Faculty

With a student-teacher ratio of 12:1, your professors will know you. They’re invested in helping you succeed. As you work towards your career goals, you will find your professors become more—they become your mentors who can help you along your journey, and ones you can still get advice from years after graduation.

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Vola Andrianarijaona

Vola Andrianarijaona, Ph.D.

Affiliate Professor of Physics

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Vola Andrianarijaona, Ph.D.

Affiliate Professor of Physics

Vola Andrianarijaona, Ph.D., specializes in lasers, solid state physics, and AMO physics. He has been an "Assistant d'encadrement" (assistant teacher) at the Universite catholique de Louvain in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, a " Wissenschaftlicher" (scientist) at the Max-Planck-Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany, and a research associate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Outside of work, he also enjoys playing with his children.


Degrees

B.A., Universite Paris XIII

1995

M.A., Universite Paris VII

1996

M.A. Universite Paris VIII

1997

Ph.D., Universite Catholique de Louvain

2002

Libna Arroyo

Libna Arroyo, M.A.

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Profile

Libna Arroyo, M.A.

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Libna Arroyo grew up as the daughter of a missionary pastor and a teacher. She lived in several countries in Central America, Canada, and several states of the United States of America. Libna graduated from Southern Adventist University with a BA in Psychology, a Minor in Spanish, and a Masters in School counseling. For the last 14 years, Libna has worked in all areas of education and counseling, across 7 states, as counselor in elementary, middle/high school, alternative and adult education, mental health centers and taught college in Denver, Colorado.

She is interested in pursuing a PH. D in either counselor education, developmental or cognitive psychology.

Libna has a passion for research in psychology and some of her research interests include: the correlation between child

development and technology, academic achievement among minority students in the USA, the correlation between childhood trauma, fear development and resiliency.

She is married to Jonathan, a hospital and Air Force chaplain and they have two children, Nolan, and Katherine, and live in Angwin.


Degrees

BA in Psychology, Southern Adventist University

2006

Minor in Spanish, Southern Adventist University

2006

MA in School Counseling, Souther Adventist University

2008

Morningdove Bain

Morningdove Bain, MSN, RN, PMH-BC, PHN, FCN

Instructor of Nursing

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Morningdove Bain, MSN, RN, PMH-BC, PHN, FCN

Instructor of Nursing


Iris Baker

Iris Baker, M.S.N.

Assistant Professor of Nursing

Profile

Iris Baker, M.S.N.

Assistant Professor of Nursing

I come to PUC with 13 years of experience in medical/surgical nursing and two years experience teaching nursing part time. I am happy to return to PUC in this new role, having attended PUC as a student and lived in Angwin as a staff spouse. In my leisure time, I enjoy gardening, cooking, hiking, backpacking, reading, and needle arts. My favorite place to be is outside.


Degrees

BSN CSU Hayward

2006

MSN-Ed Norwich University

2017

Ellen Balk-Dick

Ellen Balk-Dick, MN, RN, MPH

Instructor of Nursing

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Ellen Balk-Dick, MN, RN, MPH

Instructor of Nursing


Degrees

MPH, Loma Linda University

1992

MN in Nursing, UCLA

1990

BS in Nursing, Andrews University

1987

David Bell

David Bell, M.S.B.A., M.I.S. - Chair

Associate Professor of Business Administration

Profile

David Bell, M.S.B.A., M.I.S. - Chair

Associate Professor of Business Administration

David Bell, associate professor, began teaching at PUC in 1990. He enjoys music, physics, and electronics.


Degrees

B.S.E., Walla Walla College

1987

M.S.B.A., M.I.S., California State University

1999

Patrick Benner

Patrick Benner, M.L.I.S. - Chair

Librarian

Profile

Patrick Benner, M.L.I.S. - Chair

Librarian

Patrick Benner is a PUC Computer Science graduate who returned in 1997 to serve as the Library/Learning Resource Center Network Manager. He had previously served as lead programmer and then IT Director for eleven years at Christian Record Services in Lincoln, NE. While working in the library, he obtained his MLIS degree from San Jose State University in 2006 and began serving as PUC's Systems Librarian. In 2017, a series of library retirements led to Patrick adding the role of Library Director/Dept. Chair to his duties. Patrick has a long history of working with Primary, Junior & Youth Sabbath School divisions in many churches. He volunteered for 20 years as an EMT with the Angwin Community Ambulance and has served on their board. Patrick enjoys participating with various campus activities such as the Chess Club, the ASL Club, the Computer Science Club and aviation.


Degrees

B.S. Computer Science, Pacific Union College

1984

M.L.I.S., San Jose State University

2006

Rachelle Berthelsen Davis

Rachelle Berthelsen Davis, D.M.A.

Professor of Music

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Rachelle Berthelsen Davis, D.M.A.

Professor of Music

Rachelle Berthelsen-Davis, D.M.A., specializes in violin performance and violin pedagogy. She has taught at Columbia Union College; been the assistant director and concertmaster of the New England Symphonic Ensemble and assistant director of the New England Youth Ensemble; directed a middle school orchestra program; toured Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, China, Southeast Asia, the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean as a soloist and orchestral and chamber musician; and continues to participate in local chamber music and solo recitals. She is currently fascinated with alternative musical styles (non-classical music) and how to translate them to violin. She enjoys jamming with any group of instruments, reading, having interesting, meaningful conversations, and raising two young boys.


Degrees

B.S., Pacific Union College

1994

M.M., Indiana University, Bloomington

1998

D.M.A., University of Texas, Austin

2004

Katrina Blue

Katrina Blue, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Theology and Christian Spirituality

Profile

Katrina Blue, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Theology and Christian Spirituality

Katrina Blue specializes in teaching theology and Christian spirituality. Her Ph.D. dissertation is on “Union with Christ in the Writings of Ellen G. White.” She has presented papers at the Ellen G. White Symposium on the Holy Flesh Movement, and has published articles in the Ellen White Symposium Journal, a series on Paul in Galatians for the Compass Magazine, as well as Spectrum magazine. She is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Adventist Society for Religious Studies, and the Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality. She has worked as a teaching assistant at Fuller Theological Seminary, a hospital chaplain, associate pastor (intern), and as an adjunct professor at Andrews University in the undergrad Religion Department as well as in the Theological Seminary. She is married to David, an anesthesiologist.


Degrees

B.A. Hons, Monash University

1995

M.A.I.C.S., Fuller Theological Seminary

2002

M.A.T., Fuller Theological Seminar

2008

Ph.D., Andrews University

2015

Julianna Boydston

Julianna Boydston, M.S.N., RN

Assistant Professor of Nursing

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Julianna Boydston, M.S.N., RN

Assistant Professor of Nursing

Born and raised in the Napa Valley, primarily in Saint Helena, Julianna Boydston grew up loving and riding all types of horses, and continues to ride to this day—it’s still her favorite hobby. Along with her husband and daughter, she lives on a ranch with chickens, horses, and dogs. Julianna received her BSN and MSN degrees from the University of San Francisco, and comes to PUC with several years of experience working as a critical care nurse, most recently at at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital for the past 5 years. She specializes in the care of pediatric patients with congenital heart disease. Julianna is very excited to begin her career in academia here at PUC teaching Pediatrics and Management & Professional Practice.


Degrees

B.S.N.,University of San Francisco

2012

M.S.N.,University of San Francisco

2013

Jean Buller

Jean Buller, Ed.D. - Chair

Professor of Education

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Jean Buller, Ed.D. - Chair

Professor of Education

Jean Buller, Ed.D, has been teaching at Pacific Union College since 1988. She graduated from PUC with two degrees, biology and education. Her doctorate degree in Curriculum and Instruction focused on identifying beginning stages of reading instruction in preservice teachers. Although she specializes in elementary education, she has experience with all grade levels, preschool to graduate students. Her 44 years of teaching in Northern California include working as elementary teacher, reading specialist, middle and high school science teacher, and college professor. She enjoys music and regularly performs with various choral groups in Napa Valley. She loves writing, boating, hiking with her dogs, and exploring the world with her husband, Mark.


Degrees

B.A., Pacific Union College

1972

M.A., Pacific Union College

1985

Ed.D. University of the Pacific

2003

Susan Bussell

Susan Bussell, D.N.P., R.N., A.C.N.P

Professor of Nursing

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Susan Bussell, D.N.P., R.N., A.C.N.P

Professor of Nursing


Degrees

B.S., Loma Linda University

1993

M.S., University of California, San Francisco

1999

Jon Carstens

Jon Carstens, M.A.

Associate Professor of Art History

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Jon Carstens, M.A.

Associate Professor of Art History

As a professor of art history, Jon Carstens brings a breadth of knowledge of the humanities and a passion for art history, with a concentration in American art of the nineteenth century and the work of Winslow Homer in particular. He believes that “looking is not as easy as it looks," and in his courses he employs the visual image as a document to reveal how art and architecture reveal the cultural and historical milieu in which it was created.

Carstens rejoins the college faculty after previously teaching at PUC for 25 years. He lives in Angwin with his wife Claudia. In his free time, he enjoys auto racing, interior and landscape design, and travel.


Degrees

B.A. University of Redlands

1976

M.A. University of California, Riverside

1979

Keunsang

Keunsang "Chris" Cho, B.S., CFI

Instructor of Aviation, Airport Manager, Director of Aviation Program

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Keunsang "Chris" Cho, B.S., CFI

Instructor of Aviation, Airport Manager, Director of Aviation Program

Keunsang "Chris" Cho began teaching at PUC in 2019. He had previously worked as a flight instructor at Napa Jet Center. He really enjoys teaching students to fly not only in the air but also throughout the whole process towards each student's goal.


Degrees

B.S., Pacific Union College

2007

Serah Choi

Serah Choi, M.S.N., R.N.

Assistant Professor of Nursing

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Serah Choi, M.S.N., R.N.

Assistant Professor of Nursing


Degrees

B.S.N., Pacific Union College

2008

M.S.N., Loma Linda University

2012

Tony Chung

Tony Chung, BSN, RN

Instructor of Nursing

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Tony Chung, BSN, RN

Instructor of Nursing

Tony Chung, adjunct nursing professor and clinical instructor at Piner’s Nursing Home in Napa, California, joined PUC in 2021. He has a background in geriatric care, and his transition from bedside nurse to educator allows his nursing students to apply their learned concepts to a clinical setting under experienced guidance. He wants to ensure each student nurse has an equal opportunity to deliver care, safety, and comfort to their patients with confidence.


Degrees

BSN: Framingham State University

2014

ASN, Atlantic Union College

2011

BBA, Assumption University, Bangkok, Thailand

1997

Amy Cronk

Amy Cronk, M.A.A.T.

Assistant Professor of Fine Art

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Amy Cronk, M.A.A.T.

Assistant Professor of Fine Art

Amy Cronk, MAAT, spent the last two years in the heart of downtown Chicago studying to receive her master's in Art Therapy from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. While interning, she had the privilege of working with a variety of populations including children with autism, older adults with Alzheimer's Disease and dementia, ex-prison offenders and women receiving treatment for cancer. Before moving to Chicago, she received her BFA from La Sierra University where she emphasized her art practice in oil painting on wood, incorporating three dimensional elements, as well as welding metal sculptures. When she's not in the studio, she enjoys yoga, reading, and playing with her pets.


Degrees

B.F.A., La Sierra University

2009

M.A.A.T., School of the Art Institute of Chicago

2011

Kent Davis

Kent Davis, Ph.D. - Chair

Professor of Chemistry

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Kent Davis, Ph.D. - Chair

Professor of Chemistry

Kent A. Davis , Ph.D., associate professor, specializes in physical chemistry and surface science. He has taught at PUC since 2003 and has also been a visiting professor at Texas State University-San Marcos and an adjunct professor at Trinity College. He enjoys reading, jazz, listening to classical music, and much more.


Degrees

B.S., Andrews University

1992

Ph.D., Indiana University

1998

Postdoctoral Research - Texas A&M University

1998-2000

Tim de la Torre

Tim de la Torre, B.S.

Instructor of Film & Television Production

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Tim de la Torre, B.S.

Instructor of Film & Television Production

Tim de la Torre, Resident Artist for Film & Television, has partnered with his wife, Jaymie, to run a boutique media production company since 2009. With a particular passion for non-fiction storytelling, Tim has produced TV shows for Hope Channel, documentaries, and various projects for many corporate clients. His favorite parts of his work are to have his subjects trust him to tell their stories, and opportunities to travel the world. He is excited to mentor his students and challenge them to take their projects to the next level.


Degrees

B.S., Pacific Union College

2006

Jaymie de la Torre

Jaymie de la Torre, B.S.W., B.F.A.

Instructor of Fine Art

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Jaymie de la Torre, B.S.W., B.F.A.

Instructor of Fine Art

Jaymie de la Torre is a fine artist with a passion for texture and found objects. Focusing her artistic practice on sculpture and ceramics, her work reflects both the natural world and landscapes we find within our own mind and heart. She encourages students to explore the ways art-making teaches us about the deeper themes of life. Jaymie brings to her artwork and teaching a broad range of experiences including working with diverse groups in the inner-city, disaster relief and documentary film production. She loves experiencing different cultures and natural wonder across the globe.


Degrees

2005

B.S.W., Pacific Union College

2018

B.F.A Pacific Union College

John Duncan

John Duncan, Ph.D. - Chair

Professor of Biology

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John Duncan, Ph.D. - Chair

Professor of Biology

John C. Duncan, Ph.D., professor, specializes in anatomy, human development and anatomy, and cell biology. He has been a PUC faculty member since 2000, and before that taught biology at the University of Delaware. He is interested in gene regulation during development, reef aquariums, and science fiction.


Degrees

B.S., Andrews University

1991

Ph.D., Loma Linda University

1998

Kimberly Dunker

Kimberly Dunker, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE, CNEcl - Chair

Professor of Nursing

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Kimberly Dunker, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE, CNEcl - Chair

Professor of Nursing

Originally graduating from Atlantic Union College with her AS and BS degrees she has been a nurse for 22 years. Kimberly has worked in a variety of Critical Care nursing areas, specializing in Adult, Surgical, Medical, Oncology, Thoracic, Neurology and Cardiac Surgeries. In addition to holding academic teaching positions, both in the classroom and in clinical instruction, she previously taught at her alma-mater, Atlantic Union College as an Associate Professor of Nursing. She has taught in both pre-licensure medical-surgical nursing, nursing research and RN-BS courses in Informatics and Nursing Leadership as well as master's level nursing education and leadership courses. Her doctoral research and publications focus on, "The Empowerment of Nursing Faculty, development, and Orientation." Her core values focus on student outcomes and retention and academic and clinical faculty satisfaction and development.

In addition to her work in academics, Kimberly is a SIGMA Advisor and author for new nursing educators and has served in accreditation roles.

Most recently, Kimberly comes to us from the Fortis Institute in Nashville, Tennessee, where she was the dean of nursing, and provided leadership in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of the nursing program under the president of the college and national VP of Nursing at Education Affiliates.


Degrees

A.D.N, Atlantic Union College

2000

B.S.N Atlantic Union College

2001

M.S.N Regis College

2004

MSN post masters education Wright State University

2005

DNP, Regis College

2011

Matthew Evans

Matthew Evans, M.A.

Professor of Kinesiology

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Matthew Evans

Tel: 1-707-965-
Email:

Matthew Evans, M.A.

Professor of Kinesiology


Abram Fisher

Abram Fisher, J.D.

Professor of Business Administration

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Abram Fisher, J.D.

Professor of Business Administration


Degrees

B.S., Pacific Union College

2007

J.D., University of Maryland

2011

Smirna Garcia

Smirna Garcia, M.A.

Assistant Professor of World Languages

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Smirna Garcia, M.A.

Assistant Professor of World Languages

Smirna Garcia-Ramiez began teaching at PUC in 2019. Prior to PUC she worked at Rio Lindo Adventist Academy for twelve years where she was the Spanish and ESL teacher, as well as the director of the TOEFL iBT test center. Smirna has also taught in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia, Sagunto, Spain, and was a principal and teacher in an elementary school in Tulsa, OK. She holds a B.A. in Spanish and Journalism from Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, México, and a M.A. of Arts in Spanish from Western Michigan University. She enjoys traveling, swimming, and hiking the PUC trails with her family.


Degrees

B.A., Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro

2000

M.A., Western Michigan University

2002

Linda Gill

Linda Gill, Ph.D.

Professor of English

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Linda Gill, Ph.D.

Professor of English

Linda Gill specializes in Victorian England, development of the novel, literary theory and dramatic performance. Gill has written articles for Dickens World, The Journal of Popular culture and Victorian Institute. She has also presented papers on Victorian authors such as Bronte, Dickens and Kipling, in addition to papers on the Harry Potter novels at Popular Culture conferences. She is particularly interested in investigating identity construction, meaning making and power in narratives. In addition to teaching courses in Romantic and Victorian literature, Gill teaches courses in Acting and performs regularly in DAS productions.


Degrees

B.A., Andrews University

1984

M.A., La Sierra University

1986

Ph.D., University of California, Riverside

1992

Tara Hargrove

Tara Hargrove, M.A. - Chair

Associate Professor of Communication

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Tara Hargrove, M.A. - Chair

Associate Professor of Communication

Tara D. Hargrove joined the faculty at Pacific Union College as Associate Professor in 2018 after teaching for Southern Adventist University for nine years and a year at her alma mater, Campion Academy. Hargrove completed her undergraduate degree in Speech Communication at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado and then her master’s degree in Communication Studies and a graduate certificate in Women’s Studies.

Hargrove currently teaches Communication and Public Speaking, Advanced Public Speaking, Intercultural Communication and is honored to now serve as department chair. She enjoys research and writing and has presented a number of competitively selected papers throughout her career and has two coauthored journal article publications. In her free time Hargrove enjoys hiking, tide-pooling and just plain adventuring with her husband, Robert, their two adult boys and daughter.


Degrees

M.A. in Communication Studies, Colorado State University

2009

Floyd Hayes

Floyd Hayes, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology

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Floyd Hayes, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology

Floyd E. Hayes, Ph.D., professor, is a zoologist specializing in the ecology, behavior and biogeography of birds. While an undergraduate student, Dr. Hayes took off a year to teach in an elementary school on the island of Kosrae in Micronesia. He worked for three years as a vertebrate biologist for the US Peace Corps, based in the National Museum of Natural History of Paraguay. He also taught biology for nine years at Caribbean Union College (now University of the Southern Caribbean) and the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, and spent a year working as a wildlife biologist for the Division of Fish and Wildlife in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Dr. Hayes was editor in chief of Journal of Caribbean Ornithology during 2005-2013 and was a Fulbright Scholar to Paraguay in 2012. He enjoys birding, rock climbing and snorkeling.


Degrees

B.S., Loma Linda University

1985

M.S., University of Michigan

1986

Ph.D., Loma Linda University

1993

Michael Jefferson

Michael Jefferson, M.A.

Associate Professor of Psychology, Wellness Center Director

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Michael Jefferson, M.A.

Associate Professor of Psychology, Wellness Center Director

Michael Jefferson grew up the son of a minister and nurse in the town of Ojai, California. Upon graduating from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, he received his master's degree in counseling psychology from Bowie State University in Maryland. After working two years for Social Services in Loudoun County, Virginia, Michael started working on a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at The Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He completed his internship in Washington, D.C., with Shambu N. Banik and Associates, former chair of the Presidents Counsel on Mental Retardation. Michael is currently completing his dissertation on the experience of interpersonal intimacy by the adult children of ministers. He teaches for both the psychology and social work department and ECE program at PUC. His mental health interest and training are in ADHD, depression, and men's issues. Michael and his wife, Kathy, have two boys, Christopher and Nicholas, and live in Angwin.


Degrees

B.S., Andrews University

...

M.A., Bowie State University

1996

Kathleen Jefferson

Kathleen Jefferson, M.S.

Assistant Professor of Education

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Kathleen Jefferson, M.S.

Assistant Professor of Education

Kathy graduated from Columbia Union College, now Washington Adventist University in 1991 with a bachelor’s in elementary education and a minor in English. She completed a master’s in special education at Johns Hopkins University in 2002. For the past 23 years Kathy has taught in a variety of settings ranging from regular education 6th and 1st grade to special education remedial instruction K–8, as well as adjunct professor teaching education courses for Washington Adventist University and Pacific Union College. She served as Special Education Co-Director for Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for four years. She received the Zapara Exellence in Teaching Award in 1997. Kathy lives in Angwin with her husband and two boys.


Degrees

B.S., Washington Adventist University

1991

​M.S. Special Education, Johns Hopkins University

2002

Jefferson Joiner

Jefferson Joiner, M.S.N., R.N., C.E.N., N.R.E.M.T., W.E.M.T.

Associate Professor of Nursing & Emergency Services, Director of Health Science

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Jefferson Joiner, M.S.N., R.N., C.E.N., N.R.E.M.T., W.E.M.T.

Associate Professor of Nursing & Emergency Services, Director of Health Science

Jeff Joiner has worked in healthcare as an RN since 1980. He has served as staff nurse, department manager, nursing supervisor, and hospital vice-president. He obtained his MSN as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Critical Care/Trauma. Jeff holds national certifications in Emergency Nursing and as a Wilderness EMT. He has been active in Emergency Management and Disaster Response at the local, state, national and international levels since 2001. He has over 10 years of experience in higher education teaching Nursing and Emergency Management. He has served as a content expert and lecturer in Disaster Response and Emergency Management. Jeff has been married to his wife Judy for over 30 years. They have two grown daughters and two grandsons. Jeff enjoys reading, scuba diving and international travel.


Degrees

AS, Southern Adventist University

1980

BSN, Southwestern Adventist University

1986

MSN, University of Kentucky

1996

Young-Chun Kim

Young-Chun Kim, M.Div.

Associate Professor of Systematic Theology

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Young-Chun Kim, M.Div.

Associate Professor of Systematic Theology

Young-Chun Kim specializes in soteriology (the study of religious doctrines of salvation), Karl Barth and Martin Luther. He has worked as a teaching assistant, lecturer, consultant, and instructor-in-training at Fuller Theological Seminary and has taught English at the SDA Language Institute in Seoul, Korea. Kim has played the violin for over 30 years and enjoys drawing, traveling and learning new languages. The example of his family serves as a constant inspiration in his life.


Degrees

B.A. in Theology, Andrews University

2000

B.A. in Spanish Studies, Andrews University

2000

M.Div., Andrews Theological Seminary

2004

Brian Kyle

Brian Kyle, M.F.A.

Associate Professor of Photography

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Brian Kyle, M.F.A.

Associate Professor of Photography

Brian Kyle is a multi-disciplinary artist with a background in photography, graphic design, illustration, and printmaking. Brian holds undergraduate degrees in Photography and Graphic Design from Pacific Union College, and an MFA in Photography from the Academy of Art University. Before coming to teach at Pacific Union College in 2011, Brian worked for 6 years as a graphic designer and illustrator in San Diego, California, working for such clients as Disney, Universal Studios, NBC, Urban Outfitters, and Nordstroms. Brian also enjoys mountain biking, cooking, playing music on a variety of instruments, and designing/building/fixing things.


Degrees

B.S. in Photography, 2004

B.S. in Graphic Design, 2004

Helene Linzau

Helene Linzau, M.S.N., R.N.

Assistant Professor of Nursing

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Helene Linzau, M.S.N., R.N.

Assistant Professor of Nursing

Helene Linzau teaches fundamentals of nursing. She continues to work occasionally at the St. Helena Hospital. She enjoys shopping for her nieces, quilting, taking pictures, and, if she has time, scrap-booking and traveling.


Degrees

A.S., Loma Linda University

1993

B.S. Loma Linda University

1996

A.S.N., Pacific Union College

1999

B.S.N. Pacific Union College

2000

Kevin Little

Kevin Little, R.N., M.S., A.N.P.-B.C.

Assistant Professor of Nursing

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Kevin Little, R.N., M.S., A.N.P.-B.C.

Assistant Professor of Nursing


Emily Logan

Emily Logan,

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Emily Logan,


Milbert Mariano, M.F.A.

Milbert Mariano, M.F.A.,

Academic Dean and Vice President for Academic Administration

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Milbert Mariano, M.F.A.,

Academic Dean and Vice President for Academic Administration

After graduating from PUC with a B.S. in advertising design and one in studio art, Milbert Mariano acquired his M.F.A. from Academy of Art University in San Francisco. In summer 2019, he shifted into his new role as vice president for academic administration and academic dean. With four years as a student, nearly 25 years of teaching graphic design, and 12 of those as department chair, Mariano’s intimate knowledge of and love for the college goes back nearly three decades.

Taking a deep interest in every area of campus, Mariano has served on several student committees as advisor and sponsor, co-directed the annual Publications Workshop for high school students, and has been part of PUC’s Cultural Engagement Taskforce and Academic Standards & General Education, among others. Mariano’s overarching goal as an educator and an administrator is to provide spaces that spark creative learning, and to innovate curriculum that encourages collaboration between departments.


Tammy McGuire

Tammy McGuire, Ph.D.

Professor of Communication

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Tammy McGuire, Ph.D.

Professor of Communication

Tammy McGuire, Ph.D., professor, specializes in organizational communication. She taught English for many years at Sunnydale Academy (Missouri) and Upper Columbia Academy (Washington) and has written and presented extensively on communication topics, with several presentations at the National Communication Association Conventions. However, she is particularly proud of her communication research students winning numerous top paper awards themselves at these conventions. She loves mountain climbing, rock climbing, backpacking, mountain biking, bikepacking, and tennis.


Degrees

B.A. in Language Arts Education, Union College

...

M.A. in English, Eastern Washington University

...

Ph.D. in Communication, University of Missouri - Columbia

2006

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Youtube Video for Tammy
Keith Neergaard

Keith Neergaard, Ph.D.

Professor of Business Administration

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Keith Neergaard, Ph.D.

Professor of Business Administration

Keith Neergaard, professor, has taught at PUC since 1988. His teaching specialization is in marketing, economics, and management; and his research specialty is consumer behavior and services marketing publications. Dr. Neergaard has worked as a consultant, worked in the health care field and the defense industry, and taught at the college/university level. He enjoys tennis, golf, scuba diving, and traveling, and is a ski patroller at Heavenly, spending about 30 days a year there.


Degrees

B.B.A., Pacific Union College

1984

Ph.D., University of California, Irvine

1994

Bryan Ness

Bryan Ness, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology

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Bryan Ness, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology

Bryan D. Ness, Ph.D., professor, has been at PUC since 1989. His research interests include plant systematics and genetics. He advises in the areas of biology, natural science, veterinary medicine, medical radiography and occupational therapy.


Degrees

B.S., Walla Walla College

1983

M.S., Walla Walla College

1985

Ph.D.,Washington State University

1992

Marie Pak

Marie Pak, Ph.D.

Professor of Chemistry

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Marie Pak, Ph.D.

Professor of Chemistry

Marie Pak, Ph.D., professor, began teaching at PUC in 1999. She specializes in biochemistry and spent six years as a postdoctoral research fellow at the National Institutes of Health in Rockville, Maryland. Dr. Pak enjoys reading, going to state fairs, and watching movies.


Degrees

B.S., Indiana University

1988

M.S.,Ph.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine

1993

Jenna Park

Jenna Park, M.S.N., R.N.

Assistant Professor of Nursing

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Jenna Park, M.S.N., R.N.

Assistant Professor of Nursing

Jenna Park grew up in the Bay Area most of her life and returns to PUC as a nurse educator. She has experience working in multiple skilled nursing rehabilitation facilities as a charge nurse as well as in acute care settings in mostly in the medical surgical unit. She is passionate about the geriatric population, specifically those diagnosed with dementia, and she hopes to continue on the research to further the community and fellow nurses’ knowledge about dementia. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, trying out new cuisine, and planning her next trip to Disneyland.


Degrees

A.S.N., Pacific Union College

2015

B.S.N., Pacific Union College

2017

M.S.N., San Jose State University

2020

Laurie Parson

Laurie Parson, DNP, RN-BC, CNE

Professor of Nursing

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Laurie Parson, DNP, RN-BC, CNE

Professor of Nursing

Laurie Parson, DNP, RN-BC, Associate Professor, has worked in healthcare for over 25 years starting as a certified nursing assistant. She has experience in medical/surgical acute care, long-term care, and nursing education. She holds ANCC Board Certification as a medical/surgical nurse and as a gerontological nurse and NLN Certification as a Certified Nurse Educator. Some of her favorite pastimes include, hiking, camping, reading, and traveling with family.


Degrees

B.S., Utah State University

1993

B.S.N., Walla Walla College

1996

M.S., Ball State University

2012

D.N.P., Southern Adventist University

2017

Robert Paulson

Robert Paulson, Ph.D. - Chair

Professor of Physical Science

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Robert Paulson, Ph.D. - Chair

Professor of Physical Science

Bob Paulson, Ph.D., professor, began teaching at PUC in 1994. He works in areas of aquatics, recreational running, cross country, track and field, sport officiating, volleyball, basketball, first aid and injury prevention, technology and pedagogy, intramural recreation, and sport psychology. He has taught at the academy level, coached various teams, served as president of the Adventist Virtual Learning Network, and received NAIA California Pacific Conference Coach of the Year for Cross Country awards. He also does projects and presentations in his field and enjoys spending time with his family, recreational running, water sports, digital photography, home projects, and listening to music. Check out Coach Paulson's twitter page and his Doc Paulson website.


Degrees

B.S., Andrews University

1981

M.A., Sonoma State University

1999

Ph.D. Andrews University

2009

Damaris Perez

Damaris Perez, M.S.W. - Chair

Social Work Program Director and Chair of Psychology & Social Work

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Damaris Perez, M.S.W. - Chair

Social Work Program Director and Chair of Psychology & Social Work

Before entering academia, Damaris was a hospice social worker for the top provider in the United States for 4 years. Before entering the world of hospice, she  served as a bilingual therapist, case manager and intake coordinator at a Federally Qualified Healthcare center in the San Francisco Bay Area. As the sole Spanish-speaking therapist on staff, Damaris primarily worked with the Latino and Hispanic population. She provided psychosocial services to survivors of domestic violence, facilitated parenting groups and therapy to individuals, families, and children. Her first work after graduate school was providing services to over 100+ dialysis patients at the #1 Dialysis provider in the United States.  

Damaris' research interests include the correlation of medical ailments and emotional health. One of her greatest passions is empowering social work students and advancing the field of Social Work. Her goal is for her students to be better social workers than her. As Field Placement Coordinator, Damaris is responsible for placing each senior Social Work major in a local community internship where they provide a minimum of 420 hours of work. Popular placements include Domestic Violence shelters, schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and Foster Care. Most PUC social work graduates continue pursuing their education by obtaining a Master's degree. Many gain employment in for and non-profit agencies.


Degrees

B.S.W., Pacific Union College

2007

M.S.W., Walla Walla University

2010

Scott Perryman

Scott Perryman, M.B.A.

Associate Professor of Business Administration

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Scott Perryman, M.B.A.

Associate Professor of Business Administration


Jennifer Peñaflorida

Jennifer Peñaflorida, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Education

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Jennifer Peñaflorida, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Education

Jennifer Oliverio Peñaflorida is an assistant professor in the Department of Education and the Department of English. She is a teacher educator with a focus on literacy learning.

Dr. Peñaflorida is also a teacher consultant for the Northwest Arkansas Writing Project and a researcher for the National Writing Project. Peñaflorida’s research interests include writing process pedagogy, writing instruction and new teacher coaching. She has been published in the English Journal, Oklahoma English Journal and the International Journal for Lesson and Learning Studies. She has presented in numerous national and state conferences.


Degrees

PhD in Curriculum & Instruction, Literacy- University of Arkansas

2021

MA in Rhetoric & Composition, Writing- California State University San Bernardino

2011

MA in Rhetoric & Composition, Literature- California State University San Bernardino

2011

BA in English Literature- La Sierra University

2001

Nicolette Piaubert

Nicolette Piaubert, F.N.P., R.N.

Assistant Professor of Nursing, Student Success Coordinator

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Nicolette Piaubert, F.N.P., R.N.

Assistant Professor of Nursing, Student Success Coordinator

Assistant Professor of Nursing Nicolette Piaubert loves God and lives to serve. Her commitment to service includes a career as a Family Nurse Practitioner, but Nicolette’s impact on her community is widespread. She has been active in serving underprivileged children as the founder and CEO of The Talented Tenth Highlanders Summer Camp, as well as helping others obtain their nursing degrees through her Gab-Nic Excelsior Nursing Tutoring Center, both in Brooklyn, New York.

Nicolette is a published author who is also dedicated to supporting marginalized people to find their voices and make them heard through self-publishing. Her first book, Becoming, was published in 2013 and How to Beat a Rigged School System: 13 Steps to 100% followed in 2020. She is currently working on her third book and maintains an active vlogging presence on Facebook and TikTok.

Nicolette received her BSN from Atlantic Union College and her MSN from Pace University, and her favorite text is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”


Degrees

B.A., University at Albany, SUNY

2001

B.S.N., Atlantic Union College

2010

M.S.N., Pace University

2020

Sylvia Rasi Gregorutti

Sylvia Rasi Gregorutti, Ph.D. - Chair

Professor of World Languages

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Sylvia Rasi Gregorutti, Ph.D. - Chair

Professor of World Languages

Sylvia Rasi Gregorutti specializes in applied and sociolinguistics. She has worked as a Foreign Language Testing Specialist at the Center for Applied Linguistics and has taught ESL teacher training, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese at the college level as well as linguistics, literature, film, business and medical Spanish. She was recipient of a Title VII Fellowship in Bilingual Education from the U.S. Department of Education. Her hobbies and interests include linguistics, anthropology, archeology, international travel, and gardening.


Degrees

B.A., Andrews University

1989

M.S., Georgetown University

1991

Ph.D., Georgetown University

2002

Christa Rieger

Christa Rieger, M.S.N., R.N.

Assistant Professor of Nursing

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Christa Rieger, M.S.N., R.N.

Assistant Professor of Nursing


Degrees

B.S.N., Dominican University of California

2005

M.S.N., Grand Canyon University

2021

Sandra Ringer

Sandra Ringer, M.S.N., RN

Assistant Professor of Nursing, RN-BS Director

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Sandra Ringer, M.S.N., RN

Assistant Professor of Nursing, RN-BS Director

Sandra Ringer, MSN, RN, known as Sandy to most, began her career as a Medical-Surgical nurse in Chattanooga, TN. Her clinical experience includes adult medical-surgical nursing, specializing in oncology, gastroenterology and community health. Sandy worked in home health as an IV nurse for 9 years before switching focus to community health. She worked as an RN and lead RN for a preventative medicine clinic in Pennsylvania. She then transitioned into the coordinator for employee wellness programs, working with a team of health professionals to develop employee wellness programs and health screenings for businesses in the greater Reading, Pennsylvania area. She also worked with a clinic that provided healthcare for patients without insurance at no cost. Her most recent clinical experience was with gastrointestinal patients on a medical-surgical unit.
When not working, Sandy loves to cook, travel, camp, watch HGTV and spend time with her husband, David, and their adult sons, Mark and Jonathan and daughter-in-law, Janelle.
Sandy's desire is to share her passion for the nursing profession and Jesus with her students.


Degrees

2016

B.S.N., Grand Canyon University

1990

A.S.N., Southern Adventist University

James Robertson

James Robertson, M.S. - Chair

Associate Professor of Physics

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James Robertson, M.S. - Chair

Associate Professor of Physics

James Robertson has been faculty at PUC since 2003. While a graduate student at Florida State, he worked at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory’s D-zero experiment where he did research in high-energy physics. Outside of his responsibilities in the physics classroom and lab, he hosts sessions at the Young Observatory and volunteers with the local fire and ambulance companies. With over nine years of fire/EMS experience, James is a captain with the Angwin Fire Department and the Angwin Ambulance’s training officer. As a firefighter/EMT, he has received specialized training in emergency services. He is a certified CPR instructor, a registered California fire instructor and the PUC Emergency Services program director. In October of 2007, Robertson and his crew were part of a week-long strike team of Type 3 engines from Napa County that responded to the wildland fires in San Diego.


Degrees

B.S., Southern Adventist University

1991

M.S., Florida State University

1994

Timothy Robertson

Timothy Robertson, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Data Science

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Timothy Robertson, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Data Science

Timothy Robertson specializes in data science and partial differential equations. His interests include applying machine learning algorithms to interesting datasets and mathematical models. In his spare time he enjoys sports, games, rock climbing and hiking.


Degrees

B.S. in Mathematics, Andrews University

2017

M.S. in Mathematics, University of Tennessee

2019

Ph.D. in Mathematics, University of Tennessee

2022

Matthew Russell

Matthew Russell, M.S.

Assistant Professor of Nursing and Emergency Services

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Matthew Russell, M.S.

Assistant Professor of Nursing and Emergency Services


Degrees

B.S., Union College

2014

M.S., Southern Adventist University

2016

Hannah Saravanakumar

Hannah Saravanakumar, M.S.N., R.N.

Associate Professor of Nursing, Assistant Director to the BRN

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Hannah Saravanakumar, M.S.N., R.N.

Associate Professor of Nursing, Assistant Director to the BRN


Degrees

B.S.N., MG Ramachandra Deemed University

2003

M.S.N., Washington Adventist University

2012

Rajeev Sigamoney

Rajeev Sigamoney, M.F.A. - Chair

Professor of Film

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Rajeev Sigamoney, M.F.A. - Chair

Professor of Film

Over the past 15 years has worked as a Writer, Producer, Engineer & Pastor. Driven by a passion to tell meaningful stories, Rajeev moved to Hollywood in 2002 and began his screenwriting career. While repped by the Endeavor talent agency, sold projects to networks including Disney, Endemol and Fuse, while writing for Oscar winner Octavia Spencer and Emmy winners Melissa McCarthy & Tony Hale. He is also the writer/creator of the internationally acclaimed webseries, The Record Keeper. He lives in Napa with his amazing wife, Brittnie, and his son Blaise and is excited about developing the next generation of filmmakers.


Degrees

B.S., Johns Hopkins University

1997

M.S., Johns Hopkins University

2002

M.F.A., Academy of Art University

2016

Jason St. Clair

Jason St. Clair, M.S.

Assistant Librarian

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Jason St. Clair, M.S.

Assistant Librarian


Degrees

B.A., Walla Walla University

2005

M.S., Drexel University

2008

Backil Sung

Backil Sung, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Biology

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Backil Sung, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Biology

Dr. Backil Sung has been at PUC since 2012. He has degrees in medicine (M.D.), physiology (M.S.), and medical biotechnology (Ph.D). He has authored or co-authored 39 scientific papers in neuroscience, mainly in the area of pain mechanisms. He has also authored two book chapters, and frequently goes on medical mission trips. He teaches Neurobiology, Microbiology, Medical Microbiology and Biological Foundations.


Degrees

M.M.S., Korea University

1997

Ph.D., Korea University

1999

Catherine Tetz

Catherine Tetz, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of English

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Catherine Tetz, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of English

Catherine Tetz specializes in transatlantic literature with an emphasis on women and gender studies. Her work focuses primarily on women writers in the early twentieth century, and she is particularly interested in how künstlerroman and roman á clef genres were reappropriated by women writers at the height of literary modernism. She has presented work at the Modernist Studies Association’s annual conference, as well as the International Virginia Woolf conference. She teaches classes in poetry, fiction, and both American and English modernism.


Degrees

Washington State University

2014

Miami University

2020

Tamara Tirado

Tamara Tirado, D.N.P., R.N., F.N.P., C.N.E

Professor of Nursing

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Tamara Tirado, D.N.P., R.N., F.N.P., C.N.E

Professor of Nursing

Tamara Tirado has worked in healthcare since 1998, as a Certified Nurses Aid and Registered Nurse in rehab and acute care. She has also been a medical clinic manager, diabetes coordinator, public health nurse at a tribal health clinic, and a family nurse practitioner. She loves music, hiking, biking, scuba diving, traveling, and spending time with family.


Degrees

A.S. Pacific Union College

2000

B.S.N., Pacific Union College

2001

M.S., Sonoma State University

2004