Faculty

Courses Taught

NPL 460, Fundraising and Resource Management

Courses Taught

IOP/NPL 345, Social Psychology

Biography

Dr. Chase Espinoza is a professor at Concordia University Irvine and three other institutions, providing instruction in the various fields of psychology including clinical, forensic, and organizational at the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral levels. He also acts as an advisor for student research. He is a proud member of the Heterodox Academy, an organization dedicated to academic freedom and first amendment rights.

He is a licensed psychologist, currently practicing in neuropsychology, clinical psychology, and forensic psychology. He provides neuropsychological evaluations, neurofeedback, and diagnostic EEG services in a hospital-based neurology department. He also completes forensic, clinical, and psychoeducational assessments at multiple practices in Orange County. Dr. Chase practices psychotherapy for diverse populations and across a wide range of clinical and relational problems. He will present on empathy at the Creating Healthy Organizations Conference (CHOC) in July 2018.

Courses Taught

NPL 460, Fundraising and Resource Management

Training and Talent Development

Biography

Daphne Felicitas is the Manager, Global Training & Leadership Development at Oakley, where she leads and manages leadership development, team development, and retail training. Prior to Oakley, Daphne was the Manager, Learning & Organization Development, at Pacific Sunwear. She also worked as Career Counselor at the UC Irvine Career Center and as a Center Director for SCORE! Educational Centers. She also serves on the UC Irvine School of Social Ecology Field Study Advisory Board and the Brandman University Premier Partner Advisory Council. Daphne has a passion for travel, music, her faith, being active and loves to spend quality time with her family and friends.

Degrees Earned

• M.A. Organizational Leadership, Chapman University
• B.A. Psychology and Social Behavior, UC Irvine

Courses Taught

IOP 431, Training and Talent Development

Organizational Consulting and Change Theory

Biography

Gilbert has an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership and a MA. in Psychology from Pepperdine University. He currently is the Dean of Students at Concordia University, Irvine and has taught Christianity and Contemporary Culture for several academic programs throughout campus as one of Concordia's most endeared instructors. In addition to his leadership and teaching roles at Concordia, he has worked for many years as a Director of Christian Education at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Arcadia, California, where he developed servant leaders within the church and the youth ministry. At Concordia University, he is passionate about developing wise, honorable, and cultivated student leaders. He has conducted numerous presentations on servant leadership, community service, and many relevant issues critical to college age students.

Degrees Earned

• Ed.D., Organizational Leadership, Pepperdine University
• M.A., Psychology, Pepperdine University
• B.A., Theology, Concordia University, Seward, NE

Courses Taught

IOP/NPL 305, Christianity and Contempory Culture

Courses Taught

NPL 370, Leading and Motivating Volunteers

Courses Taught

NPL 465, Financial Management of a Nonprofit

Courses Taught

NPL 450, Legal Aspects of Managing a Nonprofit

Courses Taught

IOP 421, Measurement of Human Performance

Courses Taught

IOP 431, Training and Talent Development

Courses Taught

IOP 490, Organizational Development and Change Theory

Courses Taught

IOP 415, Organizational Consulting

Biography

Melanie Nichols is the World Wide Director of Organization Effectiveness for Ingram Micro. Prior to joining Ingram Micro, she spent twelve years working in values-driven, faith-based, not-for-profit organizations. Melanie specializes in transforming organizational culture; closing the gap between the stated and lived organizational values and engaging the workforce. She is known in industry for elevating and sustaining excellence by focusing on leadership development, human factors, structures and processes. Achievements of her internal customers include: Best Places to Work - National (Modern Healthcare), Best Places to Work - Texas, Magnet Designation, Top 100 Hospital (Thomas Reuters) and Highest National Ranking -Patient Satisfaction. Additionally, Melanie has been part of organizational teams when they have earned the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award and been named a Prism Coaching Finalist (International Coaching Federation).

Courses Taught

IOP 421, Measurement of Human Performance

Courses Taught

NPL 370, Leading and Motivating Volunteers

Courses Taught

NPL 355, Organizational Leadership

Biography

Dr. Peters led the development of the CU Accelerate program in 2000, and the MAIS degree that grew from the university's work in China. The other programs were added to the school under the umbrella of business and adult instruction.

Prior to his present role, he was a professor in the School of Education and managed the student teaching program. Prior to his joining Concordia in 1994 he served as a Lutheran Elementary school principal in various locations. His wife, Dr. Becky Peters, is a professor in the School of Education. He has two grown children and two grandchildren.

Degrees Earned

• Ed.D. Institutional Management, Pepperdine University
• M.A. School Administration, Pepperdine University
• B.A. Curriculum and Instruction, Concordia University, Chicago, IL

Professional/Scholarly Presentations

Council for Adult and Experiential Education (CAEL), November 12, 2004, Chicago: Presented on the topic: Adults Learn Even When They Are Not Present
Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) Chicago, Illinois 2004 Conference Presentation: Adult's Learn Even When They are Absent
Lutheran Educator's Conference, Palm Spring California 2004 Conference Presentation: Beat the Odds- Team Ministry Lessons Learned from Marriage
AIP-OC (Association of Internet Professionals), April 16, 2003 Presenter on the topic: "Online Education and Distance Learning: How it works with Careers in Technology"
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Mission Planters Institute, July, 1999 Conference Presentation: Entrepreneurial Leadership

Professional Involvement

Chairman, Board of Elders, St. John's Lutheran Church 2001 - present.
Chairman, Board of Directors, Pacific Southwest District Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, 1993-1999. Member of the board, 1985-1999.
Served on various committees including strategic planning committee. As Chairman led complete restructure of the district's governance to a policy based approach, hired a Chief Administrative Officer, Member, Board of Directors, Lutheran High School of Orange County, 1994-1999

Expertise

• Leadership Development
• Organizational management
• Strategic planning

Special Interests and Activities

• Golf
• Hiking
• Sailing
• Sports cars

Courses Taught

IOP/NPL 483 Business Ethics

Assistant Professor

Biography

Kellie has been teaching since 2008 and has taught classes at California State University Long Beach and Long Beach City College but has found a home at Concordia University where she can combine her love of teaching with her Christian beliefs. She has taught a variety of communication and writing courses but tends to focus on organizational communication/behavior, professional and academic writing, and oral presentation skills. She enjoys helping students grow personally and professionally during their time at Concordia so they can be well prepared for their various vocations when they graduate.

Degrees Earned

• Ph.D., Organizational Leadership, Regent University (in progress)
• M.A., California State University Long Beach (May 2010)
• B.A., California State University Long Beach (May 2007)

Courses Taught

Writing and Communication for the Workplace
Organizational Behavior
Internship
Senior Seminar

Courses Taught

IOP 411, Employee Motivation and Attitude Theory