Board of Trustees

Pastor Roberts was elected as the executive secretary of the Pacific Union Conference in August 2021. Roberts comes to this role having previously served as president of the Southeastern California Conference, a position she held for eight years. She has an extensive history of service to the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Pacific Union, influenced by the example of her missionary parents. Her various roles have included pastor, associate youth director, school chaplain, summer camp director, religion teacher, and member of the board of trustees at La Sierra University. Before beginning her ministry in the Pacific Union, Roberts served as a dean and teacher at Cedar Lake Academy in Michigan. Pastor Roberts is the first female executive secretary of the Pacific Union Conference, and although she has received an unusual level of attention because of her gender, she chooses to focus on the work of the church. “We have a ministry to do and things to accomplish,” she says. She has degrees from Loma Linda University (BS), Andrews University (MA), and Claremont School of Theology (D.Min). Roberts especially enjoys the diversity of the Pacific Union. An avid world traveler, she has visited more than 90 countries and intends to continue adding at least one each year.

Jana Aagaard is an attorney specializing in health care law, with emphases in health information privacy and technology and clinical research. She graduated from Pacific Union College in 1976 (BA, English literature) and earned an MA degree in English literature from the University of California, Irvine, in 1977. She received her JD degree (magna cum laude) from the University of San Diego in 1992.

She was an associate at Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps in San Diego, CA before becoming in-house counsel at Sharp Healthcare (San Diego) in 1999. Since 2002, she has worked for Dignity Health (formerly named Catholic Healthcare West) both as in-house counsel and of counsel. Dignity Health is the largest nonprofit health system in the western United States, with 39 hospitals in California, Arizona and Nevada. Ms. Aagaard is currently the lead attorney at Dignity Health for all health privacy issues; she advises Dignity Health on all aspects of state and federal privacy compliance requirements, health information exchange, the federal “Meaningful Use Incentives” program and emerging health technologies.

Ms. Aagaard is married to Victor F. M. Aagaard (PUC 1978) and has two children and two grandchildren. She is an active member of the Carmichael Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Nield-Erik Andreasen is a retired higher education administrator. His most recent position was dean of the Loma Linda University School of Religion and was a visiting lecturer in Australia, England, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, France, Germany, and New Zealand. He spent more than a quarter of a century teaching for SDA colleges and universities- including teaching religion at Pacific Union College. Andreasen served on several hospital boards and Seventh-day Adventist executive committees, including executive committees of the Upper Columbia, North Pacific Union, and Lake Union conferences. He is the author of three books, including "The Christian Use of Time" and "The Old Testament Sabbath," as well as various articles and reviews.

Andreasen graduated in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in religion and history from Newbold College; and holds two degrees from Andrews University: a master of arts in Biblical studies and a bachelor of divinity degree. He also received a doctorate in religious studies from Vanderbilt University. In 1990, Andreasen was named president of Walla Walla College (now Walla Walla University), College Place, Washington.[2] He served in that capacity until July 1994, when he became the fifth president of Andrews University, where he served until 2016.

Dr. Gina S. Brown currently serves as the Dean for the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences at Howard University in Washington, DC. For over 25 years, Dr. Brown has worked professionally in North America, Asia, and Africa. Her expertise as a professional administrator and having a wide academic experience in many areas has allowed for the development of graduate and undergraduate programs. In addition, sustained and substantial contributions to diversifying the healthcare workforce by structuring opportunities for an estimated 1000 underrepresented students to launch nursing, advanced practice, and other healthcare careers. She has worked on the development of international programs in schools and hospitals in Ghana, the Philippines, and Tanzania with international capacity building.

Dr. Brown holds four degrees; an undergraduate in nursing and biology degree from Oakwood University and graduate studies in anatomy. She received her Master of Science degree in Health Services Administration from Central Michigan University and her Ph.D. degree in Nursing Administration (with a focus on Policy and Ethics) from George Mason University.

Dr. Leon B. Brown, Sr., is currently the Pacific Union Conference Executive Vice President. He received his undergraduate degrees in Theology and Business Administration from Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, going on to receive a Masters of Divinity (MDiv) from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, and a Masters of Business Administration from the School of Business, both at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. He has also earned a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree from the San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, CA.

Dr. Brown has served the Seventh-day Adventist church in various capacities for 19 years, recently serving in the Northern California Conference of SDAs just before coming to the Nevada-Utah Conference of SDAs.

He is happily married to Julie F. Brown. They have two adult sons, Leon II and Lawrence. He has a passion for community and a heart for people. Pastor Brown believes that his single greatest earthly achievement is that Jesus Christ is Lord of his life.

Dr. Ruth H. Chung is Professor and Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy program at the University of Southern California where she has been teaching for over 23 years. She graduated from PUC ('84) with a B.S. in Psychology summa cum laude.  She then went on to earn her M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is a recipient of a Fulbright Award to South Korea and continues to teach globally in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Dubai as part of a global executive doctoral program in educational leadership.

She is married to David Yoo, a historian and Vice Provost at UCLA, and they have 2 sons, Jonathan and Joshua. They currently live on the campus of USC as a Faculty in Residence of the Cale and Irani Residental Colleges.

Dr. Karen Cress is the founder and CEO of Culture Shift, LLC, a church management consulting company. Dr. Cress worked for 30 years as a pastor and administrator in various conferences across America. She holds a BA in Theology from Walla Walla University, a Master’s in Organizational Leadership, and a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership/Foresight from Regent University. Karen’s most significant achievements include helping religious organizations turn from declining to thriving. Her ultimate goal is to use her skills to glorify God and his people.

Stephen Mayer is the treasurer of the Pacific Union Conference and previously served as undertreasurer and has worked in the Pacific Union Treasury department in various roles since 2004. He is a graduate of Pacific Union College where he studied Business Administration with a triple emphasis in accounting, marketing, and management. Mayer also received his certification in Planned Giving and Trust Services in 2009 and currently serves on the board of the Western Adventist Foundation. Mayer is a California native, and along with his wife, Michelle, and family are active members of the Camarillo Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Berit Von Pohle is the vice president of education for the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. She has a B.S. in Business Education from Loma Linda University-La Sierra, an M.A. in Counseling and Guidance from Loma Linda University-Riverside, an Ed.S. in Educational Administration from La Sierra University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Administration from La Sierra University. She has worked in Adventist education for over 30 years as a teacher, a counselor, a principal, and most recently as superintendent of schools for the Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Dan Serns is president of the SDA Central California Conference. He previously served as Director of Evangelism (for English-speaking persons) for the SDA Texas Conference. Serns prior ministry experiences include developing a language school and serving as a pastor in Brownsville, Texas, Director of Youth Ministries, Church Ministries, Vice President of the Texas Conference, Pastor in the Kansas-Nebraska Conference, Senior Pastor in the Upper Columbia Conference, Ministerial Director/Soul Winning, Global Missions, Church Planting for the North Pacific Union Conference, and Senior Pastor in the Texas Conference.

Serns holds undergraduate degrees in Business Administration and Religion from Pacific Union College; and received the Masters of Arts in Pastoral Ministry degree from Andrews University. Serns and his wife Lois have three married children (Jacob, Dustin, and Danesa), who are all serving the Lord by God’s grace.

Dr. Ralph R. Trecartin Jr. is the twenty-fourth president of Pacific Union College. He and his wife Virginia encourage young people to walk closely with God through the adventures of life and to honor Him with lives of real joy.

Most recently, Dr. Trecartin held the positions of Associate Provost and Dean, College of Professions at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. In these roles he worked on campus-wide issues and specifically with the Department of Aviation, Department of Computing, School of Business, and helped to launch the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program. 

Previously, he served at the State University of New York, College at Brockport for 18 years in various capacities including as Assistant Professor of Finance, Associate Professor of Finance, Interim Assistant Honors Program Director, Research Compliance Coordinator, Acting Director of International Education, Executive Director of International Education and finally as Assistant Provost for International Education. 

Other roles have included: Visiting Professor at Otago University in Dunedin, New Zealand, Assistant Professor of Business at Andrews University for 11 years prior to moving to New York, and Interim Pastor in the Northern New England Conference. Dr. Trecartin has served on numerous denominational boards and committees over the years.

Dr. Trecartin holds a PhD in Finance from Michigan State University, an MBA from Andrews University, and a BA in Theology from Atlantic Union College. Dr. Trecartin believes that education is one of the most powerful ways to influence aspiring young people to reach for the highest levels of achievement while growing closer to God.

Kenneth is executive vice president at Maranatha Volunteers International, Inc.

Maranatha is a responsive organization that fulfills requests for construction assistance. Each project is carefully considered for need, overall impact on the community, and resources for long-term maintenance and support. Maranatha organizes approximately 50 mission trips each year and more than 2,400 volunteers participate. Thousands more support the mission work through donations. Over the history of the entire organization, nearly 70,000 people have volunteered on a Maranatha project.

Larry Witzel, MBA, is a respected innovator with a passion for harnessing technology and business processes for ministry. He is the founder and president of SermonView Evangelism Marketing, an Inc 5000 company that handles outreach event marketing and Bible study interest generation for churches throughout North America. He received a BA in theology and mass communications from Walla Walla University in 1991, and in 1998 earned his MBA from the Michael G. Foster School of Business at the University of Washington in Seattle, with concentrations in entrepreneurship and marketing.

In the mid-1990's Witzel worked at La Sierra University under the Vice President for Advancement, and has also held positions at the North Pacific Union Conference and It Is Written Television. After business school he spent time working at Intel and other technology companies in the Silicon Forest of Oregon, prior to founding SermonView in 2005. He currently serves on the board of Columbia Adventist Academy, where he is also chair of the finance committee, and on the Oregon Conference Executive Committee, where he also sits on the finance committee. He lives with his wife and two children in Vancouver, Wash., where he is an active member of Oasis Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Dr. Marc Woodson began serving as the Executive Secretary for the Northern California Conference November 1, 2007. He is a native of Southern California and a product of Adventist Christian education. Woodson has an associate degree in communication and a bachelor’s degree in theology from Oakwood University, a master of divinity degree from Andrews University, and a doctorate in ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary.

He is an ordained minister and has served in various capacities for over 20 years as a campus chaplain, youth pastor, associate pastor and senior pastor at the Mt. Rubidoux Adventist Church in Riverside, California. Before coming to Northern California, Woodson served the Southeastern California Conference as the associate youth director, where he supervised local church youth pastors, trained youth and young adult leaders, and planned youth events.