Eric Groves

• Director of Undergraduate Admissions

Background

Where you were born?

Minneapolis Minnesota, but I grew up in Huntington Beach, CA.

What did you study in college?

I majored in Applied Communications, have an MBA from another institution and am working on a PhD…

What were your favorite involvements in college and why?

I loved intramurals… I played softball, basketball and flag football. My goal was always to be the worst player you couldn’t help but want to watch (skillz). My softball team’s shirts all stated that we were “committed to look good, in spite of ourselves”. In addition, I was part of several campus ministries, including Crusader Outreach, which led worship at churches throughout the southwest. By far my favorite involvement was spending two summers in Moscow Russia with the school’s short term missions program. And my absolute favorite involvement was Music Appreciation class… especially the Baroque Period…

What's a word or phrase that describes you?

"Pay my respects to grace and virtue, send my condolences to good, give my regards to soul and romance, they always did the best they could. And so long to devotion, you taught me everything I know. Wave goodbye, Wish me well.. You've gotta let me go…
Are we human? Or are we dancers? My sign is vital, my hands are cold and I'm on my knees looking for the answer. Are we human? Or are we dancers?”

What's your favorite San Diego past time?

Watching baseball and soccer with my girls… I also enjoy tanning at the beach and body surfing (especially during large storms). I also won the San Diego Iron Man competition (I ironed 100 shirts in 60 minutes). My lifelong San Diego dream has been to run from the top of Cowles Mountain (1,592 feet) to the ocean 15.54 miles and swim around Coronado Island all in one day. I’ll post photos on this site when I make it! San Diego rocks!

What advice would you give to an incoming PLNU student?

One of the many great things about PLNU is that it is so open to international experiences. Our study abroad opportunities are top notch (ranked in the top 15 in the nation among Master’s granting institutions) and we have awesome offerings in short term missions. You absolutely must take advantage of this time and make sure you have an international component to your undergraduate experience.

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

I would definitely be a solenodon… The strange solenodon is a mammal found primarily in Cuba and Hispanola. Sure, it looks cute and manageable enough - sort of like an over-sized hedgehog. Too bad the solenodon injects rattlesnake-like venom through its teeth, the only mammal to do so. Easily annoyed, the solenodon bites at the drop of a banana leaf. Okay, so that is nothing like me, but he is a cute little guy! Google him!