APU is committed to fostering an atmosphere wherein academics are not simply taught, but lived.

Meet the Faculty

• Watch Now

  Meet the Faculty: Aimee Vadnais, PsyD, MFT

  In addition to her roles at Azusa Pacific University, Aimee Vadnais, PsyD, MFT, has a private practice in San Diego called Carmel Valley Psychological Services, where she specializes in couples, women’s issues, and infertility. Her clinical interests include positive psychology, emotional intelligence, attachment theory, and sensory processing disorders.

  January 24, 2018
• Watch Now

  Meet the Faculty: David Dyer, PhD

  David Dyer, PhD, is executive director of the Master of Science in Biotechnology program at Azusa Pacific University. Dyer received his B.S. in Genetics from the University of California at Davis, and his PhD degree in biology with an emphasis in molecular mechanisms of central nervous system repair from the University of California at Irvine. He established the research and development division of Woodward Laboratories, Inc., focused on transdermal drug delivery system development, and holds several U.S. and international patents for his work in this area. Dyer has also guided Phase IV clinical research and development in the area of central nervous system anti-epileptic drug product development for UCB, Inc., and has served as an industry consultant for drug product development and clinical testing.

  January 10, 2017
• Watch Now

  Meet the Faculty: B.J. Oropeza, PhD

  B.J. Oropeza, PhD, is a professor of biblical studies in the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies at Azusa Pacific University. He has a PhD in New Testament Theology from Durham University and has served as an author or editor on numerous books and publications, including Apostasy in the New Testament Communities, Jesus and Paul: Global Perspective in Honor of James D.G. Dunn, and The Gospel According to Superheroes: Religion and Popular Culture.

  October 27, 2016
• Watch Now

  Meet the Faculty: Lu Ruan, PhD

  “Computer technology has changed the way we live, work, and play,” says Lu Ruan, PhD. As an associate professor in the Department of Engineering and Computer Science at Azusa Pacific University, she enjoys challenging students to think creatively about how they can improve technology to solve problems and positively impact society. Ruan brings vast experience in the industry, having conducted research in optical networks, Internet topology, Internet routing, and content delivery networks. She has published nearly 50 papers in leading networking conferences and journals and is a recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER Award. She is also a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

  March 26, 2021
• Watch Now

  Meet the Faculty: Christopher Leland, PhD

  Christopher Leland, PhD, is a professor in Azusa Pacific’s Department of Communication Studies and director of the department’s forthcoming graduate program. Leland holds a Ph.D. in political communication from the University of Oklahoma and an M.A. in rhetoric from the University of Arkansas. During his long career in higher education, Leland has taught a variety of communications-related subjects, from persuasion and argumentation to political communication, often through the lens of faith and a Christian worldview. Leland has significant experience in professional communications settings, including serving as a speechwriter for the National Governors’ Association and working as a consultant to local, regional, and national political campaigns. He also presents at major corporations on various topics that include team building through communication, speaking for success, and communicating the corporate image.

  October 3, 2017
• Watch Now

  Meet the Faculty: Louise Huang, PhD

  Louise Huang, PhD, is the director of APU’s Center for Research in Science, which promotes research exploring the inseparable relationships between science, faith, and culture. She is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Biology and Chemistry. She earned her PhD in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry from the University of California, Davis. Her areas of expertise include chemical education, environmental sustainability and stewardship, and polymer chemistry.

  November 29, 2016
• Watch Now

  Meet the Faculty: David Dunaetz, PhD

  David Dunaetz, PhD, an assistant professor in APU’s Department of Leadership and Organizational Psychology, is a social psychologist whose research focuses on interpersonal processes in organizations. His background includes 17 years serving as a church-planting missionary in France, which furthered his interest in interpersonal conflicts in Christian organizations such as churches and missions. He aims to help leaders understand how these conflict processes can either increase or decrease an organization’s effectiveness in carrying out its mission, depending on how the conflict is managed.

  February 21, 2018
• Watch Now

  Meet the Faculty: Windy Petrie, PhD

  Windy Petrie, PhD, is a professor and chair of the Department of English. She has a Ph.D. from the University of Delaware and specializes in literary autobiography, transatlantic authorship and readership in the long 19th century, and the representation of faith in 18th century Victorian novels. Petrie is a former Fulbright Scholar to Lithuania, where she lectured on tropes of exile in 19th and 20th century novels, as well as the roles of women and minorities in American literary history.

  December 1, 2016