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Pacific Union College Professor of Education Jim Roy has published a biography of William Glasser, a pioneer in the field of psychiatry through his research and publications on choice theory. In his book William Glasser: Champion of Choice, Jim Roy records both the professional and personal life of an American psychiatrist who devoted his extensive research to reality therapy and choice theory. Glasser’s controversial and groundbreaking ideas included challenging the very definition of mental illness, and creating insightful new methods with which it could be treated. Glasser’s illustrious career stemmed from his desire to empower people through individual free will and personal choice, Roy observes in the book. “Glasser wanted people to realize that they could be the architects of their own mental health and that we don’t need to be victims of our circumstances,” states Roy. “He so much wanted people to learn how to be responsible for their own happiness and to thrive in every way.” Roy chronicles Glasser’s journey as a visionary psychiatrist and respected author, including the personal struggles he endured. Glasser contributed his unpopular opinion that “talk therapy” should be equal to, if not more crucial than, mainstream “drug therapy.” Through over 20 books and...

Beaming graduates and their families, exclamations of “Congratulations!” and the faint scent of airborne corn tortillas filled Commencement Grove at Pacific Union College, as the class of 2014 prepared to graduate on Sunday, June 15. The class is the largest in eight years to graduate from PUC, Napa Valley's only four-year college. “I accomplished it with the support of family, friends and especially God,” said Shayla Huerta, who graduated with an associate’s degree in nursing. She is the first person in her family to graduate from college or enter the medical field, and plans to complete her bachelor’s degree in nursing next year. “It’s very satisfying to set an example for my siblings and cousins to pursue a education our parents never had,” Huerta adds. All told, the 382 graduates received 394 associate, bachelor, and master’s degrees. The largest departmental groups were the department of nursing (129 graduates from the associate of science and bachelor of science in nursing programs), health sciences (41), business administration (37), and psychology and social work (34). The class also included 19 summa cum laude graduates, 20 magna cum laude graduates, and 64 cum laude graduates. Graduation weekend began with a consecration service Friday evening...

Since 2007, students at Pacific Union College have been able to pursue a unique and exciting degree by taking PUC’s A.S. in emergency services. This fall, the emergency services program is expanding its offerings with a new bachelor’s in emergency services. The four-year degree will prepare leaders to serve their communities through long careers in this rewarding and challenging field. “Our mission is to prepare and educate individuals for years of service both locally and nationally with a well-rounded foundation in both vocational and professional education,” says Levi Gore, who teaches both nursing and emergency services at the college. The Bachelor of Science degree in emergency services is designed to give students both hands-on training and the management skills necessary for long and successful professions in emergency services settings. While students will receive important vocational certifications including Emergency Medical Technician and technical rescue certifications, they will also receive important training in areas such as resource management, public safety system design, disaster response, and public health. In addition to the four years of emergency services classes, the degree takes full advantage of PUC’s liberal arts environment by integrating courses from various academic departments. The curriculum includes human anatomy and physiology courses...

On June 3, Pacific Union College’s President, Heather J.Knight, Ph.D., announced the receipt of the largest single private gift in thecollege’s 132-year history, a $2.4 million testamentary gift from the late StephenBall, a twenty-year resident of the Napa Valley. The gift is for theunrestricted support of Pacific Union College’s mission.“We are grateful for this transformational and historicgift,” said Knight. “Stephen Ball understood the mission and the impact thatPacific Union College has had throughout its history, and we’re honored toreceive this gift at a time when our college is on a historic upwardtrajectory. This gift is truly ablessing for our campus community.”Born in 1944 in Berkeley, California, Stephen Ball attendedArmstrong College, a private liberal arts college in Berkeley specializing inbusiness management. He relocated to the Napa Valley in 1994, and lived in St.Helena until his death in April.“Stephen was a generous soul, and he appreciated thosearound him who made a difference in the community,” said longtime friend SusanBaxter. “Pacific Union College is such an asset to the Napa Valley community,and Stephen wanted to support the mission of the college.”Pacific Union College is currently engaged in the planningphase for a major philanthropic campaign, the Heritage Campaign, which willencompass a variety of signature...

On May 29, Pacific Union College hosted Joanne Park for one of the Colloquy Speakers Series’ final installments of the school year. Park graduated from PUC in 2000 and is currently the Senior Director for Digital and Daytime Publicity at NBC Entertainment. She shared her career journey at NBC and also offered advice to students about what they can expect as they leave college and enter the workforce. After graduating from PUC, Park worked in the page program at NBC at the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and gave tours of the NBC Studios in Burbank, Calif. Soon after, she was invited to join the corporate production events team, where she produced events for advertisers, NBC affiliates, and various primetime television shows. Park has spent the last 11 years in the entertainment publicity department, working on campaigns for hit shows including ER, Fear Factor, The Office, Parks and Recreation, The Golden Globes, The Biggest Loser, and The Blacklist. Park currently oversees digital and daytime publicity for her department and her responsibilities include all social media campaigns for all NBC primetime shows, publicizing all digital initiatives for nbc.com, as well as working on marketing and publicity strategy for the head of...