PL Nazarene hires new
School of Education dean
Officials at Point Loma Nazarene University have announced that Dr. Gary Railsback has accepted an offer to become the university’s next dean of the school of education.
Railsback currently serves as chair of the Educational Foundations and Leadership Department and as director of the doctoral program at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore.
“Dr. Railsback brings a deep commitment to Christian higher education and the role an institution like Point Loma plays in shaping the teachers who will shape the coming generation,” said John Hawthorne, PLNU provost.
“His recent experiences in doctoral programs at George Fox will be very helpful as Point Loma continues to explore programs for the future,” he said. “He will be a wonderful addition to our quality education faculty.”
Railsback had been involved with teacher education programs at three Christian institutions before agreeing to sign on with PLNU. He also has experience as an admissions counselor. Railsback’s most recent experience of leading the doctorate program at George Fox and his role in advancing Fox’s NCATE accreditation appear to be particularly timely for Point Loma Nazarene.
Railsback will officially begin his duties July 1, but university officials said he will visit the campus once a month to participate in planning activities during the spring.
PLNU’s School of Education works hand in hand with school districts to design challenging coursework in high-priority content areas. As a result, its credential- and advanced-degree graduates are held in high esteem by public schools, private schools and charter schools that serve diverse student populations. PLNU’s School of Education offers graduate and credential programs at four regional centers: San Diego-Mission Valley, Los Angeles-Arcadia, Bakersfield and the Inland Empire.
PLHS seniors capture NCTE writing honors
Point Loma High School seniors Olivia McQueen and Dane Wenthur have been awarded certificates for superior writing by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Achievement Awards in Writing program.
The NCTE honored 595 high school seniors from 1,937 students who were nominated in their junior year by their respective teachers, from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Canada and American schools abroad.
The Achievement Awards in Writing program was established in 1957 to encourage high school students in honing their writing skills and to publicly recognize some of the best student writers in the nation. The writing excellence award is based on students’ samples of their best prose or verse and on impromptu themes that are written under supervision.
A team of English teachers chosen from throughout the students’ home state judges the writing submissions, looking specifically for writing that demonstrates effective and imaginative use of language to inform and move an audience.
McMillin marketing director earns honor
Liz Barela-Ramirez, vice president of marketing for Corky McMillin Cos., has been named the Silver Award winner of Region 2 ” spanning California and Nevada ” in the Marketing Director of the Year Award competition at The National Sales and Marketing Awards event.
McMillin is heaquartered at Liberty Station, the former Naval Training Center in Point Loma.
Barela-Ramirez is among the finalists for The National Gold Award, which will be announced Feb. 13 in Orlando at the national gala celebration.
“It is such an honor to receive this recognition among so many talented competitors in Southern California,” said Barela-Ramirez. “I have to thank our entire team for helping to make our marketing efforts prove worthwhile.”
Now in its 27th year, the nationals pays tribute to superior new-home sales and marketing achievements by individual sales and marketing professionals, home builders and associate firms, along with sales and marketing councils. The competition is presented by the National Sales and Marketing Council, an arm of the National Association of Home Builders.
“Liz’s dedication and enthusiasm for all aspects of the home-building business is what sets her apart,” said Sandra Perlatti, senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications for McMillin. “Winning a Silver Award at the nationals is no small feat, and Liz deserves all the recognition that comes her way.”
Barela-Ramirez has been an active participant in the San Diego Building Industry Association and has served as president of its Sales and Marketing Council in 2007. She was also the chair of the 2006 SAM Awards put on by the council.
In her position with McMillin she develops marketing strategy for several master-planned communities in San Diego and southern Riverside County, along with individual neighborhoods built by McMillin.
The Nationals Awards is the largest competition in the nation for new-home sales and marketing professionals and the communities they serve.
To emerge as a winner in this competition takes clout because contestants must endure a painstaking three-day judging process that includes evaluation by some of the industry’s finest marketing professionals, representing a wide range of disciplines and geographic sections of the country.
For more information, visit www.mcmillin.com.
PLNU to host Economic Outlook Breakfast
Point Loma Nazarene University will again play host to the San Diego Economic Outlook Breakfast, an annual event co-hosted by PNLU and Bank of America. This year’s event, scheduled to take place Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 a.m., features Bank of America chief market strategist Joe Quinlan.
Quinlan is responsible for the development and execution of Bank of America’s overall investment strategy, both domestically and globally. The author of more than 125 published articles on global economic, trade and financial issues appearing in The Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, The Financial Times and Barron’s, his particular expertise is in the transatlantic relationship between the U.S. and European economic partners. He is also the co-author/editor of numerous books, including “Deep Integration: How Transatlantic Markets are Leading Globalization.”
Quinlan will discuss global and market economic issues with university undergrauate and graduate students following the economic outlook breakfast bringing together area businesses and academic leaders.
The event is designed to provide a unique opportunity for business leaders to gather in an intimate setting to discuss economic issues.
The economic outlook breakfast will take place at the Fermanian Business Center on the PLNU campus, 3900 Lomaland Drive.
For more information or to RSVP, call (619) 849-2563 or (619) 849-2564, or e-mail [email protected] or [email protected].
New Port Commission chair is sworn in
Michael B. Bixler, who represents the city of Imperial Beach on the Unified Port of San Diego’s board of port commissioners, was recently sworn in as chairman for 2008, port officials said.
Bixler was sworn in by Judge Lynn McDougal during a luncheon held by the commission at the San Diego Convention Center on West Harbor Drive.
Other incoming officers for 2008 include Stephen Cushman, who will serve as vice chairman, and Robert “Duke” Valderrama, who will serve as secretary.