deliver the keynote address.

The fall semester for undergraduate students begins on Wednesday, Sept. 2.