APU Articles
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
The influence Professor Joseph Bentz, PhD, has had on Azusa Pacific University students over the past three decades has been built on relationships–in the classroom, in the office of the student newspaper he once advised, at conferences he has taken them to, and in his own home. Some of those students have walked in Bentz’s footsteps, publishing books of their own and pursuing academia. Others have stepped in different directions, nonetheless learning from Bentz’s diligence in the field of literature as inspiration to fearlessly pave their path in the world. The impact Bentz has had on students at APU has proved that one person’s story can help guide the stories of others.
Cultivating Transformation Through Spiritual Formation
October 25, 2023
Ta’Tyana Leonard, MDiv, is a familiar face at Azusa Pacific University as one of the school’s campus pastors. Although she stands on stage giving messages at APU chapels, shepherds students through pastoral counseling, and leads the Kaleo SALT (Service and Leadership Team) program, ministry wasn’t always part of Leonard’s plan for herself. As a business administration major who also played softball at Oregon State University, Leonard once believed her future was in sports.
Makoto Fujimura Presents 2023 James L. Hedges Lecture
October 24, 2023
World renowned artist, author, scholar, educator, and theologian Makoto Fujimura presented Azusa Pacific University’s 2023 James L. Hedges Lecture on Oct. 18 in Munson Chapel, introducing students to an exceptionally enriching, engaging, and captivating perspective when it comes to viewing and creating art.
Faculty Friday: Diana Pavlac Glyer’s Dedication to Creative Collaboration
October 20, 2023
Diana Pavlac Glyer’s earliest childhood memories include sneaking a book with her whenever her mother would tell her to go outside and play. Her early love for literature established the roots of her outstanding career as a writer and professor, whose goal is to cultivate creativity in collaboration among every student who enters her classroom.
Faculty Friday: Chuck Grieb’s Lifelong Animation Journey
October 13, 2023
As Chuck Grieb, MFA, was eating breakfast with his wife one morning a few years ago, he witnessed two hummingbirds jousting like knights, and began creating illustrations for what would become his self-published book “The Goblin Twins- A Garden Clan Tale.” The book contains more than 100 illustrations, featuring inspiration from creatures he noticed in real life, such as rabbits in his yard and a bobcat on the street. Grieb’s creative initiative began long before his career in animation and storytelling. He has created art for as long as he can remember.
Alumni Feature: Elisa Marchetti’s Authorship and Victory in the Face of Cancer
October 12, 2023
Elisa Marchetti (Rohlwing) ‘04, MBA ‘09, encounters superheroes everyday, and she is one herself. While she does not wear a cape or fight villains, she has faithfully fought a much tougher foe—cancer—as a caretaker. Marchetti shares her story in her debut book “,” serving as a testament to hope and spreading the joy of God’s healing.
Dave Blomquist: Cultivating Transformation on the Field
October 09, 2023
Dave Blomquist, MA, is living out his mission as the head coach of Azusa Pacific University’s men’s soccer team. Although his teams have had many triumphant seasons, including going undefeated during regular season play and being ranked No. 1 in all of NCAA Division II in 2019, Blomquist doesn’t measure success through traditional metrics. “I have no idea how many wins I have in my coaching career. As much as I love when our team wins, that’s not nearly as important to me,” he said. “Tell me how many players I’ve coached because that’s the number of opportunities I’ve had to help a young man grow, develop, and be transformed.”
My Favorite Coffee Shops Within 10 Minutes from APU’s Campus
October 02, 2023
When it comes to heavy workloads, study sessions, and never-ending to-do lists, spending a few hours at a local coffee shop offers a space outside of school to buckle down on work, alone or with friends, all while sipping a delicious drink. Here are some of the best coffee shops within a 10 minute drive from Azusa Pacific University’s campus.
Jill Lincoln: Cultivating Transformation in Theater Arts
September 28, 2023
Jill Lincoln, MA, loves training the next generation of great storytellers. As the head of Azusa Pacific University’s Department of Theater Arts, Lincoln is passionate about helping students become experts at their craft, sharing impactful stories through the art of acting. “Stories matter. They’re the way in which Christ communicated and if we equip students to become exceptional storytellers, that is success, especially when we’re 20 minutes from the largest entertainment industry in the world,” Lincoln said.
Raphaela Lacerda ’23 Makes Her Mark in Conducting
September 20, 2023
As hundreds of audience members watched, Raphaela Lacerda, MM ’23, took the stage to conduct the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra (SBSO) for the first time. Lacerda was guest conducting Georges Bizet’s Farandole from L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2 after an invitation from renowned conductor Anthony Parnther for the SBSO’s final performance of 2022. Having only rehearsed with the orchestra for 20 minutes the day before the show, Lacerda remained confident and everything went smoothly as the audience burst into applause as the piece ended. “A lot of people came up to talk to me after the show, complimenting the performance and commenting on how young I was,” Lacerda said. “There were even a few kids who said they wanted to be like me when they grew up. That was a special moment, to think I could be a role model for them.”
Global Engagement Series: Emily Durbin’s Experience in Turkey
September 12, 2023
After Emily Durbin ’23 graduated in May with a bachelor’s in business management, she embarked on one more opportunity to serve alongside her Azusa Pacific University friends on a three-week Global Engagement trip to Turkey.
