After graduating from PUC with a B.S. in advertising design and one in studio art, Milbert Mariano acquired his M.F.A. from Academy of Art University in San Francisco. In summer 2019, he shifted into his new role as vice president for academic administration and academic dean. With four years as a student, nearly 25 years of teaching graphic design, and 12 of those as department chair, Mariano’s intimate knowledge of and love for the college goes back nearly three decades.

Taking a deep interest in every area of campus, Mariano has served on several student committees as advisor and sponsor, co-directed the annual Publications Workshop for high school students, and has been part of PUC’s Cultural Engagement Taskforce and Academic Standards & General Education, among others. Mariano’s overarching goal as an educator and an administrator is to provide spaces that spark creative learning, and to innovate curriculum that encourages collaboration between departments.

Tammy McGuire, Ph.D., professor, specializes in organizational communication. She taught English for many years at Sunnydale Academy (Missouri) and Upper Columbia Academy (Washington) and has written and presented extensively on communication topics, with several presentations at the National Communication Association Conventions. However, she is particularly proud of her communication research students winning numerous top paper awards themselves at these conventions. She loves mountain climbing, rock climbing, backpacking, mountain biking, bikepacking, and tennis.

Daniel Navarro is a flight instructor who teaches 1-on-1 flight and ground lessons and program course lectures. He first worked at PUC as a flight instructor in 2016 and 2017, then came back in December 2023.
Before working at PUC, Daniel was an Air Ambulance pilot in Juneau, Alaska. Since becoming a pilot in 2013, he gained experience as a seaplane charter pilot and flight instructor in south-central Alaska, a banner pilot in Maryland, an amphibious aircraft instructor in Vacaville, and an airline pilot based in New York City, Chicago, and Salt Lake City.
Daniel grew up in Los Angeles and now resides in Angwin. He enjoys playing guitar, hiking the PUC forests, skiing, snowboarding, biking, and cooking.

Keith Neergaard, professor, has taught at PUC since 1988. His teaching specialization is in marketing, economics, and management; and his research specialty is consumer behavior and services marketing publications. Dr. Neergaard has worked as a consultant, worked in the health care field and the defense industry, and taught at the college/university level. He enjoys tennis, golf, scuba diving, and traveling, and is a ski patroller at Heavenly, spending about 30 days a year there.

Bryan D. Ness, Ph.D., professor, has been at PUC since 1989. His research interests include plant systematics and genetics. He advises in the areas of biology, natural science, veterinary medicine, medical radiography and occupational therapy.

Marie Pak, Ph.D., professor, began teaching at PUC in 1999. She specializes in biochemistry and spent six years as a postdoctoral research fellow at the National Institutes of Health in Rockville, Maryland. Dr. Pak enjoys reading, going to state fairs, and watching movies.

Laurie Parson, DNP, RN-BC, Associate Professor, has worked in healthcare for over 25 years starting as a certified nursing assistant. She has experience in medical/surgical acute care, long-term care, and nursing education. She holds ANCC Board Certification as a medical/surgical nurse and as a gerontological nurse and NLN Certification as a Certified Nurse Educator. Some of her favorite pastimes include, hiking, camping, reading, and traveling with family.

Assistant Professor of Nursing Nicolette Piaubert loves God and lives to serve. Her commitment to service includes a career as a Family Nurse Practitioner, but Nicolette’s impact on her community is widespread. She has been active in serving underprivileged children as the founder and CEO of The Talented Tenth Highlanders Summer Camp, as well as helping others obtain their nursing degrees through her Gab-Nic Excelsior Nursing Tutoring Center, both in Brooklyn, New York.

Nicolette is a published author who is also dedicated to supporting marginalized people to find their voices and make them heard through self-publishing. Her first book, Becoming, was published in 2013 and How to Beat a Rigged School System: 13 Steps to 100% followed in 2020. She is currently working on her third book and maintains an active vlogging presence on Facebook and TikTok.

Nicolette received her BSN from Atlantic Union College and her MSN from Pace University, and her favorite text is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Sylvia Rasi Gregorutti specializes in applied and sociolinguistics, as well as world language instruction. She has worked as Foreign Language Testing Specialist at the Center for Applied Linguistics, and was recipient of the Title VII Fellowship from the U.S. Dept. of Education. During her tenure at PUC, Rasi Gregorutti has taught linguistics, ESL, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish (literature and film, Spanish for business and health care) as well as ESL teacher training. She has co-led Honors Program study tours to Italy, presented at international conferences on faith and learning, and serves on the Adventist Colleges Abroad (ACA) Board and ACA Curriculum Committee, consulting for the organization internationally. She currently chairs the Latino Campus Council at PUC. Creating bridges across languages and cultures, and equipping others to do so, brings her joy. Gardening keeps her grounded, and travel abroad with family keeps her happy.

Sandra Ringer, MSN, RN, known as Sandy to most, began her career as a Medical-Surgical nurse in Chattanooga, TN. Her clinical experience includes adult medical-surgical nursing, specializing in oncology, gastroenterology and community health. Sandy worked in home health as an IV nurse for 9 years before switching focus to community health. She worked as an RN and lead RN for a preventative medicine clinic in Pennsylvania. She then transitioned into the coordinator for employee wellness programs, working with a team of health professionals to develop employee wellness programs and health screenings for businesses in the greater Reading, Pennsylvania area. She also worked with a clinic that provided healthcare for patients without insurance at no cost. Her most recent clinical experience was with gastrointestinal patients on a medical-surgical unit.
When not working, Sandy loves to cook, travel, camp, watch HGTV and spend time with her husband, David, and their adult sons, Mark and Jonathan and daughter-in-law, Janelle.
Sandy's desire is to share her passion for the nursing profession and Jesus with her students.

Timothy Robertson specializes in data science and partial differential equations. His interests include applying machine learning algorithms to interesting datasets and mathematical models. In his spare time he enjoys sports, games, rock climbing and hiking.

Cliff Rusch, M.F.A., professor emeritus of graphic design, worked as a staff designer at Pacific Press Publishing Association, and as senior designer at Lauren Smith Design before coming to PUC in 1987. He was PUC’s art director from 1987 to 2018, and taught graphic design in the Visual Arts department from 1987 to 2022. He enjoys photography, mountain biking, and camping.

Anthony Sharobeem has been inspired by aviation for as long as he remembers. Anthony learned how to fly at the Nut Tree Airport in early 2015 where he earned his pilot certificates and ratings, later acquiring his Flight Instructor Certificate in 2018 and has been actively teaching since. Over the years, Anthony served as an airline pilot, charter pilot, and worked other jobs flying complex, high-performance turbine powered aircraft. As of January 2024, Anthony has been awarded a Distinguished Flight Instructor Award by AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association). Anthony grew up in Dubai, later moved to the United States in 2015 and began his flying career. In addition to speaking English, he also speaks Arabic and French. Anthony enjoys mountain biking, swimming, and driving around exploring new scenic places. He also enjoys flying with friends for fun in his free time. He taught many individuals who went on to fly for the airlines, air force, or are now flight instructors teaching at different flight schools.

Dr. Backil Sung has been at PUC since 2012. He has degrees in medicine (M.D.), physiology (M.S.), and medical biotechnology (Ph.D). He has authored or co-authored 39 scientific papers in neuroscience, mainly in the area of pain mechanisms. He has also authored two book chapters, and frequently goes on medical mission trips. He teaches Neurobiology, Microbiology, Medical Microbiology and Biological Foundations.

Nathan grew up in the South Pacific Islands, surrounded by missionary aviation and World War II history. He began flight training in New Zealand as a missionary kid and completed his training at Andrews University, Michigan. He paid for his flight training by working as an aircraft mechanic for United Express.
PUC invited Nathan to lead the aviation program from June 2001 to June 2006. He and his wife Janel stepped forward from PUC to open up an internship pathway for PUC students, which was not successful due to the civil war. He flew an Air ambulance for 12 years based in Australia, including nearly 10 years at the iconic Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, before returning to the USA as an airline pilot and new-hire simulator instructor for the Airbus 320 series.
Nathan is very blessed by his awesome wife Janel, incredible son, Stephen, and talented daughter, Hannah, who loves Jesus Christ with all their hearts.

Tamara Tirado has worked in healthcare since 1998, as a Certified Nurses Aid and Registered Nurse in rehab and acute care. She has also been a medical clinic manager, diabetes coordinator, public health nurse at a tribal health clinic, and a family nurse practitioner. She loves music, hiking, biking, scuba diving, traveling, and spending time with family.

Tuwan Ussery earned his master's in social work and pastoral ministry from Andrews University. Prior to coming to PUC, Tuwan instructed behavioral sciences courses at SAU & Belhaven University and pastored in Atlanta. Those interests have continued at PUC as Tuwan currently serves in the psychology and social work department, and he continues to preach itinerantly for church groups on topics of social justice and community empowerment.

In addition to teaching, Tuwan serves as diversity, equity and inclusion officer & director of service learning. Professional affiliations include the National Association of Black Social Workers & National Youth and Leadership Conference for Service Learning.

Tuwan enjoys spending family time with his wife and their four kids, and his favorite Bible verse is John 10:10: I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Robin E. Vance, Ph.D., professor, has taught at PUC since 2001. He specializes in physiology and neurobiology. Dr. Vance's research interests include Antimutagenesis & Anticarcinogenesis, and he advises in the areas of biology and medicine. He taught at Union College for twelve years and chaired their Division of Science & Mathematics from 1996 to 2000. He enjoys tennis, walking and snorkeling.

Christian von Pohle grew up in Angwin and graduated with a degree in psychology from PUC in 2007. He subsequently graduated with a M.A. in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton where he focused on behavioral genetics and twin studies. Before joining the faculty at Pacific Union College, Christian worked as an adjunct-faculty member at PUC, a research coordinator at Case Western Reserve University, and a psychology instructor at Bowling Green State University. Most recently, Christian taught psychology in China for two years.
With over twenty years of classroom experience, Christian is dedicated to making psychology accessible and engaging for his students. He is particularly passionate about instilling a passion for research in his students, as well as encouraging them to present their research findings at regional and national conventions. His teaching style emphasizes critical thinking, hands-on learning, and fostering a collaborative environment where students feel encouraged to explore complex psychological concepts. Christian is also committed to mentoring students in their academic and professional journeys, helping them navigate both the theoretical and practical aspects of the field.

Debra Wallace has worked in management her entire career as a nurse, her first job as a women’s health clinic coordinator. She has led out in discharge planning, wellness health screenings, and directed a home health care agency. Working in academics was never something that entered her mind early in her career but has become her true passion since being at PUC 25+ years. Debra is the Director of PUC’s Med Tech/LVN to RN programs and loves working with our off-campus, non-traditional students. It is extremely rewarding to help Med Techs/LVNs reach their RN goal while balancing work, family, military, and other life obligations. She loves hunkering down with a good book, watching movies, gardening, interior design, and spending time with family and friends. Her favorite get-away is to Little River Inn in Mendocino.

Robert L. Wilson, Ph.D. specializes in analytical and inorganic chemistry. His graduate research focused on the lipid and protein organization within the cell membrane. He currently teaches general, analytical, and inorganic chemsitry and laboratory glassblowing. He enjoys playing boardgames, making glass beads, and camping.

Professor Ross E. Winkle teaches biblical studies. He has a professional focus in the New Testament and wrote his doctoral dissertation was on clothing imagery in the book of Revelation. He is a member of the Andrews Society for Religious Studies, Society of Biblical Literature, and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He has received several PUC Faculty Development Research and Honors awards as well as two Herber Faculty Development Awards. He has been a student missionary in Tokyo, Japan, a chaplain in Portland, Ore., and a pastor for thirteen years in three successive church districts in Oregon. He is an ordained minister and occasionally leads adult Sabbath School discussions on campus and preaches in surrounding churches. He is married to Darla, a health professional, and they have three children: Tristan, Elise, and Alexis.

Aimee Wyrick, associate professor, specializes in ecology, herpetology and paleontology. She advises in biology, pre-dentistry and pre-dental hygiene. Her research interests include physical and biological influences on the Columbia spotted frog and plant taphonomy. Aimee has also worked as a research coordinator, instructor, and course coordinator for the University of Montana. Her other interests include gourmet cooking (with produce from her own garden), national parks, camping and hiking, road trips, and world music – all enjoyed with her husband, Greg.