News

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

Business Students and Entrepreneurs Participate in Hyve Conference at Andrews University
Andrews University hosted the third annual North American Hyve International Conference from March 27–29, a gathering where students, entrepreneurs, ministry leaders and businesspeople networked with fellow innovators and pitched their ideas. Through various workshops and programs on campus, practicing entrepreneurs shared their experiences and advice on how to cultivate a strong business in a way that glorifies God.

Loma Linda University Health Doctor Presents at Local Schools to Warn Students on Dangers of Vaping
Loma Linda University Health physician Laren Tan, M.D., recently began a regional tour to speak with junior high and high school students about the dangers of vaping. Starting with La Sierra Academy in Riverside, California, Tan spoke to students about the dangers of both the substance being vaped and the lesser-known hazards of the activity.

Making Photos Stand Out During the 2019 Iceland Photo Tour
Today, an article without a photo will not often get published. Photos are crucial, but not all photos are good. To address this issue a small group of photographers from three Adventist Church world divisions met September 5-12, 2019, at the Hlíðardalsskóli, a former Adventist boarding school.

Ron Smith Elected Board Chair for AdventHealth
AdventHealth’s Board of Directors has elected Ron C. Smith to serve as chair during its most recent quarterly Board meeting. Smith assumes responsibilities immediately, replacing Gary Thurber after he served a two-year term as board chair.

“God in Shoes” Coordinates Widespread Outreach in Orlando, Florida, to Serve Women and Their Families
On September 27, more than 600 attendees of the 2019 NAD Women’s Convention participated in a day of community service organized by God in Shoes. Since 2009, the Georgia-Cumberland Conference-based ministry has been the official community service outreach organizer for the convention, which is held every five years. The women had a dozen projects to choose from that met a wide range of Orlando’s societal needs.