With certification in early childhood education, infant and toddler development, child abuse and case practice, Montessori education, leadership training, and whole school management, Charaine Lucas brings a lot to the table in the college’s department of education. Her experience as program coordinator, family services coordinator, teacher, manager, early childhood director, and more mean she is beyond qualified to teach the next generation of early childhood educators, which she does with pleasure. Introducing: Professor Charaine Lucas!
Name: Charaine Lucas Title: Associate Professor of Education & Director of the Early Childhood Education Program Email:chlucas@puc.edu Faculty since: July 2011
Classes taught: All early childhood courses and some education ones, as well.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, University of West Indies; bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Andrews University; master’s degree in Montessori education, from Barry University; doctoral degree in educational leadership, Jones International University.
What made you decide to be a teacher? I am the oldest of six children and lost my father to a heart attack when I was fourteen. My mother went out to work so I had a lot of responsibility in taking care of my siblings and the youngest was two years old. In high school, I decided to become a teacher at that time in my life so as to provide a good foundation for young children.
What are some of your hobbies? Reading, playing music, teaching.
What’s something people might be surprised to know about you? I worked on both Disney and Royal Caribbean cruise lines as a youth counselor.
What’s your favorite thing about PUC? The warm community and the nature trails.
What’s your favorite spot on campus? The library.
What’s your favorite movie? The “Star Wars” trilogy, “The Hobbit” movies, and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
What advice would you give to an incoming freshman? Plan, schedule, and organize your classes and events from your very first year.
Professional activities: Several early childhood presentations and newsletter articles at early childhood conventions, conferences, and preschools.
Sierra (2nd from left) and Antonio (2nd from right) and fellow classmates also spent time snorkeling in Honduras, when they weren’t conducting research.
Meet Sierra Trogdon and Antonio Robles. Sierra recently graduated from PUC with a degree in biology, while Antonio is still working towards completing his degree. They both conducted research with Dr. Floyd Hayes studying sea urchins in Roatán, Honduras, last summer.
Who are you? I’m Sierra Trogdon and I graduated PUC with bachelor’s in biology. I plan to start veterinary school in the next few years.
I’m Antonio Robles and I’m a sophomore biology major. I plan to go on to medical school and specialize in family practice.
What did you do? We participated in research with Dr. Hayes studying the symbiotic associations between rock-boring urchins and fish. Most of the work involved natural observations, counting holes with the urchins, and writing down every species seen in the hole. In intervals of 10 minutes, we spotted a fish and counted how many holes with rock-boring urchins they associated with. The study involved studying thousands of sea urchin burrows and tallying the different species seen hiding in their burrows.
When and where did you do this work? The research took place over a period of eight days during the summer of 2017 in Roatán, Honduras.
What did you learn? Sierra: During the research project I learned how to identify the various types of sea urchins, fish, and other species involved in the study. I also learned and realized just how tedious and time consuming it is to obtain accurate and reliable data. It was not as easy as simply counting and tallying the species. There were thousands of sea urchin burrows and each hole had to meet the right criteria in order to count. There were a couple times where I had to start over and redo counts to increase the accuracy and reliability.
Antonio: I hadn’t realized the fascinating opportunity research can give you to construct interpersonal skills by getting together with students and professors that are interested in finding one new aspect of the behavior of a certain species. Often we would get together to review our data and plan on how we will collect more as a group. I learned how working in groups is important in research as well and the importance of communication in the field. In addition, I learned how to record data in the coral reefs and new ways to observe nature with a curious mind.
How did your experience at PUC help prepare you for this experience? Sierra: PUC helped prepare me by teaching me the general biology involving the marine life I encountered. The Intro to Research Methods class also played a major role in preparing me for the research I did. I planned and proposed a research paper that included background information and methods for counting the sea urchin burrows. This significantly increased my understanding of the research that was being done.
Antonio: Taking Biological Foundations helped me understand the phyla and characteristics of the species we were observing which led to my understanding of the project better. The Tropical Biology class also made me understand the diversity in the coral reefs, potential harms, taxonomy, and potential dangers. For instance, knowing fire coral could sting me while researching in the shallow rocky areas would definitely have made me uncomfortable; however, having known this before from class led me to become aware of my surroundings and feel comfortable during the research process.
It’s the end of the week (hooray!) and time for another edition of #Faculty Friday. Today’s featured faculty member is James Robertson, associate professor of physics here at PUC. As an undergraduate, Robertson conducted research at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in high-energy physics for their D-zero experiment (if you don’t know what that means, just ask him!). When he’s not in the classroom, Robertson hosts sessions at the College’s Young Observatory, and volunteers with the local fire and ambulance companies, putting his 9+ years of fire/EMS experience to good use. He has also led a strike team of Type 3 engines from Napa County that responded to the wildland fires in San Diego in 2007. Without further ado, here’s Professor Robertson!
Name: James F. Robertson, IV. (Yes, it’s the 4th and my son is the 5th. My family calls me Chip.) Title: Associate Professor of Physics Email: jrobertson@puc.edu Faculty since: 2003
Classes taught: General Physics, Astronomy, Classical Dynamics, Quantum Physics, and some Emergency Services classes as needed.
Education: B.S. Physics (mathematics minor) from Southern Adventist University; M.S. Physics (High-energy Physics) from Florida State University; Currently pursuing a M.S. Emergency Management degree from Jacksonville State University.
What made you decide to be a teacher? They say the three reasons to become a teacher are: June, July, and August. Seriously though, I have many teachers in my family, but the person that first influenced me to become a teacher was my first-grade teacher. Mr. Luntz became a powerful role-model in my life. I knew I wanted to be like him when I grew up.
What are some of your hobbies? Amateur (ham) radio, especially building wire antennas. My callsign is K4JFR. I also enjoy tinkering with cars/trucks. I drive a Ford, so I tinker frequently.
What’s something people might be surprised to know about you? I taught at Fletcher Academy in North Carolina for nine years prior to coming to PUC. Three of those years I served as the principal.
What’s your favorite thing about PUC? My favorite thing about PUC is the diversity of the students’ backgrounds. Those differences bring a multitude of individual points of view that is refreshing in an academic environment.
What’s your favorite spot on campus? Redwood Flats. I used to be the Howell Mountaineers Pathfinder director and loved camping out there. Despite being on campus, it feels like you are many miles away from civilization.
What’s your favorite movie? “The Great Escape” (1963).
What advice would you give to an incoming freshman? Get to know your academic advisor and meet with them often. Managing your schedule can be difficult and if not planned well, could delay your graduation date.
Professional activities:
Cavanaugh, R., R. Marsa, J. Robertson, and R. Hefferlin, Adjacent-DIM-isoelectronic
molecules and chemical similarity among triatomics. J. Mol. Structure, 382, 137-145 (1996).
From left to right: Will Yoshimura, Amanda Granados, and Jackson Boren.
By Becky St. Clair
On Thursday, April 19, the departments of business, communication, and visual arts at Pacific Union College held a joint colloquium. It was a panel discussion on the topic of “Successful Alumni,” and each department had alumni representing.
Panelists were: Jackson Boren, 2008 graduate of the department of communication, currently the alumni director for the Loma Linda University School of Nursing; Amanda Granados, 2010 graduate of the department of business, owner of Granados | Hillman, an accounting firm; and Will Yoshimura, 2015 graduate of the department of visual arts, currently employed as a graphic designer at Facebook.
Michelle Rai, chair of the department of communication, moderated the panel discussion.
What are the top three skills you utilize every day in your work?
Jackson Boren: People skills are extremely important, in both large and small groups. Public speaking is also something I do often.
Amanda Granados: As an accountant, I clearly use my numbers skills regularly, but critical thinking and people skills are right up there, too. Which is something a lot of people don’t realize about accountants—we do actually need to know how to interact well with others.
Will Yoshimura: Well, obviously graphic design. But also critical thinking.
Name a class in which you wish you would have paid more attention.
JB: I wish there had been the project management class PUC offers now when I was in school, because that would have been extremely helpful.
AG: Real estate. It’s something that affects everyone, and I wish I would have put more effort into that class.
WY: Statistics, for sure. Also, I wish I would have taken a philosophy class. I honestly think it would benefit anyone in any field.
What would you tell your freshman self?
WY: Actually try at college. I didn’t take it seriously until the end of my sophomore year. I would tell myself to take classes I was interested in and see what fits; see what I want to do with my life.
What’s your secret to success? What gets you up in the morning and keeps you going?
JB: Honestly, it’s about identifying an internal need and finding the path to fulfill it. In my current job, my personal philosophy is that the foundation of alumni identity is their experience as a student. If I can connect them with the best part of that experience and build on it now that they’re alumni, I’m succeeding at what I do. That’s what keeps me going.
AG: Helping people. When I can help my clients see something they hadn’t noticed before, or save them from having to pay thousands of dollars somewhere down the road, it makes me feel good. It’s definitely awesome motivation to get out of bed and go to work in the morning!
WY: Being obsessed with what I do. I mean, not to a harmful degree, but if you’re really interested in the work you do, you’re going to work harder and learn more about it than those who aren’t so obsessed, and it gives you a leg up on others. You’ll get better and better and what you do won’t feel like work.
There’s a lot of talk these days about how Millennials are changing the workplace. What advice can you give to the students here as they prepare to be those Millennials?
JB: People don’t stay in one job for 30-40 years anymore. We change jobs a lot more. So take the experience you get from all of those jobs and apply the lessons to your current work. It’s a different workplace scenario than it was in past generations.
AG: Communicate what you need and want to those you work for and with. If you want to come in later in the morning, talk to your boss about it. They will likely be understanding and work with you within reason. But they won’t if they don’t know what you want.
WY: It depends on what field you’re in, but honestly, as long as you show up, work hard, and get the stuff done, you’ll be fine.
What’s one of the biggest challenges you face in your work?
JB: Sometimes you have to say no. And that’s hard and it doesn’t make people happy. One of the hardest things to learn is how to say no without actually saying it, even if that’s really what you’re saying.
AG: Admitting when I’m wrong. And yes, I’ve been wrong on someone’s taxes before. It’s so hard to admit failure, but it’s so important. Then I pick myself up, learn from it, and get right back to work.
WY: Being a politician. When you work with a lot of people, you have to be really diplomatic.
When things get tough, what do you do to stay on track?
JB: Someone once told me, “Don’t let the details destroy you.” Keeping a big picture perspective at all times helps in those moments, because I can take a step back and see where I am and where I need to be.
AG: Take a break and call a friend. Talking about the problem aloud really helps me work through it and often helps me find a solution.
WY: Take a walk.
What’s important to keep in mind when negotiating a salary?
JB: Definitely research industry standards. If you can get an internship before you graduate, take it seriously because it can translate into a job when you graduate. Don’t just think about salary and benefits, but also consider your quality of life. I once had a job where I was commuting quite a ways every day, and I negotiated with my employer to cover all of my tolls for the commute and incorporate that cost into my salary.
AG: When you get to negotiate it’s your one opportunity to make a difference in your compensation. Don’t miss the chance! Ask for what you want and the worst that will happen is that they will say no. Always ask.
WY: Like Jackson said, do your research. Glassdoor can be really helpful in this area. Also keep in mind that your total compensation includes equity in the company—stock. So think that through and ask for more if you want it. Statistics say that 90% of employers won’t rescind their job offer because you asked for more money or benefits, so just ask.
What advice would you give the scared seniors who have no idea how to get started after graduation?
JB: Find an internship where you want to work. It may not be paid, but you get face time with the company, you get experience working there, and you make connections. Also don’t overlook the line in the job description that reads, “Other duties as assigned.” Do those things well. It will show your character and work ethic, and might reveal skills you didn’t know you had. Become familiar with the process at the company where you’re working, and the different players you work with. Become familiar with their roles so you can respect and appreciate them, and that respect and appreciation will be reciprocated.
AG: Look for ways you can apply everything you’ve experienced and learned in college to the jobs you want and are applying for. You may think you’re starting with nothing, but everything in college can be a benefit to you in your career. So keep a positive attitude and stay confident.
WY: Apply to a bunch of places. You won’t hear back from a lot, and you’ll be rejected a lot, and you may want to just finish your homework and go to a dark place to cry, and that’s okay! But in all seriousness, stay positive and know that eventually, your hard work will pay off. And use LinkedIn! It’s how you get recruited.
Amanda, tell us about transitioning from the traditional “work for someone else” situation into owning your own business.
AG: It was a hard decision to make, to be honest. There’s usually some loyalty involved between you and your boss, and you wonder if leaving is the right thing to do. The clincher for me was stepping back to look at the big picture: What would my life look like if I were to make this change? It would eliminate my commute, making me more flexible, able to spend more time with my family, and take my office anywhere I want to. I also keep more of the money I make working for myself, which is a big deal! It takes confidence to do something like this, and that was my biggest obstacle. I had to convince myself that enough people believed in me, and I believed in me, and I could do it.
How do you maintain your creative side while doing what someone else wants you to?
WY: I’m not going to lie—at some point you’re likely going to be doing work you don’t like and don’t want to do. It’s a fact. So I recommend you keep doing side projects. Also, keep in mind that working with what other people want involves compromise. Keeping the balance between introducing your own vision and also accepting theirs. You walk through problems together as a team.
How did your experience at PUC impact your career?
JB: I’m a better communicator because of PUC. I saw the power of good communication in a professional setting and learned the value of recognizing and learning from my mistakes. I learned not to be afraid of failure, but to learn from it and allow it to direct me toward progress.
AG: The best things I took away from PUC were positive relationships and solidified ethics.
Erika (shown here with a fish she caught) spent several months working in a CDFW fish hatchery.
Meet Erika Thalman, a senior biology major at PUC. She’s planning on continuing on to graduate school after graduation. Last summer, Erika volunteered at the Moccasin Creek Hatchery helping with a wide variety of projects.
Who are you? I’m Erika Thalman and I’m a senior biology major. I’m planning on going to graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in either natural resources, marine biology, or biology.
What did you do? I helped with cleaning raceway ponds and feeding the fish. I also had the opportunity to work with a variety of people and do other things like water quality testing, weight counts, assisting in fish planting and public education, as well as participate in hand-spawning California golden trout.
When and where did you do this work? In the summer of 2017, I volunteered twice a week from mid-July to late-September at the Moccasin Creek Hatchery.
What did you learn? I learned how to get more involved in areas I’m interested in. Volunteering at this hatchery taught me many useful skills I can apply not only to future careers, but to my personal life as well. I discovered no matter what field you choose to work in, you always interact with people to some degree. This experience demonstrated how a great team of people work together despite their different personalities and temperaments. The hatchery personnel were so willing to teach me all they could about their work and their mission, and were even kind enough to advise me on how to get my foot in the door with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Through this I saw how important it is to make connections wherever you go. You never know when they may come in handy.
How did your experience at PUC help prepare you for this experience? The science courses I have taken at PUC gave me a good foundation for understanding how many of the processes at the hatchery worked. Classes like Ecology, Field Biology, and Biological Foundations made it easier to understand the different fish behaviors and how to handle the fish. Chemistry was also useful for water testing as well as in choosing medications or anesthetics. Lastly, Genetics contributed to my comprehension of different fish stocks and how the CDFW is able to prevent farmed fish from breeding with wild populations.
On Thursday, April 19, the department of visual arts will host an opening reception for the 2018 student art show in the Rasmussen Art Gallery, right here on campus. The reception begins at 7 p.m. and the show will run until May 9. The event is free and open to the public.
We spoke with a few of the students exhibiting their art to learn more about them and their work. Be sure to come check out their various media during the show.
Celeste Wong, senior fine art major Emphasis: Ceramics Home: Hercules, California Media on Display: Ceramics, oil painting, monotype, stone/clay sculpture
Celeste Wong, senior, creates using her favorite medium, clay.
Why did you select these particular pieces for the show? I made a collaborative ceramic series outside of class with a friend. We spent nearly 80 hours on this piece. I decided to show my oil painting I made in class because I have never worked with that medium before and I feel proud of how I improved throughout the quarter. As a whole, the works that I put in the show, I feel, are the best that I have created in the past year.
What do you enjoy most about ceramics? The process. I enjoy it far more than any other medium I have tried. Clay is a very versatile medium that can be manipulated in many ways. There are many components to the process between production and the end result I am constantly learning. I also like the feeling of putting my entire body to work, rather than sitting at a desk drawing, or standing in one place while painting. Making ceramics on the potter’s wheel involves the motion and strength of your entire body. It makes me feel alive and I have truly put my whole effort in the piece I create.
Why did you choose to become a fine arts major? In high school, I always created small projects and kept up hobbies that involved creating. My only creative outlet during my freshman year here was drawing and copying diagrams from my biology textbook, which my friends said was a waste of time. But I had an itch to create rather than spend my time memorizing facts. During spring quarter, I decided to take a ceramics class because I wanted to do something fun for myself and working on the potter’s wheel was always on my bucket list. By the end of the year, I realized I wasn’t a scientist, I was an artist.
What has surprised you about the fine arts program? I am surprised at how my department has become like a family to me. Students and professors alike have supported me and my work throughout these years even when I wasn’t an art major to begin with.
Samuel Delaware, junior fine art major Emphasis: Photography Home: Durham, Maine Media on Display: Triptych & case-bound maquette
Tell us about the pieces you have in the show. The triptych is from an ongoing series I’ve created, entitled “Horizon.” It’s something I’ve been working on for the past year, along with the first edition maquette.
Sam Delaware, junior, proofs some of his art for printing.
What do you enjoy most about photography? In his book, “Art Can Help,” photographer Robert Adams suggests, “The job of the photographer, in my view, is not to catalogue indisputable fact, but to try to be coherent about intuition and hope.” Similarly, I think what excites me most is trying to find a sense of coherence in my own work concerning whatever subject matter I’ve delved into. It’s a continuous process of attempting to capture a sense of truth and reality best I can with only two dimensions, which is deceptively difficult.
What has surprised you about the program? The dedication of the faculty who are drastically underpaid for the amount of passion and commitment they pour into their teaching and mentorship.
Drew Macomber, senior fine art major Emphasis: Painting Home: Ohio, California Media on Display: Monotypes, paintings
Tell us about the pieces you’ve selected for the show. I have some monotypes, which are a form of printmaking, in the show, but mainly paintings. Most of them are expressive. I always say I paint emotions rather than realistic subject matter. I have two self-portraits in as well, and two collaborative works on which I worked with Chanel Lee, another PUC artist in the show. Those turned out pretty cool. I selected work I thought represented me as an artist this year. I tend to not want to follow rules as much, and that is apparent in some of the works.
What do you like most about painting? I worked in watercolor, oil, and acrylic, and then some with watercolor, acrylic, and charcoal. I love being able to see bright and bold color instantly. Usually my painting is reacting to how I am feeling, kind of turning off the mind and just letting it go. I relate most with watercolor because of the fluidity of the medium. In fact, I did my thesis in watercolor, although I do not have any straight watercolors in the show.
Why did you choose this major? Being a fine art major just clicked for me. School has never been something that I find great success at; it has always felt like a struggle. When I took a drawing class I realized, “This is what I have to do.” My mom is an artist, so I’ve grown up my whole life immersed in creating art. I never thought of it as something that I would pursue in school, but when I opened up to that idea, it made perfect sense.
What has surprised you about the program? How challenging it is. That is partly because I believe you get out what you put in, and I tend to put lots of myself into all my art. Because of that, it can quite emotionally draining at times, but also extremely rewarding.
Laurel Williams, senior fine art major Emphasis: Painting & Illustration Home: Disneyland (just kidding; I’m from Corona and Riverside, California, so it’s almost the same thing) Media on Display: Glass, watercolor, oil, acrylic
Why did you choose the pieces you did for the show? Out of all my projects this year they have turned out closest to how I planned them to be. My opaque paintings and watercolors I knew I would submit to the show some time ago, but the glass piece was a surprise to me. Unfortunately, most of my glass light fixtures still have some finishing touches they need, but my little yellow embossed pineapple slab came out of the kiln right around the time of submission for the show, so I figured, why not?
Work by Laurel Williams, senior, some of which will be displayed in the student art show opening Thursday at 7 p.m.
What do you like the most about your chosen media? I like doing glass pieces because I get to create a new object that exists in three-dimensional space. Using the power tools in the department studio is also pretty fun. Generally, I’m more interested in painting, though, and I really enjoy oil and watercolor because they are opposites of one another. In oil painting, you paint from dark to light and in watercolor it’s light to dark. It’s very challenging and I like things to be difficult. I also like taking things that are 3D and flattening them out on a canvas with the illusion of perspective or light and shadow. Paintings are also usually more effective for me at communicating strong emotions or thoughts/ideas. Typically, my three-dimensional works are only either whimsical or decorative.
Why did you choose this major? I actually didn’t. My dad decided that for me, and thank goodness he did! I totally thought I was going to do something “practical” like business and agriculture or some sort of science degree so that I could become an astrophysicist. During the summer between high school and college my dad convinced me to switch to fine art and so here I am. Not many people’s’ parents encourage them to do art so I’m really lucky that mine do.
What’s something that surprised you about the fine arts program? First, its well-roundedness. The previous schools I attended didn’t have as many sculpture and 3D courses to complement the 2D ones, so I really appreciate that about this department. Second, how much I love my classmates and professors. I thought I’d like them before coming here, of course, but we get along so well! Everyone is so supportive of each other’s work and we collaborate quite a bit. Critiques are actually the most fun because I think my classmates give great advice and we really want to see each other succeed. No one is super competitive—that’s not always something I’ve experienced before in artistic communities and it’s really refreshing.
Join the student artists and their professors for an opening reception on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. in the Rasmussen Art Gallery. The show will run until May 9. The gallery is open 1-5 p.m. Thursday-Sunday.
On what was likely a warm, sunny day in Sandusky, Ohio—July 7, 1878—Noah Ernest Paulin entered the world. While many babies were born around the world on this day, this particular little boy has great significance to Pacific Union College, though his parents could not know this at the time.
An early love for music drove young Noah to study the subject at Findlay College (Ohio), until he graduated in 1901. After two years conducting the orchestra for and touring the country with the Henry Minstrels, Paulin moved with his family to Santa Barbara, California, in 1905. He then took graduate courses at what is now UC Santa Barbara, and established a music studio to support himself, which he operated for nine years.
Theme & Variations
Paulin’s path crosses with that of Pacific Union College in 1914, when, after accepting an invitation from C. Walter Irwin, then president of the college, he arrived on the PUC campus with only his well-loved violin, some sheet music, and a few personal belongings. Paulin’s assignment was to establish a music department on the campus, which had only recently relocated to Angwin from Healdsburg, and served a total of 250 students.
Without an official space in which to teach, Paulin began the infant department in his campus home, known for many decades as the Colusa House. However, when he married Mary Louise Plunkett in 1917, the department was moved from his home to Grainger Hall. Here, the issue was that neighboring professors were forced to teach their classes to the accompaniment of band music, heard easily through the thin walls.
The resulting frustration and distraction of this situation led to another move for the music department, this time to West Hall, then home to the campus’ Health Services, where Mary McReynolds, staff physician, noted with some consternation that the music decreased her ability to count pulse rates and heartbeats on her patients. Demonstrating his easy sense of humor, Paulin responded, “What’s a heartbeat to a drum beat?”
Noah Paulin and his wife, Mary, in front of their campus home in 1919. Prior to their marriage, Noah taught music lessons and classes from this home.
Third Movement
After a successful proposal by college administration in 1932, a more permanent space for the music department was erected in the form of the building currently known as Stauffer Hall. Popular student vote proclaimed the building would be named in honor of Professor Paulin, and he continued teaching there until his retirement in 1944.
The original Paulin Hall boasted 13 practice rooms and three studios on the lower level, and a small auditorium upstairs, which also served as a rehearsal room and classroom. The department of music finally had a home. As a result of the new dedicated space, as well as the growing reputation of Paulin’s successful and enjoyable program, the department grew quickly in the years that followed. Not long after Paulin’s retirement, a larger space was required, and a new music building—the one currently in use—was completed in 1966, to which the name Paulin Hall was transferred.
Plans for the new Paulin Hall, expected to cost a grand total of $400,000, were drawn by an architectural firm in San Bernardino called Armstrong, Ulmer, and Tenney. Willard Bresee, a contractor from Angwin, managed the building’s construction. The fountain that still stands in front of the building’s main entrance was not included in the original design but was added during construction of what was called the Paulin Hall Mall a year or so later. The building itself came to a total of $627,000.
Crescendo
The new Paulin Hall opened in May 1967, in a ceremony officiated by Floyd Rittenhouse, then president of the college. Faculty, staff, students, and community members celebrated the new building, as Paulin himself spoke, and Pro Musica, now Vox Pro Musica, provided music prior to the ribbon cutting.
Noah Paulin (right), alongside F.O. Rittenhouse, then president of the college, cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the new Paulin Hall in 1967.
Of the new space, Paulin said, “I cannot praise it too highly. It is arranged well and has good acoustics. They did not forget a thing.” Lyle Jewell, then choral director and associate professor of music, stated that the new Paulin Hall was “tremendous, beautiful, and functional,” and George Wargo, then chair of the department, claimed the building was “perhaps the finest and most elegant music building in California,” and expected the facilities to encourage the faculty to “do the very finest in their work.”
Built to handle a continuous and expected increase in music students at the college, the new Paulin Hall was designed in three sections. The North section contained a choir rehearsal room, choral library and studio, instrumental rehearsal room, orchestra and band library, and an additional studio, in addition to six practice rooms, a kitchen, a recording room, and several storage rooms. The Middle Section comprised the main entrance, a student lounge, and a fully carpeted auditorium with theater seating for nearly 500. The South section was split into two levels, and included general offices, 22 practice rooms, 12 studio rooms, ten listening rooms, and classrooms.
Instrumental Interlude
A 36-rank Casavant pipe organ was installed in the auditorium, with provision to add three more in the future. As it proved desirable to have more, Del Case, then professor of music, installed an additional 12 with the help of two students and a colleague in the early 1970s. In addition to this large organ, two other tracker pipe organs—a Bosch, installed in 1968, and a Phelps, installed sometime during the 1970s—now occupy two practice rooms, as well as four harpsichords, 25 grand pianos, 25 upright pianos, two electronic pianos, and a five-octave handbell set.
On Sunday, May 7, 1967, at 8 p.m., the department of music hosted the very first concert in the new Paulin Hall. It was a candlelight concert, the second of the year, and the program included “Quintet in E flat for Horn and Strings, K. 407” by Mozart, “Vier Ernste Gesange, Op. 21 (Four Serious Songs)” by Brahms, and “Quintet in E flat for Piano and Strings, Op. 44” by Schumann. Performers were Joyce Staddon (violin), George Wargo (violin), Julien Lobsien (viola), Wesley Follett (cello), Lyle Jewell (bass), Carlyle Manous (horn), Morris Taylor (piano), and Merrill Barnhart (piano).
The grand opening of the new Paulin Hall on April 23, 1967, brought faculty, staff, students, and community members together to celebrate the state-of-the-art space for PUC music students.
Students enjoy the open space and fountain in front of Paulin Hall during the 1970s.
The brand new Paulin Hall foyer let in plenty of natural light and welcomed visitors to the 500-seat auditorium for concerts and recitals.
D.C. al Fine
Today, 16 students are studying as music majors at PUC, and an additional 60 participate in the numerous ensembles which rehearse and often perform in Paulin Hall. These ensembles also regularly tour to places across the country and around the world.
Paulin Hall is also home to Paulin Center for the Creative Arts, a community music program which debuted in the early 1980s, started by Lois Case, now professor emeritus after teaching at PUC for 41 years. Once as large as 200 students, with 20 contract and student teachers, the PCCA continues to offer voice and instrument lessons to community members, allowing a greater number of people access to music performance experience, and PUC music students the opportunity to develop their teaching skills.
Coda
In 1968, at the age of 90, Noah Paulin was the recipient of PUC’s first doctorate, an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree. Rittenhouse commended Paulin for his “unswerving dedication to the highest standards of musical excellence, faithful adherence to Christian principles, penetrating insight into the wellsprings of human conduct, consistency, dependability, unfailing kindness, scholarly tastes and ideals, persistence and patience in difficulty, and an unfailing and delicious sense of humor.”
These characteristics, loved and respected so much in Noah Paulin, are still embodied by PUC’s department of music today, as it serves and trains musicians from around the world for successful careers in the performing arts.
In honor of the anniversary of Paulin Hall, The Beatitudes, a cantata composed by Asher Raboy, resident artist at Pacific Union College, will be performed in its entirety for the first time on Saturday afternoon, April 21. The performance will feature the PUC choir and orchestra, both including alumni and community members, and will highlight guest soloists. Composed in a mere four months at the end of 2017, the 40-minute cantata is based on the eight blessings recounted by Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. The Beatitudes concert will take place in Paulin Hall Auditorium at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 21. Admission is free. For a map of the campus, visit puc.edu/map.
Raise your hand if you know what country the Malagasy language hails from. Anyone? Ah, a few! Today’s #FacultyFriday feature speaks Malagasy—the language of Madagascar—fluently, in addition to French, English, and German. Dr. Vola Andrianarijaona grew up in Madagascar and attended school in Belgium and France before ending up teaching physics here at PUC for over a decade now. He has taught a slew of courses on varying topics in physics, and manages a lot of undergraduate research taking place in his department. As an experimental scientist, he enjoys working in the labs with his students very much. Allow us to introduce you to Dr. Andrianarijaona.
Name: Dr. Vola Masoandro Andrianarijaona Title: Professor of Physics Email: vola@puc.edu Faculty since: 2006
Classes taught: PacificQuest, Introduction to Physics laboratory; General Physics I, II, III; Physics with Calculus I, II, III; Applied Optics; Applied Physics; Elementary Modern Physics; Biophysics; Medical Physics; Electromagnetic Theory I, II, III; Experimental Physics; Thermal Physics; Quantum Physics I; Special Topics in Physics; Independent Study; Independent Research; Advanced Experimental Physics
Education: Doctorat en Sciences, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium; DEA en Physique des Lasers et Applications, Université de Paris XIII, France; DEA en Physique des Solides, Université de Paris VII, France; Maîtrise de Physique et Applications, Université de Paris XIII; CAPEN en Physique-Chimie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Madagascar
What made you decide to be a teacher? I did not decide to be or become a teacher per se. I am just following God’s will.
What are some of your hobbies? Playing with my children and cooking.
What’s something people might be surprised to know about you? I am a first generation student, more precisely high school student. I am also a first generation immigrant.
What’s your favorite thing about PUC? Diversity.
What’s your favorite spot on campus? Chan Shun room 238-a.
What’s your favorite song? This is a hard question if you want just one answer. There are three hymns that I like the most: “Amazing Grace” by John Newton, “Abide with Me” by Henry Francis Lyte, and “We Have This Hope” by Wayne Hooper. Other songs that I admire and can listen tirelessly: “Ny lanitra mangamanga” by Randafison Sylvestre, “Salakao” by Salala, “Shma Israel” by Sarit Hadad, and “Ashoov eleicha” by Yaron Yerahmiel Cherniak.
What advice would you give to an incoming freshman? Enjoy your time and do not underestimate the relationship/connection with your peers, with your teachers and even with the community.
Professional Activities:
Note: Since Dr. Andrianarijaona’s list of professional publications and presentations is extensive, we have chosen to list only the most recent three of each.
Selected Publications:
“Quantum Neutron Unit Gravity”
Chakeres and V. M. Andrianarijaona
Journal of High Energy Physics, Gravitation and Cosmology, 3, 267-276 (2017)
“Line ratios for soft-x-ray emission following charge exchange between
O8+ and Kr.”
D.G. Seely, V. M. Andrianarijaona, D. Wulf, K. Morgan, D. McCammon, M. Fogle, P.C. Stancil, R.T. Zhang, and C. C. Havener
Phys. Rev. A 95, 052704 (2017)
“A frequency-equivalent scale-free derivation of the neutron, hydrogen quanta, Planck time, and a black hole from 2 and π”
Chakeres, R. Vento, and V. M. Andrianarijaona
Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics, 5, 1073-1091 (2017)
Selected Presentations:
Invited poster (May 27th, 2014), 23rd International Conference on the Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry (CAARI 2014), San Antonio, TX, USA
Title: “Line ratios of soft X-ray emissions following charge exchange between C6+ and Kr“
Invited talk (August 8th, 2012), 22nd International Conference on the Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry (CAARI 2012), Fort Worth, TX, USA
Title: “Intense decelerated ion beams for the study of low-energy charge transfer“
Award Winning Poster at CAARI 2012
“High Resolution X-Ray Spectroscopy of Charge Exchange Collisions of Astrophysical Interest”
Meet Amber Washington, a senior environmental studies major at PUC who plans to continue on to graduate school for forensic science. Last year, she conducted research at Skyline Wilderness Park in Napa Valley, analyzing different native plant species.
Who are you? I’m Amber Washington and I’m a senior environmental studies major. I plan to go to graduate school to obtain my master’s degree in forensic science.
What did you do? I was responsible for researching the different native plant species located in the Skyline Wilderness Park, which is home to the Napa Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS). Also, as a member of the CNPS (Napa Valley Chapter), I participated in several restoration projects in the Martha Walker Native Habitat Garden in the Skyline Wilderness Park and the annual spring native plant sale.
When and where did you do this work? My internship with the California Native Plant Society (Napa Valley Chapter) was for five months in the winter and spring of 2017.
What did you learn? There are more than 200 California native plants in the Skyline Wilderness Park. These native plants classify as perennial herbs, annual herbs, ferns, grasses, shrubs, vines and trees. Each plant species have their own unique growing conditions that allow them to thrive, but sometimes their growth can be hindered due to non-native plants invading. That is why restoration projects are beneficial, being they help keep the native plants alive and well while getting rid of those plants that have the potential to destroy them.
How did your experience at PUC help prepare you for this experience? Being an environmental studies major, I feel the Introduction to Research Methods classprepared me most for collecting accurate information on the native plants of the Skyline Wilderness Park. The Conservation Biology classgave me just the right amount of experience that allowed me to be of great assistance during the restoration projects of the Martha Walker Native Habitat Garden that I participated in. Previous knowledge of the anatomy of plants from a flowering project that was assigned in the Biological Foundations class also contributed to the success of my internship.
Dr. Denise Lee-Haye is today’s #FacultyFriday feature. Dr. Lee-Haye spent her college years on the east coast, so with her time here at PUC she has become acquainted with the culture of the west coast, as well. With several professional presentations under her belt, she is well-equipped and comfortable at the front of the classroom, and she enjoys imparting chemistry knowledge and experience to anyone and everyone. Let’s get to know Dr. Lee-Haye!
Name: Dr. Denise Lee-Haye Title: Associate Professor of Chemistry Email: dleehaye@puc.edu Faculty since: 2011
Classes taught: General Chemistry, Biophysical Chemistry, Science & Chemistry Seminars
Education: Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, Connecticut College; Ph.D. in biochemistry, University of Connecticut
What made you decide to be a teacher? I like to teach what I know, to those who need or want to learn it. I had experience doing that and teaching jobs were coming to my attention even before I was looking for any.
What are some of your hobbies? Fixing delicious foods, hiking, and finding scenic locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
What’s something people might be surprised to know about you? I’m Jamaican and I have both Asian and African heritage.
What’s your favorite thing about PUC? Its location in the Napa Valley and the opportunity it gives for meaningful relationships with others.
What’s your favorite spot on campus? The college’s back 40 property.
What’s your favorite song? I love songs about Jesus’ birth— anytime and all year long!
What advice would you give to an incoming freshman? Ask God for wisdomin everything. Take your teachers’ advice seriously. Test it so you can learn exactly what they mean. It’s worth getting to bed early. Get up in time to have breakfast and don’t forget to drink enough water and get some exercise outdoors. Then hopefully you’ll sleep well and think well!
With certification in early childhood education, infant and toddler development, child abuse and case practice, Montessori education, leadership training, and whole school management, Charaine Lucas brings a lot to the table in the college’s department of education. Her experience as program coordinator, family services coordinator, teacher, manager, early childhood director, and more mean she is beyond qualified to teach the next generation of early childhood educators, which she does with pleasure. Introducing: Professor Charaine Lucas!
