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After four years of vigorous leadership, Dr. Kimberly Dunker is stepping down from her role as Dean of Nursing, Health Science, EMS & Global Health, effective July 1, 2025. She will continue her passion for empowering the next generation of nurses as the MSN/DSN program director for Loma Linda University’s School of Nursing.During her tenure at Pacific Union College, Dr. Dunker led the department’s growth of more than 44%, the fundraising of over $2 million for upgrades and initiatives, the strengthening of accreditation efforts and recognition from the California Board of Registered Nursing, the introduction of multiple programs, and the development of two additional off-site nursing education centers.Academic Dean Lindsay Hayasaka expressed that Dr. Dunker’s leadership on campus will be greatly missed. “Her active leadership has taken a historically strong program to even greater heights and at a quality level that places our program in the top nursing programs in California,” Hayasaka said.PUC President Dr. Ralph Trecartin conveyed similar sentiments. “Kimberly has been a force on campus,” he said. “‘No’ is just not in her vocabulary. She is the definition of a strong leader who gets things done.”VP of Enrollment, Marketing & Communication Gene Edelbach echoed praise for Dr. Dunker’s...

Pacific Union College has relaunched its Associate of Science in Engineering degree—and now, qualified students entering the program will be guaranteed admission into Andrews University’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering program through a newly signed Guaranteed Admission Agreement.This agreement ensures that eligible PUC engineering students will be accepted into AU’s BSE program. To support this partnership, PUC has designed a curriculum that fulfills AU’s transfer requirements, including foundational coursework in engineering, mathematics, and physics.“The agreement with AU means a guaranteed pathway for our students to complete a bachelor’s degree in engineering within the Adventist school system,” said James Robertson, chair of PUC’s mathematics and physics department. “Additionally, it will allow West Coast students to start their college experience closer to home and with friends, then complete their program at Andrews.”The engineering program, relaunching in Fall 2025, was reintroduced at PUC to meet student demand and provide an accessible and mission-aligned entry point into the field. Students benefit from small class sizes and a supportive learning environment tailored to the rigorous demands of STEM education.“Our program has a long history of successfully preparing engineering students,” Robertson added. “The first two years of any engineering program can be difficult, so our faculty...

Noah E. Paulin’s violin has never been silent for long. Nearly 60 years after his passing, Paulin’s beloved instrument—like his legacy—is a testament to music’s lasting power to connect generations in praise to Christ. The violin itself is beautiful and unique–a light golden brown with four strings. The top of the violin, known as the scroll, is carved into the likeness of German composer Felix Mendelssohn. While lovingly maintained, the violin bears the marks of life well-played.A Life of Music and MinistryThere’s no official record of when Paulin acquired the violin, but his own musical journey began long before he became known as the “Patriarch of Howell Mountain.”Paulin nurtured his passion for music at Findlay College from 1898-1901 before touring the country for two years with the Henry Minstrels. In 1905, he moved to Santa Barbara, taking graduate classes and establishing a well-known music studio, where he shared his love of music for nine years. His life took a spiritual turn in 1909 after attending evangelistic meetings by H.M.S. Richards, where he was inspired to join the Seventh-day Adventist Church. From then on, his violin became a tool of ministry, played at camp meetings, church gatherings, and more.In 1914, then...

Theology department Chair, Professor, and published author Jim Wibberding is adding to his literary collection a new book, Walking with the Pioneers: The Captivating Story of West Coast Adventism. The book explores traditional Adventist beliefs as they enmeshed and clashed with the landscape and culture of 1800s California. Wibberding shares the story of “the second founding of Adventism”—a term coined by his wife, PUC History Professor Laura Wibberding—in the “restless land of the Gold Rush;” a lesser-known story than Adventism’s first institutional center at Battle Creek, Michigan. “The book tells stories of how something Ellen White dubbed ‘California liberality’ and what one critic called ‘Western informality’ stirred changes that were huge gifts to Adventism,” Wibberding shared. “These include innovating worship music in 1877, the 1888 message of righteousness by faith, the first missionary ship, a cadre of women in ministry, the first Black person ordained to Adventist ministry, the first Hispanic Adventist pastor in the U.S., a medical empire, and plenty more.”Wibberding’s inspiration to document the perspective on this region’s Adventist legacy began because he lives and serves on the West Coast, but shifted into a deeper pursuit as he sifted through dusty archives. “West Coast Adventism is unique,” he...

What began as a promising career in the music industry—complete with a pop-soul album, an international tour, and the pursuit of fame—took a dramatic turn when Tad Worku felt a deeper calling. Now, with a thriving career that blends healthcare, leadership, and music, Tad’s pursuit lies in spreading hope and healing. Tad, a Pacific Union College alum, graduated with a business degree in 2008. “I really enjoyed PUC—all the great friendships forged there,” he shared. “I loved studying business and had a really good experience the first time around.” However, Tad’s true passion was for music. He spent the next several years pursuing a career in the industry, where he thrived, securing a tour spanning locations worldwide and nearly releasing an album. But Tad found himself searching for something more. That search led him back to PUC in 2012 in pursuit of a different career path. He graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. “It was a very intentional decision to come back to school,” he explained. “I returned my tour funding and completely stepped away from the music industry. I asked myself, ‘What’s something I can do where my hands are directly connected to purpose?’ That’s...

Pacific Union College’s Theology and Education departments are witnessing a marked increase in enrollment, reflecting a growing student interest in these fields and the college’s commitment to academic excellence and hands-on experience. This quarter, the Theology department welcomed seven new students, bringing their enrollment to 18 compared to last year’s 11. Similarly, the Education department has experienced a surge, with their total program enrollment reaching nearly 60. A Trend of GrowthBoth departments’ chairs expressed excitement and positivity for the rising enrollment numbers. Theology Professor and Department Chair Jim Wibberding explained if this trend continues, the Theology department could easily have 25 students in two years. For the Education department, the number of students in their Intro to Teaching class doubled this quarter alone versus their typical enrollment, with 17 new teacher candidates joining the class. Education Professor and Department Chair Dr. Jean Buller said the spike will continue with even more freshmen enrolled in the upcoming Winter quarter. Contributing FactorsBuller and Wibberding attribute similar factors to the growth of both the Theology and Education departments: a growing need in the fields, the high caliber of professors and academics at PUC, hands-on experience with major assignments, and the availability of scholarships...

Pacific Union College selected 17 incoming freshmen as this year’s recipients of the prestigious Maxwell Scholarship, the second-largest group of students awarded since the scholarship's inception in 2009.“We are proud to offer so many high-quality students the opportunity for a quality, Christ-focused education at PUC,” said Gene Edelbach, vice president for enrollment, marketing, and communication. “We look forward to seeing where their next four years on our campus take them.”Students who receive the Maxwell Scholarship exemplify outstanding academic achievement, a marked commitment to Christian service, and robust leadership experience.Additionally, applicants must meet GPA and ACT or SAT requirements. Maxwell Scholars receive $36,150 annually, renewable for three years with a 3.5 GPA and a potential 4th year under qualifying conditions.The 2024 Maxwell Scholars include students from California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Mexico, and the Philippines:Marilyn DoDavid Hernandez RodriguezAnrianne PonceCecile Angela AbellanaByul HanKeala TaburaElena BlumRiley RamirezDanielle MuchoDiego MarianoSalome TemboMadison GlockJacob CapinaMakenna TutthillGabriel Lopez IIEthan John SimIsabela VerduzcoThe Maxwell Scholar Program honors PUC’s late president and first lady, Dr. Malcolm and Eileen Maxwell, and their dedication to Seventh-day Adventist education. Maxwell was the first alum to serve as president of PUC, with the longest tenure at 18 years.Each year, PUC awards millions to support...

Through valuable advice and personal stories from those who’ve walked the path before them, the School of Science’s Alumni Seminar Series is helping Pacific Union College students navigate their academic journey and inspire their future career paths. The seminar series was the brainchild of Aimee Wyrick, dean of the School of Sciences and associate professor in the Department of Biology. She explained that the inspiration behind inviting PUC alumni to speak to current students included the desire to create connections and engage with seasoned perspectives. “We wanted to give our current students an idea of what PUC alumni are doing and the great diversity of paths people take once they leave our college,” Wyrick said. “The alumni who participate can identify with what current students experience and can provide encouragement and perspective. The alumni series has expanded our community beyond the campus.” Initially, the seminar series was a biology department initiative but widened to the basic sciences, including chemistry, math, and physics. Wyrick hopes to include presentations from psychology and social work in the future.Now, two years after its inception, the seminar series has taken place four times per quarter. Twenty-seven alumni have virtually or in-person shared their experiences, ranging...

Qualified Pacific Union College students may now be guaranteed admission to Andrews University’s (AU) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program through the recently signed Guaranteed Admission Agreement.Effective October 1, this agreement ensures at least two PUC pre-physical therapy students will be accepted into AU’s DPT program annually. To support the partnership with AU, PUC has developed a robust curriculum meeting the admission requirements to the DPT program, including specific biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, and psychology classes. “The agreement gives PUC students a competitive advantage in that they have clear expectations and receive personal guidance and help to meet those expectations,” says Aimee Wyrick, dean of the School of Sciences. Discussions surrounding the agreement began in 2023.“As we talked more and I learned about the various allied health programs, it became clear that partnering with their School of Allied Health would be a fabulous collaboration for both institutions,” she explains. “Pre-PT students at PUC with an interest in the Andrews DPT program will be advised by a PUC faculty and connected with the Andrews advising team.”Interested PUC students must meet specific criteria, including attending prerequisite classes, having a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.6, and participating in a pre-admission interview with AU....

Over the decades, Pacific Union College has endeavored to offer an education that empowers and prepares students to make an undeniable, Christ-like impact on the world around them, wherever they may go upon leaving Howell Mountain. Countless students-turned-alumni are shining examples of that spirit of service—one of those alums being Dr. Richard Chinnock.Chinnock, ’78, was recently honored in April with the 2024 Shirley N. Pettis Award by Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH). The award recognized his work as a devoted pediatrician with more than 30 years of service at the hospital, impacting thousands of lives in the Inland Empire and far beyond. This isn’t the first time Chinnock has been recognized for his incredible care. He also received the Outstanding Clinician Award from LLUCH in 2019 and is a Healing Hands Honoree. Chinnock, who grew up in the Loma Linda and Redlands area, says he followed his then-girlfriend, now wife of 47 years—Ruthie (Wagner) Chinnock, ’78—to PUC. As the only one out of five siblings to attend his parents’ alma mater, Chinnock says his parents were thrilled. He ultimately had a great experience, meeting some of his best friends on the third floor of Grainger Hall, working as a...