APU Articles
Julia Stone: Re-imaging Church Worship Music
March 23, 2023
Julia Stone ’24 wants to enhance the way the church worships. As a junior music and worship major with an emphasis in Christian ministries and a double-minor in honors humanities and theology, Stone has a unique worldview that shapes her desire to innovate. Through her studies, she has done extensive research surrounding the church and the role music plays. “Worship is such a huge part of the way the church functions. The way I see it, it’s in need of reform because we’ve been stuck in the same format for so long,” Stone said. “I want to create a space for everybody to have a seat at the table in worship.”
APU Cinematic Arts: Training Transformative Storytellers
March 22, 2023
For students who dream of becoming filmmakers, Azusa Pacific University is the perfect place to be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the industry. Many factors go into this top cinematic arts program including its location next to the entertainment business, its unique opportunity for students to start making films as freshman, its industry-standard software and hardware, its industry experienced faculty, and its small class size providing individualized attention.
Degree Preparation: Pursuing Healthcare Management
March 13, 2023
Healthcare management is more than a job—it’s a calling and an opportunity to benefit patients, communities, and society as a whole. This career path offers a unique combination of personal satisfaction, job security, and financial stability within a dynamic and challenging environment. If you have a passion for healthcare but aren’t interested in becoming a doctor or nurse, this career may be the perfect fit for you.
Faculty Friday: Bill Catling, MFA — Connection, Learning, and Life Happen in the Spaces in Between
March 10, 2023
At the start of each semester, Bill Catling, MFA, asks himself, “How can I use these 16 weeks to change my students’ lives for the better?” Catling, who teaches in Azusa Pacific University’s Department of Art, believes in an open-ended educational experience. He hopes students fall in love with the learning process and come into their own. “I treat my classes as community environments of independently motivated learners, not students,” Catling said. “They want an answer and I always want to give them another question.” Rather than asking questions with black-and-white answers, he hopes to foster reflection and deep thinking among his fellow learners. “If all of us just paused for a second, before we do something we love, we would discover a deeper love of life and people and things,” he said. “That motivates me in the classroom a lot.”
9 Simple Productivity Tips for College Students
March 09, 2023
When you’re in college, there are many demands on your time. On top of classes and homework, you might have a job, extracurricular activities, and family responsibilities. You also need time to sleep, eat, exercise, and recharge. It can feel challenging to fit it all in.
Faculty Friday: The Full-Circle Journey of Michael Dean Clark, PhD
March 03, 2023
When Michael Dean Clark, PhD, graduated from Azusa Pacific University in 1997, he had no idea his time at the university was not yet complete. After working as a local reporter, a high school English teacher, and attending graduate school in Milwaukee, Clark was hired at Point Loma Nazarene University, where he anticipated staying for years. “I had everything done for tenure. I just had to complete the last couple years,” said Clark, “Then I got a call from Dr. Bentz, and he said, ‘Hey, we have a position here. Are you interested?’” Clark, a San Diego native who enjoyed surfing between classes, declined the offer. Joseph Bentz, PhD, however, was persistent. After Bentz called two more times, Clark opened up to the possibility. “I applied and then I came up and visited, and it reminded me why I chose APU as a student,” Clark said. “I’ve been back for nine years, taught and done work in many areas, and I love it.”
Is It Time to Transfer Colleges? Here's How to Decide
February 28, 2023
For many college students, transferring between schools is part of the academic experience. In fact, a National Student Clearinghouse Research Center report found that 2 million students transferred in the 2021-22 academic year. So if you’re considering transferring, you’re not alone.
Faculty Friday: Shelly-Ann Dewsbury, MSW, Values Growth In and Out of the Classroom
February 24, 2023
When professor Shelly-Ann Dewsbury, MSW applied to teach at Azusa Pacific University, she took the job through a leap of faith, leaving the familiarity of her residence in Boston. “When I took the job at APU, I was literally moving to California sight unseen,” she said.
How Employer Tuition Assistance Helps Professionals Return to School
February 22, 2023
If you’re a working professional, you may recognize that returning to school to complete your bachelor’s degree or pursue a graduate degree could help you advance and succeed in your field. Despite the potential gain it can bring, you also have to consider the cost.
Beatrice Buob ’03: Sharing the Gospel Through
February 21, 2023
Beatrice Buob ’03 had almost given up on her dream of pursuing a career in music when she learned of Azusa Pacific University. Originally from St. Gallen, Switzerland, Buob had been told by Swiss music schools that she was too old for their programs. Fortunately, her brother lived in San Diego. Buob searched for Christian universities in Southern California that didn’t have age limitations. After being accepted at APU, she moved more than 6,000 miles to pursue her dream. Although she originally planned on only taking a few classes, Buob enjoyed the program so much that she went on to earn her Master’s of Music in Conducting.
Career Preparation: Networking Skills for Success
February 20, 2023
Nikki High ’05 Opens First Pasadena Bookstore to Highlight Minority Authors
February 16, 2023
In 2022, Nikki High ’05 took a leap toward the unimaginable: she left her successful corporate job to pursue her life-long dream of opening a bookstore. Not just any bookstore, but —a place of gathering and community that prioritizes Black, Indigenous, and people of color authors.
Graduate Degree, Certificate, or Both: How to Choose the Best Track for You
February 15, 2023
You’ve finished your bachelor’s degree and might be thinking, “What’s next?” If specialization in a field or a high-level job is your goal, most likely the answer is to continue your education. However, with many academic options to pursue post-graduation, it can be hard to decide which graduate degree or certificate best supports the career you want.
Faithfulness to Mission: Working Together for Greater Kingdom Impact
February 13, 2023
On January 26, 2022, I sat with the APU Board of Trustees for what turned out to be my final interview in the presidential search process. It was more than a 12-hour day, and we all came prepared with our final round of questions. By midafternoon, having talked through the many complexities of leading a faith-based organization with hundreds of employees and thousands of students, we dove into a topic near and dear to my heart—faithfulness to mission. I wanted to probe core aspects of APU’s institutional identity and APU’s resolve to stand its ground amidst the tumult facing all of Christian higher education.
