Record number of Cal Lutheran faculty and staff serve on local boards

A record number of California Lutheran University faculty and staff are volunteering their time and knowledge this year to nearly 100 local civic organizations throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

"Becoming involved on the grass-roots level is one of the best ways we can give back to our community and at the same time learn from others," said Ritch K. Eich, PhD, vice president of marketing and communications at CLU. He is the immediate past chair of the board of trustees of Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center and serves on the KCLU Advisory Board.

Eich has spearheaded the CLU initiative to increase the number of faculty and staff serving on the boards of directors of community organizations in the region.

The community organizations in which CLU employees are involved include the Latino HIV/AIDS Task Force for Ventura County, the Assistance League of Ventura County and the local chapter of the World Affairs Council.

Among CLU's active community participants is Adina Nack, PhD, associate professor of sociology and the first director of CLU's center for Equality and Justice. Nack was a coprincipal investigator for Ventura County's recent study of Latino men with HIV/AIDS and serves on the United Way of Ventura County's Health Focus team.

Mary Olson, general manager of CLU's national public radio station KCLU, volunteers her time as a board member of Senior Concerns. Campus pastor Melissa MaxwellDoherty is a board member of the Ventura County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Michael Pearce, a professor of art, is on the board of Conejo Futures, and Dorothy Schechter, professor of music, serves as vice chair of the board of Cultural Affairs for the city of Ventura.

"Many of us who work at CLU feel a genuine commitment to our community and want to find ways to contribute and make an impact," said Steve Wheatly, CLU vice president of university advancement and a board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Conejo and Las Virgenes. "Giving some of our time to causes we care about benefits us as much as them. It is a wonderful partnership."