When you arrive at PUC and begin exploring your new home away from home, you’ll likely want to know just who is in charge of your living space. We’ve made that easy for you! Over the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring all of our residence hall deans here on the blog so you can get to know them all. And if you need to contact them, feel free to reach out!

Name: David Ringer
Dean of: Grainger Hall
Phone: (707) 965-6490
Email: dringer@puc.edu
Dean since: 2018

So you just started working here this summer. What were you up to previously?

I have actually been working as a resident hall dean since July of 1993—just not at PUC!  Prior to that, I was a missionary in South Korea teaching English and Bible.

I know you’re new to PUC, but you have a lot of experience being a dean, so tell me what a typical day looks like for you.  

Every day is completely different, which is why I love being a dean so much. The common activities that dictate my time include building relationships with the resident hall deans, students, staff, faculty, and administration; managing the facilities and student personnel; committee meetings; residence life needs; and working on the spiritual atmosphere of the dorm.

It sounds like you really like what you do. What challenges do you face as a dean?  

Limitations that prevent me from accomplishing all my visions and dreams for the students and the dorm.

What do you find most rewarding?  

One-on-one interactions with students and the opportunity to share Jesus with them.

So, when you’re not taking care of the students and residence hall, what do you enjoy?

Some of my hobbies include racquetball, ping pong, geocaching, scuba diving, camping, biking and spending time with my family.

Besides the students, what do you like most about PUC so far?

The weather!

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?  

I didn’t really think about what I wanted to be—I just wanted to play!

So where did you go to college?

I studied psychology at Southern Adventist University. I also had a double minor in sociology and religion.

What are some things on your bucket list—some you’ve checked off and some you’re still working toward/hoping for?   

Probably my number one accomplished bucket list item is successfully providing Christian education for my sons. Our youngest has one final year of undergrad. I’m also pleased to have raised children that are God-fearing, respectful, and hard-working, and to continue to be loving and supportive of my bride of 27 years.

Bucket list desires I hope to achieve and are working toward include obtaining my masters in educational leadership and visiting Denmark. My mother is 100 percent Danish and I would love to visit the country my grandparents immigrated from. And perhaps most important is convincing those I interact with to meet me at the Tree of Life.

As a dean, you often become a mentor not only to your student employees but to all the men in your residence hall. Tell me about a mentor who has been invaluable to you.

Sam James—my academy English teacher—had a huge influence on me. He demonstrated respect, love for family, how to have fun, professionalism, the love for the outdoors, and love for Jesus.