APU Articles
Staff Saturday: Matthew Browning MA ’94, EdD Lives Out His Calling Through Developing Student Engagement as the Director of Commuter Life
September 07, 2024
Matthew Browning, MA ’94, EdD, serves APU’s commuters by developing resources to help them thrive, especially by facilitating events in the Cougar Dome to build community. By sharing about his faith and actively spreading Christ’s love, Browning is a true example of being a difference maker.
Faculty Feature: A Calling With a Definite Purpose: Rachel Castaneda, PhD, Teaches Students to Love Like Jesus
September 06, 2024
Rachel Castaneda, PhD, teaches psychology students to love like Jesus. As a significant contributor to the field of public health, she uses her calling to make a difference, especially through the many grants she’s earned toward partnering with counties to create curricula for addressing youth substance use early intervention.
Academic Feature: APU Theater Arts Program Studies Abroad in the UK
September 05, 2024 | Arts
During the summer, APU’s acclaimed Theater Arts program gave 20 students the opportunity to study abroad in some of the most renowned, historical theater sites in the United Kingdom. Led by professors Jill Brennan-Lincoln, MA, Kirsten Lundin Humer, MFA, and Sabrina Valenzuela (communications coordinator) students engaged in an unforgettable experience.
Staff Saturday: Brooke Lincoln Equips APU’s Women’s Soccer Team to Pursue Excellence
August 31, 2024
Introducing the Staff Saturday series: Azusa Pacific University’s staff plays a vital role in students’ transformative experiences on campus. We are blessed to have a community of Christians who follow their God-given callings, dedicating themselves to pursuing God’s goodness and honoring Him in all they do for the APU community. This new series is intended to uplift and shine a light on our amazing staff. Our first story features Brooke Lincoln, head coach of APU’s women’s soccer team. She finds fulfillment and joy in the sport she loves, inspiring her team to cultivate discipline, collaboration, and integrity on the field.
Faculty Feature: Cynthia Dollins, EdD, Advocates for Literacy Through Her Life-long Love of Stories
August 30, 2024
Cynthia Dollins, EdD, has always loved getting lost in a book. She has dedicated her career toward advocating for students of all ages to have access to literature because of its transformative nature. In APU’s School of Education, Dollins cultivates relationships with students to equip them to be bold in their faith.
Academic Feature: On-Campus Jobs Offer Students Flexible and Enriching Work
August 29, 2024
On-campus jobs provide students with enriching opportunities to strengthen their skillsets and be prepared for entering the workforce. From flexible hours, to mentorship, and proximity to the classroom, working on campus is a great way for students to have a source of income while completing their studies and other extracurriculars.
10 Pieces of Advice From Recent APU Graduates to Incoming Students
August 27, 2024 | Communication
Starting your freshman year is an enriching season to grow spiritually, personally, and professionally. We asked recent graduates from the class of 2024 to share the advice they wish they’d known while beginning their college journey.
Kristina Yee ’24 and Nicholas Marquez ’25 Strengthen Their Relationships with God Through Encounters in Honduras
August 20, 2024
Children’s ministry is a popular form of service. Azusa Pacific University’s Global Engagement trips give students the opportunity to work with children while learning about themselves, growing closer to their teammates, and strengthening their relationship with God. Six APU students spent four weeks in Honduras this summer on a Global Engagement trip. Students focused on serving impoverished children in the community through a partnership with an education and meal providing organization called Footsteps Missions, but were also surprised to find how God worked to make their team feel like a family.
Global Engagement Stories: Hector Castaneda ’25 Learned What Service Is in Uganda
August 19, 2024 | Theology
Global Engagement trips are a source of religious inspiration and self reflection for many Azusa Pacific University students each year. The trips focus on many kinds of ministry while allowing students to discover what service means to them. This summer, the Office of Service and Discipleship partnered with an organization called Victory Africa Ministries in Uganda. The organization is dedicated to working at primary schools, encouraging activities in the church, and playing sports with children.
APU’s Literary Journal "The West Wind" Has Uplifted Student Voices for More Than 30 Years
August 14, 2024 | Provost
APU’s literary journal The West Wind has provided students with a space to explore their creativity for more than 30 years. Sponsored by the English Department, The West Wind allows students of all majors to submit poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and 2D art to the journal for publication. They are also welcome to serve on the staff of editors, an excellent opportunity to strengthen creative and leadership skills.
APU Students’ and Alumni’s Favorite Spots On Campus
August 12, 2024
Many of us grow accustomed to routine throughout the semester, meeting friends or doing homework in comfortable spots across campus. There are many cozy nooks and fun places to explore throughout APU’s campuses, however. From study spots, to places to socialize, to peaceful hubs for prayer, here are some APU students’ and alumni’s favorite areas on campus.
Global Engagement Series: Olivia Redmond’s Experience in the Dominican Republic
August 12, 2024 | Theology
Senior liberal studies major Olivia Redmond ’25 and a team of Azusa Pacific University students spent one month serving in the Dominican Republic on a Global Engagement trip through the Office of Service and Discipleship this summer. Redmond witnessed God’s love through the children she and her team served, discovering the Lord’s handiwork.
SBM Students Experience Trip of a Lifetime Across Europe
August 09, 2024 | Provost
This summer, 12 Azusa Pacific University students embarked on the journey of a lifetime where they visited six countries in Europe over four weeks as part of the School of Business and Management’s annual Lapeu trip. The trip was filled with plenty of sightseeing in some of Europe’s most beautiful places, and was highlighted by classes where students got to apply their learning through visits to several international agencies and top companies. The trip served as inspiration for students as they prepare for their careers after graduation.
Esther Conde-Turpin ’26 Runs Down Her Dreams
August 07, 2024
At the beginning of every race, Esther Conde-Turpin ’26 fixates on the sound of her heart beating. Even as spectators cheer and the crowd goes wild, all she can hear is the thumping in her chest. When her legs kick off as the race commences, sweat drips down her neck, her sneakers pound the track, and she’s fearless, majestic, focused. Her breaths are steady. Breathe in, pace, breathe out. The applause reaches her ears, and when she crosses the finish line, she experiences an indescribable feeling: a tug on her heart, a relentless realization that her body was made to run as she keeps chasing her athletic dreams every time the opportunities present themselves. The vivid feeling of being alive, anticipation for the action ahead, and the hope for what her body can achieve drives her to be present. Conde-Turpin is in her element—free, centered, and energized.
Global Engagement Series: Cameron Faiai ’26 Spreads Joy Through Music in the Philippines
August 05, 2024 | Music, Theology
Many Azusa Pacific University students find their calling from God in service, and the Office of Service and Discipleship provides them with valuable opportunities to put His word into action. Global Engagement trips not only help the communities being served, but also aid students on their faith journeys. Thirteen APU students spent ? weeks over the summer in the Philippines focusing on worship and nursing ministry.
