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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Nursing & Health Sciences


Tel: 1-707-965-7628
Email: lsbain@puc.edu
Lance Bain, M.S.N., R.N.
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Lance Bain, M.S.N-BC., P.H.N, Assistant Professor, specializes in all phases of mental health nursing with specialized training in the areas of child, adolescent, and military related post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic event management. Additionally Bain is a retired United States Army Major with leadership and command experiences. Pastime activities include spending time with family and operating a commercial salmon boat on the Pacific Ocean.
Degrees
A.S., Napa Valley College
1986
B.S., University of Phoenix
2009
M.S.N., University of Phoenix
2011


Tel: 1-707-965-7604
Email: ibaker@puc.edu
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.


Tel: 1-707-965-7185
Email: jboydston@puc.edu
Julianna Boydston, M.S.N.
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


Tel: 1-707-965-6760
Email: sbussell@puc.edu
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


Tel: 1-707-965-7618
Email: scchoi@puc.edu
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


Tel: 1-707-965-7609
Email: ddiaz@puc.edu
Diana Diaz, M.S.N., R.N.
Associate Professor of Nursing
Hobbies: enjoy listening to classical music, reading, travel and swimming.
Degrees
A.D.N., Antillean Adventist University
1989
B.S.N., Antillean Adventist University
1991
M.S.N., Pontifical Catholic University
1994

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
Profile
Tel: 1-707-965-7031
Email: jjoiner@puc.edu
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
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


Tel: 1-707-965-7677
Email: hmlinzau@puc.edu
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


Tel: 1-707-965-
Email: nypark@puc.edu
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


Tel: 1-707-965-7619
Email: ljparson@puc.edu
Laurie Parson, DNP, RN-BC, CNE
Associate 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


Tel: 1-707-965-7623
Email: sringer@puc.edu
Sandra Ringer, M.S.N.
Assistant Professor of Nursing
andra 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


Tel: 1-707-965-7032
Email: mrussell@puc.edu
Matthew Russell, M.S.
Instructor of Emergency Services
Degrees
B.S., Union College
2014
M.S., Southern Adventist University
2016


Tel: 1-707-965-7630
Email: hsaravanan@puc.edu
Hannah Saravanakumar, M.S.N., R.N.
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Degrees
B.S.N., MG Ramachandra Deemed University
2003
M.S.N., Washington Adventist University
2012


Tel: 1-707-965-7632
Email: vasaunders@puc.edu
Vicki Saunders, M.S., R.D.
Assistant Professor of Nutrition
Vicki Saunders, M.S. R.D. Instructor of Nutrition at Pacific Union College since 2009 and Nutrition Educator and Registered Dietitian for St. Helena Hospital's Recovery Center, has been recognized by Cambridge Who's Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in nutrition education. Professor Saunders has performed nutrition intervention and education to a broad spectrum of individuals and groups in the lifestyle change programs at St. Helena Hospital Center for Health since 1979. These include teaching nutrition classes, conducting healthy cooking classes, overseeing menu and recipe development, clinical assessment and counseling for cardiac rehabilitation, pulmonary rehabilitation, weight loss/risk factor reduction, smoking cessation, chronic pain management, alcohol and drug rehab, patients with eating disorders, and collaborating with a team of experts in the fields of medicine, psychology, exercise physiology, recreation and stress management to address patients' unique needs and goals. She is a presenter at the annual Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives conference presented by Harvard University and the Culinary Institute of America. She is a member of the American Dietetic Association, and past--president of the Seventh-day Adventist Dietetic Association. A member of Cambridge Who's Who, Ms. Saunders was honored with inclusion in its "Top 101 Industry Experts" book in 2010 and selection as a VIP member in 2009.
Degrees
B.S., Loma Linda University
1975
M.S., Ohio State University
1979


Tel: 1-707-965-7625
Email: ttirado@puc.edu
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

Debra Wallace, M.S.N., R.N, C.N.E. - Chair
Associate Professor of Nursing, LVN to RN Program Director
Profile
Tel: 1-707-965-7627
Email: dwallace@puc.edu