Get Connected

We are Tim and Suzanne Anstine, and we are thrilled to be a part of the Biola University Parent Council. We reside in Eagle, Idaho. Tim is an organic chemistry professor at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. Suzanne is an obstetrical hospitalist and works for a hospital in Boise, Idaho. We have three children. Our middle child, and only daughter, Jessica, is a sophomore at Biola. Jessica has found Biola to be “life-changing,” in her words, and we couldn’t be happier with her experience. Jessica is studying chemistry, is part of the Torry Honors College, and plays her violin in a string ensemble. She participated in research on campus through the RISE program last summer. Since coming to Biola, we have seen beautiful transformation in her life—mind, body, and soul—and while we are convinced that the author of this is Jesus, Biola has been the vehicle He has used in Jessica’s life, and He continues to use in the lives of countless other young people.

We can be contacted at love4my3@gmail.com or 208-989-4170 and are always happy to talk Jesus, college kids, family, and, of course, Biola! Please reach out if we can be a resource in any way!

We are David and Carrie Cronk, living in La Habra, a close 15 minute drive from Biola. We met overseas in China as missionaries and were so blessed to raise our three amazing kids there (for their pre-high school years). When the Lord brought our family back to the U.S., we were thrilled to find we lived close to BU, hoping our kids would have the opportunity to attend this amazing, Christ-centered school. The Lord certainly had this special gift for us, and we are so thankful.

Our oldest, Philip, is now a senior at BU majoring in business. Highlights for him have been many excellent classes, being the Mock Rock emcee, his involvement in intramurals, as well as a summer internship (in Colorado Springs) in the Adventures in Odyssey marketing department of Focus on the Family. He has truly thrived in Biola's Christian environment, making lifelong friends, enjoying godly, caring professors, and growing in his own faith in Jesus. Our number two, Hannah, is a sophomore, majoring in the allied health/pre-occupational therapy route. Her highlights have been making meaningful and deep friendships as well, and the opportunities to be involved in missions, specifically the outreach to Latter Day Saints. She grew a lot through a recent mission trip to Utah with the Evangelical Mormon Interactions Club. Our youngest daughter, Estie, is a senior in high school, and after hearing about all the wonderful experiences her siblings have had, seeing how they have grown spiritually, hearing about their classes, and meeting their new friends, she is planning to also apply to Biola.

We are honored and blessed to be a part of the BU Parent Council and look forward to connecting with other students/parents/staff as part of the BU family to pray/support/help one another.

So thankful for the freedoms we enjoy here in the U.S., specifically at Biola. God bless America and the BU community! You can connect with us via email at davidcarrie5@gmail.com.

In Jesus, David and Carrie

My name is Heydi Grajeda and I feel very blessed that my daughter is a Biolan. My husband and I always dreamed that Grace and her siblings would be able to go to university. When it was time for Grace to choose where she was going to go to university we prayed to our Heavenly Father that he would lead her to a place where she can grow and mature in her faith. On April 3, 2019, Grace received her acceptance letter from Biola in the mail. That day we received the best news of our life. Grace immediately committed to Biola after receiving her acceptance letter and my husband and I were overjoyed. We had the privilege of visiting Biola’s campus in the summer of 2019 and from the minute I stepped foot onto campus I could feel the Holy Spirit’s presence. That day God confirmed to me that Biola was the place He wanted Grace to be and that the Lord had answered our prayers. Grace is now a junior at Biola and is majoring in Journalism and Integrated Media with a minor in both art and biblical studies. We have seen God’s goodness through her professors and classmates. Grace has been a part of New Student Orientation since the end of her freshman year. It was such a wonderful experience to see how much love radiated off of the New Student Orientation team and how Grace has flourished since she started working for NSO. Seeing Grace grow and mature reminds me of Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” The Lord has taught us to let Him work in her life and that we have nothing to worry about because He has everything under control. If you ever feel the need to pray or would just like to chat you can contact me at hgrajeda24@gmail.com.

Ryon and Katherine Ellis met during orientation week as freshmen at Biola. Little did they know that today they would be blessed with seven children, three of whom are Biola students.

Estelle, their oldest, is a senior in the Torrey Honors College studying Art with an emphasis in Illustration. Grayson, a sophomore, is concentrating on Cinematography in the Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts. Landon is a freshman Graphic Design major with a passion for Fashion Design.

Katherine earned her bachelor's degree in Christian Education with an emphasis in Elementary Education. While at Biola, she sang in the Chorale and enjoyed the rich chapel sessions. She went on to complete her master's degree in Education and was a 3rd grade teacher in Southern California. Home education became the next job as the Lord began to fill the Ellis home with children. She has now successfully graduated three of their kids and is grateful to be able to provide a Christ-centered, classical education for her children at home.

Ryon graduated from Biola with a bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies and then entered the technology field as an engineer shortly after graduation. In 2007, he founded a high-tech company, BriteVAULT. God began urging Ryon to be at home more and to trust Him to grow and direct the company. Ryon now works from home and enjoys helping with discipling and homeschooling. He and Katherine are grateful for God’s kind and sovereign hand.

Ryon and Katherine are thrilled to be closer to Biola and back living in Southern California after 13 years in Oregon. They are passionate about the heritage of faith and biblical fidelity at Biola and are excited to support the continuation of that legacy. They can be found most days paddling or swimming in the waters of Huntington Beach - between school lessons, of course. Drop them a line if you'd like to connect!

Ryon@BriteVAULT.com
Katherine@ellispad.com

Fernando and Margaret have resided in Lisle, Illinois, for the 27 years they have been married. They have five children, three of whom chose Biola University. The family was drawn to Biola because of many great apologist alumni who proudly name-drop the institution, its strong undergrad programs, and, of course, the refuge from Chicago weather!

Vince graduated in 2024 with Torrey and Financial Planning and is working in the field as a CFP. Margaret was so delighted to geek out with Fred Sanders about the Deep Things of God at Vince’s graduation. Seeing how prepared Vince was at graduation and ready to work, choosing a Christian firm, was so encouraging for them. Stockton is a senior simply loving the Engineering program–so fun to watch those sparks fly! They got to witness him enjoying two summers of a dream internship at Barnhart Crane, where one of his tasks was to design a crane that built another crane. Talia is a Sophomore in Torrey and Business. Margaret was shocked that dropping off her fifth was so easy. She didn’t shed a tear, just knowing that Talia was in such good hands and would come out stronger in her faith and ready for her field of interest. They were thrilled to see Talia grow after taking on a leadership role for the Biola Missions Conference–the only student-led missions conference in the nation.

Fernando is a CFP and serves as de facto shepherd to his clients and is on the leadership team of the Christian Financial Advisor Community at Raymond James. Margaret assists in the practice as well as a myriad of volunteer positions, including bringing LifeWise to their home school district. We would love to hear from you. Margaret can be reached at margaretereneta@att.net. Fernando is at fereneta@gmail.com.

Shannon and Darin Jensen live in Bellevue, Washington where Shannon is a retired elementary school teacher and full time homemaker, and Darin is a partner at Lasher, Holzapfel, Sperry and Ebberson. His law practice centers around Corporate & Business Law, Estate Planning, Trusts & Probate, and Tax. They are the proud parents of three daughters; two are current Biola students and they are hoping their youngest daughter will also be a Biola Eagle someday! Their oldest daughter Madeline is a junior music therapy major who has also been heavily involved with Biola’s choirs. Lauren is a freshman cinema and media arts (CMA) major who is studying in the Torrey Honors College and also swimming on the Biola Swim and Dive Team. Emily is a 6th grader who enjoys more frequent visits to Disneyland now that she has two sisters at Biola.

I live in Orange County, CA with my husband and four kids. As a current parent and alum (1998), I am deeply thankful for how Biola has exceeded my high expectations. I’m grateful to see how the community has equipped our children to grow in their authentic faith, compassion for others and understanding of what it means to think critically from a biblically grounded worldview. I would love to connect with prospective and current parents! Feel free to email me at erinkrus@gmail.com.

We are Ted and Penny Malley, parents of four kids, living in Arroyo Grande, CA. We have served on the Parent Council since 2019 and have enjoyed helping other families feel part of the larger Biola family. Penny graduated from Biola with her teaching credential in 1994, so we knew what a rich education and strong spiritual foundation this school provides. Ted had two sisters and a brother-in-law graduate from Biola who all went on to become teachers, so the Biola roots grow on both sides of the family tree. Our oldest, Katie graduated from Biola in Spring of 2022 (Public Relations) and now works for NBC in New York. While at Biola she participated as a chapel intern with Spiritual Development, helping run the mid-week After Dark chapel. Our son Tyler completed three years at Biola and has now transferred to USC as part of a 3+2 program where he will graduate Spring 2025 (Mechanical Engineering/Physics). He has also participated in USC’s Air Force ROTC program for the past two years and expects to commission as an Air Force Officer when he graduates. TJ starts his accounting degree at Biola in Fall 2023.

Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions, we’d love to talk with you! Email us at pennyemalley@gmail.com and tedmalley@gmail.com.

We are Dan and Bernice Ramirez and live in La Mirada about 5 minutes from Biola. Biola is a wonderful place to send your children for an education. Our son Danny is going to be a junior this coming fall. He is a Bible/Theological Studies major and is involved in the scuba diving club and Alpha Bible Study club. He has developed strong friendships with other students from Biola and just loves being on campus even when he doesn't have school. If he isn't home we know he is at Biola or out for coffee with a friend from Biola. We love these ties of his.

The professors at Biola are so caring and pour Godly wisdom and advice into the students. They have helped Danny during difficult times. We are so grateful to them. The campus is also safe and very well taken care of. My husband and I enjoy spending time on campus walking around the track, getting lunch at the caf or getting coffee at Common Grounds. We love Biola and hope to see Daniel's younger siblings attend there as well. Biola gives you a top-notch education in a safe, Godly environment.

We would be happy to assist your student in any way we can since we are local. We would love to pray with you and/or your student for direction and peace. We are here if you need us. Your student is welcome to come over anytime! And you're welcome to call us for advice.