News
Andrews University Music Department Receives Instrument Donations
The Department of Music at Andrews University has recently received several generous donations in the form of musical instruments. These instruments will be housed in either Hamel Hall or the Howard Performing Arts Center and will be used by various music students, faculty, and performers.
Washington Adventist University Recognized as an “Opportunity University” in New Carnegie Classification
Washington Adventist University has been officially recognized as an Opportunity College and University (OCU) in the latest Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, a distinction awarded to only 16 percent of more than 3,000 colleges and universities nationwide.
International Concert Pianist, Alumnus Jonathan Mamora Returns as Assistant Professor to La Sierra University
On April 9, Mamora landed among the final field of 30 pianists selected for the Van Cliburn. The extensive selection process began in October 2024 with 340 pianists from 45 countries. Competition performances took place from May 21 to June 7 in Texas, just weeks before Mamora and his wife, Stephanie, were set to embark on a new chapter in their lives. Effective July 1, Jonathan will begin his new role as an assistant professor of music and director of keyboard studies at La Sierra University’s Department of Music.
Southern Adventist University Social Work Students Assist Anti-Poverty Program
Always on the lookout for impactful experiences for her students, Candy Dolcy, an assistant professor in the School of Social Work at Southern Adventist University, found the perfect fit in a partnership with the Chattanooga Purpose Center at the Orchard Park Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Serving with Heart: Southwestern Adventist University Students Bring Light and Love to Navajo Nation
During Southwestern Adventist University’s spring break 2025, a group of 42 volunteers—including college and high school students, alumni, staff, and community members—left the routine of their daily lives behind and set out for the Navajo Nation.Each day, volunteers launched from the Gallup Seventh-day Adventist Church to nearby project sites, adjusting to evolving schedules and unpredictable weather. The challenges were real, but so was the purpose — and the students quickly embraced both.
Union Adventist University Receives Grant for Culinary Medicine Teaching Kitchen
The Ardmore Institute of Health has awarded Union Adventist University’s Master of Public Health Program a grant to establish a culinary medicine teaching kitchen (CMTK). The $35,000 will purchase six commercial-grade mobile workstations, each including the culinary tools and appliances to support two students at a time, enabling the university to host classes of up to 12 students in the teaching kitchen. Any remaining funds will support a student garden that was established by the university’s first public health cohort last year.
Mid-America Union Conference Executive Committee Appoints New Communication Director
During its regular spring meeting, the Mid-America Union Executive Committee voted to approve a recommendation by MAUC’s administrative team outlining a leadership transition for the union’s communication department. Following the vote, then-director Brenda Dickerson became the associate director, and then-associate director/digital media manager Hugh Davis became the new director, effective May 1, 2025. This transition of titles, initially proposed by Dickerson, serves as a model for succession planning and smooth leadership transitions in appointed positions.
James P. Willis II Elected as New Vice President for Education for the Pacific Union Conference
The Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists has elected James P. Willis II as its new vice president for education, effective July 1, 2025. He will succeed Dr. Berit von Pohle, who is retiring after a distinguished career spanning 46 years in Adventist education