Azusa Pacific University

From leading middle school ensembles to earning the California League of Middle Schools State Educator of the Year award, Jessie Bullock ’08 is using music to build community, teach kindness, and inspire the next generation. Drawing on the foundation of faith, mentorship, and community he built at APU, he now manages band, orchestra, choir, and ASB while guiding young students from their very first notes to graduation.

“I am so blessed to be in these kids’ lives, and have fun with creating every day,” Jessie said. “From band, to orchestra, and ASB, I get to create an environment where students are proud of the work they’ve done.”

Read Jessie's story: https://bit.ly/46Q3PzG https://www.google.com/search?q=https://bit.ly/46Q3PzG&utm_source=gemini

Huge congratulations to cardiovascular nurse practitioner and APU doctoral student Madalynn Baker ’14, DNP ’28, on being named a Jonas Scholar!

Madalynn is one of only 80 doctoral nursing students nationwide selected for this honor by Jonas Nursing and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). The two-year scholarship provides $12,000 per year, alongside tailored leadership development, mentorship, and networking opportunities.

An APU alumna and adjunct faculty member, Madalynn’s path back to her DNP was inspired by resilience after a severe neck injury in 2024—a turning point that reinforced her calling to step into higher leadership in healthcare and nurse education.

APU has proudly fielded Jonas Scholars in every cohort since 2016, continuing a rich legacy of developing clinical leaders who address our nation's pressing healthcare challenges.

Join us in celebrating Madalynn on this well-deserved recognition!

Read more: https://www.apu.edu/media/news/release/madalynn-baker-awarded-jonas-scholarship-for-dnp-program/

Justin Bruursema, MFA ’27, spent 25 years as a commercial photographer before pursuing an MFA in Visual Art at APU to expand his skills and prepare for a teaching career. APU’s low-residency model, accordion structure, and range of media stood out to him. Working with peers nationwide and passionate, experienced faculty has allowed Justin to explore new media and redefine his artistic vision.

“I wasn’t fully prepared for the level of insight and feedback I’ve gotten at APU,” Justin said. “Part of an MFA is having your work critiqued, and that’s an important experience for me as an artist because I get instantaneous feedback about what I’m creating. My professors have the phenomenal ability to cut to the bone of my work in seconds, pointing out what they see in my work in a way few people can articulate so well.”

Read Justin’s story: https://bit.ly/4hNc99y https://bit.ly/4hNc99y?utm_source=gemini

For Leslie Perez, DNP ’26, nursing is more than a career—it’s a calling to ensure no patient is left feeling lost or unheard in their own healthcare journey. Leslie’s time at Azusa Pacific has equipped her with advanced tools and a leadership vision to champion health literacy, empowering healthcare providers to break down complex medical information so that every patient receives clear, compassionate care.

“I want to make sure that my patients fully understand their providers and treatment plans,” Leslie said. “Patients don't want to come across as difficult, so they often don't ask questions. Our job is to break their treatment down and confirm as healthcare providers that they understand.”

Read Leslie’s story: https://bit.ly/475YiFf

The APU community is growing—and we couldn’t be more grateful!

This fall, we were thrilled to welcome our newest undergraduate class, marking an 18% year-over-year increase in new students. Combined with steady growth across our graduate and professional programs, the energy across campus is unmatched.

To our students, faculty, staff, and alumni who make achieving our mission possible: this momentum belongs to all of us. Here’s to an incredible year ahead!

How do organizations use AI to create solutions based on trust and transparency?

We were thrilled to welcome APU alumna Kristi Boyd '15, MA, CIST, back to campus for the School of Business and Management's Transformative Talk series. As a Senior Trustworthy AI Specialist at SAS, Kristi spoke candidly about the real-world challenges organizations face in technology today and why building solutions on transparency matters now more than ever.

Rather than just running through a presentation, Kristi brought the challenge to life for our students. She broke the room into small groups to work through a live AI governance scenario, giving everyone hands-on experience solving complex industry problems together.

Thank you, Kristi, for giving back to the APU community and showing our students what goes into ethical decision-making for organizations!

Driven by a passion to uplift others, Don Austin, MA ’01, EdD ’05, was deeply shaped by his APU education, which transformed his approach to leadership throughout his career as a school district superintendent (currently leading the Laguna Beach Unified School District). Don’s time at Azusa Pacific equipped him with the practical tools, mentorship mindset, and spiritual grounding needed to build strong school communities and lead with an unwavering commitment to service.

“APU leaves space for inspiration to spark in every student,” Don said. “I learned that not everything has to be scripted. If your mind and heart are in a good place, your words and actions will be meaningful to the people you’re working with.”

Read Don's story: https://bit.ly/475Dmy2

APU's Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service hosted their monthly Institute Lunch with President Adam J. Morris, PhD. The event brought together over 30 ministry leaders and APU staff for a meaningful interview about President Morris' faith, work, and leadership.