La Sierra University: A Legacy of Notable Alumni

La Sierra University, an institution deeply rooted in the Seventh-day Adventist tradition, boasts a rich 100-year history of fostering excellence and service. Its alumni have made significant contributions to various fields, embodying the university's commitment to innovation, leadership, and community betterment. This article highlights some of the university's most notable alumni, showcasing their diverse achievements and the lasting impact they have had on the world.

Celebrating a Century of Achievement

As La Sierra University commemorates its centennial, it is essential to recognize the individuals who have shaped its legacy. The Centennial Gala will provide attendees with a historical retrospective of key moments in the institution’s history through to present day. Entertainment will be provided by creative force and dynamic classical pianist Alpin Hong along with an appearance by La Sierra alumnus and operatic tenor Anthony León. The evening’s highlights will feature the presentation of 100 Presidential Awards by La Sierra University President Joy Fehr. These individuals hold various ties to the university and have made significant contributions in a variety of ways - to the university and its standing, to their chosen fields and the spirit of innovation and excellence, to the Seventh-day Adventist denomination of which the university is a part, and to the betterment of the Riverside community and well-being of society.

Historical figures receiving recognition will include former La Sierra College President Erwin E. Cossentine, who worked to free La Sierra’s Japanese-American students from internment camps during World War II. Other individuals tied to the university’s beginnings will also be honored posthumously, notably Willits J. Hole, former owner of Rancho La Sierra, a Mexican land grant, a portion of which he sold for the development of university’s forerunner, La Sierra Academy, and James I. During the gala reception, the university will also unveil a book about its 100-year history, written by current and past faculty members and administrators.

Recognizing Outstanding Alumni

La Sierra University's Alumni Awards recognize the outstanding achievements and excellence of its former students. These awards celebrate alumni who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, service, and innovation in their respective fields.

2024 Alumni Awards

In 2024, ten individuals were honored at the Recognition Banquet and Alumni Awards Ceremony, representing a diversity of backgrounds and life pathways. The festive occasion was among first events that kicked off alumni weekend held April 18 - 21. A capacity audience filled an elaborately decorated Troesh Conference Center at the Zapara School of Business in celebration of two alumni each, a Rising Star alumnus and an Honored Alumnus, from the College of Arts & Sciences, the H.M.S. Richards Divinity School, the School of Education and the business school. Sacred performances later in the evening were provided by the La Sierra University Chamber Singers under Dr. Ariel Quintana.

Alumni of the Year: John and Kimberly Thomas

Dr. John Thomas, dean of the business school, and his wife, Kimberly Borg Thomas, were recognized as Alumni of the Year. The couple met during the 1980s while students in the university’s business program and were married in La Sierra’s historic Matheson Chapel. Their recognition on April 19 brought the audience to their feet in a cheering standing ovation.

John 'Johnny' Thomas holds an MBA from La Sierra received in 1988, and Kim Thomas holds a bachelor’s in management earned in 1987 and an MBA received in 1994, both from La Sierra. Both the Thomas’ children, Jonathan and Natasha, are recent graduates of La Sierra University and are pursuing medical careers.

John Thomas also holds a Master of Arts and Ph.D. received from Claremont Graduate University as well as a bachelor’s in zoology and an MBA in marketing earned respectively from Andhra University and top-ranked Symbiosis business school in India prior to his arrival in California. He has held the business school deanship since 1999 and is the school’s Bashir Hasso Professor of Entrepreneurship and Political Economy. Through relationship-building with business and community members and alumni, he progressed the business school’s processes and programming to achieve an enrollment high of nearly 500 students; he led fundraising efforts toward the development and construction of the two-story, 60,200-square-foot Zapara School of Business which opened in 2013 and which serves as a striking landmark near the campus entrance. He secured the university’s first endowed chair and has contributed in a transformative manner to enhancing La Sierra’s strategic position, including through the raising of funds supporting its programs.

As a young faculty member, Thomas mentored the students who founded La Sierra’s Students in Free Enterprise chapter, later called Enactus, which focused on entrepreneurial economic and educational empowerment of marginalized communities. He guided successive cohorts of the chapter’s leaders as they earned international recognition for La Sierra by winning seven national trophies and two world cups, as well as 21 final-four finalist placements in national competitive events. A cofounder of NASDAQ-listed Genelux Corporation, Thomas has been a member of its board of directors since 2002. He also serves on the boards of other organizations including Icon Business Bank, ADRA International; the Small Business Development Corporation of Orange County; Loma Linda Broadcasting Network; radio station KSGN; and the TransResearch Consortium, an international think tank. His professional awards include a Zapara Award for teaching excellence, a Leavey Award from the Freedoms Foundation, and a Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce Hero Award for Community Leadership.

Kim Thomas worked as a financial analyst at General Dynamics and the Loma Linda University-Center for Molecular Biology and Gene Therapy and a sales representative for Chemsearch. Through her extensive network she has facilitated multiple ventures, including the establishment of Genelux. Beginning in 1996, she focused on raising her children, empowering and inspiring them toward creating positive impact and achievement. As a believer in and product of Adventist education, Kim has served as a member of the Loma Linda Academy board, as Loma Linda Academy Home and School leader, as co-chair and co-creator of the successful Loma Linda Academy Family Volunteer Night benefitting multiple local charities, as a member of the Southeastern California Conference education board, and as a member of the La Sierra University Department of Music advisory council.

Read also: Sierra College Resources

College of Arts & Sciences

Rising Star: Jonathan Mamora ‘17, award-winning international concert pianist.
Honored Alumnus: Dr. Alison Rice ’96, chair of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at the University of Notre Dame and the Dr. William M. Scholl Professor of French and Francophone Studies.

H.M.S. Richards Divinity School

Rising Star: Cherise Gardner ’07, Lead Pastor, Chico Adventist Church.
Honored Alumnus: Leo Ranzolin, Sr. ’58, former youth ministries director and vice president for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Tom & Vi Zapara School of Business

Rising Star: Richard C. Patchett ’12,’14’, and ’15, Director of Finance, real estate strategy and operations, Providence St. Joseph Health.
Honored Alumnus: Brett Walls ’96, Assistant Vice President for Ambulatory Services, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.

School of Education

Rising Star: Heidi Jorgensen ’19, Superintendent of Education for the Nevada-Utah Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Honored Alumnus: Steve Hemenway ’02, ’04, ’12, Riverside City Councilmember Ward 7, La Sierra University Church Director of Finance.

Other Notable Alumni

Stan Morrison: Renowned former college basketball coach, athletics director, and current chair of La Sierra University’s foundation and athletics advisory boards.
Cindy Roth: Outgoing Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce president and chief executive officer, and past recipient of an honorary Doctor of Laws from La Sierra University.
Larry T: La Sierra University President Emeritus.
Thaine B: Seventh-day Adventist philanthropist.
Anthony Leon '19: La Sierra alumnus and operatic tenor.

Commencement and Recognition

La Sierra University's commencement ceremonies are significant events that celebrate the accomplishments of graduating students and recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the university and the wider community.

2019 Commencement

The 2019 commencement marked the last for La Sierra University President Randal Wiseby in his leadership role. He headed into retirement as of June 30 following 12 years at the university’s helm. On May 30, university trustees announced the selection of Provost Joy Fehr to serve as president beginning July 1.

The Conferring of Degrees ceremony kicked off with a special recognition of one of Riverside’s chief community and economic development advocates. Wisbey, together with Fehr and John Thomas, dean of the Zapara School of Business, presented Cindy Roth, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce with a Doctor of Laws honoris causa for her wide-ranging contributions to the business community, impact on government and public policy, and support of the city’s higher education institutions.

The Sunday Conferring of Degrees ceremony included five major awards bestowed onstage to students, faculty and staff members. The President’s Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Student went to Chloe Maksoudian, graduating summa cum laude with a double major in psychology and history; the President’s Award for Outstanding Graduate Student was given to Jeeyoung Lee, a Master of Divinity graduate earning her sixth degree from La Sierra and her eighth overall; the university’s Distinguished Scholarship Award went to Dr. Lloyd Trueblood, associate professor of biology; The Verla Rae Kwiram Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award was given to Dr. Paul Mallery, professor of psychology and department chair; and The Jay J. Nethery Award for significant staff contributions went to Director of Security Doug Nophsker.

Ethan Morales-Vierna, a cum laude computer science graduate, began work as a software developer with aerospace conglomerate Northrop Grumman Corp.

Read also: Sierra Space Future

Fritz Guy: Alumnus of the Year

Dr. Fritz Guy, an evangelist, pastor, religion professor, and La Sierra's first president in 1990, was honored as La Sierra's Alumnus of the Year. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in theology in 1952 from La Sierra and a Master of Arts in 1955 from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary. He joined La Sierra's faculty in 1961 and earned a Ph.D. in Christian theology from the University of Chicago in 1971.

Guy told the audience he learned from his La Sierra Professor Edward Heppenstall that “La Sierra is a place that is safe to think, a place that is safe to question answers. I was unspeakably blessed by my time here [as a student]. Those four years changed my life, because they gave me the idea of how exciting it can be to think theologically. I am proud to be part of La Sierra and I plan to stay here as long as I can possibly be useful to this place,” he said.

Other alumni receiving awards included:

Marilene Wang ('82): Professor of surgery, chief of otolaryngology, Veterans Administration Greater Los Angeles Health System, and director, Nasal and Sinus Disease Center, University of California, Los Angeles.
David Geriguis ('83): La Sierra University vice president for financial administration.
Mark Haynal ('97, '02): President, Canadian Union College, Lacombe, Alberta, Canada.
Ralph Pueschel ('52): Church pastor, singing evangelist.
Jan Eckermann ('00): Neurosurgeon, Kern Medical Center, Bakersfield.
Brian Meert ('03): Co-founder, Handbago.com.
Paige Sautner ('07): School psychologist, Lake Elsinore Unified School District.
Eva Pascal ('01): Doctoral student, Boston University.

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