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For 36 years, LeRoy Peterson taught, conducted, and performed at Pacific Union College as a professor of music before officially retiring in 2019. During those four decades, he was a very busy man, taking members of the orchestra to far-off places such as Norway, Russia, and Singapore, experiences that both he and the students will never forget. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Pacific Union College Orchestra, which he directed for 21 years, performing Grieg's Piano Concerto, one of many great performances Peterson has presented. The music department will never forget him for all the hard work he put into his deep passion for music and teaching throughout the years.Many have described Peterson as a warm, outgoing man, some even saying he was the kindest person they’ve ever met. Peterson has undoubtedly left a great mark on the music department of PUC and the students who had the privilege of being taught by him. “When I see students some years later who have graduated, and come back for alumni weekend, they tell me, ‘Hey, I really enjoyed your class,’ that makes me feel it's all worthwhile,” Peterson said. “Those are memories I will always keep with me.” Many...

In June, Parfait Migisha became the second student to graduate from the MBA program at Pacific Union College. Before attending, he was deciding on his next career step as a nurse. At the same time, his friend at PUC mentioned the MBA program after considering nurse practitioner and anesthesia programs when they brought up healthcare leadership as a possibility. When Migisha researched the program, he was intrigued by PUC’s online format and small class sizes, and he heard that instructors are easily accessible.In 2023, Migisha began his two-year journey with PUC as the second student to enroll in the newly established MBA program. While earning his MBA, Migisha worked as a full-time nurse. After 10 years out of school, the program pushed him out of his comfort zone. He recalled returning to studying and writing essays, which he found challenging, and the program's courses were tough, but it helped rebuild his confidence in tackling complex problems.“Living in Oakland, CA, for six years, I'd met many PUC undergrad alumni who spoke highly of their experience,” he said. “During the pandemic, I realized healthcare needs more clinically minded people in management, and with 13 years of bedside experience, I wanted PUC's Christian...

From a biology lab and media room to flying in the sky, Pacific Union College hosted its annual PacificQuest Programs, PQSeek, PQRise, PQSoar, and new this year, PQFlix, for students in grades 6-12 interested in STEM, aviation, and filmmaking. Students travelled from Hawaii and different parts of California to attend a week-long program to explore their interests and participate in challenging hands-on learning and team-building exercises. Not only did they get a glimpse into potential future careers, but also earned one unit of college credit from PUC.PQSeek and PQRise began their programs, focusing on STEM topics, with 22 students working with several professors from the School of Sciences. PUC Associate of Kinesiology and Health Sciences Professor Wayne Borin taught the interaction of the cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, and nutritional energy systems. In contrast, Biology Professor Bryan Ness taught the students about planetary health, and Chemistry Professor Robert Wilson taught them about thermochemistry.From July 6-11, PUC Flight Center Director Nathan Tasker and his team worked with seven students, with two students completing the private ground school. Students learned about aerodynamics and visited Mike’s Aero, an aircraft maintenance facility at Angwin Airport, and the Napa Control Center, where they met with air traffic...

Known for its excellent and high-quality, service-oriented degrees on campus and online, Pacific Union College is happy to announce that it has been ranked #12 in Regional Colleges (West) and #3 in California in the same category in the 2025-2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges List.The college continues to offer hands-on, experiential learning tools and skills across many degrees, emphasizing preparation for careers and beyond.PUC now holds the #12 spot in the Overall Rank, #7 in Best College for Veterans, and #16 in Top Performers on Social Mobility– all in the Regional Colleges (West) classification.The college takes pride in the diverse array of students, faculty, and staff who come from different backgrounds and hold many skills, which enrich the campus’s atmosphere, variety, and success.“Our climb in this year’s rankings is another strong sign of PUC's growing momentum. We see it and feel it on campus every day, but it's a testament to our faculty and staff to see this upward trajectory reflected in national rankings, too,” said Academic Dean and Vice President of Academic Administration Lindsay Hayasaka.Another tangible reason for the college’s achievements can be witnessed in the dedication of faculty and staff who continue to make PUC...

The Emergency Management Program at Pacific Union College, tucked away in Fisher Hall, has been an important and well-known program. The number of times students have heard the school’s siren go off, as members of the EMP rush off to their cars for a drill, has been a constant, thrilling reminder of its existence. In previous years, the department has only offered an associate’s degree, but now things are shaking up for a new and brighter future. This coming school year, EMP will be offering a new online program with an A.S. to B.S. degree.Ever since EMP graduated its first baccalaureate class nearly a decade ago, they have been constantly fine-tuning its curriculum to make it both more relevant for today’s job market and to further the reach and effectiveness of its classes. Just this past academic year, three new courses were added to the program: Foundations of Homeland Security, Technology in Emergency Management, and Continuity Operations, all of which taught EMP majors valuable lessons and broadened their horizons on what emergency management could be, and different opportunities that might present themselves in their given field.This new online Bachelor’s degree is just the latest in this series of innovations and...