Meet the Staff
Carolyn Carpenter Hamilton, '81
Interim Vice President for Advancement
Carolyn provides leadership for all areas of PUC’s advancement program, and builds relationships with the alumni and friends who make the greatest investment in PUC. While she is managing the search for a permanent vice president, she is committed to leading the advancement team until that transition is complete.
Carolyn earned a B.A. from PUC in 1981, and received CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) certification in 2002. In 1986 she founded Hamilton, Bussell and Associates, a consulting firm that serves non-profits seeking to enhance their philanthropic efforts. As a consultant, Carolyn has worked with fundraising campaigns ranging from $1 million to $70 million, and has assisted PUC on several occasions.
Carolyn believes strongly in the mission of PUC and loves having the opportunity to share the good things going on now at her college. She’s also excited to be at a place where her work involves connecting with fellow alumni and old friends. “Coming to PUC as a student was incredible for me as a city girl raised in Los Angeles,” she says. “It was my first experience in a beautiful, natural environment, and I love coming back because of the memories. Some of my best friends are still PUC people.”
Eckhard Hubin
Director, Estate Planning
Eckhard’s passion is to build relationships with seniors who love PUC and to assist them in the practical aspects of developing their final plans. He loves his job, because it gives him the opportunity to ensure that their assets are handled exactly as they wish, in a way that will benefit both their families and—very often—their alma mater.
He earned a B.S. in business education with an emphasis in accounting from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. He also has a Master of Divinity from Andrews University, and briefly worked as a Seventh-day Adventist pastor in Upstate New York. He has been working in estate planning since 1986, and at PUC since 2000.
“This job takes listening, and I love listening to people to find out exactly what their wishes are,” he says. “It’s important to build a relationship of trust, because you have to let people make up their own minds about these important life decisions.”
Connie Philips, '02
Assistant Director of Advancement
Connie is in charge of engaging alumni in philanthropic giving to their alma mater. After earning a B.S. in public relations from PUC in 2002, she moved to California’s Inland Empire. There she spent 10 years working in the fundraising offices of Loma Linda University, including five years as annual giving coordinator.
Connie loves traveling, and took the opportunity to embark on several mission trips while working at Loma Linda. These include Kenya, where she climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Brazil, where she traveled down the Amazon River. She currently lives in Angwin with her dog Lucy.
She’s happy to be back up at PUC after 10 years away. “I’ve never worked for a place I truly loved before,” she says. “I'm excited to give back to a school that’s given so much to me – an education and great friends that I’ll have forever.”
Kirt Brower, '04
Alumni Relations Officer
Kirt is the lead coordinator for all alumni relations, events, and programs, including Homecoming, the Maxwell Cup, and a variety of alumni receptions around the country. He also works part time as the coach of Pioneer men’s basketball.
He graduated from PUC in 2004 with a B.S. in exercise science, a minor in business management, and a teaching credential. He spent several years teaching and coaching middle school and high school sports in the Napa Valley and San Bernardino County, before assuming a dual role as assistant men’s basketball coach and annual fund officer at the University of Redlands. While there, he also earned a master’s degree in higher education.
“Being away from PUC has given me a new perspective on all the great things we have here,” he says. “I’m excited to see what we can do at PUC.”
Karen Roth, '85
Trust Officer and Administrative Assistant
Karen manages the operations of the planned giving office, making sure the details of trustors’ final plans are in place. She graduated from PUC in 1985 with an associate’s degree in office administration with an accounting emphasis, and has accumulated over 35 years of clerical experience.
She loves her job because it involves a lot of contact with an older, perhaps wiser group of people. “I have always loved the older generation, even as a teenager,” she says. “I love hearing their stories and their experiences.”
In the planned giving office, Karen gets to combine that interest with her passion for her alma mater. “Planned gifts are really important for PUC, but we put our trustors’ plans and their plans for their families first,” she says. “When someone remembers PUC in their end of life plans, it’s really exciting, and it can be done in such a way that the families are blessed as well as PUC.”
Larry Peña, '10
Staff Writer and Media Coordinator
Larry Peña is in charge of keeping you connected to the PUC story. He manages the alumni website, is a lead writer for e-mail and letter campaigns, and is the assistant editor and major contributor of ViewPoint. Every word you read on every message from us most likely came from or through him—including the ones you are reading right now.
He graduated from PUC in 2010 with a B.A. in communication after studying here and at La Sierra University. He worked as a student writer in the public relations offices of both schools, and currently also shares his time as a writer with the PUC PR office.
After taking a long and circuitous route through college, Larry is honored to have the chance to promote the school that saw him through to the end. “PUC has become a wonderful and supportive home to me and my family,” he says. “I want to do whatever I can do to say thank you, and to help more students find that same experience in the future.”
Darin West, '11
Annual Giving and Alumni Records Specialist
Darin handles the daily tasks of keeping PUC’s alumni and donor records accurate and up to date. He is also responsible for receiving, recording, and expressing our gratitude for every gift made to PUC.
He has been a part of the alumni and advancement team for several years as an intern and student worker. After graduated in 2011 with a B.S. in public relations and journalism, he transitioned into a full-time staff role.
“I really enjoyed being a student here, so getting the opportunity to give back to other students and improve the campus is pretty rewarding,” he says. “My part in philanthropy is kind of indirect, but it feels good to open a gift for the worthy student fund or a scholarship knowing it will help a student stay at PUC.”
Ramona Evans
Executive Assistant and Office Manager
Ramona holds the Alumni and Advancement office together, keeping the daily operations flowing smoothly in a fast-paced and varied environment! She supports the vice president and the office staff in a variety of ways.
After careers in journalism and teaching English, including at PUC, Ramona unretired to New Mexico to help her ill daughter and later care for her grandson. When that grandchild went off to school, Ramona decided to nretired to a support position at PUC. In addition to her new job at PUC, she also works part-time as the head copy editor of Spectrum Magazine.
Ramona’s work in the Alumni office gives her the wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends still on the faculty. More importantly, she never tires of the thrill of seeing people give to PUC out of a spirit of genuine generosity. “These are precious gifts—and the size doesn’t matter—so we have to make sure they are spent wisely,” she says. “It’s the spirit of giving that makes each gift impressive.”