Vanguard University

KeyNotE & Faculty/Staff Luncheon SPeaker: Adam Edgerly

Adam Edgerly is the founder and CEO of Culture Consultants, a strategy consulting firm specializing in leadership development and cultural adaptability. With over thirty years of public speaking experience and a proven record of guiding organizations through transformational change, Adam is recognized for his ability to distill complex concepts into practical, memorable principles and actions.

Adam is passionate about executive leadership and board governance. He serves as a board leadership trainer and coach for the Murdock Charitable Trust and currently sits on the board of Bread for the World, advocating to end world hunger. For ten years, he also served as a trustee of Biola University, where he earned his BA and MA in Intercultural Studies. Adam holds an MBA from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he joined the Evangelical Covenant Church through an Atlanta church plant.

He went on to serve the Evangelical Covenant Church as Associate Director of Global Evangelism and Prayer, Regional Director of Church Planting for the Pacific Southwest, and, most recently, as Director of Covenant World Relief and Development from 2020 to 2024. For seventeen years, Adam served as Lead Pastor of Newsong Los Angeles Covenant Church, a multicultural and economically diverse congregation committed to the ministry of reconciliation. He is deeply passionate about ministries of compassion and justice.

Adam grew up in the East Bay Area of Northern California, where he developed an appreciation for people of diverse cultural backgrounds and perspectives. He enjoys traveling, learning from people of different cultures and spending time at coffee shops.

Breakout & Story Slam Session Speakers

Chase Andre

Chase Andre is an Assistant Professor of Communications at Biola University. He is passionate about helping students cultivate their voice to speak competently and confidently — practicing Christ-like communication in diverse contexts. Chase focuses his research on how communicative acts shape and reshape society, the ethics of intercultural interaction, Martin Luther King, Jr. and the ways in which the Church can pursue justice and shalom in the public sphere. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife Alicia Miller Andre, where they are active community members and leaders in a multiethnic church plant in East Los Angeles.

ARMANDO BUSTOS

Armando Bustos brings 12 years of experience working with students and families from diverse cultural communities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and languages. In his previous role as Director of TRIO Programs, he provided leadership over Upward Bound and Student Support.

Services at Azusa Pacific University. Under his leadership, TRIO Programs provided intentional and holistic services to over 200 first-generation students at APU and in the Azusa community. Additionally, Armando served on the WSCUC Working Group 5 which contributed to the development and approval of the university Diversity Strategic Plan. Armando earned his B.A. in American Literature and Culture and Chicana/o Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an M.S. in College Counseling and Student Development from Azusa Pacific University. He is pursuing a PhD in Education with a concentration in Higher Education at Claremont Graduate University.

Jason Cha 

Jason Cha is the Dean of Students at Point Loma Nazarene University. Originally from Maryland, Jason earned a business degree from NC State University, a M.Ed. from University of Vermont and a Ph.D. in Higher Ed from Azusa Pacific. Jason has worked in Student Affairs for 20 years and his research focuses on racial consciousness in Higher Education. His most memorable professional and life experience was circumnavigating the earth as a Living and Learning Coordinator on Semester at Sea.    

Brad Christerson 

Brad Christerson is a professor of sociology at Biola University.  He teaches classes about systemic racism, ableism, and the effects of capitalism.  He's the author of God's Resistance: Mobilizing Faith to Defend Immigrants.  He's a member of The Row Church and likes going to protests, the beach, and hanging out with his family.

Tom Crisp

Tom Crisp is a professor of philosophy at Biola University. He has taught at Biola since 2005 and holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame. He teaches and writes on topics in theological social ethics, has been involved in the Catholic Worker movement for many years, and is the author of Shalom Ethics: Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself (Fortress, forthcoming). 

Brittney M. Fink

Brittney M. Fink is a scholar-practitioner and Program Manager for Diversity Initiatives at Azusa Pacific University, where she leads the Multi-Ethnic Leadership Scholars program, advises ethnic organizations, and develops student-centered curriculum focused on belonging, cultural humility, and faith formation. Her doctoral research, Not at the Expense of Me, examined the experiences of Black women DEI leaders in higher education and continues to shape her commitment to equitable and life-giving learning environments. Brittney’s work integrates biblical reconciliation, student development theory, and trauma-informed practices to help students engage identity, purpose, and community with confidence. She is passionate about designing spaces where historically excluded students feel safe enough to be vulnerable, brave enough to lead, and supported enough to thrive. Beyond her administrative work, she teaches yoga sculpt and wellness workshops, merging movement, rest, and communal care to promote holistic flourishing.

shelley garcia

Shelley Garcia is a proud graduate of Vanguard University where she double-majored in English and Sociology and minored in Women’s Studies. She went on to receive her PhD in English at the University of California, Riverside. Since 2009, she has been a faculty member of the English Department at Biola University, teaching GE and major courses, ranging from writing to American literature and topics of race and gender. This year marks her fifth year serving as chair of Programs in English.

kailie grinder

Kailie Grinder returned to her alma mater (Westmont) as the Director of Intercultural Programs (ICP) after nearly a decade of living and working across cultures. She has served as an urban elementary school teacher, short-term missions team leader, executive pastor, researcher, and emissary with two sending organizations to prepare workers and their families for international deployment. Motivated by her own journey as a multiracial Third Culture Kid (TCK) born and raised in North Asia, she is passionate about discipling young people to integrate their Christian faith and storied identities in a truly relational pursuit of unity in diversity. A student leader alum of SCORR, she is honored to be back as a workshop presenter.

Leon Harris

Leon Harris is an educator and scholar in theology. He has a PhD in Systematic Theology from the University of Aberdeen. Leon is currently the J.B. Toews Fellow in Theology and Biblical Studies at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary at Fresno Pacific University. Leon worked at Biola University for eight years, where he taught theology. As a First-Generation student, he served as Faculty Advisor for the Black Student Association. He worked closely with the First-Generation program, where he enjoyed supporting emerging voices. He teaches theology and New Testament studies at The Los Angeles Bible Training School and theology at the International Theological Seminary. He has authored a book on the Holy Spirit, contributed chapters to several books, and contributed to many academic journals. In his spare time, Leon enjoys watching movies, live musicals, and plays, and exploring used bookstores while sipping coffee in a local coffeehouse.

Norlan Hernandez 

Norlan Hernández is a proud Nica/Nicoya– terms used to describe someone with Nicaraguan roots. Dr. Hernández serves as the Associate Provost of Engagement and Inclusive Teaching and Learning (aka Chief Diversity Officer) at Fresno Pacific University. He is the founder and president of Faithful Teachings, Inc. a nonprofit organization that aims to be a catalyst through partnerships with local faith-based communities and was previously the Director of the Jesse Miranda Center for Hispanic Leadership at Vanguard University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with an emphasis on culture and society from California State Los Angeles, a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Biola’s Cook School of Intercultural Studies. He is currently pursuing an Executive MBA at UCI’s Paul Merage School of Business. His research interests include Latin American identity, theology, contextualization, leadership, justice, and DEIB - diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

MELANIE HULBERT

Melanie Hulbert serves as the Dean of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, a role she assumed in 2025. During her 20  years of progressive leadership, she has served institutions of higher education as well as national organizations focused on college completion, student success, college accessibility, and student belongingness. Dr. Hulbert’s areas of research have primarily focused on race/ethnicity, gender, identity, leadership, and social movements. She has spoken on college campuses around the nation on issues of student success, academic equity, leadership and reconciliation. More recently, Dr. Hulbert has been asked to lead workshops and retreats on service excellence, executive leadership training, and strategic planning. Finally, Melanie loves to travel the world, hike and play in the mountains, run marathons, and is a cycle and yoga instructor. She loves her husband, Jeff,  her two sons, Caleb and Aidan and her pup named “Duke.”

LADAWN PRIETO JOHNSON

LaDawn Prieto Johnson is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Fresno Pacific University. Having worked as a Psychiatric Social Worker with LAUSD in the lowest-performing schools in Los Angeles, she learned first-hand about family, gender and violence against the multicultural backdrop of the city. Interacting with several local and governmental agencies to address growing issues of human trafficking, poverty, gang violence, prostitution, and safety for the family. Her current research focuses on gender-based violence in refugee camps in central Africa.

NICOLA KAYTON

Nicola Kayton works at Point Loma Nazarene University as an Employee Experience Specialist, where she focuses on strengthening workplace culture and fostering an inclusive environment through wellness programming, engagement opportunities, and training initiatives. She is passionate about employee well-being, professional development, and cultivating a sense of belonging.  

CHRISTINA LEE KIM

Christina Lee Kim is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Biola University and a licensed clinical psychologist. She currently serves as the psychology department chair and teaches primarily in the undergraduate psychology program, while supervising doctoral-level research in the graduate program. Her research interests include cross-cultural and multicultural psychology, mental health issues and the church, Asian-American psychology, and the use of qualitative research methods.

DELLAREESE COFIELD-MARTINEZ

Dellareese Cofield-Martinez is a passionate student development practitioner dedicated to nurturing leadership qualities in others, aiming to foster an inclusive campus environment where every student can participate and thrive. Currently pursuing her doctorate, her research is centered on the labor of IGD facilitation. Dellareese is deeply committed to shaping campuses that embody radical love and inclusivity, rooted in the teachings of Christ.

Itzel MedurI

Itzel Meduri, a Los Angeles native of Mexican heritage, engages in scholarly work that honors and gives visibility to her community. Rooted in her faith and a commitment to justice, she explores the impact that language ideologies have on people and society. Her work emphasizes linguistic diversity, as well as bicultural and bilingual identities. She began her academic journey at a local community college before continuing her studies at California State University, Dominguez Hills, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish with minors in Sociology and Women’s Studies. She went on to complete both her Master’s and Doctorate in Spanish at the University of California, Irvine. For over a decade, she has served as a Spanish professor at Biola University, where she currently holds the position of Chair of the Modern Languages Department.

NICOLE MORALES

Nicole Morales currently serves as the Director of Training and Development in the Human Resources department at Point Loma Nazarene University. In this role, Nicole leads many learning and engagement opportunities for employees across the PLNU community, including new-employee orientation and onboarding, cultural values training, and manager development. Nicole is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach with deep expertise in leveraging the CliftonStrengths assessment to help individuals and teams unlock their full potential. She is also a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), certified to deliver the assessment and facilitate individual and team debriefs.

ANGELA MUNOZ

Angela Munoz serves as the Director of International Programs and Services at Fresno Pacific University where she supports F-1 international students through their academic journey, ensuring regulatory compliance and holistic success. With over 12 years of experience in higher education and intercultural engagement, Angela designs programming and workshops that foster belonging, cultural understanding and leadership development among international students. Her work centers on advocacy, inclusion and creating meaningful spaces for cross-cultural connection.

HIEN PARK

Hien Park has an MPA degree from the University of Washington and a doctoral degree in Sociology from UC-Irvine.  Her research interests are immigrant communities and the migrant/refugee adaptations over the life course. She enjoys teaching research methods, statistics, and research practicum, and mentors the student research for academic conference presentations. She's been the faculty advisor to student clubs, including APIC, VU Leap, and One Voice.

HEATHER JUSTINE STOLTE

Heather Justine Stolte is a natural motivator who genuinely enjoys affecting a positive change in the people and organizations she works with. Heather achieved her BA from UC Irvine in English Literature, graduated from Lacunza International in San Sebastian, Spain, master certified coaching degree from ICF accredited Coach University and currently is working on her Master of Arts in Leadership at Vanguard University.Heather has more than two decades of experience in helping to improve the performance of organizations and employees. As an owner and CEO of her own life and corporate coaching business, she has facilitated training for corporations from nearly every industry. She also has held three leadership positions and was the president of the board for a non-profit worldwide company. She has developed processes and coordinated more than forty events per year for her own corporate coaching business.

JIMILIZ VALIENTE-NEIGHBOURS

Jimiliz Valiente-Neighbours, first name pronounced (pronounced as "jim-uh-leez")  is a proud 1.5 generation immigrant from the Philippines, eldest child and only daughter of Jimmy and Lisa, her namesakes. Jimiliz (“Dr. V” among her students) teaches lower and upper-division courses at Point Loma Nazarene University such as Introduction to Sociology, Stratification, Social Theory, and developed courses on social justice, health equity, and cultural humility for undergrads as well as M.A. students in health fields such as occupational therapists and athletic trainers. Jimiliz is currently the President of the California Sociological Association and recently chaired their conference titled “Creativity and Community in Times of Crises” in November 2025. She holds a B.A. in Literature/Writing and Ethnic Studies from UC San Diego, and a Master’s and Ph.D. in Sociology from UC Santa Cruz. For fun, Jimiliz enjoys climbing with her partner Robert and friends, hiking, dancing, drinking matcha, and reading graphic novels.

LANDON WHITE

Landon White is the Worship and Formation Coordinator for the Department of Spiritual Development at Biola University. He has led worship for over 20 years at churches in Germany, Arkansas, and California. In his role at Biola, he trains student worship leaders in developing self, cultural, and spiritual awareness to more effectively guide diverse groups in corporate spiritual practices.  A Southerner at heart, he is constantly on the search for California’s most authentic barbecue and sweetest tea.

JESSICA VAN WINKLE

Jessica Van Winkle has been engaged in student development since her undergraduate years at Vanguard University (’20). She now serves as the Area Director of the Towers Residence Halls, where she is committed to fostering equity, whole-person care, and intentional programming that supports students in building meaningful communities. In addition to her work in Residence Life, Jess is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Sociology, where she has taught courses such as Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Aid, and Environmental Justice. She holds a B.A. in Theology with a concentration in Intercultural Studies from Vanguard University and an M.A. in International Community Development from Northwest University. Across her roles, Jess is passionate about helping students grow in self-awareness, engage their communities thoughtfully, and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.

Justin capener

Justin Capener currently serves as the Assistant Director of Student Engagement for Commuter, Graduate and Family Programs at Vanguard University.  Justin holds a bachelor's degree from Azusa Pacific University and a master's in leadership from Vanguard University. Most recently, Justin became a Peace Fellow through Global Immersion, an organization which equips leaders with the skills for disarming violence, transforming conflict, and forming Everyday Peacemakers. Justin is passionate about equipping college students with tools to engage with healthy conflict in their own spheres of influence.

Michael jimenez

Michael Jimenez is an Associate Professor of History at Vanguard University. He received his PhD in Church History at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is the author of Remembering Lived Lives: A Historiography from the Underside of Modernity and Karl Barth and the Study of the Religious Enlightenment: Encountering the Task of History. He has contributed articles to Fides et Historia, Sojourners, The Other Journal, and Current and posts monthly at the Anxious Bench. Michael lives in Southern California with his wife Lluvia and two sons, Lucas and Raylan.

Joel Perez

Joel Pérez is owner of Apoyo Coaching and Consulting, LLC. and a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). He specializes in career transitions, career coaching, identity-conscious leadership coaching, solution-based coaching, and professionals that want to develop their cultural humility. He has a certification in the MBTI, Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), Gallup Strengths Certified Coach, and is a certified coach through the Academy of Creative Coaching. He has over 20 years of experience in higher education, serving in various key leadership roles. His book Dear White Leader: How to Achieve Organizational Excellence through Cultural Humility, a thought-provoking book that equips leaders to drive meaningful change on personal, organizational, and community levels. The book was recently awarded the Silver Medal for Best New Voice – Nonfiction by the Independent Book Publishers Association, a recognition that underscores its powerful message and timely relevance in today’s leadership landscape. Joel earned his doctorate in higher education administration at Claremont Graduate University. He has been married for over 27 years and has four children, and he enjoys cheering on the Los Angeles Dodgers and watching films.