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After graduating from Pacific Union College with a B.S. in psychology and an A.S. in Photography in 1987, Jon Wood began his career as a 3D Motion Graphic Artist before eventually returning to PUC as a professor of film and television. In 2005, the Lord impressed him to start Jesus for Asia, a missionary organization that sends missionaries to unreached areas of the Asian continent. And now, 21 years later, the ministry has worked in over 10 countries, with nearly 1,000 workers worldwide, touching the lives of many with the good news of Jesus.It was not easy to start a ministry, especially one of this caliber, but Wood and his wife, Natalie, also a PUC alumna, were determined, so the first thing they did was pray about how God would work and lead them as they felt called to lead others. “We spent months, actually years, praying about what that would look like, how it would be set up, what principles we would use to run it, what project we would start with to make the biggest impact,” he said.In the winter of 2004, Wood, along with a small team of students, traveled to Thailand around the time the Indian...

With roots in Angwin, Pacific Union College was no stranger to ‘97 alumna and passionate children’s author and illustrator, Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson, who grew up witnessing the early-morning fog over the valley, the sound of the Paulin Hall fountain, and the winding roads adorning the hill. Having been inspired by these experiences, Fujimoto-Johnson said it was during her time at PUC that she tapped into some of her most significant and creative projects, which, to her, marked the roots she is pursuing all these years later.In her early years, she recalls writing poetry at the tender age of six, which grounded her in a love and fond appreciation for expression. She said, “The truth is that I feel most alive when I am creating, and I have circled back to that truth many times in my life so far. But really, I create in the hopes that my work will outlive me and continue to make an impact for many years. I am committed to making space for diversity, beauty, and kindness in my work.”Her family moved to Japan when she was nine, which exposed her to her cultural and familial roots, and her passion for writing grew while being homeschooled...

Quietly nestled in the valley of an old lumber camp near the Pacific Ocean and amid forested hills, Albion Field Station lies in the heart of the Mendocino coast. Since Pacific Union College acquired the station in 1947, it has offered extraordinary opportunities for students, families, and groups to explore the beauty of the natural world and to learn more about its history, wildlife, and biology. Many proud PUC faculty, staff, and alumni have worked hard to maintain the station over the years so that people of all ages and career backgrounds can visit and enjoy what Albion has to offer, all while experiencing God's creation firsthand. Bill Hammerland, former professor of chemistry at PUC from 1979 to 2010, expressed, “Going to Albion was always a great experience, for me and my family, and everyone. People always had a great time, and we knew it was a special place.”Harold Clark, the PUC biology department chair at the time, had been running a summer field school studying the fauna and flora of California and their ecological relationships. The tour would last several weeks, from leaving campus, traveling to the coast, exploring the Sierras, and then returning. In the spring of 1946,...

From July 19-26, over 1,000 people gathered at Pacific Union College for the West Coast Korean Camp Meeting, an event that has been held on campus for decades. An annual event hosted among the Korean-American Seventh-day Adventist Churches across the western states, with the support of the Southern California Conference, their theme this year was “Build Church - Building Faith, Family, and Church.” As they focused on the church they wanted to create for the future, the camp meeting was a great time for family, friends, and churches to come to one place and worship together.As people arrived on Sunday, an opening ceremony kicked off the camp meeting that evening to welcome attendees who traveled near and far, with even some who traveled from Korea. After a performance from the adult choir to start the program, PUC President Ralph Trecartin also took the time to welcome visitors on campus before lectures and activities began.“Korean Camp Meeting represents the pinnacle of energy on campus during the summer. It is so wonderful to see over 1,000 happy people creating memories and learning opportunities for this close-knit community of believers,” said Trecartin. “I love talking to the pastors and other leaders who plan...

From June 28 to July 3, Pacific Union College hosted 42 students from sixth to 12th grade for PacificQuest. Through an annual college early program, students from academies throughout California had the opportunity to participate in programs focused on STEM, aviation, and film.Led by PacificQuest Academic Director and PUC Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Health Sciences Wayne Borin and PacificQuest Program Director and PUC Executive Assistant and Enrollment Counselor Andrianna Massena, they welcomed students and their families during their arrivals, with PUC President Ralph Trecartin also present to introduce them to the PacificQuest instructors and staff and share the event’s theme of “Intelligence,” highlighting PUC’s biology, psychology, and math departments.“PacificQuest is a direct reflection of our Pacific Union College experience: Learn with Purpose, Rise in Faith, Serve with Love,” said Borin. “This short week provides middle and high school students to experience the academic rigor of higher education, daily worship, as well as develop social and emotional awareness, building connections with their fellow student-campers.”Fitting the theme, the STEM program, known as PQSeek, focused on several lessons surrounding intelligence. In biology, PUC Biology Chair and Professor John Duncan taught students about human intelligence through anatomy and physiology, while PUC Psychology Professor...