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Dr. Monica Allen has worn many hats as a working professional: a preschool teacher, public health practitioner, and professor at a state university. While her career path has wound around with several detours and pit stops, Monica has always been clear that wherever she was, whatever she was doing, she was called to a life of service. “That’s Adventist education,” she said emphatically. “Service was modeled for us not just at home, but also at school.”Neither of Monica’s parents were raised Seventh-day Adventist, but when Monica was young, they converted and subsequently fully committed to the church. “My mother told me that the church loved us right in,” Monica recalled. While still new to the faith, her parents were adamant that their children would receive an Adventist education, regardless of cost. She attended 1st-3rd grade at Glenview Adventist School in Phoenix, Arizona, and then Los Angeles Union and San Fernando Valley Academy for the rest of her elementary and high school years.When I talked with Monica about what I was writing on – the impact of Adventist education on our lives – she didn’t even really need to stop and think before speaking confidently. “I was taught that I was...

During the 2026 California Association of Colleges of Nursing Conference (CACN) in Palm Springs, CA, Assistant Professor of Nursing and Director of the RN to BSN Program, Sandra Ringer, and former PUC Dean of Nursing, Kimberly Dunker, won the Most Distinguished Poster award for exploring emotional intelligence among PUC senior nursing students.The purpose of the project was to evaluate how senior student nurses perceived their emotional intelligence, which is critical to the nursing program as it prepares them for their transition to nursing practice. Ringer began her work by investigating and understanding the problem with graduate surveys and community partners’ feedback, which showed critical gaps as students enter the workforce. This feedback served as a basis for understanding how nursing schools ensure that their graduates are well-equipped for nursing practice. Some of the most concerning areas of research within this project focused on stress management, communication concerns, and their ability to handle conflict. Using the BlueEQ emotional intelligence tool, the presentation discussed two years of student feedback in the classroom environment and its impact on students’ scores at the end of the program, along with awareness and training.The research spanned the 2023 to 2025 school years, beginning in fall 2023...

On Monday, February 23, Pacific Union College’s aviation program’s newest addition to its fleet, affectionately known as Charlie, landed at its new home at Virgil O. Parrett Field.Many students, faculty, staff, photographers, and PUC board and community members waited in excitement for Charlie’s arrival, eagerly tracking the aircraft’s tail number on the FlightAware app and monitoring the skies.Upon its landing, everyone warmly applauded Assistant to the Flight Center Director Andrew Hosford as he climbed out of the aircraft, marking the day a momentous occasion for the aviation program and the community.Because of Hosford’s experience in mechanical and avionics skills, he helped complete the refurbishment of Charlie. After receiving an airworthiness certificate, he, alongside Lead Mechanic Kyle Kennedy, flew the aircraft from Andrews Airpark in Michigan to Oklahoma Academy. There, they gave students and staff a few joyrides over the weekend before flying west to Porterville, CA, on Sunday morning. Flying the last leg, Hosford circled low around the PUC campus before touching down at Virgil O. Parrett Field.This Cessna 206 has faithfully served in some of the most remote and challenging corners of Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Vanuatu since it was brand new in 1976, accumulating nearly 2.4 million...

Pacific Union College received approval in May 2023 from the California Board of Registered Nursing to expand its Napa campus offerings, especially since there is a growing interest among paramedics advancing their education and the ongoing demand for registered nurses. This expansion allows for the addition of nine EMT-P students annually to its already well-established LVN/ Med-Tech to RN program.A key figure in the development of this pathway is Cori Carlson, a paramedic who advanced her own education by earning a Master of Science in Nursing and later teaching in a local paramedic program. Recognizing a significant gap in educational opportunities for paramedics seeking to transition into nursing, she approached Pacific Union College to explore the possibility of creating a dedicated pathway. Her vision and advocacy were instrumental in bringing the EMT-P to RN program to life. Today, Carlson continues to play a vital role as an adjunct faculty member, teaching the required seven-day EMT-P to RN Bridge course that prepares incoming students for the rigor and expectations of the nursing curriculum. Her continued involvement ensures that paramedic students are not only academically prepared but also supported in their successful transition into the RN role.PUC is one of only two...

From musical performances to personal poetry to tai chi, the faculty and staff talent show on February 26 at Pacific Union College left the audience wildly entertained. Many community members of all ages gathered at the Paulin Center for the Arts to celebrate the diverse talent of PUC’s faculty and staff, talent they may never have known they had. This was also a chance for students to see their professors on stage, in a different light, showcasing a side of themselves their students don’t see every day in the classroom.When the idea came to Vice President for Student and Spiritual Life, Dr. Aimee Leukert, at the beginning of the school year, she knew she would have to mention the talent show to staff and faculty very early on to get participants and make it happen. Through constant reminders, mass emails, and support from the academic deans, Leukert was dedicated to securing representation from faculty and staff across departments. As people began signing up, she knew that it was going to be a great show.“I love, love, love, the faculty and staff here,” expressed Leukert. “Being new, I have felt so welcomed and valued — really from day one. Everyone has...