News

From October 12 to 16, Pacific Union College held its Fall Week of Worship Service. Gathering students, faculty, and staff in Dauphinee Chapel, Director of Young Growing Leaders and Pastor Aren Rennacker, ’11, delivered a message about radiating love, being a disciple of Christ, and sharing the light from within.At the first worship service on Monday, Religious Vice President Jacob Duran introduced and welcomed Pastor Rennacker, who began by connecting with students through icebreaker questions and personal anecdotes that sparked laughter and shared stories across the hall.In line with the week's theme, Pastor Rennacker encouraged and challenged students to be a light, reflecting Jesus's love to one another and to the world as He referred to His followers in Matthew 5:14-16. From a non-Adventist household with a single mother and four children, he explained that after enrolling in an Adventist academy, his church community embraced and loved him."We rely on light for our sight, our home, our warmth, and our food, which is why you all chose to go to PUC," Pastor Rennacker said. "Light is fast, powerful, and good– that light is essential to who we are." He explained that carrying this light and following Jesus meant loving Him...

From October 15-17, Pacific Union College Communication Department Chair Tara Hargrove, PUC communication major Sebastian Alvarez, and MA student Abigail Suttan attended the Society of Adventist Communicators Convention in Orlando, Florida. Hosted by the North American Division, this annual event brings together Adventist communication professionals, educators, and students to learn, network, and be inspired.With this year’s theme focusing on purpose, passion, and partnership in ministry and media communications, attendees attended keynotes and workshops to strengthen their communication in writing, public relations, and social media skills. As the media world constantly changes, attending different sessions allowed Hargrove and her students to see new developments and learn how to incorporate those lessons into the classroom and workplace. The event included networking halls with leaders and professionals from across the country, allowing students, like Suttan and Alvarez, to connect with employers and meet other students from other colleges and universities.“The convention was a wonderful opportunity for our students to experience the communication profession beyond the classroom,” said Hargrove. “One of the most rewarding parts was watching them engage with what they were learning. They weren't just listening to presentations. They evaluated ideas, questioned what they disagreed with, and recognized how much they had...

Pacific Union College is happy to share its standings in Niche.com's 2027 Best Colleges in America. In the report, PUC ranked #49 for Best Colleges for Nursing in America, #51 of 95 Best Colleges in California, and #82 of 355 for Best Christian Colleges in America. Specifically in California, PUC ranked #6 of 46 for Best Colleges for Nursing, #10 of 17 for Best Christian Colleges, and #11 of 94 Safest College Campuses.Niche is a research company that millions of students and families use to view in-depth profiles, reviews, and ratings of every school and college in America. In this year’s rankings, PUC was listed alongside other Adventist universities as one of the best schools in California and the country, drawing more attention as its numbers and results on Niche grow.Along with the positive rankings in the 2026-2027 U.S. News & World Report, PUC is delighted to see the college continue to make its mark and advance its mission in multiple areas, such as Niche. “It is always worthwhile to look at how external validators view our campus. We are so proud of how we compare in these rankings,” said PUC President Ralph Trecartin. “This would not be possible without...

On October 22, Pacific Union College officially announced its conversion from a quarter-based academic schedule to a semester system, effective fall 2028. As the college prepares for this transition, PUC assures students it will remain committed to their academic progress and provide a clear path to graduation without delays or additional tuition costs. This conversion will create new opportunities, allow more time for in-depth course engagement, and provide greater flexibility in learning experiences, aligning PUC more closely with most colleges and universities nationwide while prioritizing students' academic experience and outcomes.Phase 1 of the conversion process is complete, with conversion committees established and policies, procedures, and roadmaps developed. PUC is currently in Phase 2, where faculty are converting course curricula to fit the new semester system, updating degree requirements, aligning learning outcomes, and completing governance approvals. The college expects Phase 3 to begin in summer 2027, with student preparation highlighted by the release of semester catalogs and degree maps, as well as advising resources and information sessions. As Phase 4 takes effect in fall 2028, PUC will ensure student support services are readily available while continuing to assess and improve them, monitor student success, and refine policies."A semester system will make...

From August 10 to 20, 36 Maranatha Volunteers International and Pacific Union College volunteers, faculty, staff, students, and community members collaborated to renovate McReynolds Hall, a residence hall primarily used when academies and other groups visit campus.The PUC Administration team has anticipated Maranatha’s return to PUC for a few years now, since their last project visit in 2019, when they successfully renovated and refreshed 31 Newton Hall dorm rooms and bathrooms, and continued the same project in 2020.The goal was to refresh as many of the 48 rooms and common areas as possible, starting with 16 rooms in wings A and C on the first floor. The plan was to remove old carpets and obsolete desks, paint the rooms, and install new vinyl plank flooring (LVT), shades, and lights. During this project, they completed 24 rooms and 12 bathrooms across two first-floor wings and the third wing, excluding floor preparation and installation of the new vinyl plank flooring in the B wing, which was more than they had originally planned.They began their project by removing loose furniture, including two beds and a dresser, old blinds, existing built-in desks, and carpets from the rooms. They painted the rooms and bathrooms, including...

From October 1-3, Pacific Union College hosted its Girls’ Volleyball Tournament for 12 schools throughout California. About 200 students and coaches from Redlands Adventist Academy, La Sierra Academy, Glendale Adventist Academy, Newbury Park Adventist Academy, Armona Union Academy, Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy, Pine Hills Adventist Academy, Central Valley Christian Academy, Lodi Academy, Monterey Bay Academy, Mountain View Academy, and PUC Prep competed in the college’s first high school tournament of the school year.As teams arrived on campus Wednesday evening, PUC students welcomed them with dessert treats, dorm essentials, and new tournament shirts designed by PUC student Riley Ramirez. Before games began Thursday morning, each academy gathered for worship at Paulin Hall and listened to a message from PUC Assistant Professor of Music and Enrollment Counselor Kristian Leukert. To keep students fueled and hydrated, PUC offered a free snack-and-drink table at the gym during pregame and postgame, which the students always enjoy, with special food items for their coaches as well. Because PUC hosts this event, its athletic department also attends games to see which players they could potentially recruit.After games on Thursday and Friday, visiting students could sit in on classes of their choice, giving them a glimpse of PUC...

During Commencement on June 14, the 2026 graduates at Pacific Union College honored Allison Fox with a memorial plaque as their class gift. Fox, a PUC alum who served as an access services librarian and honors program director, sadly passed away in 2023. Senior Class President Jacqueline Messing presented their gift after her presidential speech, sharing how they wanted to select a gift that reflected the lasting impact one individual can have on a community.“She possessed a rare gift for making people feel seen, valued, and encouraged. As a class, we wanted to recognize her not only for her contributions to this institution, but also the enduring legacy she leaves behind,” said Messing. “Professor Fox helped cultivate the values, relationships, and sense of community that continue to shape this campus today.”Throughout the process of creating the plaque, the senior class cabinet was dedicated to ensuring it reflected Fox’s authenticity, even including her mother in the process. Fox’s mother played a significant role in bringing this gift to life, which, for Messing, led her to see the project from a new perspective and made the process much more meaningful. The senior class also collaborated with PUC Director of Alumni Relations and...

Pacific Union College is delighted to announce that Brandon Broome has been appointed as PUC’s new athletic director, bringing 16 years of coaching and program-development experience. With six years of collegiate-level experience, Broome envisions creating a place where athletes pursue excellence and acceptance is a priority.He graduated from Oakwood University with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 2010. As a collegiate basketball player for OU from 2007 to 2010, he helped build the school’s first of four United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) teams. Broome also held the USCAA Slam Dunk Contest title as part of the National Championship team in 2008– a precursor to the passion, drive, and determination that has followed him into his coaching career.Before joining PUC, he served as head men’s Basketball Coach and Compliance Administrator at Walla Walla University for six years, guiding players on the court and contributing to the institution’s success.Broome began his role as athletic director on September 30. When you see him on campus, say hi and welcome him and his family to Angwin’s beloved college on the hill....

When PUC alumna Natasha Elloway-Negrete’s daughter received a busy board, she loved watching her learn numbers and the alphabet and saw how educational it was for children. Then she wondered if there was a busy board that taught children about the Bible. After finding only a few Christian options that didn't include the Bible truths and stories she wanted her children to learn, she was inspired to create one herself.After designing activities, securing a manufacturer, and going through countless samples and revisions, Elloway-Negrete finalized her first Bible busy board and launched it in June of this year. Although she created this busy board for her two children, she wanted to share it with other families and help their kids learn Bible stories through hands-on play. By making these boards, she also founded a small business named Faith & Fun Kids Co. Just two months after launching the first 150 boards, she sold out, with 200 boards already in production to restock in October and a Spanish version in the making.Seeing and hearing families enjoy her Bible Fun Busy Board is Elloway-Negrete’s favorite part about running Faith & Fun Kids Co. “I love seeing photos of children using and enjoying something...

Pacific Union College is happy to introduce Anthony Cadavid as the new MBA Program Director and Professor of Business Administration. Between teaching and supporting students and faculty, he develops partnerships to strengthen the department and support graduates, and ensures the program is on track to meet PUC’s vision.“PUC is an institution I have respected for decades,” said Cadavid. “I was genuinely happy to join the PUC family and have the opportunity to contribute to the important work the college is already doing. It also brought together things that matter deeply to me: education, leadership, faith, service, and helping people grow into responsibilities they may not yet realize they are capable of taking on.”When accepting this position, Cadavid was also drawn to PUC’s MBA Program's Christian mission, small class sizes for getting to know students on a personal level, and the flexibility to teach working students. “What excited me most was the opportunity to help shape the program around those needs and bring together exceptional faculty who could make that vision real,” said Cadavid. “I also found people already connected to the program who care deeply about our students, believe in what we can build, and have been incredibly supportive of...