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18 Pacific Union College students—alongside Damaris Perez, PUC chair of psychology and social work, and professors Tuwan Ussery White, Michael Jefferson, and Libna Arroyo—attended The Western Psychological Association’s (WPA) annual conference in San Francisco from April 24-28, benefitting from the opportunity to network with students, faculty, and researchers from other institutions. Students spent their time meeting with professional psychologists and graduate school representatives and attending presentations on the latest research and advances in psychology. The diverse research presented at WPA allowed PUC students to explore various psychological topics, stimulate new ideas, and ultimately, remind them why they chose a career in psychology. PUC psychology students Catherine Garcia and Dania Guerrero presented their research on levels of extraversion, cell phone usage, and the impact on mental health; later, they answered questions after their presentation. With over a year of research work, Garcia and Guerrero’s study focused on college students and their usage of cell phones and depression. They found the PUC student body to be the main inspiration for this study. From their observations, they noticed several students on campus who were outgoing, friendly, talkative, and preferred to be in the moment tended to spend less time on their phones and...

Pacific Union College partnered with CAL Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit and Napa County Fire Department to conduct a prescribed burn across 13 acres of the college’s Angwin forest property on May 1, successfully managing overgrown vegetation, enhancing forest health, and building fire resilience.These efforts demonstrate PUC’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and community safety.PUC Forest Manager Peter Lecourt called the successful burn a win for PUC, Angwin, and Napa County, paving the way for future prescribed burns.“I am thrilled this project rolled out so smoothly,” Lecourt said. “Many partners played a role in getting the burn unit prepared ahead of the project, as well as helping out on the day we conducted the operation. I’d like to say thank you to CAL Fire, Napa County Fire, Napa Firewise, the Angwin Fire Safe Council, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Napa County Resource Conservation District. Without the help of these partners, this project would not have been possible.”The burn took approximately nine hours assisted by numerous trained wildland firefighters, four fire engines, and a water tender. PUC, CAL Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, and Napa County Fire Department carefully planned and strategically coordinated efforts identifying the burn area and date, meeting strict...

Pacific Union College honored Nursing Professor Hannah Saravanakumar as the 2023-2024 Educator of the Year during Community on Thursday, May 23. With over 20 years of nursing education experience, she is a highly respected nursing professor who combines expertise in leadership, didactics, clinical and simulation experiences, curriculum development, and faculty mentorship. By creating a rigorous learning environment, Saravanakumar—fondly called “Professor SK” by her students—meets their academic needs through creative teaching techniques and hands-on experience that her students find engaging and enjoyable. She teaches with passion, with her class earning one of the highest scores of all nursing standardized testing—the ATI assessments.Saravanakumar’s interests include faculty training, pedagogy, social reconstructionism, and redemptive education. Throughout her career, she has remained an active member of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, Sigma Theta Tau International, and the American Nurses Association, mentoring nurses and educators nationally.She earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from a prestigious university in India. After completing her master’s from Washington Adventist University, she discovered her passion for teaching. Saravanakumar is currently an advanced doctoral candidate at Capella University, specializing her research in nursing education. Milbert Mariano, dean of the school of arts, humanities, and professional studies, gave a...

On May 7, over 130 participants aged 9 to 71 ran Pacific Union College’s annual Angwin to Angwish 26K, 10K, and 1 mile kids run. The trails traversed through scenic areas around the Angwin forest, offering participants a mix of challenging terrains and beautiful views of the Napa Valley.Abraham Garrido has been Director of Angwin to Angwish for the last two years. The planning process involved establishing registration, coordinating with local authorities, organizing course routes, ensuring safety measures, securing sponsors, and promoting through different channels.Garrido secured sponsorships from Healdsburg Running Company, Mindful Movement Pilates Coach Naya, Heart and Soul Sports, Sportago, and Topo Athletic. Event funds help support various projects at PUC, such as athletic lockers, the cross-country team, and other needs within the college.“The response was overwhelmingly positive,” said Garrido. “We sold out for the second year in a row, and participants noted significant improvements from previous years. It was a fantastic event, and we believe the race is progressing well and growing in popularity.”To begin the run, the 26K began at 8 a.m., with the 10K following at 8:30 a.m., then the 1 mile kids run. For the 26K, Nathan Blosser from Santa Rosa, CA, won first place...

The nursing program at Pacific Union College achieved a 100% NCLEX pass rate for the December 2023 graduates, demonstrating how PUC adequately prepares students for NCLEX and their career beyond. “As a leader of a nursing program it is the best feeling to know that you are providing your students with quality education that prepares them for success,” said Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences Kimberly Dunker. “The PUC nursing team is so excited about the students' accomplishment.” The department currently has an overall pass rate of 94% for the year and anticipates a 100% pass rate from the Winter and Spring quarter students' results. Dunker, and her team have worked hard with their students, making changes in their curriculum that best support graduates.They use readiness resources through books and products, which have been incorporated into the curriculum and mapped to ensure that students are prepared for NCLEX. In the last two quarters, the sixth quarter students' NCLEX readiness exam was 90% or higher. This demonstrates to the nursing instructors that their program adequately prepares the students for NCLEX with a 90% or higher predictability that they will pass their licensure exam.The lead professors for quarter six include Professor Nicolette...