Dr. Amanda Segovia-Hale serves as a Director of Professional Learning in the Office of Educational Services for San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD). SDUSD is the second-largest school district in California, serving more than 140,000 preschool through12 grade students at more than 200 schools and public charter schools. Dr. Segovia-Hale began her career as an elementary school teacher. She served as a mentor teacher, Instructional Coach, Assistant Principal, and Principal. She was grateful to have teachers who genuinely cared about her and helped to grow in her learning and faith.

Susan Laughlin is the Founder and CEO of Appel Foods, LLC. She started her specialty food business in March of 2017, and scaled the business nationally, and to Canada, in the first year of operations. Appel Foods houses the brand Nut Crumbs, which is the first nut-based bread crumb alternative to hit the market. Her previous experience ranges from Director of Financial Services in a university setting, Operations Management in an international bridge engineering firm, Product Development in the fashion industry, and Chief Financial Officer in two start-ups.

For over 12 years, Prof. Karris has been a counselor working with youth, families, couples, and individuals. He began in NY working as a therapist intern at Nyack College performing individual and group therapy with adolescents. At the same time, he was an intern at Mental Health of Rockland County in NY, performing individual and group therapy with the severely mentally ill population.

Chuck Downing began teaching at Monte Vista High School in 1973. He was department chair from 1981- 1995 and twice received Golden Apple Awards by student voting. He has been "San Diego County Teacher of the Year" and won the CIBA-GEIGY Award for Excellence in Science Teaching from NSTA. He was a Christa McAuliffe Fellow in 1992, and he won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching in 1993. In 1994 he was named as a participant in Access Excellence for Biology teachers. In 1996 he received his Ph.D.

Gordon Wong comes to PLNU with 20 years of experience as a Lead Pastor in Honolulu, HI.  Gordon and his wife Rachelle planted The Bridge Church of the Nazarene in 1998.  Along with serving as the pastor, Gordon was a part of numerous organizations including The Hawaii Pastor’s Roundtable, Southwest Field Nazarene Youth International and USA/Canada Regional NYI Council. 

For almost 28 years, Judie Heineman served in the United States Navy and recently retired as a U.S. Navy Captain.  An accomplished leader with a focus in information technology, she delivered critical communications capability ashore and afloat both in the United States and overseas. She has been the Chief Information Officer for a Carrier Strike Group in San Diego, California; the Director of Information Technology the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island; and the Commanding Officer at the U.S.

I am so very excited to be reentering the realms of higher education after having been on leave raising my two young sons. I have worked in a variety of departments across several institutions including Admissions, Student Affairs, teaching a First Year Seminar course, and most recently conducting academic advising in the Office of Global Studies at PLNU.