John Sutter has accepted the position of Associate Director within the University’s Student Academic Support Services (SASS). This role will include responsibility for advising students in most STEM degree programs. 

Sutter’s office is located in PSC 225, which will make him conveniently available to advise students in the following programs:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Math
• Physics
• Pre-Engineering
• STEM Education

He can be reached at jsutter@lasierra.edu and x2480. Students can book an appointment with John at: https://johnsutter.youcanbook.me.

John first came to La Sierra as a student in 2007, ultimately earning a degree in Psychology.  After graduating in 2013, John joined the La Sierra staff as an Academic Coach.

Within OACS John has served as Adviser and Lead Adviser, as Assistant Director for First Year Experience, and most recently as Assistant Director for Testing and Application Administration. He was involved in activities arising from La Sierra’s involvement in AVID for Higher Education, sponsored by our first Title V grant; Title V experiences included attending the 2017 AVID Summer Institute and serving on the La Sierra AVID for Higher Education Committee.

La Sierra has begun awarding badges. Badges area a form of microcredential that recognize students' academic and co-curricular accomplishments. They benefit students by displaying skill sets they have developed.

Click here to view La Sierra's six badges: La Sierra Badges.

The Provost’s Office is delighted to introduce its new Executive Coordinator, Jasmine Wilson. Jasmine will provide support work for the Provost and Associate Provost for scheduling, coordinating with administrative and academic units, and planning events such as graduation. Her strong writing skills will underpin production of minutes and reports. Additionally, she will serve as a friendly entry point for students and staff desiring access to the Provost.

Provst April Summitt notes that “La Sierra University Provost’s Office has not had a full team for the last five years. With the addition of Ms. Wilson, the Office can once again thrive.”

Ms. Wilson comes to La Sierra after five years as Executive Assistant to the CEO of Humetrix, a consulting firm that helps companies recruit, select, and retain employees and managers. At Humetrix she supported company leadership with document creation, event planning and interactions with staff and outside entities. Previously, Jasmine worked for LPL Financial for two years and Ronald Wilson Architects for eight years. She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of San Diego, from which she graduated cum laude.

Jasmine describes herself as “people person” who enjoys working collaboratively in teams.

La Sierra's Title V Grant Project Director Marvin Payne has submitted a report on the ninth year of grant activity. Three grants are currently active:

• Guided Pathways (which will be completed in 2024-25)
• STEM Teacher Training (nearing the end of Year 3)
• Sustainability Program (still in its first year)

Highlights of the 2023-24 report include:

STEM Guided Pathways

80 students participated in the Pathways program, which provides additional support for STEM students. 21 STEM-focused events were sponsored, addressing topics such as career / alumni talks, internship information sessions, and networking events.

STEM Bridge

23 students participated in a two-week event in September 2023 that introduced them to campus resources, reviewed math skills, and surveyed scientific research methods.

STEAM Camp

Eight students from local high schools experienced this program in June 2024. Students began the day with either in a biology lab with Dr. Nate Sutter or a chemistry lab with Dr. Natasha Dean. After lunch, students pursued other learning opportunities, ranging from First Aid certification to study of Robotics or Natural History.

STEM Education

The grant projects provided seminars guiding students toward success in the Cal TPA, one of the final hurdles for students seeking teacher credentialing.

Sustainability

Besides sponsoring the inaugural Sustainability Speaker Series (with Arizona State University's Dr. Joni Adamson), two new faculty have been hired to develop the University's sustainability program.