For Heitman, the start of the fall semester isn’t just about lectures, syllabi or coursework. It’s about formation. Inside Jessup’s SOTL, he sees every classroom, online and in-person, as an opportunity to equip transformational leaders, those students who are capable of influencing organizations, churches, communities and families with wisdom, resilience and authenticity. That mission is what energizes him most.

This fall, Heitman begins his eleventh year with Jessup, building on a year of behind-the-scenes preparation that continues through the summer. With 18 redesigned courses for the new Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership, he oversees the large project as the program director and built three new courses himself, entirely from the ground up, around themes such as building resilient teams, conflict management and self-leadership. Much of this work draws from his doctoral research, but his vision reaches beyond academic theory. Heitman wants students to graduate not only informed, but transformed. “I’m passionate about developing an intentional learning community, with opportunity for dialogue, where students are engaged to find their passion and purpose. A place where students are built up and empowered to lead through practical leadership experiences,” he said. “If students aren’t conversing and engaging, how can they be leading?”

During the academic year, one hour Heitman might be guiding graduate students through organizational leadership models; the next, he’s teaching a Gospel Worldview course to incoming freshmen on how to navigate the emotional, academic and spiritual realities of college life. “I love the diversity in teaching because it keeps me learning, and that matters deeply,” he said.

Heitman’s daughter Hope is another reason for his enthusiasm. This August, she will be part of the Jessup community. As a business major interested in finance and real estate marketing, she is also pursuing an ambitious parallel dream: becoming a professional ballet dancer. Her decision to attend Jessup traces back to a moment two years ago when, at age 15, she accompanied her dad on a Global Outreach trip to Tanzania. There, surrounded by Jessup students whose lives and faith deeply moved her, she discovered a sense of calling and community that never left. “She saw education changing lives in real time,” Heitman said. “That experience shaped her.” That same conviction shapes him as well.

Outside of Jessup, Heitman regularly partners with local churches delivering seminars and leadership workshops, bringing practical training into ministry contexts that often lack formal leadership development. Some of that influence has traveled unexpectedly far. Through partnerships connected to his current MATL students, Ukrainian church leaders are planting churches inside Russia — a reminder that leadership ripples far beyond the classroom. Last summer he led a group of students to Sumba, Indonesia where they focused on community development, education and children’s ministry to break cycles of poverty.

Heitman recognizes one of the challenges facing students is closer to home: authenticity in the age of artificial intelligence. This led him to craft a rubric for the MATL program around the qualities he believes technology can’t replicate. The rubric challenges students to demonstrate how they think, discern, apply and grow. While Heitman believes AI can be a valuable tool for research and efficiency, he insists authentic leadership begins and ends with human insight, ethical reasoning and lived experience. “I call it an AI sandwich,” he said. “It starts with human inquiry, AI accelerates it, then humans fill in the gaps. We train students to use AI, but in an iterative way.” 

Whether he is redesigning courses, mentoring graduate students, leading church workshops, or helping freshmen discover their place in the world, his purpose remains the same. In an era defined by cultural uncertainty, Heitman believes the greatest need is not for smarter leaders, but for wiser ones. Leaders who can transform the people and communities around them. For him, that work makes returning to Jessup each fall feel less routine and more like a calling renewed.

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For Jerome Williams, Assistant Director of Campus Ministries, Discipleship & Spiritual Formation, chapel at Jessup should be purpose-driven, accessible and placed in the hands of those it’s designed for—students.

Williams oversees The Porch, a Monday night, student-led chapel where “students have the opportunity to preach, lead worship, and pray for one another in a meaningful and authentic way.”

Also helping to steward The Collective, a regional young adult ministry that Jessup oversees, Williams explains, “we gather three times a year to host worship gatherings…creating space for community among college-aged young adults and young adults beyond college.”

When asked the intent behind The Collective, he says, “Our mission is simple: Collected as one + Connected by One.”

Jessup’s involvement means being available to the spiritual lives of young adults wherever they are which, Williams notes, can be crucial. “For many young adults, it’s the first time they find themselves fully surrounded by other young men and women who love Jesus just as deeply as they do.”

Current Jessup students have the opportunity to get more involved through student leadership, where they could hold a variety of leadership roles, including Collective Interns, Chapel Interns, and Discipleship Interns.

“Being part of student leadership provides meaningful one-on-one time with our campus pastoral staff and the opportunity to help shape the spiritual atmosphere of campus—through chapel programming and by helping lead and host Collective gatherings,” Williams explains.

Whether through campus chapels open to the public, regional worship nights, or quiet conversations over coffee, Jessup’s ministry presence continues to widen—creating space for connection, unity, and transformation across an entire generation.

a4yyÎçŇš¸ŁŔű is home to a Warrior community that is committed to being world-changers for the Kingdom. But step onto campus on any given day, and it becomes clear that Jessup’s reach extends beyond enrolled students.

Shaping that culture is Marcie Lemos, Associate Vice President of Events and Experience. Through her leadership, Jessup has hosted visible and meaningful gatherings, welcoming influential speakers such as Francis Chan and Lisa Bevere and drawing record-breaking attendance. Yet the heart behind these events stretches beyond face-value: they are a ministry of hospitality, storytelling, and invitation.

“Our mission [at Jessup] isn’t just about equipping students,” Lemos says. “It’s about equipping the community. When people come to campus, we’re inviting them into our home. We want them to feel welcomed, seen, and valued from the moment they [arrive].”

Donors, alumni, and parents are invited to gatherings where their partnership with Jessup expands invaluable reach: scholarships are awarded, resources expand, and people are introduced to the Gospel for the very first time.

All of this means one thing: community-minded outreach brings endless possibilities.

Experience is central to telling Jessup’s story. “You hear the saying, ‘Actions speak louder than words’? I believe that a thousand percent,” Lemos says. “We say we’re Christ-centered. We say we’re a community. So we better be.”

Before working at Jessup, the University was already woven deeply into her family’s story.

“My husband and I have a history with Jessup because we attended when it was San Jose Christian College as we were preparing to be missionaries,” she explains. Years later, both Lemos’ son and daughter pursued an education at Jessup.

With deep ties to the community, Lemos accepted a role as Executive Assistant to Jessup’s Chief Financial Officer. “I loved seeing how the University operated,” she says, but it was beyond the office where she thrived most. “Every time I was out in the community—working at the campus store, talking with parents, donors, students—I felt a fire ignite within me! I realized that’s where I’m supposed to be.”

That realization led her to Jessup’s Advancement department, where she helped shape campus experiences, including the first President’s Dinner. When leadership asked her to help with the new event, Lemos responded “If I do this, can you trust me? I want to show you how I think we should tell Jessup’s story.”

The result was truly transformative.Ěý

Lemos draws her inspiration from the ultimate Creator. “God is the master of experience,” she says. “He didn’t create a gray world. He created beauty, texture, color, detail. That’s what I tap into when I design experiences here.”

That attention to detail has positioned Jessup as more than a university—it is a gathering place. Events like National Day of Prayer unite churches, Grandparents Day invites families into students’ lives, guest speakers draw attendees from far beyond campus, and Women in Prayer has grown into a thriving community that faithfully prays over the University and community.

“I see Jessup as a lighthouse,” Marcie says. “A beacon of Jesus shining over this region. We have so much to offer.”

That outward-facing posture extends to service through partnerships like Daysha Trujillo’s Trukidz organization, which provides hygiene kits to unhoused students. A Jessup student, Trujillo has led packing events alongside her peers with the support of Jessup leadership. For Lemos, the work is deeply personal. “My mother died homeless,” she shares. “So being part of that—seeing Jessup step into that space—it’s full circle for me.”

Looking to the future, Lemos dreams boldly. “I’d love to see Jessup become a premier event destination,” she says. “Known beyond this region. A place people want to gather.”

But at the core, her hope is simple. “Never lose our Christ-centeredness,” she says. “That’s what sets us apart.”

Through events, Marcie Lemos embodies Jessup’s commitment to something bigger than itself: a university rooted in faith, reaching outward, welcoming all—and inviting the community to experience something truly different.

Every piece of art tells a story, and for a4yyÎçŇš¸ŁŔű’s first permanent art installation, Beauty from Ashes, that story is one of transformation.

The Digital Communication, Art and Design (DCAD) program at Jessup exposes students to nearly every medium of creative expression through visual and digital arts. In years past, students would create artwork and display it for one-night showcases, but Norm McDonald, Program Director of DCAD, has changed that pattern.

Instead of limiting student work to temporary exhibits, the department began experimenting with installations across campus—murals, library pieces, and pop-up displays. Even still, it was evident that there needed to be a more permanent solution.

“We never had a permanent space that not only could be used for an art show, but was a place where people could go and experience art and experience that kind of peace, calmness, and engagement that art brings,” explains McDonald.

Beauty from Ashes became the next step: transforming an overlooked hallway into a flexible, permanent gallery space now known as the Jessup Museum of Art and Design.

“We took this old, dark, unused hallway and did something with it,” McDonald says. The idea was simple but profound. “We were bringing beauty to spaces that needed some life; and tying to that expression of faith that that’s what God does in us. God takes our brokenness and brings His beauty to it.”

The gallery itself is less about a single theme and more about access. A wire-hanging system allows student work to rotate regularly, creating ongoing opportunities for painters, designers, photographers, filmmakers, and even fashion designers to show their work. “It’s now a permanent place where we can easily rotate art through,” McDonald explained. “So there’s always something fresh and new.”

The gallery also reflects the growing, interdisciplinary nature of Jessup’s arts program. Participants span majors from nursing to theology, contributing everything from needlepoint and illustration to animated film previews. “It really is students from all majors,” McDonald says. “Sometimes it’s just something that flows out of them.”

It’s in those moments when students are able to express themselves and dig deeper into passions that God has given them when the art becomes so much more than something to put on display.

“Those are the moments that are pretty special to me,” McDonald explains, “of having people realize who they are and what God’s made them to be.”

When asked about what sets Jessup’s arts program apart, McDonald was quick to highlight the small class sizes that promote a more genuine connection between students and faculty. 

“We get to come alongside [students]. I think that’s a really powerful thing at Jessup,” McDonald explains. “And we’re pushing them spiritually, we’re connecting them to God. We’re hopefully graduating people that are not just skilled at what they do, but are grounded and are balanced and have a source of peace, and hopefully have a love for people in the world.”

Beyond campus, the installation has become a quiet recruitment and connection point. Visitors, from prospective students to community leaders, now see student creativity woven into everyday campus life. “It makes people feel like, ‘I want to be an artist here because art is part of what we do,’” McDonald says.Beauty from Ashes and the gallery it launched weren’t positioned as a final achievement. It’s infrastructure—space to grow, experiment, and belong. For Jessup’s arts department, that may be the most important work of all: presenting a live example of how beauty can come from the unexpected to completely transform how we view our surroundings and even ourselves.

That is the question that Jennifer Blair heard from the LORD that forever changed the direction of her life. Today, Blair serves as Program Director of Theatre at a4yyÎçŇš¸ŁŔű, leading a program known for artistic excellence, deep faith integration and graduates who are exceptionally employable. But her journey into theatre did not begin under stage lights. It began in the stillness and quiet of her living room.

“One night, everyone had gone to bed,” Blair recalls. “I turned off the TV, and I heard the voice of God ask me that question. That was the day I got my call.”

Growing up, Blair loved the arts and was shaped by church communities that valued storytelling, but she had not planned to pursue it professionally. Already enrolled in college as a communications major, she switched to theatre after hearing that defining question—stepping into her calling with intention, passion, and a determination to explore what it truly means to be a student of the Master Artist, God, the One who created the heavens and the earth.

After completing her educational journey, Blair launched a professional theatre career where she gained experience in all areas, from on stage to behind the scenes. It is that all-encompassing training that she now uses to give her students their own hands-on experience as they construct each aspect of their productions at Jessup. Her approach is shaped by a conviction that excellence in theatre should deepen, not dilute, one’s faith. “There were so many approaches to learning theatre that felt in direct opposition to the character and nature of God,” Blair explains. “I wanted to bridge that dissonance and ask why mastering the craft should require stepping away from what is right and good.”

For Blair, theatre is not about avoiding hard stories, but about telling the truth. “Every story has sin—most biblical stories do,” she explains. “The question is: does the story tell the truth? Does it show the consequences? I won’t participate in stories where sin is positioned as good.”

This conviction is central to Jessup Theatre, where students are trained to approach storytelling with honesty, care and moral clarity. At Jessup, Jesus remains at the center of everything, including the vibrant performances and hands-on training of theatre students. Blair teaches that storytelling has two sacred purposes: pointing toward what is good and revealing what is broken. She references the story of Hagar in Genesis, describing it as a defining metaphor for her work. “Hagar says, ‘You are the God who sees me,’” Blair explains. “That is the theatre person’s charter—to see people. To say, ‘You are seen. You are known. I am listening.’”

At Jessup, this philosophy becomes practice. From the first day of rehearsal, theatre students pray for their audiences. “We understand that when students step on stage, they are ushering the presence of God to the people—and the people to the presence of God,” Blair says. “They are intercessors.”

Jessup’s theatre program is built around what Blair calls “Theatre 360,” giving students hands-on experience in every aspect of production—from acting and directing to costumes, marketing and stage management. This broad training is paired with professional rigor. “We reverse-engineer our curriculum,” she explains. “We ask: what does the industry demand? And how do we prepare students for that right now?”

That commitment has produced results. Blair holds the program to one defining standard: “If our students are not working, our program is not working.” The goal is for at least 90 percent of graduates to leave with a job in hand—and many do, working across theatre, film, entertainment and creative industries nationwide.

Not only do Jessup theatre students graduate prepared to enter the workforce, but they experience extraordinary success while still in the program. Jessup Theatre’s Fall 2025 production of Mary Poppins the Musical drew an audience of more than 4,800—an all-time attendance record for Jessup productions. The show’s success reflected not only strong community trust in the program, but the students’ ability to execute large-scale, professional-level storytelling. For Blair, the milestone affirmed what she sees every day: when students are trained with excellence, purpose and care, audiences respond.

Jessup’s roots as a Christ-centered university create an environment where innovation thrives. “Jessup gives permission to dream God-sized dreams,” Blair says. “I can make a wild pitch, and leadership says, ‘Let’s go.’ That freedom allows students to run, dream and build something new.”

Ultimately, Blair sees herself first and always as a student. “My main assignment is to keep learning,” she says. “My students teach me all the time.”

Years after hearing that life-altering question, Jennifer Blair continues to live it out—inviting her students into the same calling. To study theatre at Jessup is not merely to learn a craft, but to become, alongside her, a student of the Master Artist.

Jessup Theatre by the Numbers

Community at the Core
• 5–10 community members (ages 9+) cast in Fall productions
• Students from multiple majors perform onstage and behind the scenes
• Faculty, parents, and grandparents actively serve in productions

What It Takes to Raise the Curtain
• 50+ volunteers support each show across the full run
• 20+ dedicated community artists help build each production
• 68 people per performance, including cast, crew, front-of-house, and event staff

A Program Built Together
• Founded in 2012
• First production: Little Women
• Known for immersive, show-specific pre-show experiences

Want to experience Jessup Theatre for yourself?

Attend our upcoming performance of Newsies the Musical from April 17-26, 2026. Tickets are available now at

Are you an aspiring artist?

Your education in theatre just got more accessible with the Christian Youth Theatre (CYT) scholarship! Learn more at

“The Latin word from which we get vocation is vocātiō, which means ‘calling,’” explains Reverend Dr. Marilyn Williams. “In Christian vernacular, vocation refers to God’s call on someone’s life to something that person is particularly gifted in or drawn to.”

Being a Christ-centered university isn’t simply about opening the Bible in class, attending chapel or singing worship songs together—though those moments matter deeply and plant seeds that reach into eternity. What truly sets a Christ-centered education apart is what happens when faith becomes personal: when students are known, challenged and invited into genuine relationship with God and one another as they discover their calling. In Williams’ Gospel Worldview class at a4yyÎçŇš¸ŁŔű, that transformation is not theoretical— it is happening in real time.

According to Williams, “learning becomes more than study or memorization. Learning becomes an act of worship, obedience and submission to God’s purpose for students’ lives.”

Each semester, Williams watches students arrive with vastly different stories. Some grew up in Christian homes but have never owned their faith for themselves. Others step into her classroom with little to no exposure to the biblical narrative at all. It is not uncommon for students in Williams’ class to make the decision to follow Jesus, sometimes for the first time and sometimes as a recommitment after years of distance.

“It is typical that one to three students make the decision to start following Jesus by the middle to end of the Gospel Worldview class,” Williams says.

The most recent semester of Fall 2025 resulted in five students making the decision to give their lives to the LORD and 10 students who re-dedicated their lives to following Jesus, some of whom were her most reluctant students at the beginning of the semester.

Williams’ course may be mandatory for incoming students, but those moments don’t come from obligation. Rather, they emerge through careful teaching, trust and a curriculum Jessup has intentionally designed to ground students in the Word. The Gospel Worldview course walks students through Scripture in six “Acts”: Creation, Conflict, Covenant, Christ, Church and Consummation. By the time students reach Act Four—Christ—many find themselves confronting the story not just intellectually, but personally.

“By the end of Act Four, students have begun to understand God’s intent for all humanity to be in relationship with Him,” Williams explains. “Understanding these truths informs students to make a personal choice in responding by faith in God’s promises and restoration through Jesus.”

The connection between curriculum and culture at Jessup fosters an environment for students to receive God’s calling for their life. Williams says, “combined with a rich, Gospel-centered curriculum Dr. David Timms and Dr. Mark Moore have provided Jessup for the Gospel Worldview classes, students experience God in profound and new ways.” The transformation unfolding in her classroom is inseparable from the environment Jessup has created—one where faith and academic rigor are not at odds, but deeply integrated.

That integration reflects Williams’ own journey. “I never pursued vocational ministry,” she says. “But God pursued me.” She further explains, “I am not an evangelist. However, my top spiritual gift is teaching.”

For years, her ministry looked like faithful presence—serving her church, loving her neighborhood and practicing quiet obedience. It wasn’t until friends encouraged her to write down her family’s Advent practices that her vocational calling began to take shape. That small act of obedience led to a published devotional, titled Advent Family Devotions, which opened doors to speaking engagements, retreats and eventually international ministry across the United States, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and the Ivory Coast.

Those years of ministry experience now shape every aspect of her classroom. “By serving in director and pastoral roles, as well as internationally, I can teach from life experience as well as from theory,” Williams says. “I deeply believe the best professors are those who have practiced what they are teaching.”

Students feel that difference. Her classes are marked not only by theological depth, but by mentorship that extends far beyond lectures and office hours. “Transformative leadership requires authenticity, inspiration, empathy and innovation,” she says. “I get a front-row seat to the work of the Holy Spirit changing students from the inside out.”

That transformation is visible in students like Natalie Sexauer, who Williams watched move from casual engagement to deep conviction as God clarified her calling to missionary work. Natalie graduated early and is heading to the mission field as a living example of how a classroom can become a launching pad for God’s purposes in the world.

“I could tell you so many stories of God getting ahold of uninterested students who start out resenting required courses then begin engaging their coursework with purpose and passion,” Williams says. “Once they start experiencing God’s heart and purpose for their lives, casual students come alive in front of my eyes! This is Jessup’s legacy: God at work in the hearts and lives of students, calling and equipping them for eternal purpose.”

Whether a student is discovering a relationship with Jesus for the first time or carrying a lifelong faith into service around the globe, learning to see the world through a biblical lens shapes both heart and action. This way of seeing becomes an internal transformation that naturally overflows into outward expressions of God’s love and calling. Jessup faculty, staff, donors and partners have the privilege of equipping students, not only to change the world around them, but to set their hearts upon the plans that God has for them.

By Matthew Bach, PhD

As a newbie in the world of enrollment in Christian higher education, I am confronted with a myriad of new questions, and I would love to invite you into my musings! As a pastor, I have always aspired to see both youth and adults grow deeper in biblical knowledge, spiritual formation, and equipping for ministry. As a student, my personal journey in theological and biblical exploration was incredibly rich, practical, and transformative, and I believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience this — or at least get a taste of it! Now I have the privilege of partnering with Multnomah Biblical Seminary and a4yyÎçŇš¸ŁŔű to frame this experience for others. 

Graduate studies and seminary are often associated with individuals in part-time or full-time vocational ministry (pastors, non-profits, missionaries, and chaplains). However, in my 25 years of church and educational ministry, I have encountered and listened to many Christians who are discovering a renewed thirst and passion. They desire deeper biblical and theological reflection for guidance by the Holy Spirit, and innovative equipping for service of the church and the community. 

Nevertheless, in a busy and oversaturated world, there are numerous hurdles that can restrain one from pursuing further education. This might be why the title hooked you at some level. 

I collaborated with a few knowledgeable strangers (you call them A.I.) to hear their curated reasons and insights on why people hesitate to explore deeper theological education. Their responses largely matched what I hear, and I would love to share how one can wade through these reasons while still considering God’s call to deeper study. I invite you to learn more by attending the Webinar linked at the bottom!

Some key reasons people avoid going deeper in theological education include:

• Time: It may not be the right time (Gemini); it often requires significant time (Grok). People are busy and often wonder how they can fit such intensive work into their busy schedules.
• Finances: Education is expensive, and a person may not have the financial resources (Gemini), it is a financial investment (Grok); Many view education as a means to advance in their careers…(but it’s so much more!)
• Calling: They are not in a formal ministry role (Gemini); “I’m not going to be a pastor or missionary — so why train like one?” or ‘I’m called to other spaces, not the church’ (Chat GPT). My secular role or social life doesn’t need that sort of equipping… (Grok)
• Content: I believe I am good where I am at – A fulfilling life doesn’t require a ministry-focused path (Gemini), I have sufficient existing knowledge for my context, thus it is unnecessary (Grok), or “I’m still figuring things out… I’m not spiritually ‘mature enough’ to go deeper.” (ChatGPT)
• Over-Intellectualization: Deep theological study can sometimes lead to overanalyzing spiritual matters, potentially distancing someone from the simplicity of personal faith or causing them to prioritize academic knowledge over practical application (Grok). There is also a concern that ‘I will become prideful or be seen as a know-it-all’ (Chat GPT).

While these reasons carry some validity, it is too easy to let them be a looping backing track to our lives. We often wait until there is enough time, money, maturity, or calling. Yet, each of these ‘reasons not to’ is actually an invitation. They point to why deeper biblical equipping is not just for the few but for every believer who wants to be faithful, fruitful, and formed into the image of Christ.

Theological education is more accessible, affordable, and applicable now than in previous times. Whether you choose to take a class at church, explore a new resource, or access biblical education at MBS (which I invite you to consider), may God encourage you with these insights:

1. You may not be called to full-time ministry, but you are called to full-time faithfulness. Training helps you live that out more effectively.
2. The goal isn’t to know more — it’s to become more like Christ.
3. You don’t have to have it all together to begin. Training isn’t a reward for the mature — it’s a pathway to maturity.
4. Concerning finances, it is easy to see any arena of learning as a transactional expense, but it’s an investment and a foundation for a life of service, formation, and faith.
5. Time and busyness are too familiar and tangibly felt by many. It’s about what we do with our time and how we rate what is most important. I think John Frame best frames this in his reflection for theologians: “The great challenge of a student’s life is to not let the urgent supplant the important.” 

Each of us is a lifelong learner, and we would love to pray for you as you discern the ways and places where God may be calling you deeper.

With an extensive range of medical practices through the military, Justin gained hands-on experience that provided him with a unique insight upon joining Jessup’s program. Detailing his experience, Justin explains, “I was an Air Force medic for about six years prior to getting out of active duty. Then another three years after that, while I was in the program, I was also with the International Guard, so I had a long background in medicine. It was something I was passionate about, something I enjoyed. I remember going on my first 911 call and just feeling like I was about to make a difference and I was able to do something that helped other people and I was really proud.”

Previously stationed in Yokota Air Base in Japan, among other locations around the world, Justin settled in the Sacramento area after meeting his wife, who also graduated from a4yyÎçŇš¸ŁŔű. He explains, “I learned about Jessup and the nursing program through her because she graduated through the MACP (Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology) program. I wanted something more Christ-focused and Jessup was perfect for that.”

Like many nursing students, it’s moments of impact in Justin’s personal life that fueled his calling in nursing. He shares, “I’ve had a couple friends who passed away young. One from diabetes and then another from drug addiction. It was cool to get to work with the diabetes population in the Air Force and then after I got out [of the Air Force] I worked as an LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse) for a couple of years at a drug and alcohol center in Sacramento.” In the midst of those experiences that hit so close to home, Justin reflects on how it all aligns with God’s purpose, saying, “it’s funny how God works. He often puts us in places that He had a purpose for [without us knowing] and led us through it and helped us so that we could make a difference in people’s lives.”

If Justin could describe the nursing program in one word, it would be “caring.” He details how the word is all-encompassing because of the nature of nursing itself, which is to care for others, but also because Jessup instilled that same focus in each student. “My fellow cohort members were very caring towards one another and my professors were very caring in the way that they engaged with the students. For certain, they were very attentive to our needs and what they felt was going to make us the best possible nurses and the best possible humans to go into the profession of nursing.” 

While the faculty and his classmates were supportive, there were certainly moments in the program that brought challenges and stretched each student as they built their skills. That’s why, when considering prospective Jessup nursing students, Justin says he “would challenge them to make sure it’s something that they’re called to and something they are passionate about. Not just in the sense that they want to do nursing but in what that means and how to care for people, because if you come in with the mentality of that being your calling and looking at it from a Christ-like focus then you have all the more opportunity to grow when you enter a program that’s going to foster and grow that even further.” 

That challenge isn’t a deterrent, but it ensures that those who are called into the field are set up for success right from the start because they know they are where they’re meant to be. “Having a foundation for your ‘why’ is really important when you enter a program that is potentially going to be hard in nature,” Justin further explains, “So, being able to have the fortitude to say ‘this is why I’m going to do this, this is where I’m coming from’ is important. Having that drive and focus is key and instrumental in how you approach learning.”

It was that “why” that got Justin to this moment–a moment of acknowledging his hard work and making history as part of Jessup’s first graduating nursing cohort and passing his NCLEX exam to become a Registered Nurse. This accomplishment, however, doesn’t change Justin’s perspective on what nursing is all about – serving others. Through the program, he reflected on John 13:1-17, which details when Jesus washes the feet of His disciples. He explains, “What I was trying to remind myself was that at the heart of nursing there’s humility and making sure that you are there to take care of others. I think it’s wonderful to be in a profession that so closely aligns with Jesus’ message in that moment of how we are meant to serve and care for one another. Our God is not afraid to show that we are valuable, we are important, we are loved and that nobody is above someone else and we are all meant to serve one another.”

If you feel called to serve others through a career in nursing, please visit jessup.edu/academics/majors-programs/undergrad/nursing/ or email us at admissions@jessup.edu.Ěý

Between her experience in caregiving and multiple family members working in healthcare, it’s no wonder how Christina found herself as an aspiring nurse. “I’ve always known I wanted to do nursing. I was born into it, you could say,” Christina explains. Her father was the one who introduced her to Jessup’s nursing program and, with persistence, she applied and gleefully accepted her admission to Jessup.

The nursing program covers a wide range of material, but Christina identifies that she’s “really interested in women’s health and could even see [herself] pursuing a doctorate as a nurse practitioner in women’s health.” One thing is for certain, nursing is Christina’s true passion. She emphasizes, “I really just love nursing. I have certain interests, but I could go anywhere and be happy.”

Between classes and clinicals, nursing students must learn at a fast pace, but a key strategy that Christina utilized was never being afraid to ask for help. Highlighting how accessible and supportive the nursing faculty were, Christina says, “my professors were phenomenal, all of them were super easy to talk to. I would text or email one of my professors and tell them ‘I’m really struggling’ and they would say ‘no problem, stay after class and we will figure it out,’” showcasing the true community-minded nature of the program.

Currently, Christina finds herself working as a home health nurse, a job she has held since last year while balancing work with school. It’s no easy feat to balance work and college, but Christina expresses her enjoyment in her work, especially getting to work alongside her father, who is a physical therapist that works in home health. Part of her duties include visiting clients to “help them with activities of daily living,” which undoubtedly prepares her for the array of tasks she will have as a nurse.

Aside from her work in home health, Jessup’s nursing program gave Christina real-world experience to prepare her for a successful career. “I loved the clinical rotations I was in,” she explains, “we had some really unique ones. We also had simulation labs, which were great and really challenging. They really made you think and give you hands-on experience that not everyone gets to do.”

Reflecting on her very first day of clinicals, Christina recalls a moment that affirmed her decision to pursue nursing. “I was at the VA (Veterans Affairs) doing CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) work… I was feeding a patient and he had swallowing issues and trouble speaking. Every time he opened his mouth I noticed something on his tongue that looked like an infection.” Concerned that she wasn’t qualified to make a diagnosis due to it only being her first day of clinicals, Christina was nervous to inform the nurse of her observation. However, her studies paid off because “the nurse checked and verified that [Christina’s] diagnosis was correct and thanked [her] for noticing and letting her know.” Considering the impact of that moment, Christina is now able to recognize the difference that her actions made in the life of that patient, explaining that “because the patient can’t speak, I’m really glad that I could advocate for him.”

In that same mindset of advocating for others and providing the best care possible, Christina stresses the importance of treating patients like family, saying, “If I put my mother in another nurses’ hands then I would expect them to treat her like family, and if you don’t come into nursing with that mentality then you’re not going to be an excellent nurse. I don’t want to be a good nurse, or a great nurse, I want to be an excellent nurse. If there’s excellence to be made then why am I not striving for that?”

Envisioning her family and friends being present at her graduation, Christina exclaims, “it’s an honor to be in the blue scrubs and graduate, it’s like a badge of honor.” To reach graduation, Christina fixed her eyes on the race set before her and reflected on 2 Timothy 4:7, which says “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race and I have kept the faith.” She further explains, “I kept thinking, ‘if I put God first then I am going to finish this race and I’m going to be a great nurse,’ and that was my constant reminder.”

Christina Silveira has now finished the race and reached graduation and passed her NCLEX exam, making her a Registered Nurse. From “Nurse Christina” in her family home to now in the workforce, Christina exemplifies what it means to pursue God’s calling on your life.

To learn more about a4yyÎçŇš¸ŁŔű’s nursing program, please visit jessup.edu/academics/majors-programs/undergrad/nursing/ or email us at admissions@jessup.edu.

Moving from China to sunny Northern California in 2017, Catherine Cui, first-generation college student, expresses her sincere gratitude to her husband and daughter for supporting her as she devoted so much of her time and energy to Jessup’s nursing program. “Graduating is an honor, not only for me, but for my family, because without them I couldn’t have made it,” Catherine tearfully expresses.

The hard work doesn’t stop once graduation happens, as recent nursing graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) in order to officially begin their career. “I study every day to prepare for that,” Catherine said just days before her graduation. Now, Catherine has taken and passed the exam, making her an official RN and she is looking ahead to her dream career in mental health nursing.

After gaining hands-on experience at Mule Creek State Prison, Catherine realized her passion for mental healthcare. “I want to pursue a career as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. At the prison, they have group therapy that teaches the inmates how to treat and prevent their illnesses, as well as how to practice self-care. I think that really helps them,” Catherine explains.

Jessup’s nursing students get hands-on experience inside and outside of the classroom. Catherine details her experiences, “we went to different hospitals and departments such as surgical units, ICU, pediatrics, OB,” just to name a few. She also mentions the importance of the on-campus facilities, including the simulation lab where she expressed a sense of freedom to practice what she had learned with confidence because her professors were there to guide and encourage her.

What undoubtedly sets Jessup’s nursing program apart from others is the Christ-centered approach, which Catherine says was vital to helping her succeed in the program. She explains, “When I attend chapel I feel relaxed and refreshed… It’s a long day of classes but when I go to chapel I get all of my energy back. And we pray all of the time in every single class. We pray for ourselves and for our professors. That helped me make it through the program.”

As the first graduating cohort, there is so much excitement built around this group of nursing students, but this is only the beginning. As the program continues to grow, Catherine says she is excited to see how it evolves for the next group of students. While she is excited to be part of the first graduating cohort, she also explains, “I feel a lot of responsibility because we need to be a good example for the next group of students and build a great culture for them to continue. It’s not all on the professors, but we also play a part in building this program and we want to make it better for the next cohort.”

There is no doubt that Catherine, along with her classmates, have worked hard to reach this amazing accomplishment of graduation and the entire Jessup community is cheering them on as they begin a meaningful career in nursing.

To learn more about a4yyÎçŇš¸ŁŔű’s nursing program, please visit jessup.edu/academics/majors-programs/undergrad/nursing/ or email us at admissions@jessup.edu.Ěý