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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 Hemmerlin, 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...

On June 12, Elizabeth (Libett) Muñoz Beard stepped into the role as Pacific Union College’s new Registrar in the Records Office, following Craig Philpott’s retirement after 40 faithful years at PUC. Coming to campus from Riverside, CA, Muñoz is a distinguished and experienced educator with a deep passion for the Seventh-day Adventist mission and education– a valuable contribution that PUC is delighted and proud to have.She faithfully served in the education sector for 33 years, including 28 in Adventist education, where she served as principal at La Sierra Academy for the last six years, after beginning her career at La Sierra University, followed by Loma Linda University and Cal State San Bernardino. With roots grounded in LSU, Muñoz earned a BBA in accounting and both an MA and an Ed.S. in educational leadership and administration. She has also been working on her Ed.D. this past year and is actively completing her dissertation.Muñoz brings a wealth of experience in leadership, higher education, program, staff, and curriculum development, and community outreach. She is passionate about the Seventh-day Adventist mission within academia, where God wholly impacts each student because her greatest reward is “seeing students grow, flourish, and later return to share how...

Led by Pacific Union College Scientist in Residence, Dr. Scott Butterfield, a new grebe monitoring project has literally taken "flight" over Clear Lake. Funded by a multi-year grant from the California Natural Resources Agency, and in collaboration with the Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake, Redbud Audubon Society, Robinson Rancheria, Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Lake County Land Trust, Anderson March Interpretive Association, California State Parks, and Upper Lake, Lower Lake, and Clear Lake High Schools, the project is focused on developing new drone-based methods that will allow Dr. Butterfield and high school students from across Lake County conduct annual monitoring of grebes, their nests, eggs, and hatchlings at Clear Lake and to help tell the story about how restoration efforts currently happening at Clear Lake are impacting these iconic bird species.This year, like many in the past, the grebes of Clear Lake are tucked into channels and within and behind wetland vegetation that is hard to access, even with kayaks and boats. Over the Memorial Day weekend, American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) Board members Gae Henry and Henry Bornstein used their pontoon boat to carefully guide Dr. Butterfield and his collaborator Donna Mackiewicz from Redbud...