The CAVAD Story

In May 2011, the California Baptist University Board of Trustees voted to establish a dedicated college that would merge existing arts programs with a bold new venture by creating a professional architecture school.

• Fall 2011: Mark Roberson was appointed as the founding Dean. As a practicing architect with over 20 years of experience, Dean Roberson was tasked with building the college from the ground up.
  
  

• Fall 2012: The new college officially launched with three initial programs including Art, Film Studies, and Graphic Design.
  
  

• Fall 2013: The brand new Architecture program welcomed its first cohort of 28 students.
  
  

• 2014: The architecture program achieved Initial Candidacy from the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
  
  

• 2018: A major milestone was reached when the Architecture program received its Initial Accreditation. This same year marked a significant program expansion as the college grew to 9 majors by adding Photography, Illustration, Interior Design, Art Therapy, and Art Education.
  
  

• May 2024: This year marked a significant turning point for the college as founding Dean Mark Roberson retired after establishing a powerful legacy of exponential growth.
  
  

• June 2024: Dirk Dallas was named the new Dean of CAVAD to lead the college into its next chapter. As both a long-time faculty member and one of the original founding faculty members present at the college’s inception in 2012, Dean Dallas brings a deep understanding of the CAVAD mission. A renowned designer and photographer widely recognized for his influential "From Where I Drone" brand, Dean Dallas now takes the helm to guide the college’s future.
  
  

• Fall 2024: Graphic Design program becomes the 15th largest graphic design program in the United States.
  
  

• January 2025: CAVAD gained new Program Coordinators to lead each of the nine majors
  
  

• May 2025: CAVAD reached a new height of international prestige by showcasing faculty and student work at the Venice Architecture Biennale in Italy.
  
  

• August 2025: This season of growth also saw the college gain two new departments and two chairs to lead them. The Department of the Built Environment is now led by Chair Keelan Kaiser and the Department of Visual Arts & Design is led by Chair Christopher Kern.
  
  

• Current Leadership Team

  • Dean: Dirk Dallas, M.F.A.

  • Associate Dean: Matthew Niermann, Ph.D.

  • Associate Dean: Katherine Papineau, Ph.D.

  • Built Environment Chair: Keelan Kaiser, FAIA

  • Visual Arts & Design Chair: Christopher Kern, M.F.A.

  • Program Coordinators:

    • Interior Design: Sarah Bandek, M.Arch

    • Graphic Design: Christopher Wright, M.F.A.

    • Film & Cinematic Arts: Michael Eaton, M.F.A.

    • Illustration: Renso Gomez Jimenez, M.F.A.

    • Photography: Christopher Kern, M.F.A.

    • Fine Art: Kristi Lippire, M.F.A.

    • Art Therapy & Art Education: Dr. Katherine Papineau