Schedule & Speakers

Jacob Lange

Keys to College Success

Jacob Lange serves as the Tutoring Coordinator and Success Coach at Concordia University Irvine. He graduated from Concordia with a B.A. in History and Political Thought in 2021 and received his M.A. in History from California State University, Fullerton in 2023. Now, he helps oversee the WINGS Program and direct Peer Tutoring Services at Concordia to provide academic support to students. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, reading, playing soccer, and playing his trumpet.

Megan Feuerstein

Collegiate Sports and Recruitment

Megan Feuerstein was born and raised in Huntington Beach and has been involved in sports since she was 5 years old. She graduated from Concordia University with a degree in Kinesiology while also playing softball. Megan then earned a Master's degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration, during which she served as a graduate assistant for the softball program. After completing her Master's, Megan worked at Enterprise Rent-A-Car for about three years. She is now honored to serve as the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Concordia University Irvine.

Glory Fung

Collegiate Sports and Recruitment

Glory Fung came to Concordia in 2012 as head athletic trainer and was promoted to Associate Athletic Director of Health and Student-Athlete Well-Being in June of 2021. He graduated from Azusa Pacific University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in athletic training. Fung has served nearly two decades as a certified athletic trainer and gained experience at multiple schools. He started his career at California State University Monterey Bay (2003-05) as a graduate assistant, then went to California Baptist (2005-07), and returned to his alma mater where he was the athletic trainer for the APU football and track & field programs. During his free time, Fung volunteers at local sporting events (Disney and LA 1/2 marathons, Special Olympics) and teaches in the junior high ministry at Faro Church. Fung is married to Jacqueline, who is a children's pastor, and they have three children, Kierra, Selah, and Hezekiah. When not being an athletic trainer, he loves to travel, watch movies, play pickup basketball, eat at buffets, and find good shopping deals.

Katherine Olea

Future Focus: Real-World Career Exploration

Katherine Olea is the Assistant Director of Career Development. She graduated from Concordia University Irvine in 2019 with a degree in Behavioral Sciences. In her free time, she enjoys watching reality TV shows with her husband and their dog, Benjamin. Before returning to California this year, she gained experience in administrative, HR, and marketing roles in New York City. Now that she’s in higher education, she is passionate about helping students discover their vocations by leveraging their unique skills and interests.

CJ Calderon

Where I Started Panel

Chief of Staff & VP of Marketing and Development Goodwill of Orange County

CJ Calderon serves as Goodwill of Orange County’s Chief of Staff and Vice President of Marketing & Development. In her role, CJ is a valuable strategist, consultant and implementer within the office of the CEO and President. Her top priorities are to ensure streamlined activities within the organization based on the strategic goals of the CEO, while handling day-to day management of the office of the CEO to allow for focus on operation and mission growth.

CJ’s critical and innovative thinking contribute to the long-term success of Goodwill OC and its impact on the Orange County community. As Vice President of Marketing and Development, she uses her 20+ years of experience to engage and inform the community through fundraising efforts and mission understanding.

Prior to joining Goodwill OC, CJ Calderon has worked in local nonprofit community for more than 20 years. What started out as an entry-level position at the Second Harvest Food Bank soon ignited her passion for human service, servant leadership and helping solve community hardships by developing, creating, and influencing impactful strategic plans for several leading nonprofits. During her career, she has been part of senior leadership teams and run major fundraising departments at top Orange County nonprofits, including Susan G. Komen, Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana, Second Harvest Food Bank and Goodwill of Orange County.

CJ graduated from Chapman University with a degree in Psychology and an emphasis in Sports Psychology. Born and raised in Orange County, her passion for helping the community she was born and raised and raised her own children in is her life’s passion.

CJ lives in Orange with her husband, two chocolate labs and two children, one now at UCI and one attending Orange Lutheran High School.

Dr. Sean Bignami

Marine Bio

Dr. Bignami received his B.S. in Aquatic Biology from UC Santa Barbara in 2006 and his PhD in Marine Biology and Fisheries from the University of Miami in 2013. After coming to Concordia University Irvine in 2014, he promptly built the Marine Lab which houses 2,000 gallons of saltwater aquaria filled with local marine life. His current research is focused on developing the Pismo clam, a native species in California, for commercial aquaculture food production. Dr. Bignami's favorite part of his job is working closely with students and getting them learning through research and field work.

Dr. Jonathan Calvillo

Keynote Speaker

Jonathan Calvillo is a professor at Emory University who explores how Hispanic populations foster belonging through creativity and community engagement. A sociologist and ethnographer, he has published works on Latine urban migration and grassroots cultural movements, including The Saints of Santa Ana, Time of Sky-rhyming: How Hip Hop Resonated in Brown Los Angeles, and When the Spirit Is Your Inheritance.

Dr. Samuel Perla

Where I Started Panel

Dr. Samuel Perla is an experienced educator and Elementary Principal in Santa Ana with over 24 years in education. He holds a Doctorate in K-12 Educational Leadership from Concordia University Irvine (2022), along with degrees in Kinesiology and Education, and multiple teaching and administrative credentials. A dedicated leader, Dr. Perla is committed to fostering academic excellence, student success, and community engagement. As a servant leader, he brings a unique perspective on resilience, leadership, and the transformative power of education.

Dr. Sean Bignami

Marine Bio

Dr. Bignami received his B.S. in Aquatic Biology from UC Santa Barbara in 2006 and his PhD in Marine Biology and Fisheries from the University of Miami in 2013. After coming to Concordia University Irvine in 2014, he promptly built the Marine Lab which houses 2,000 gallons of saltwater aquaria filled with local marine life. His current research is focused on developing the Pismo clam, a native species in California, for commercial aquaculture food production. Dr. Bignami's favorite part of his job is working closely with students and getting them learning through research and field work.

Gaddi H. Vasquez

MC

Gaddi H. Vasquez, former U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Agencies in Rome and Director of the U.S. Peace Corps, has led major government and public affairs initiatives at Edison International and Southern California Edison. A first-generation college graduate and lifelong Orange County resident, he has championed health, safety, and education for underserved communities.

Scott Gaines

Anatomy

Dr. Scott Gaines (M.S., Ph.D.) has been at Concordia University Irvine since 2012, teaching subjects such as Biomechanics, General Biology, Integrated Biology, and Human Anatomy & Physiology. Professor Gaines has earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of California, Irvine, an M.S. in Human Movement from A.T. Still University in Arizona, and a Ph.D. in Education from Curtin University in Australia. Prior to coming to Concordia, Professor Gaines worked as an educator for health and fitness professionals for over 20 years. He is an author and national speaker on a wide range of topics such as biomechanics and cardiovascular-based program design. Professor Gaines also has a special interest in innovative teaching techniques and is the faculty advisor for all pre-healthcare students.

Most recently, Dr. Gaines has taken on the role of HSI STEM Director for the Valerosos y Curiosos Project, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Education aimed at supporting and advancing STEM education for Hispanic students. More information about this project can be found here.

Dr. Gabriela Espinosa

Engineering

Dr. Gabriela Espinosa joined Concordia University Irvine as the founding Director of Engineering in 2021. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University in Applied Physics followed by MS and PhD degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Saint Louis University and Washington University in St. Louis, respectively. Dr. Espinosa also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. Her research has focused on the interaction between mechanical forces and biological systems, such as the role of blood flow on congenital heart defects and the use of mechanical stimuli for improved orthopedic tissue engineering.