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.

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.

Cliff Rusch, M.F.A., professor emeritus of graphic design, worked as a staff designer at Pacific Press Publishing Association, and as senior designer at Lauren Smith Design before coming to PUC in 1987. He was PUC’s art director from 1987 to 2018, and taught graphic design in the Visual Arts department from 1987 to 2022. He enjoys photography, mountain biking, and camping.