Peer Academic Advisors

Gabriella Braye-Romero

Favorite Biola class
Business As Mission (Steve Rundle), Accounting 2 (Mike Welles), Finance (Shane Enete), Theology 2 (Robert Lister), or anything with Lister or Lockett
Major
International Business
Year
Junior/Senior
Hometown
Ramona, CA
Favorite Quote
“Never let anyone belittle your ambitions–small people always do that, but the truly great make you believe that you too can become great.” — Mark Twain
“God is most satisfied in us when we are most satisfied in him.” — John Piper
Why you value the Biola academic experience
Biola is successfully creating Biblically-minded professionals who know how to thrive in their field and be a light for Christ.

Mackenzie Burns

Favorite Biola class
I have two. My favorite major-specific class would have to be Principles of Interpre-tation. Dr. Lockett is a gifted speaker and skilled at creating an atmosphere in the classroom for open discussion. How fantastic is it to learn how to interpret the Bible? My other favorite class is definitely Los Angeles literature. I crashed the course as a sophomore and somehow got in, and I’m so glad I did! Larry Smith is one of my favorite people, and his passion for God and for the city is obvious. As an out-of-stater, it also gave me a greater appreciation of God’s heart for LA!
Major
Biblical Studies
Year
Junior
Hometown
Houlton, ME
Favorite Quote
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” — A.W. Tozer
Why you value the Biola academic experience
There's a buzz word around campus that may be cliche but really encapsulates what Biola's education is about: integration. The integration of our Christian faith with every aspect of academics has been brilliant since I've been here. Also, I value my academic experience here, because I am really able to get three academic experiences for one price tag: learning in the classroom, learning from peers and friends, and learning out in the teeming metropolis of greater Los Angeles!

Derek Gutierrez

Favorite Biola class
My favorite class so far is Genetics. It is one of my upper division electives for my major and it is sort of the culmination of everything that I have been learning. I can see how every class that I've taken up until this point (even the hard, boring ones) have prepared me to understand this. In addition to that it is the most interesting subject matter I have ever studied, and this class has done a better job than any of my other classes of integrating faith and education."
Major
Biochemistry
Year
Senior
Hometown
Livermore, CA
Favorite Quote
“If you never put your ear to the ground, you'll never hear the buffalo coming.”
Why you value the Biola academic experience
This experience has been the number one factor in developing my mind as a well-balanced, educated individual. It has allowed me to think critically about a myriad of different subjects and communicate what I've learned with others. Also this unique, faith integrated education has given me an understanding of Christ's role in my education (or maybe a better way to say it is my education's role in my walk with Christ)."

Tomoko Taguchi

Favorite Biola class
My favorite journalism class is Media Design Essentials because I enjoy graphic design. It’s time-consuming, but fun! My favorite Bible class is Life and Letters of Paul, primarily because of how knowledgeable yet humble the professor is. He sets such a great example and is entirely committed to staying faithful to Christ and the Biblical text.
Major
Journalism (Visual)
Year
Junior
Hometown
Wherever my parents are at the time.
Favorite Quote

Roads go ever ever on,
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone,
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at least on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known.
—Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit
Why you value the Biola academic experience
I am glad for the opportunity to take Bible classes taught by Bible scholars – it is enriching. My peers are also a huge part of my personal growth here. I often have conversations about theology with my friends. Biola constantly challenges me to think seriously and critically about various subjects.

Jamie Hausherr

Favorite Biola class
Though I have been blessed by several classes and professors, my favorite class thus far has been Greek Grammar and Exegesis with Dr. Huffman. Not only has this class given me the chance to worship the Lord by taking on a rigorous study of a Biblical language, but it has also allowed me to grow in the community with others who are studying alongside me. It is only by the grace of God and for his glory that I could ever understand and cherish Greek as much as I do!
Major
Biblical Studies, Business
Year
Junior
Hometown
San Diego, CA
Favorite Quote
“God created us for this: to live our lives in a way that makes him look more like the greatness and the beauty and the infinite worth that he really is. This is what it means to be created in the image of God..” — C.S. Lewis
Why you value the Biola academic experience
Biola’s education rests on the pursuit of knowledge and truth in all spiritual and academics disciplines. Since knowing the one who is Truth is the apex of this endeavor our community strives to take this truth and produce trasnformation in our heats, minds and character. This holistic dedication grants the Biola community to share in the greatest reward of the Kingdom of God: Bringing glory to our Father in every respect and impacting the world for his Son Jesus Christ.

Stacey Park

Favorite Biola class
I love my Torrey classes and my theme-specific Literature courses. Humanities FTW.
Major
English - Writing
Year
Junior
Hometown
Vancouver, BC (Canada)
Favorite Quote
“This is he who came by the water and the blood.”
Why you value the Biola academic experience
I love Biola because of the academic rigor that is preserved as well as the emotional, spiritual and relational care that is highly valued.

Stephanie McEachen

Favorite Biola class
My favorite Bible class was Theology I with Dr. Thoennes. Having an opportunity to explore theological topics in depth changed my perspective on who the Lord is, who I am as a person, and the righteousness we’ve gained through Christ’s life and death. Other favorite Bible classes include New Testament with Dr. Lunde, my two years of Greek classes, Principles of Interpretation with Dr. Lockett, and Major Prophets with Adam Day.
Major
English
Year
Junior
Hometown
Mukilteo, WA
Favorite Quote
“We are half-hearted creatures… Like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” — C.S. Lewis
“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” — 1 John 3:18
Why you value the Biola academic experience
I value the emphasis Biola puts on integration. I love that classes are centered on glorifying the Lord. I love the process of learning about the Lord in community with other believers.

Tyler Carey

Favorite Biola class
My favorite class at Biola was Psychology and Christian thought because it was the gateway into an area academic passion. This class also laid the foundation for my ability to think critically about the issues of our culture.
Major
Psychology
Year
Senior
Hometown
Wheaton, IL
Favorite Quote
“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Why you value the Biola academic experience
I am taking a theories of personality class and at the conclusion of each perspective we have the opportunity to evaluate the theory. This encapsulates why the Biola academic experience is so unique: as students we are equipped to understand our world and evaluate truth through a Christ-centered perspective.