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Throughout the year, the Pacific Union College aviation program has received many provisions from God, including acquiring Charlie, their Cessna 206 missionary plane, and adding several talented instructors to their team. Recently, a glider was generously donated to the PUC aviation program. Flight Center Director Nathan Tasker has been working diligently on plans for a glider program on campus, so this was nothing short of an answer to prayer for Tasker and his team.Several months ago, Tasker met with a fellow Adventist glider pilot who had been working on his glider instructor certificate and had recently acquired it. This milestone encouraged Tasker and the instructor to schedule a meeting for July 6 to plan next steps. Among those steps was the acquisition of gliders. They met at 12 p.m. as planned, and, just 30 minutes into their meeting, the daily mail arrived. In it was an unsolicited letter from someone named Joanne Lessard. In the letter, Lessard explained that her husband, George Lessard, a 1963 PUC alumnus and a passionate glider pilot, had passed away this past January. After reading the recent article circulating on the PUC website and in ViewPoint publications about “Charlie,” she inquired whether PUC could use...

With roots in Angwin, Pacific Union College was no stranger to ‘97 alumna and passionate children’s author and illustrator, Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson, who grew up witnessing the early-morning fog over the valley, the sound of the Paulin Hall fountain, and the winding roads adorning the hill. Having been inspired by these experiences, Fujimoto-Johnson said it was during her time at PUC that she tapped into some of her most significant and creative projects, which, to her, marked the roots she is pursuing all these years later.In her early years, she recalls writing poetry at the tender age of six, which grounded her in a love and fond appreciation for expression. She said, “The truth is that I feel most alive when I am creating, and I have circled back to that truth many times in my life so far. But really, I create in the hopes that my work will outlive me and continue to make an impact for many years. I am committed to making space for diversity, beauty, and kindness in my work.”Her family moved to Japan when she was nine, which exposed her to her cultural and familial roots, and her passion for writing grew while being homeschooled...

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...

Throughout the 2025-2026 academic year, Pacific Union College Assistant Professor of Psychology Libna Arroyo invited guests to her psychology courses to give students real-world learning experiences through the college’s experiential learning opportunities.For the PSYC 235: Child Development class, Professor Arroyo invited two families, one of whom is PUC Assistant Professor of Kinesiology Matt Evans’ family, with children under five, to participate in age-appropriate activities with college students during the child development lab.PSYC 264: Social Psychology featured a Holocaust survivor, Anita, who was a hidden Jewish child during World War II. She has been sharing her story for five years and is currently 93 years old. Also, National Association of Veterans Affairs Chaplain (NAVAC) Board Certified Chaplain and Air Force Chaplain Jonathan Arroyo spoke to the students about altruism.Arroyo invited two families from the community who have adopted children through foster care in California to her PSYC 335: Adolescent Psychology class to share their experiences with adolescents. These families shared their experiences in parenting children who have suffered trauma. The parents also shared their relationships with professionals who work with their children, such as social workers, school counselors, and teachers, and provided tips for interacting with families in their future careers.Arranging...

On July 1, Sam Heier transitioned to his new role as Vice President of Financial Administration and Chief Financial Officer. Having served as the Executive Director of Financial Administration since 2023, he has since established strong financial rapport across campus, bringing a wealth of experience, strategic thinking, and a vision to keep PUC moving forward.Heier’s story began long before he settled in Angwin with his wife, Jodel, whom he met during his time at PUC, and their two sons, Rylan and Luke. After moving to PUC from his hometown near Stuttgart, Germany, in 1996, he was a determined ESL student in a completely new environment, working at the Howell Mountain Market to support his education. Heier credits his work experience there and the manager he worked under with influencing the management philosophies he holds and practices today.“I think what makes PUC unique is not that we are here to teach students in the classroom alone, but we really help them grow as human beings and future leaders,” he said. “Students are mentored by amazing educators and pastors. That was my experience back then as an international student, and it still holds true today.”Heier described his time at PUC as a...

From June 12 to 14, Pacific Union College proudly celebrated 316 graduates from 13 states and six countries, awarding a total of 345 degrees across the nursing, business, psychology, social work, visual arts, biology, world languages, and communication departments– awarding 169 associate’s degrees, 167 bachelor’s degrees, and nine master’s degrees. Filling the seats at every service over the weekend were proud parents, faculty and staff, friends, and colleagues of the graduates who have left a lasting impact on the college campus.“If anyone is doubting the value of higher education, they need to attend PUC's graduation weekend,” said Vice President for Academic Administration Lindsay Hayasaka. “Seeing students who have worked so hard—and overcome so much—cross the stage renews my faith in the importance of this work. I couldn't be prouder of our faculty and staff, whose dedication has helped make this celebration possible, or of what this graduating class has accomplished. Our graduates remind me that education changes lives, and I can't wait to see what our newest alumni do next.”The weekend activities began on Friday with the Nursing Graduate Recognition service held in the PUC Church sanctuary. The speaker, Robert Michael Heaton, a nursing educator in clinical education and lead...

The Pacific Union College aviation program recently introduced the Adventist Aviation Museum in its new facility to alumni, students, faculty and staff, and community members.Across from Fisher Hall, where the program currently houses one of its simulators and classrooms, this new facility, aside from the Virgil O. Parrett Field Airport, serves as a modern-day exhibition honoring fellow Adventist missionaries and aviation pioneers while offering ample space for students in the fast-growing program.A preview of the museum was held during PUC’s Alumni Homecoming weekend in April 2026. Approximately 150 people attended the opening program, titled “Carrying on the Legacy: Conversations with Adventist Aviation Pioneers,” where Adventist mission pilots who had served in places such as Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Kenya, and the Solomon Islands shared their experiences. Attendees were exposed to a broader picture of past work, with a passion for keeping the mission moving forward.“Seventh-day Adventists have always been a people of hope,” said PUC Flight Center Director Nathan Tasker in the museum’s promotional video. “It is a hope baked into our very name– a constant, forward-looking gaze toward the blessed hope of our returning King.”For Tasker, one of the most prominent driving forces behind the establishment of this honorary...

The Pacific Union College nursing program is pleased to announce that, alongside its latest ranking of #7 for producing the highest-paid nurses nationwide, it has now been ranked #2 on Nurse.org for the accessibility, online and in-person offerings, length, and academic quality of its fast-growing RN-to-BSN program.Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), PUC’s 100% online RN to BSN program can be completed within nine to 18 months at $385 per credit, for a total cost of approximately $15,000. All theory courses are asynchronous and taught by Certified Nurse Educator faculty members who hold Online Teaching Certification and prioritize student progress. The college also offers nursing students an optional 90-hour in-person practicum to obtain a Public Health Certification.“One of the things I appreciate most about our RN-to-BSN program is the way our faculty invest in students as individuals,” said Tamara Tirado, dean of nursing and emergency management. “This recognition is a reflection of the care, commitment, and excellence that our faculty bring to their work every day, and I am grateful for the impact they have on the nursing profession.”Grounded in rigor, consistency, and flexibility, this program is designed for students at any stage of their career...

A few weeks prior to the annual Angwin to Angwish race held on May 3, Pacific Union College Enrollment Counselor Abraham Garrido partnered with 45 participants from the Redwood Trail Alliance and the St. Helena Thunderbird mountain biking group to clear leaves, trees, overgrown grass areas, and bushes throughout the trails adorning the college’s 1,100 acres of forest.Offering 35 miles of trails for mountain biking, hiking, running, and horseback riding, the PUC Forest is protected by a conservation easement in partnership with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) and the Land Trust of Napa County. This opportunity helps PUC students, faculty, and staff, as well as community members, enjoy this stretch of recreational nature.As the race organizer, Garrido received feedback from frequent runners, bikers, and community members that the openness of the trail enhanced their overall experience, as they did not have to worry about poison oak or maneuvering under or over trees or branches.Garrido and his wife, Isabella, frequently enjoy the trails because they allow them to feel close to God while decompressing from the stresses of everyday life and staying healthy. He specifically enjoys embarking on long mountain adventures and running ultramarathons, taking advantage of...

In May, Pacific Union College was ranked #7 for its bachelor’s program in nursing, with graduates earning a median annual income of $141,000. PUC's RN-to-BSN program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and is designed to prepare registered nurses for leadership, graduate education, population health, evidence-based practice, and professional nursing roles in today's healthcare environment.This flexible 100% online RN-to-BSN program is designed for working registered nurses throughout California, enabling them to advance their education while serving their patients, families, and communities, and emphasizing compassionate care, critical thinking, clinical judgment, and service to diverse populations.“We are honored to see Pacific Union College recognized among the nation’s top bachelor’s nursing programs for graduate earnings,” said Tamara Tirado, PUC dean of nursing and emergency management. While salary is only one measure of success, this recognition reflects the strength of our fully online BSN program, the dedication of our faculty, and the exceptional commitment of our students.”Following the completion of the BSN degree, many graduates pursue leadership roles, specialty practice, graduate education, and advanced nursing roles, building upon their nursing knowledge through coursework in leadership, community and public health, research, informatics, and evidence-based practice.“Our goal is to prepare nurses...