2025

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...

Beginning more than 50 years ago, Pacific Union College’s science departments have had a longstanding math and science workshop. To introduce a first-of-its-kind, PUC collaborated with Loma Linda University to create a STEM and health professions-focused workshop for high school students, grades 10-12, interested in those areas to learn and engage in activities outside their classrooms while working with professionals from both institutions.From February 23-24, 35 students from Monterey Bay Academy, Mountain View Academy, and Vegas Valley Academy attended five workshops focused on sleep, air pollution, dental chemistry, performance, and anatomy and imaging, while also hosting a college and graduate fair and a contest filled with tests and challenges, all within two days."My students had a positive experience," said Andres Ruiz, Mountain View Academy athletic director and chaperone. "They were engaged and excited by the hands-on activities, and many commented on how different and fun it felt compared to a traditional classroom setting. The workshop benefited my students by introducing them to potential career paths in the healthcare profession. Several students said they gained an interest in pursuing healthcare or science in the future.”With PUC preparing students for admission and professional studies at LLU, both schools have worked together for...

From exploring the treasures of Florence to the coastal villages of Cinque Terre to the canals of Venice, and roaming the historical streets of Rome, eight honors students from Pacific Union College spent four weeks in Italy as part of their course, Renaissance: Truth and Beauty. This course explored art and science from the Italian Renaissance with the places and works that shaped Western culture.PUC’s Honors Program began taking international tours in the early 2000s, with England being the first country visited. Throughout the years, students have had the opportunity to learn in France, Spain, and Italy.Alongside PUC Honors Director and Dean for the School of Arts, Humanities, and Professions, Milbert Mariano, and Chemistry Chair Kent Davis, Music Chair Rachelle Davis also joined the honors study tour from June 29-July 24, starting in their home base in Florence at PUC’s sister school, Villa Aurora College.Beginning their immersive experience into the Italian Renaissance era in Florence, students had the opportunity to see breathtaking figures by Michelangelo at the Galleria dell'Accademia, rich paintings by Botticelli and da Vinci at Uffizi Galleries, and gain insight into Galileo's scientific mind at the Museo Galileo. They also visited the Bargello Museum, the Basilica of Santa...

For decades, PUC’s Physics Department has cooperated with Walla Walla University’s School of Engineering by offering an engineering program at PUC with a clear pathway to transfer to WWU’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering program (BSE). That cooperation was recently formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding, providing a strong connection between the two institutions for the benefit of students.An Associate of Science degree will be available for PUC students, after which they will be able to transfer to WWU to continue their education and earn the BSE, splitting the four years of college between the two schools. The curriculum thus developed has been carefully tailored to meet the transfer requirements and prerequisites for admission to the BSE program. In addition, for eligibility purposes, some conditions need to be met.In addition to applying to WWU and completing the A.S. at PUC, students’ GPAs must meet the minimum of a 3.0. They must also meet all non-academic admissions criteria and consult with WWU academic advisors early in their program at PUC to ensure complete alignment of coursework. To help guide students through these conditions, WWU will be providing remote or in-person career counseling and academic advising to students, and as the need...

Pacific Union College has long recognized the value of online education in expanding access and flexibility for students while maintaining academic excellence. Building on this foundation, the college recently pursued two grants from the Archie Tonge Education Foundation to strengthen its online offerings further. Because of these funds, PUC was able to create the Online Campus to support the BSN, MBA, MEd, MSN, and MA in Communication programs.Since 2021, two teams have successfully secured funding that enabled key enhancements: upgraded instructional technology, standardized syllabi across courses, and over 600 hours of faculty development focused on effective online teaching. These efforts also supported the creation of quality assurance processes designed to uphold and continually improve PUC’s academic standards in the digital learning environment.To foster sustainable growth for the college and reach students off-campus and working professionals, this program will meet their needs by delivering high-quality education that reflects PUC’s Christ-centered values. To ensure lifelong learning success, orientation resources will help students start strong and confidently navigate their learning experience. This online resource supports the design of all the college’s courses with accessibility, academic rigor, and Adventist values in mind, ensuring that students receive a personalized, engaging, and transformative education.Leading this project...

From July 7 to 12, Pacific Union College Biology Professors Backil Sung, Aimee Wyrick, and Floyd Hayes, along with 10 of their students, served in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Also on the mission trip were volunteers from Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, China, and Hong Kong. All 110 of them provided medical and dental services, offered counseling, reinstalled electrical power lines, addressed financial needs, and hosted Vacation Bible School.Their team also distributed 3,000 pairs of reading glasses, visited orphanages, cooked meals, conducted health screenings, and provided transportation and food to patients from nearby communities who traveled up to 100 miles outside Kandy. Many of these patients worked in tea gardens and were paid only $2 a day, which they could not afford to spend on lunch or bus tickets.Sung helped plan this mission trip with the help of his non-profit, All to Heaven, which pledged $25k to renovate the operating room at Lakeside Adventist Hospital in Kandy and $20k to improve the boys' dormitory in Lakpahana Adventist College. He also partnered with their hospital, college, and several organizations, including Together with Seoul SDA Hospital, Jiwon Medical Company, Sahmyook Health University, Ceylon Mission of SDAs, Adventist International Institute...