News Archive
International Voices: Hesou Zetelian ’26 Fearlessly Jumped into the Unknown and Discovered His Passions at APU
February 07, 2024
Jumping into the unknown can stir a range of emotions, from excitement for a fresh start, to confusion about where decisions will lead. For Hesou Zetelian ’26, diving into change has produced a domino effect of finding his passions, community, and faith.
Fall 2023 CLAS Dean's List
February 06, 2024
Congratulations to all of the students who made the Fall 2023 CLAS Dean’s List. Students who are named on the Dean’s List must be enrolled in at least 12 units and have achieved a 3.5 or higher GPA for the qualifying semester. We are proud to celebrate our CLAS students for their academic excellence!
February Featured Alumna - Alissa Matus, PhD
February 06, 2024
Faculty Friday: Aisha Chen’s Conscientiousness and Commitment to Mentorship
February 02, 2024
Many professors have a heart for mentorship, and for Aisha Chen, PhD, creating connections with students is as thrilling as developing code, a passion of hers that has led her to many research and computer science discoveries. As an engineering professor, she strives to not only offer students the tools to help them succeed in the future, but to broaden their perspectives about humanity and how their role in science can further God’s plan for them.
International Voices: Jonathon Krohn ’27 Shares His Love for Different Cultures and Servant Leadership
January 31, 2024
For Jonathon Krohn ’27, traveling the world and being immersed in different cultures is at the heart of growth, finding community, and following God’s calling for his life. Having already been to 10 countries, and eager to visit more, Krohn’s dream to become a travel nurse stems from his passion for diversity and helping others.
International Voices: Madey Sule ’27 Reflects the Love of God and Her Family in All Her Endeavors
January 29, 2024
Madey Sule ’27 has always been fascinated by the way mechanisms work. From cell phones to ceiling fans, she always wondered how the circuits caused such devices to function. Her curiosity, interest in improving day-to-day life, and yearning to answer God’s calling gave her the drive to leave her home in Nigeria for the first time in order to pursue an engineering degree at Azusa Pacific University.
APU Alumnus Dave Canales ’03 Hired as Carolina Panthers Head Coach
January 26, 2024
After an athlete’s playing career wraps up, the pinnacle of professional sports is becoming a head coach at the highest level: the major leagues. Azusa Pacific University alumnus Dave Canales ’03 reached that pinnacle yesterday when he was named the head coach of the National Football League’s Carolina Panthers. David Tepper, the Panthers’ owner, said “Dave's background is rooted in success. He has an innovative mindset and positive energy that connects well with players and staff. We are impressed with his ability to bring out the best in players.”
APU Theater Presents William Shakespeare’s
January 24, 2024
Faith-Informed Excellence in Science and Research
January 22, 2024
From undergraduate biology majors exploring the intricacies of human drug-metabolizing enzymes to biotech master's degree students utilizing 3D tissue models of human organs to minimize animal testing, APU students are fully engaged in high-level research in their fields. With access to multimillion-dollar, industry-standard equipment, along with professor-mentors to lead projects, students conduct experiments, submit papers for publication and make original contributions to the sciences well before graduation.
Faculty Friday: Tim Samoff’s Diligence as a Game & Program Director
January 19, 2024
For Tim Samoff, MFA, developing Azusa Pacific University’s Games and Interactive Media program was much like creating a video game. His dedication to God’s plan for his life mirrors the engagement, exuberance, and perseverance that one must use when moving to the next level.
Called to Faithfulness
January 18, 2024
Throughout the pages of the last several issues of APU Life we have intentionally focused on APU’s unwavering commitment to Christ-centered higher education. After all, how can we claim to be a God First institution if the Truth of God’s Word doesn’t permeate every crack and crevice of this place?
Dominique Johnson '10: Pouring into the Next Generation
January 17, 2024
Dominique Johnson ’10 is driven to pour into the next generation. After 13 years playing professional basketball in the NBA D-League, for many international teams, and in the Big3, Johnson returned to Azusa Pacific University to serve as assistant coach on the men’s basketball team. “I wanted to share my knowledge and experience,” Johnson said. “I talked with (head coach) Pete Bond and he said I should start here. I’m grateful for the opportunity and it’s been great to be back at APU.” Johnson’s journey back to his alma mater was a long one, filled with lots of life lessons that he hopes to pass on.
A Commitment to Biblical Diversity
January 14, 2024
Imagine a university community where all students, faculty, staff, and administrators experience a heightened sense of community and belonging—an open-enrolled, Christ-centered community where all employees and students are seen, spiritually formed, intellectually stimulated, socially connected, and culturally adept with faith-informed resolve to advance the work of God in the world. Imagine a community where there are no disparities in success outcomes across diverse categorical lines. Envision a university community where all faculty, staff, and students are thriving and experiencing:
Faculty Friday: Brian Plummer Spreads Joy by Fulfilling His Purpose
January 12, 2024
Brian Plummer, PhD, is known among students for offering words of affirmation at the end of each class, sharing wisdom and “rules to live by” at the end of the semester, and ultimately using his humor and optimism to create a lasting impact. He frequently tells them, “stay beautiful,” “you matter,” “Plummer loves ya,” and many other encouraging phrases. His role as a history and political science professor combines his passion for mentorship, storytelling, and faith in Christ.
International Voices: David Saenz ’24 Seeks to Inspire and Uplift Through Film and Building Community
January 10, 2024
When a family is grounded like a sturdy tree, even the most torrential weather cannot tear them apart. David Saenz ’24, who grew up in Chihuahua, Mexico, attributes his bravery, adaptability, and faith to his family. He carries immense passion for filmmaking, remains rooted in his Mexican culture, and hopes to share an aura of positivity in every smile to someone across campus, conversation with someone new, and act of kindness to a stranger.
January Featured Alumna - Petra Ivankovic, MA
January 09, 2024
Going for the Gold: Natalie ('17) and Chris Meinhold ('20) Make an Impact Through Physical Therapy
January 03, 2024
As sneakers skid across the gym floor and the basketball is passed from player to player, physical therapists Natalie (Peterson) ’17 Chris Meinhold ’20 watch closeby—ready to provide critical on the court assistance as needed and cheering on the players they’ve trained with over the course of the past two weeks. The basketball swishes, and their team—the USA men’s deaf basketball team—wins the 2023 World Deaf Basketball Championships in Heraklion, Greece as the crowd erupts in cheers. The USA women’s team follows suit.
International Voices: Camille Campbell ’25 Adapts Through Changes and Cultural Identities
December 13, 2023
At six-years-old, Camille Campbell, ’25, moved with her family from Philadelphia to a city near Paris, France. Campbell’s father, a pastor, felt called to pursue ministry, and after falling in love with French culture on previous mission trips, his family joined him on a life-changing expedition.
Azusa Pacific University Hosts Fall 2023 Commencement Ceremonies
December 12, 2023
International Voices: Heejae Jeong’s Diligence, Perseverance, and Jeong
December 12, 2023
The Korean word jeong means intimate connection between people in community. Heejae Jeong, ’26, embodies jeong, demonstrating a love for deepening relationships with others and striving to share the joy he finds in Christ with everyone he encounters. His dedication to worshiping God through community led him to pursue a degree in international relations and honors humanities.
International Voices: Victoria Gautto ’24 Discovers Endless Possibilities While Following Her Dreams
December 11, 2023
When she was six-years-old, Victoria Gautto, ’24, was walking around Canoas, Brazil with her family as they heard an array of winds, chimes, and basses. Following the sounds, they found a local social project with a mission to help people from all walks of life have the opportunity to learn how to play an instrument. Music ran in Gautto’s family, as her father sang and played guitar in a band, and her younger sister participated in marching bands, so Gautto’s lifelong pursuit of music gradually began. Her journey to Azusa Pacific University to earn her Masters in Music in Clarinet Performance was one of perseverance, faith, and diligence toward her craft as a clarinet player.
News Release: APU School of Education Receives National Reaccreditation
December 11, 2023
Faculty Friday: Kat Ross’ Versatility as an Author and Receptiveness to the Doors God Opens
December 08, 2023
All throughout life, doors open and close. While some only stay open for a season, others last a lifetime. For Kathryn Ross ’15, MA ’18, she never imagined that English would be her major, her hobbies would become a career, and she would stand in front of a classroom of students eager to hear what she has to teach. By stepping through the doors God opened for her, Ross has discovered value in vulnerability, developed deep relationships with a heart for knowing others well, and pursued truth and goodness through everything she writes.
Student Spotlight: Tyler Jones ’24 Strives to Be a Light
December 07, 2023
Tyler Jones ’24 aims to be a light in the lives of others. A senior communication management major with a psychology minor, Jones felt called to Azusa Pacific University after learning about what the school stood for as a God First institution, which matched his values. He was thrilled to find out he had received a multi-ethnic leadership (MEL) scholarship on top of his academic award and financial aid. “The scholarships lined up perfectly,” Jones said. “They made it possible for me to come to APU and I’m grateful.”
APU Receives $1.25 Million Lilly Endowment Thriving Congregations Grant
December 06, 2023
December Featured Alumnus - Charlie Choi, MS
December 05, 2023
Keith Hall Selected as Inaugural CCCU Presidential Fellow
December 04, 2023
Faculty Friday: Mark Cawman’s Leadership with Love
December 01, 2023
Titles and accolades cannot compare to the joy of loving someone. For professor Mark Cawman, DBA, the birth of his daughter almost five years ago transformed his life, and was worth more than any salary, position, or recognition. Becoming a father led him to leave his corporate career behind, pursuing teaching full-time in order to follow his true vocation, while giving him more time with his family.
Cultivating Transformation in the Sciences: Kevin and Louise Huang
November 20, 2023
When Kevin and Louise Huang first met at church as graduate students at UC Davis, little did they know their time in California and with each other was just beginning. After getting married, the Huangs lived in Connecticut while Kevin completed postdoctoral research at Yale University. When the time came for Kevin to search for a full-time faculty position, he and Louise asked the Lord to lead the way. “We laid out all the manilla envelopes with job applications and laid hands on them and just asked the Lord to bring us to a place where we can serve Him and where we can also learn and grow,” said Louise. “We really think that APU is truly one of our biggest answered prayers.”
Faculty Friday: Candice Williams’ Heart for Justice and Openness to Uncharted Roads
November 17, 2023
Oftentimes, choosing a career path feels like deciding a destination, following a route based on a map’s depiction, and continuously moving in one direction. For Candice Williams, PhD, her career journey presented detours, ultimately leading her to a profession she never thought she would enter: the criminal justice field. Embarking on a path of research, professorship, and mentorship, led her to fulfill what she believes God called her to do. The core of Williams’ career stems from a heart for helping people thrive, implementing fair strategies and resources, and approaching every opportunity with the desire to learn more.
Student Spotlight: J.J. Navarette Encourages Belonging
November 14, 2023
J.J. Navarette ’24 loves helping students find belonging at Azusa Pacific University. As a transfer student, Navarette struggled at first to find her place and her people at APU, but that all changed during her second semester on campus. “I knew college was supposed to be about creating meaningful experiences and forming lasting friendships. I wanted that,” she said. “When I joined the Alpha program last fall, I found what I was looking for. I found my purpose.”
Equipping Nurses to Make a Difference in the Middle East
November 13, 2023
Azusa Pacific University’s nationally ranked School of Nursing (SON) is making an impact across the world. The SON has trained nursing students in Asia and Europe for decades, yet this year marked the first time APU has offered a nurse leadership program in the Middle East. The SON partnered with Health Outreach to the Middle East (HOME), a Christian, interdenominational organization that brings physical, psychological, and spiritual healing to poor and suffering people through 18 Christian clinics, hospitals, and medical projects in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Sudan, with plans to expand to the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and Bahrain. APU’s first cohort of seven of HOME’s nurse leaders recently finished their program, earning a certificate in Nursing Leadership, which will enable them to advance effective health care and be a force for positive change.
Experiencing Transformational Healing at APU
November 10, 2023
For many, the years spent in college are some of the most formative for personal development and career preparation. For others, college is a time of healing and restoration. Such was the case for Ulyses Lopez ’19, MDiv ’23.
November Featured Alumnus - Levi Costello
November 07, 2023
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.
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.
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.
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.
APU Theater Presents Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express
November 02, 2023
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.
APU Names Tustin Resident VP/Chief Strategy Officer
October 16, 2023
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.
