Student Spotlights

Jeffery Nicolaysen '09
Everything taught in the department fits together, especially when augmented with the experiences the professors share, so the more knowledge acquired the more all the courses integrate and become increasingly more interesting and useful. I have been very pleased with all aspects of the Psychology program here at Concordia. The Professors are active, don't express a bias or pass off opinion as fact, are well versed in all areas, and are and willing to work with students to promote their success. As a transfer I have seen a wide variety of classrooms, teachers, and programs, and few have the cohesiveness and learning conducive environment I have found here at Concordia.

Lauren Brighton '09
Dr. Lu is my favorite professor because he provides you with considerable amount of information in class that include recent research studies. Also, outside the classroom, he is willing to invest time in his students in order to see them succeed beyond Concordia. The psychology program offers a variety of classes that touch on all the major areas of psychology. This provides students with a base in order to move on to graduate school and pursue their career goals.

Jason Bischoff '04
Without question, Dr. Schultz, professor of Anthropology, holds the title for the finest humanities professor Concordia has to offer. While the good doctor seems but your regular 7 foot almanac of anthropology, Dr. Schultz is most likely the best kept secret our campus has. With his thoughtful, entertaining, challenging and perspective altering courses, Dr. Jack Schultz deals in the finest currency available...That of thought provoking conversation and life lasting tools.

Elizabeth Hall '05
The professors in the history/political science department are knowledgeable and caring. One of the most important qualities in the faculty of this department, and every other department with which I am familiar, is that they are very accessible and willing to spend time with students, becoming mentors as well as educators. The professors take the time to learn the names and personalities and needs of the students in their classes.

Sidhra Khan '05
My favorite class has been Personality Theory because we were able to look at the different theorists and their explanations of certain disorders and non disorders that every day people go through. It really helped me to understand why some people are the way they are- it even helped me understand myself better.

Travis Krudwig '04
My favorite Psychology class was Principles of Counseling. Dr. Mendez is the main reason it was so special. He taught us how to integrate our Christian faith with our Secular Psychology and that is beyond words.

Crystal Larsen '06
I am convinced that the behavioral science program will open many doors for me to minister to and serve the surrounding communities, and other communities in the future.

Christy Perez '06
I had a very good exposure to the Behavioral Science department during my first year. Dr. Flores de Apodaca is a very interesting and amazing professor; he not only teaches a class, he keeps the student interested in the class and we receive first hand exposure to the career. I am interested in psychiatry, and his classes have helped me in discovering that I am truly interested in this field.

Brooke Spain '05
My favorite Psychology Professor is Prof Benda, because she is young and connects very well with her students and incorporates her work and experience into her teachings and classes everyday.

Christy Perez '05
Concordia's small classes give you the opportunities to not only understand the material better, but in case of a question you have the opportunity to ask the professors themselves to explain more thoroughly. All the professors at Concordia practice their field besides just teaching which in the long run can help you be exposed to which ever career field you are interested.

Karmina Reyes '05
My favorite class was Personality Theory, because I learned about the different theories and theorist that developed ideas that are used to this day. I personally identified with this class because it made me realize the type of relationship I have with my family by understanding my own personality and by understanding theirs.

Jarard Kings '06
At Concordia, you are not just listening to what has been a lecture for hours to you. You are interacting with the professionals of today who are working to train the leaders of tomorrow. Psychology can be tricky and difficult at times and you are going to need a school where the professors not only know what they are talking about but also have a special concern for each and every student.

Julia Von Almen '04
Historiography was my favorite class to date because the format of the class was highly interactive and the subject is infinitely interesting. The class was set up in such a way that facilitated roundtable discussions on such things as famous historians, methods of doing history, and the concept of history in general.

Elizabeth Youngdale '06
I think that with the small class size you are able to have one on one attention given to you that will personally guide you to your future at grad school. Concordia's Behavioral Science department has one goal, to help you get to grad school. Because of Concordia's small size it enables the professors to get to know you as a person. With this asset it makes recommendations easier for grad school or even a job. I was able to sit down with one of my professors and she helped navigate grad school opportunities and even contact people for me to get more information from. I would never have gotten that kind of aid at another school.

Amy Brooks '04
Prospective students should be interested in History/Political Science at Concordia because it really gives you a sense of understanding of where our constitution came from, and how America developed into the country that it is. This major offers information that even affects our lives today and I think that people who have a better understanding of history and political events have a better understanding of America today.

Sara Gonzales '06
Jacqueline Brown in particular was EXTREMELY helpful and flexible when I needed a paper signed, and she made sure that I knew that I could make an appointment with her anytime I needed.

Melissa Mealey '06
Concordia is a wonderful place to study and grow and I am very happy with my decision to attend Concordia. Concordia has a wonderful history/poli sci program that will enhance my knowledge and allows me to learn hands on.

Shawna Rogers '04
I honestly appreciate and respect each and every Behavioral Science Professor at Concordia University. Each professor contributes to his/her class in an unique and creative way; specifically combining class materials with his/her own professional experiences, which helps to make the class interesting and purposeful for today's new practices.

Brooke Spain '05
My favorite psychology class has been Personality Theories because Dr. Flores has a lot of expertise in this area and he used a lot of visual aids to go along with the lectures he gave, and this helped for me as a student to connect better with the topics.

Stephanie Todd '05
The Behavioral Science Department at Concordia has a very strong and knowledgeable staff. Each professor brings with them the expertise and experience from having worked in the field of the class they are teaching. Professor Flores is one of the more interesting teachers. He brings to class with him the cases he has worked on in the past and some of the cases he is working on currently, giving the students a chance to apply what they have learned regarding possible diagnosis, or reasons for the behavior of the person he has been asked to analyze. And it helps that he invited the Behavioral Science and Psychology students to a dinner at his house last semester as a way to get to know the staff and each other. The Cuban Food was tasty.

Patricia Mccandless '04
Concordia offers great psychology classes and has some great professors. Concordia also has a small professor/student ratio which allows the professors to get to know the students and they are willing to help whenever students need it.

Shawna Rogers '04
Concordia University offers classes that will help a student grow personally and professionally. Each class offered at Concordia contributes to one's own individual journey; specifically helping a student discover his/her own unique God given talents and skills, so that one may contribute to society in an unique and purposeful way. I believe God has a specific purpose for us all and being a student at Concordia University challenges me to look within myself and discover the unique talents God has given me to serve the world.

Jessica Sofia Valle '04
The professor who has inspired me the most in the Psychology department is Dr. R. Flores de Apodaca. He was my professor for Intro to Psych, and other courses. His enthusiasm and teaching techniques made me intrigued by the way people have a different prospective of life, and how they come to this prospective. Also, he teaches with the knowledge of the real working world. He mixes the cases and teachings well, which makes learning more interesting, and note the fact that he is also a down to earth, chill professor.

Travis Krudwig '04
My favorite psychology professor is Dr. Mendez. Dr. Mendez has a way of teaching that seems to captivate the entire room. He makes the class and material so much more interesting and fun. He is the reason I want to pursue a career in psychology.

Emily Koontz '05
In my opinion a person must have a passion for learning as a history political science major. For most students history is a subject that is boring. For me history is knowledge and wisdom that I hope to pass on to my students someday.

Brooke Spain '05
If you are interested in psychology you should come to Concordia because we offer a wonderful psychology program where you get a lot of one on one attention from the professors, whereas at a large university you may not get that special type of relationship that Concordia can offer.

Charlotte Treakle '04
My favorite professor is Dr. Flores because he is a forensic psychologist and I am interested in that field. He includes a variety of learning material such as movies, case examples from his practice, etc. He is very supportive yet realistic of student’s goals and concerns. Last year Dr. Flores was instrumental in helping me find my ideal practicum site. I felt comfortable asking Dr. Flores for his help because he is so approachable and willing to help students outside of class time.

Elizabeth Youngdale '06
My favorite Behavioral Science professor is Dr. Flores because of his vast knowledge and active part in the Psychology field. He brings this aspect to his class, making his students intrigued and wanting to learn more. Not only do we learn about theorists and ideas of the theorists, we get to apply what we have learned to real life cases, that Dr. Flores himself has been a part of.

Emily Koontz '05
My favorite Professor is Jackie Brown. She is energetic, knowledgeable and makes every class interesting.

Jessica Roberts '05
One of the best things about Concordia is that it is a small school. That really allows for individualized attention. The professors can really volunteer more of their time before or after class to help you out. Behavioral Science is packed full of interesting information and it is great not only to receive that in class but to also have numerous conversations with your professors outside of class.

Jessica Sofia Valle '04
I can say that prospective students should be thrilled to come and join the new professors, the opportunities that are in store (i.e. the going for internship in the psychiatric hospital in Norwalk and research) are more than exciting. The professors are not stuck up; they are there to assist the student in any means of course work. Also, the life experiences that professors teach and relate about help the encountering in the "real...real world." I know it has helped me, I’m volunteering at UCLA's NPI in the child & adolescent division of research, and the stories of hard work that were told by professors do seem to be real.

Kelley Lawson '04
It is not just the students that you become friends with, we at CU also become friends with our teachers and are given their personal phone numbers and they are always willing to stay after or come in before class to help you. You don't even need to discuss what is going on in class, any topic in history is up for debate with our teachers and students. The professors at CU work with you and not against you they enjoy seeing their students grow and learn and don't set you up to fail at all but want to help you obtain ultimate knowledge and good grades.

Patricia Mccandless '04
Dr. Buddy Mendez is personable with his students and makes class enjoyable. He is very generous in making time to help students be successful in his classes as well as taking time to give advice regarding career questions, etc.

Sara Werner '03
Dr. Jack Schultz is my top choice. He has the best combination of qualities that a professor can offer: stimulating lectures with interesting anecdote, a wonderful sense of humor, appropriate assignments and exams, and an endless amount of information about peoples and cultures. He is "Anthropology Man" and peoples and cultures are his specialty, so I enjoyed every anthropology class that I took. His classes are not easy; they require a great effort. But the assignments are approachable and meaningful. Of all the material I have learned during my college career, I most clearly recall the information from his classes.

Shawna Rogers '04
Principles of Counseling was my favorite class--it uniquely combined Theology with Psychology, which is rarely heard of. The microskills and counseling tools I learned in this class not only have helped me in my own inter-personal relationships but taught me valuable skills that I can use when engaging a future client.

Travis Krudwig '04
The psychology department is amazing. Each and every one of the professors really seeks to help you excel in their classroom and prepare you for the real world. I never was so passionate about psychology until I came to Concordia. I attended Point Loma Nazarene University before Concordia and I loved that school but the psychology department did nothing for me.

Tyler Hathaway '04
Jackie Brown is my favorite professor because she is such a bubbly professor and knows how to get students excited about history. Her door is always open if you need to ask her questions or even if you just want to sit down and chat for a minute. She does everything she can to help you in her class and never wants any of her students to fail.