Dr. Eric Anderson has a rich history with PUC. He is the fourth generation of his family to teach at PUC, and has devoted 30 years of his life to teaching at the college on subjects such as Christian history and political studies. In 1912, Anderson’s grandmother, Agnes Caviness, was PUC’s first baccalaureate graduate. He has served as the Walter C. Utt professor of history, the chair of the department of history, and as the college’s president for six months. Previously, Anderson was president of Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas, from 2005 to 2014, where he served one of the longer presidential tenures in the university’s history.
Anderson holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago. In addition to 30 years of teaching at PUC and nine years of administration at Southwestern Adventist University, he has been a Fulbright lecturer in Greece and a program officer at the National Endowment for the Humanities. He has written on a variety of historical topics, including Reconstruction in North Carolina, philanthropic support of black education, and Progressive Era vice reform. His most recent publication is a chapter in the Oxford University Press study of “Ellen Harmon White: American Prophet.”

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.

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.

Wayne Borin has dedicated his professional life to educating individuals of all ages on maintaining a delicate lifestyle balance through the many dimensions of wellness by focusing on body, mind, and spirit, with over 20 years of experience in the field of kinesiology, exercise science, and wellness.

He began his career in San Diego working within executive health and fitness, which led him to his position as Managing Director of employee wellness at General Dynamics. Wayne transitioned to the clinical setting as the Exercise Physiologist modality specialist for Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine. He pursued his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership while holding adjunct faculty positions at the University of San Diego, the University of California, San Diego, and the San Diego Community College District. Wayne also worked at La Sierra University for 16 years as an associate professor in the health and exercise science department, served as a consultant with the organization Advancement Via Individual Determination as a subject matter expert, and has done past research and national study.

Wayne earned his undergraduate degree in Ergonomics from UC Santa Barbara, Master’s degree in Exercise Science at San Diego State University, and Doctoral degree in Education specializing in Behavior Change from the University of San Diego.

Wayne is a devoted family man and to his faith practice. He walks his talk as a role model being an aspiring ultra-distance runner, vegan, and agent of change. His passion of positively influencing his audience is matched by his own personal commitment to a healthy lifestyle.

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.

Susan Bussell, professor of nursing, started teaching full-time at PUC in 2005 after teaching clinicals as an adjunct professor at Kaiser Vallejo in 2003. With a CNE, she taught pharmacology, pathophysiology, and multiple medical/surgical classes. Between 2014 and 2020, she was the AS program director. Susan was honored to be awarded Educator of the Year in the 2022-23 school year.

She graduated from LLUSN in 1993 with a BSN and received her MSN and acute care nurse practitioner from USCF in 1999. In 2013, she graduated from LLUSN with her DNP. Susan met her husband Ty at PUC, and they have been married for almost 30 years. Napa Valley has been home for 31 years with their four children, including her daughter-in-law. She loves baking, providing food for groups, traveling, and being with her family and dogs. Susan enjoys crafts, sewing, and everything Christmas.

Luke Butler is a native of Angwin. He has a deep connection to the town by attending PUC Elementary, PUC Prep., and graduating from PUC with a B.S. in Aviation. Inspired by his love for aviation, Luke chose to stay with PUC after completing his degree in 2019. With a focus on safety and mentorship, he guides aspiring pilots toward achieving their goals with care and expertise. He has been with PUC since 2021 and has FAA accomplishments, commercial pilot privileges (MEL, SEL, and SES), and is an SEL flight instructor.

Dr. Butterfield is the Scientist in Residence at Pacific Union College. Dr. Butterfield developed and has taught all of the classes that are part of the BS in Conservation Technology degree program since 2021, and teaches a College Early course in Conservation Technology that is offered to high school students. Dr. Butterfield is also the Lead Scientist for the Land Program at The Nature Conservancy in California, where he has worked since 2006. Dr. Butterfield holds a Ph.D. in Plant Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior from Michigan State University where he studied the application of conservation technologies to rangeland management and monitoring, and also their effect on and usage by the California rancher and range management community. When not working and spending time with his family, Dr. Butterfield enjoys playing tennis, traveling the world, and listening to music.

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.

Merilyn Chaffee received a bachelor's of technology, aviation flight and maintenance from Andrews University in 1997 and a master's degree from Pacific Union College in 1999. She has been the vice president of operations at Dream Flights since 2015, and a real estate broker since 2010. Her FAA ratings include commercial pilot, instrument flight instructor, and airframe and powerplant mechanic. She has been a flight instructor for many years in places such as PUC Flight Center, MI Air in Redlands, CA, and Kaiser Air in Santa Rosa, CA. Merilyn has also taught classes to students in sixth grade up to the collegiate level in subjects such as music, education, and aviation. Flying has always been a big part of her life, and she is excited to share her love of aviation with PUC students and be a part of a program that trains Christ-centered pilots for lives of service. Merilyn is married to Garrison Chaffee, PUC Youth and Associate Pastor and they have 3 teenagers.

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.

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.

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.

An alumna of Pacific Union College, Leah Dopp holds an M.A. in English and a certificate in Women and Gender Studies from Claremont Graduate University, where she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in literature. Her area of expertise is 19th-century U.S. American and Hemispheric Americas literature. Her research is particularly interested in cultural studies, feminism, and gendered tropes. She has presented papers on themes such as toxic masculinity, subversion, and observation in U.S. American and Cuban novels. She teaches courses in composition, U.S. American literature, and “Hemispheric Connections.”

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.

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.

Dr. Lindsay (Morton) Hayasaka is an experienced educator and administrator. Beginning her career as a high school English teacher in 2004, Dr. Hayasaka obtained a master's degree in professional writing and literature from Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia) and a doctorate in journalism from Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand). She taught at Avondale University and worked as assistant dean in the faculty of Arts, Nursing and Theology in New South Wales, Australia, before moving to the United States to teach at Pacific Union College. She became associate academic dean of the college in 2021 and transitioned into the role of dean in 2023. Dr. Hayasaka is an active member of her scholarly community and currently serves as the second vice president of the International Association for Literary Journalism Studies. She enjoys researching in the field of literary journalism, writing and producing musicals, creating community, and travelling with her husband.

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.

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.

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 20 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. He continues to maintain a clinical practice in Emergency Nursing and is a volunteer Firefighter/EMT. Jeff has been married to his wife Judy for over 40 years. They have two grown daughters and four grandsons. Jeff enjoys camping, reading, scuba diving and international travel.

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.

Kristian Leukert is in his first year of teaching at Pacific Union College and his 20th year of teaching overall. He graduated from La Sierra University in 2000 with degrees in Music Education and Trumpet Performance and went on to pursue graduate studies at the University of California, Irvine, where he obtained a Masters degree in Vocal Performance. While in college and graduate school, Mr. Leukert enjoyed performing and touring with many different ensembles, including Men in Black and the LSU Wind Ensemble, Sinfonia, Jazz Ensemble & Brass Quintet. Mr. Leukert has taught music at Newbury Park Academy, Monterey Bay Academy, Loma Linda Academy, and was Pastor for Worship and Music at Loma Linda SDA Church. His education and experiences as educator, worship pastor, instrumentalist, and vocalist have provided a rich background and foundation for his present work with the students at Pacific Union College.

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.

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.

Nephtali Marin is a filmmaker with a wide range of interests (probably too many). He enjoys cinematography, lighting, and sound. Outside the classroom he likes riding bikes, eating good food, and and wandering aimlessly. He can be occasionally witty, and at times saracastic, but he's mostly just a harmless fellow.

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.

Daniel Navarro is a flight instructor who teaches 1-on-1 flight and ground lessons and program course lectures. He first worked at PUC as a flight instructor in 2016 and 2017, then came back in December 2023.
Before working at PUC, Daniel was an Air Ambulance pilot in Juneau, Alaska. Since becoming a pilot in 2013, he gained experience as a seaplane charter pilot and flight instructor in south-central Alaska, a banner pilot in Maryland, an amphibious aircraft instructor in Vacaville, and an airline pilot based in New York City, Chicago, and Salt Lake City.
Daniel grew up in Los Angeles and now resides in Angwin. He enjoys playing guitar, hiking the PUC forests, skiing, snowboarding, biking, and cooking.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

Melissa Henry Pratt’s passion for filmmaking stems from a deep love of the movies and of storytelling in general. As a professor, she combines a strong foundation in film history, theory, and criticism, with a hands-on approach to modern filmmaking techniques. She is dedicated to helping students discover their own voices, and in guiding them through the process of bringing these unique perspectives to life through their work. Her films Work Ethics, Between You and Me, and Below the Break have played at many film festivals, including Slamdance and the Santa Barbara and Seattle International Film Festivals. When she is not in the classroom, she can often be found at our local gem of a theater, the Cameo Cinema, or hanging out with her husband and three daughters.

Sylvia Rasi Gregorutti is specialized in applied and sociolinguistics and is an educator in the areas of world languages, linguistics, intercultural communication, and international education. She was a Foreign Language Testing Specialist at the Center for Applied Linguistics and received the Title VII Fellowship from the U.S. Dept. of Education during her graduate studies in linguistics (M.S., Ph.D.) at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Since arriving at PUC in 1993, Rasi Gregorutti has taught linguistics (Spanish and general), French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish (literature and film, Spanish for business and health care), English as a Second Language (ESL) and ESL teacher training, intercultural communication, and public speaking. She has co-led Honors Program study tours to Italy, presented at international conferences on faith and learning, and serves on the Adventist Colleges Abroad (ACA) Board, Internship and Curriculum Committees, representing and consulting for ACA internationally.

Rasi Gregorutti is associate chair of the Departments of Communication and World Languages and chairs the Latino Campus Council at PUC. Creating bridges across languages and cultures, and equipping others to become bridge-builders, brings her joy (Ps. 96:3, Matt. 28: 19-20). Gardening keeps her grounded, and international travel, especially with family, keeps her happy.

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.

Niq Ruud’s research focuses on the history and philosophy of science and religion, particularly in their interplay with the politics of 20th Century America. From 2022, he taught as an adjunct in the College’s religion and history departments while serving as the Director of Student Involvement. Niq transitioned to full-time instruction in 2024. When not facilitating classroom conversation or writing his PhD at Edinburgh, Niq enjoys alpine climbing, cycling, surfing, hockey, and consuming a wide array of literature, film, and music.

Anthony Sharobeem has been inspired by aviation for as long as he remembers. Anthony learned how to fly at the Nut Tree Airport in early 2015 where he earned his pilot certificates and ratings, later acquiring his Flight Instructor Certificate in 2018 and has been actively teaching since. Over the years, Anthony served as an airline pilot, charter pilot, and worked other jobs flying complex, high-performance turbine powered aircraft. As of January 2024, Anthony has been awarded a Distinguished Flight Instructor Award by AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association). Anthony grew up in Dubai, later moved to the United States in 2015 and began his flying career. In addition to speaking English, he also speaks Arabic and French. Anthony enjoys mountain biking, swimming, and driving around exploring new scenic places. He also enjoys flying with friends for fun in his free time. He taught many individuals who went on to fly for the airlines, air force, or are now flight instructors teaching at different flight schools.

Kurt Sollanek has been an associate professor of biology at PUC since July 2025. He teaches introduction to human biology, human physiology, systems physiology, cellular and molecular biology, research methods, and also assists the kinesiology and health sciences department.

He previously worked at a large-scale medical device company as a regulatory affairs specialist, and before that, was an assistant professor in the kinesiology department at Sonoma State University. From Cheshire, Connecticut, Kurt graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with his B.S. in Exercise Science in 2008, and two years later earned his Master's in Exercise Science. In 2014, he received his Ph.D. in applied physiology and kinesiology from the University of Florida.

Kurt likes staying active by lifting weights, biking, and walking, and most importantly, spending time with his three kids and wife.

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.

Nathan grew up in the South Pacific Islands, surrounded by missionary aviation and World War II history. He began flight training in New Zealand as a missionary kid and completed his training at Andrews University, Michigan. He paid for his flight training by working as an aircraft mechanic for United Express.
PUC invited Nathan to lead the aviation program from June 2001 to June 2006. He and his wife Janel stepped forward from PUC to open up an internship pathway for PUC students, which was not successful due to the civil war. He flew an Air ambulance for 12 years based in Australia, including nearly 10 years at the iconic Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, before returning to the USA as an airline pilot and new-hire simulator instructor for the Airbus 320 series.
Nathan is very blessed by his awesome wife Janel, incredible son, Stephen, and talented daughter, Hannah, who loves Jesus Christ with all their hearts.

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.

Tuwan Ussery earned his master's in social work and pastoral ministry from Andrews University. Prior to coming to PUC, Tuwan instructed behavioral sciences courses at SAU & Belhaven University and pastored in Atlanta. Those interests have continued at PUC as Tuwan currently serves in the psychology and social work department, and he continues to preach itinerantly for church groups on topics of social justice and community empowerment.

In addition to teaching, Tuwan serves as diversity, equity and inclusion officer & director of service learning. Professional affiliations include the National Association of Black Social Workers & National Youth and Leadership Conference for Service Learning.

Tuwan enjoys spending family time with his wife and their four kids, and his favorite Bible verse is John 10:10: I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Robin E. Vance, Ph.D., professor, has taught at PUC since 2001. He specializes in physiology and neurobiology. Dr. Vance's research interests include Antimutagenesis & Anticarcinogenesis, and he advises in the areas of biology and medicine. He taught at Union College for twelve years and chaired their Division of Science & Mathematics from 1996 to 2000. He enjoys tennis, walking and snorkeling.

Debra Wallace has worked in management her entire career as a nurse, her first job as a women’s health clinic coordinator. She has led out in discharge planning, wellness health screenings, and directed a home health care agency. Working in academics was never something that entered her mind early in her career but has become her true passion since being at PUC 25+ years. Debra is the Director of PUC’s Med Tech/LVN to RN programs and loves working with our off-campus, non-traditional students. It is extremely rewarding to help Med Techs/LVNs reach their RN goal while balancing work, family, military, and other life obligations. She loves hunkering down with a good book, watching movies, gardening, interior design, and spending time with family and friends. Her favorite get-away is to Little River Inn in Mendocino.

Victoria Wambua has been at PUC since July 2025. With over 10 years of experience in teaching math, she teaches College Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus, Statistics, a programming course using Python, and helps manage the math courses offered through ALEKS.

Before teaching at PUC, Victoria taught in different high schools and universities in the US and Kenya. She graduated from Syracuse University with a PhD in Mathematics Education in 2018. where she also served as a teacher assistant and instructor of record for math and statistics courses. Outside of teaching, she enjoys time with family, crocheting, sewing, gardening, composing songs, singing, listening to Christian music, cooking, and eating.

Robert L. Wilson, Ph.D. specializes in analytical and inorganic chemistry. His graduate research focused on the lipid and protein organization within the cell membrane. He currently teaches general, analytical, and inorganic chemsitry and laboratory glassblowing. He enjoys playing boardgames, making glass beads, and camping.

Professor Ross E. Winkle teaches biblical studies. He has a professional focus in the New Testament and wrote his doctoral dissertation was on clothing imagery in the book of Revelation. He is a member of the Andrews Society for Religious Studies, Society of Biblical Literature, and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He has received several PUC Faculty Development Research and Honors awards as well as two Herber Faculty Development Awards. He has been a student missionary in Tokyo, Japan, a chaplain in Portland, Ore., and a pastor for thirteen years in three successive church districts in Oregon. He is an ordained minister and occasionally leads adult Sabbath School discussions on campus and preaches in surrounding churches. He is married to Darla, a health professional, and they have three children: Tristan, Elise, and Alexis.

Aimee Wyrick, associate professor, specializes in ecology, herpetology and paleontology. She advises in biology, pre-dentistry and pre-dental hygiene. Her research interests include physical and biological influences on the Columbia spotted frog and plant taphonomy. Aimee has also worked as a research coordinator, instructor, and course coordinator for the University of Montana. Her other interests include gourmet cooking (with produce from her own garden), national parks, camping and hiking, road trips, and world music – all enjoyed with her husband, Greg.

Michelle Kendrick, M.Ed., is an adjunct professor of Communication at Pacific Union College. She earned her bachelor’s degree in International Communication from PUC and her master’s degree in Education. Since joining the college in 2009, she has served in multiple roles, including 13 years as a German Professor and her current position as Director of Title IX and Access Services. Her academic and professional interests center on helping students navigate cultural, linguistic, and accessibility-related barriers to effective communication. When she’s not on campus, she enjoys cooking, watercolor painting, kayaking, and off-roading.