Meet the Staff

  • Matthew Browning

    Director of Commuter Life

    Matt Browning, EdD, has been at APU, off and on, for nearly thirty years. Matt is passionate about whole person development for college students. Matt has created programs and learning opportunities in over 70 countries around the world and is committed to celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion in all forms. He is especially proud to work with the commuter students of APU. He has great respect for the extra effort commuters exert to succeed in college. Matt lives in, and rides his motorcycle around, Pomona. He is proud of his strong, God-fearing, and grown daughters Emily and Mary as well as his granddaughter Aria.

  • Ziwei (Zi) Huang

    Commuter Life Graduate Assistant

    Zi has lived in Alhambra, Southern California for 10 years. He graduated from California State University, Los Angeles with a BA in Social Work. He worked in the field of higher education for about two years before joining the APU family and is currently in his first year in the MS in College Counseling and Student Development program. Zi cares about student engagement on campus. He is willing to share his experience with commuter students, get through obstacles together, and address their needs. When he has free time, he loves to explore the San Gabriel Valley area, hike in the nearby mountains, and visit his coffee spot every Sunday.

  • Joshua Jantz

    Commuter Life Intern

    Joshua is a senior majoring in chemistry and honors humanities. He loves science and enjoys being in the Honors College to dive deep into the big questions of life. He is the president of the pre-dental society on campus. He aspires to be an orthodontist and would love to help people learn to love their smile. In Joshua’s free time, he delights in playing sports and watching movies with friends. If you ever see him on campus, feel free to say hi!

  • Heidi Payes

    Commuter Life Graduate Assistant

    Heidi received her BA in Sociology from California State University, Los Angeles. She is pursuing an MS in College Counseling and Student Development at APU. Heidi is passionate about serving and equipping students for academic and personal success in college. As a commuter student herself, she was drawn to the Office of Commuter Life to help support programming and increase students’ sense of belonging on campus. Over the past seven years, Heidi has had the opportunity to assist students in achieving their post-secondary goals through her various roles in non-profit work and TRIO programs. In her free time, she enjoys running, spending time with her dog, reading, and having good conversations with friends over coffee.

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