APU Articles
Expanding Public Relations: APU Welcomes New Communications Professor
September 21, 2015
Public relations and social media are two of the fastest growing communications sectors of this day and age. Rightfully so, as the two go hand in hand and are widely embraced by the up-and-coming business leaders of the 21 century.
Things to Do Before Graduation
September 07, 2015
Want to know how to make the most out of your APU experience? We put together a list of things APU students must do before graduating, from playing an intramural sport to traveling across the globe on a mission trip. Whether you are starting your freshman year or are heading into your final semester as a senior, this list can help you have fun and create lasting memories while taking advantage of what Azusa and the surrounding communities have to offer.
1899 Dining Hall Gets 2015 Makeover
September 02, 2015
Azusa Pacific University’s 1899 Dining Hall underwent an extensive remodel and menu update this summer. Diners will experience a fresh take on convenient, made-to-order meals in a modern, customer-friendly environment.
Made for Teaching
August 17, 2015
Tolulope “Tolu” Noah ’04, Ed.D., knew she wanted to be a teacher ever since the fourth grade. She fondly recalls playing school with her sisters and friends and being thrilled one Christmas when her parents bought her a chalkboard easel. As she grew, so did her passion, and she began volunteering as a tutor. Working with kids brought her joy. Despite some family pressure to pursue a career that would result in a large paycheck, she knew teaching was the only option that made her feel like she was doing what she was created to do.
Intellectual Hospitality
July 21, 2015
Picture a group of APU undergraduates gathering in a small classroom to study C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. Carly is the first to arrive—she’s done all the reading, and she’s ready to go. Andrew wanders in next, wearing a crisp white shirt and a bow tie. Jeremy has dirt under his fingernails; he was tending his garden before dashing to class. Scott looks restless, distracted, and a little rumpled, like maybe he didn’t get much sleep. These students and others sit around a long table in my classroom. They come from varied faith traditions. One spent 12 years in Jesuit schools. One comes from an Eastern Orthodox background. Another is Assemblies of God. There’s a student who identifies with the Red Letter Movement, and his closest friend in the class is an Episcopalian and an outspoken advocate for social justice. Working with this diverse group of students was one of the most remarkable experiences I’ve ever had as a professor, and one of the most moving experiences I’ve ever had as a believer.
A Picture of Affirmation
June 22, 2015
To most people, the “selfie” simply involves taking a photograph of oneself using a cell phone. To others, the term defines a pop culture trend dominating social media. But for Sam Louie, M.A. ’09, a psychotherapist and life coach specializing in multicultural issues and addictions, an innocuous snapshot can peel back years of repressed emotions and uncover the hidden truths behind words unspoken.
The Yo–Yo Man
June 08, 2015
The crowded room of children grows quiet as Michael Lee ’90 takes the stage to share his testimony. He greets them with a wide smile, but their attention turns to the object in his hand: a bright-red yo-yo. He spins it, beginning his story. “As I grew up, I experienced a lot of ups and downs—but mostly downs,” he says, bouncing the yo-yo high to the ceiling and low to the floor. He compares his early life without Christ to a roller coaster, tossing the yo-yo and twisting the strings in a flurry of motion. Finally, he presents the Gospel, creating a cross with the strings. The children cheer.
Living His Dream
June 08, 2015
As a boy, Jesse Merrick ’12 dreamed big. One day, he would be a professional athlete.
Communication Ethics Conference Boosts Scholarship
May 18, 2015
The 28 annual event, “The Ethics of Storytelling,” held February 7, 2015, drew faculty and students from institutions throughout Southern California and showcased the scholarship of more than 30 students from several disciplines, including English, communication studies, journalism, public relations, and leadership. Terrence Lindvall, Ph.D., C.S. Lewis Endowed Chair of Communication and Christian Thought at Virginia Wesleyan College, delivered the keynote address, “Parables: The Gospel in Nutshells and Other Contemporary Comedic Forms,” illustrating the role of storytelling in the Bible and its ability to reveal truths about God’s nature and actions.
Teams That Thrive: An Interview with Author Ryan Hartwig
April 21, 2015
APU Professor Elected to National Board
April 20, 2015
The Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts selected Emily Griesinger, Ph.D., to serve a four-year term on its national board, representing 97 schools. The Lilly program seeks to strengthen the quality and shape the character of church-related institutions of learning through three initiatives. First, it offers postdoctoral teaching fellowships for students seeking teaching, scholarship, and leadership positions in Christian settings. Second, it supports students exploring vocations in church-related higher education during their first three years of graduate school in the Lilly Graduate Fellows Program. Third, it maintains a collaborative National Network of Church-related Colleges and Universities that sponsors a variety of activities and publications designed to explore the Christian character of the academic vocation and to strengthen the religious nature of church-related institutions.
New Program Streamlines Degree Completion
April 13, 2015
Less than half of American students—46 percent—finish college. In the last two decades, more than 31 million people enrolled in college but left without earning a degree or certificate, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Given the recent report published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York citing that those with bachelor’s degrees enjoy a 75 percent wage advantage over high school graduates, closing this gap could benefit millions of American families and boost the economy. However, going back to school as a working adult can be challenging at best and for many, nearly impossible.
New Dean Named for School of Business and Management
April 06, 2015
Faculty Member Named as Emerging Scholar
March 31, 2015
Diverse Issues in Higher Education recognized Rachel Gonzales-Castaneda, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, as 1 of 12 Emerging Scholars of the Year in the January 2015 issue. The publication annually honors young scholars for the uniqueness of their fields of study and their commitment to teaching.
Honors College Hosts Renowned Political Theorist
March 30, 2015
Students and faculty explored the incisive language and organic nature of America’s cardinal text, the Declaration of Independence, when the Honors College hosted Danielle S. Allen, Ph.D., during a Koch Lecture Series event on February 18, 2015. With doctorates from Cambridge University and Harvard University, Allen holds an endowed chair and teaches at Princeton University. Her APU lecture focused on her recent book, Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality (Liveright Publishing Corporation, 2014), delving into the meaning of democracy and its implications for Americans, and facilitating rigorous dialogue among attendees.