APU Articles
International Voices: Victoria Gautto ’24 Discovers Endless Possibilities While Following Her Dreams
December 11, 2023
When she was six-years-old, Victoria Gautto, ’24, was walking around Canoas, Brazil with her family as they heard an array of winds, chimes, and basses. Following the sounds, they found a local social project with a mission to help people from all walks of life have the opportunity to learn how to play an instrument. Music ran in Gautto’s family, as her father sang and played guitar in a band, and her younger sister participated in marching bands, so Gautto’s lifelong pursuit of music gradually began. Her journey to Azusa Pacific University to earn her Masters in Music in Clarinet Performance was one of perseverance, faith, and diligence toward her craft as a clarinet player.
Faculty Friday: Kat Ross’ Versatility as an Author and Receptiveness to the Doors God Opens
December 08, 2023
Student Spotlight: Tyler Jones ’24 Strives to Be a Light
December 07, 2023
Tyler Jones ’24 aims to be a light in the lives of others. A senior communication management major with a psychology minor, Jones felt called to Azusa Pacific University after learning about what the school stood for as a God First institution, which matched his values. He was thrilled to find out he had received a multi-ethnic leadership (MEL) scholarship on top of his academic award and financial aid. “The scholarships lined up perfectly,” Jones said. “They made it possible for me to come to APU and I’m grateful.”
Faculty Friday: Mark Cawman’s Leadership with Love
December 01, 2023
Titles and accolades cannot compare to the joy of loving someone. For professor Mark Cawman, DBA, the birth of his daughter almost five years ago transformed his life, and was worth more than any salary, position, or recognition. Becoming a father led him to leave his corporate career behind, pursuing teaching full-time in order to follow his true vocation, while giving him more time with his family.
Cultivating Transformation in the Sciences: Kevin and Louise Huang
November 20, 2023
When Kevin and Louise Huang first met at church as graduate students at UC Davis, little did they know their time in California and with each other was just beginning. After getting married, the Huangs lived in Connecticut while Kevin completed postdoctoral research at Yale University. When the time came for Kevin to search for a full-time faculty position, he and Louise asked the Lord to lead the way. “We laid out all the manilla envelopes with job applications and laid hands on them and just asked the Lord to bring us to a place where we can serve Him and where we can also learn and grow,” said Louise. “We really think that APU is truly one of our biggest answered prayers.”
Faculty Friday: Candice Williams’ Heart for Justice and Openness to Uncharted Roads
November 17, 2023
Oftentimes, choosing a career path feels like deciding a destination, following a route based on a map’s depiction, and continuously moving in one direction. For Candice Williams, PhD, her career journey presented detours, ultimately leading her to a profession she never thought she would enter: the criminal justice field. Embarking on a path of research, professorship, and mentorship, led her to fulfill what she believes God called her to do. The core of Williams’ career stems from a heart for helping people thrive, implementing fair strategies and resources, and approaching every opportunity with the desire to learn more.
Student Spotlight: J.J. Navarette Encourages Belonging
November 14, 2023
J.J. Navarette ’24 loves helping students find belonging at Azusa Pacific University. As a transfer student, Navarette struggled at first to find her place and her people at APU, but that all changed during her second semester on campus. “I knew college was supposed to be about creating meaningful experiences and forming lasting friendships. I wanted that,” she said. “When I joined the Alpha program last fall, I found what I was looking for. I found my purpose.”
Equipping Nurses to Make a Difference in the Middle East
November 13, 2023
Azusa Pacific University’s nationally ranked School of Nursing (SON) is making an impact across the world. The SON has trained nursing students in Asia and Europe for decades, yet this year marked the first time APU has offered a nurse leadership program in the Middle East. The SON partnered with Health Outreach to the Middle East (HOME), a Christian, interdenominational organization that brings physical, psychological, and spiritual healing to poor and suffering people through 18 Christian clinics, hospitals, and medical projects in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Sudan, with plans to expand to the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and Bahrain. APU’s first cohort of seven of HOME’s nurse leaders recently finished their program, earning a certificate in Nursing Leadership, which will enable them to advance effective health care and be a force for positive change.
Experiencing Transformational Healing at APU
November 10, 2023
For many, the years spent in college are some of the most formative for personal development and career preparation. For others, college is a time of healing and restoration. Such was the case for Ulyses Lopez ’19, MDiv ’23.
Micayla Brewster ’17: From Broadway to Digital Nomading and Back
November 07, 2023
For some, social media is simply a platform to share the food they eat or the concerts they attend, while for others, it’s a way to connect with old friends and maintain relationships with family far away. For Micayla Brewster ’17, social media is so much more, a passion that blossomed into a one-of-a-kind career. Just six years after graduating from Azusa Pacific University, Brewster has lived in more than 25 locations across the world as a self-proclaimed digital nomad and she recently launched her own company, The Social Team.
Cultivating Transformation in the Honors College
November 06, 2023
If you spend some time talking with Curtis Isozaki ’14, MA ’18, CF-LSP, his passion for Azusa Pacific University, the Honors College, and leadership shines through in his mannerisms, words, and facial expressions. Serving as both the director of strategic initiatives and enrollment in the Honors College and as an adjunct professor in the Department of Leadership and Organizational Psychology, Isozaki’s days are full of doing what he loves: sharing his knowledge, mentoring students, and meeting new people.
Stephen Vogt ’07 Named Manager of Cleveland Guardians
November 06, 2023
Today will go down as one of the most significant moments in the history of Azusa Pacific athletics. Stephen Vogt ’07 was named the new manager of the Cleveland Guardians—the first APU alumnus to become a head coach of a major league team. Vogt has big shoes to fill, replacing future Hall of Fame manager Terry Francona who led the Guardians for the past 11 seasons. Chris Antonetti, Cleveland’s president of baseball operations, is certain he’s the right man for the job.
Faculty Friday: Theresa Tisdale’s Spiritual Approach to Psychology
November 03, 2023
Theresa Clement Tisdale, PhD, PsyD, ABPP begins every class session sounding a set of chimes, allowing students a few minutes of silence in order to breathe deeply and prepare to be engaged in learning. Deep change and healing are her mottos, and Tisdale implements what she practices as a psychoanalyst to cultivate spiritual transformation in every student who walks through her classroom.
Faculty Friday: Joseph Bentz Inspires Students Through Stories
October 27, 2023
