As chair of the psychology and social work department, it's my privilege to serve at PUC for the past seven years. Alongside my dedicated colleagues Libna Arroyo, Tuwan Ussery, Michael Jefferson, and our most recent addition, Christian Von Pohle ('07), we continue to nurture and support a thriving academic environment made possible by our outstanding students.

We are incredibly proud of the paths our students take after graduation. Many pursue advanced degrees, while others step directly into meaningful roles within our communities—as therapists, case managers, social workers, professors, researchers, or psychologists. The department’s reputation for academic excellence remains strong, as evidenced by the high regard our students hold at events like the Western Psychological Association’s annual conference. This year, we’re excited to take about 15 students to Las Vegas to present their research and showcase their hard work.

Our Social Work students also continue to demonstrate their commitment to service, engaging annually in Lobby Days in Sacramento to learn about policy practice and advocacy—skills they’ll carry into their careers as changemakers.

Being part of such a vibrant learning community is a blessing, and we want to hear from you! We are always interested in having our alumni speak to our current students, and we’d love to know how your time at PUC influenced your journey. Please stay in touch and share your story with us.

You can follow us on Instagram @pucsocialpsych or email me directly at dperez@puc.edu. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!