At the heart of my work is a deep love for teaching, mentorship, and the meaningful relationships that grow through both. I’m passionate about weaving together faith, the art and practice of nursing, psychology, and philosophy to help students think deeply, care well, and lead with compassion. The field of mental health and psychiatry has always felt like sacred ground to me. It is a space where presence, curiosity, and connection can bring true healing, and I've always felt privileged to be a part of that process.

Where are you from?

I am from Orange County, California.

What did you study in college?

I majored in Psychology.

What surprised you most about being a student at PLNU?

I was genuinely surprised by how friendly everyone was! From students to staff and faculty, people went out of their way to smile, say hello, and make you feel welcome—it really created a strong sense of community.

What’s a word or phrase that describes you?

Chill and outgoing— I am easy going by nature, but also love being around people and thrive in social settings.

Dr. Holmen-Crow earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of California Santa Barbara. Prior to that, she earned a B.S. in Math and a B.A. in French from Calvin College (now Calvin University). Her specialization is in low-dimensional Topology and she is interested in Geometric Group Theory as well.

Dr. Ashley Leung joined PLNU in the Fall of 2025. Prior to PLNU, she taught at Pepperdine University as a Visiting Assistant Professor, and at Harvard University as a College Fellow. She received her PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Chicago, and her BA in Psychology and English from Middlebury College. Dr. Leung's research expertise is in child development, and she is especially interested in exploring how children's social interactions influence their language development.

Nick Smirniotopoulos joined the Fermanian School of Business (FSB) as an adjunct professor in 2025. Smirniotopoulos currently serves as the Market Director for Gartner's West Coast CFO Practice and has over 10 years of experience in global leadership, sales, marketing, HR, consulting, and advisory. Additionally, he serves as an HR Officer in the Navy Reserve and holds his PHR, ACC Coaching and Cultural Intelligence (CQ) certifications. Smirniotopoulos earned his M.B.A. from IE Business School in 2021 Madrid, Spain as well as his M.A.

Noah Spahn is an Associate Professor of Computer Science with expertise in cybersecurity, vulnerability remediation, and open source software security. His research focuses on developing practical solutions for identifying, analyzing, and remediating vulnerabilities in software systems, with particular emphasis on open source ecosystems. Professor Spahn has extensive experience bridging the gap between academic research and real-world applications, having worked on significant projects for organizations including NASA, DARPA, NSF, ONR, and various industry partners.